Page 31 of A Recipe Called Home

What was she trying to say?How did she know the secretary couldn’t sleep last night, and why did it seem to bother her that he’d requested her help?

Then, as Becca stubbed out her cigarette on the bottom of her heel, Jules was hit with a sense of clarity so forceful it rendered her mute. How stupid and naïve could she have been? They were sleeping together. Of course, they were. It had been right in front of her all along. The way she always seemed to show up to the office mere minutes after he did, their long, closed-door meetings in the middle of the day, and the inside information Becca seemed to always have on his personal life.

Jules thought about the secretary's family. She’d met his wife multiple times, who was lovey, always remembering Jules’ name. And the kids were still so young. Not even in high school yet.

Logistically, the affair made sense, though. His family lived in Delaware, and he only went home on the weekends. How had she missed it? Her head swam with memories from the last few years, flicking through the evidence.

By the time Jules found her voice again, Becca was already heading back into the building.

After the initial shock wore off, Jules found she wasn’t all too surprised. Maybe that’s why she’d kept Becca at arm’s length for so long? Maybe, deep down, she knew Becca might be capable of being a part of a betrayal like this.

Luckily, she didn’t have to fake ignorance of her newly gained knowledge for too long. The work session ended soon after dinner arrived. On her way out, Jules couldn’t help but notice Becca still in her office, waiting for him.

***

Jules unlocked her apartment door, swinging it wide open as a wave of cool air hit her face. She must have forgotten to turn down the air conditioner when she left a few weeks ago. At least the place didn’t smell stale, she told herself.

Flicking on the lights, she looked around her apartment. It was clean and modern with tall ceilings held up by walls of windows on two sides. The D.C. night gleamed back at Jules, all warm lights and shadows from the row houses below. A large living room stretched in front of her with two white couches she rarely sat on. To the left was an open-concept kitchen that boasted high-end appliances and an island with room for eight seats. When she’d first toured this place, she fell in love with how open and airy it seemed. Now, the sleek luxury furnishings made her recoil and miss the cozy imperfectness of her grandma’s house and the personality Miles brought to his.

Too exhausted to linger on the thought, she took a quick shower to wash the day off before crawling into bed.

Friday started early, with the hearing at eight o’clock and finishing before noon. The secretary did a fine job answering the committee’s questions and evading the topics he knew were tricky. For three hours, Jules sat directly behind him, giving him confidence as he knew he could turn and ask for her counsel, which he did twice. Becca sat ramrod straight next to him, hair twisted into a tight bun as she always wore it. Jules wondered if anyone else knew of their affair and had scanned the rotunda for any signs, but everyone seemed oblivious. To the unsuspecting eye, Becca must have looked every part the professional colleague Jules thought she used to be until last night.How could Becca have allowed herself this enormous lapse of judgment?Jules couldn’t help but feel betrayed, not only on the secretary’s family’s behalf, but also for herself. Their affair could put Becca and Jules’ careers at risk if she joined the new PR firm. Not to mention, it was a bit of a Washington cliché.

Before leaving the Capitol building, the three of them gathered in the hallway.

“Thank you for being here, Jules. I know it cut into time with your family, so I appreciate it,” the secretary said, looking relieved to be done.

“Happy to help,” was all Jules could say back. She was having a hard time regarding him with the same deference she used to. Becca followed her down the hall as she left, catching her by the arm as they turned the corner.

“Can we grab drinks tonight? I’d like to talk to you,” she said, smoothing her black designer shift dress and keeping her voice low. Jules hesitated. She did not want to spend more time with Becca than necessary, but it would give her the opportunity to tell her she wasn’t accepting her job offer as chief communications officer. She decided last night to turn it down. Jules didn’t know what would come next, but she knew she had to follow her gut on this; she couldn’t go into business with someone who would let their personal life become a liability of that magnitude.

“Sure. Just text me when and where,” Jules replied and strode down the hall before Becca could say anything else.

In the hours that passed between arriving back at her apartment and meeting with Becca, Jules mulled over the events of the last few days. Her emotions swung back and forth like an out-of-control pendulum. One moment she felt confident in her decision to walk out on Miles, putting an end to their dangerous fling, and the next she felt despondent over the revelation that her life in D.C. might not be her endgame, and with that, her resolution to keep away from Miles eroded. Not for the first time, she was unmoored; it gave her a headache.

Only one thing felt concrete: she would not join Becca‘s new firm. She’d remain cordial and professional with her, as she was sure their paths would cross again. D.C. was a small town, after all. Jules couldn’t shake the feeling of distrust that now clouded her perception of Becca. She wasn’t conservative in her own personal beliefs, but Jules drew the line at complicit cheating. It said all it needed to about one’s character and she was grateful to have found out before signing the employment contract.

Before exiting the taxi in front of an opulent social club which had recently opened just across the street from the White House, she took a glance at her phone. No messages from Miles.Probably for the best, she thought. Jules arched her head back to look up at the tall building and drew in a long steadying breath to ready herself for the conversation ahead with Becca. She was no stranger to confrontation, but she didn’t revel in it.

Chapter 12

“Thanksformeetingmehere, Jules,” Becca said, drawing out her name with a posh tone as Jules approached the empty seat next to her at the long bar. The club was almost empty, even though it was a Friday night.

She took in the beautifully carved wooden bar that wrapped around at both ends, decorated with expensive-looking gold leaf and mirrored accents. Behind them, tables with low, comfortable seating dotted the large room. The club looked like a cross between a scene fromThe Great Gatsbyand a Frank Lloyd Wright home. She couldn’t tell if she was impressed or confused. Either way, she wasn’t planning to stay long. Just enough to have a drink over what would be an uncomfortable conversation.

“This place is…large,” Jules said, sliding onto the bar stool.

“Over twenty thousand square feet, I’m told. Being a member has its perks, but I have yet to see all of it."

Becca's hand trembled slightly as she sipped her chilled martini. She was used to having the upper hand in most conversations, but this time was different. Becca had made a misstep by revealing her relationship with the secretary, and they both knew it.

The bartender approached as Jules got settled. The service was better when you paid a premium to even enter. She ordered a French 75, not wanting to seem unrefined with her usual order of the driest Sauvignon Blanc they had on hand. As she waited for her drink, a deafening silence stretched between them. At last, drink in hand, Jules broke the tension.

“How did Secretary Monahan feel about his testimony today?”

Visibly relieved at the softball question, Becca quickly answered with a lift in her voice, “Oh, he was pleased, although I don’t think he’s eager to do it again anytime soon. Thank you again for coming back on such short notice. We wouldn’t have been able to pull it off without you.”

“I think you two would have managed just fine together,” Jules snipped, looking straight ahead.

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