Page 38 of Presidential Bargain
“Because of me? You canceled them becauseofme.”
I didn’t want this to become about her. I didn’t want to fight and I didn’t want her to feel insignificant. “What happened to you was unexpected, and canceling those events to deal with everything couldn’t have been avoided. If I didn’t cancel them, then I’d look like an insensitive asshole. I canceled those events because I wanted to, because you needed me. But I’ve always been clear about my priorities with you, Georgie. The Oval comesfirst.”
Georgie nodded, but I wasn’t sure sheunderstood.
I kissed her softly, chastely on the lips. “I’ll see you onThursday.”
The next morning,I boardeda plane for Virginia with Avon. The upside of being separated from Jameson was that I didn’t have to travel in the claustrophobic bus. At Jameson’s insistence, I had both Lewis and Jenkins with me. While I suspected they were behind this sudden change to the schedule, I was oddly comforted by theirpresence.
“Oh, honey, there’s nothing wrong with a little separation,” Avon tried to reassure me and I smiledpassively.
I recalled waking up from a deep nap and finding Jameson packing up his suitcase. I was half-asleep, still disoriented. It didn’t help that he was short with me while he zipped around the bedroom, tossing in clothes and shoes. It also didn’t help that he provided very little explanation for his sudden departure. The more he explained, the clearer it became that he was leaving because of me. Before he left, he reminded me that his first priority was the Oval. I didn’t forget, but I had begun to hope that our relationship was evolving intosomethingreal.
“I don’t mind the separation. I just don’t like the manner in which the separation happened.” I eyed Lewis and Jenkins suspiciously, and they returned my look withguiltyones.
We weren’t in the air long before we landed at a small airport, where the standard black SUV waited on the tarmac for us. Avon and I were making several stops that day, at events that focused solely on women. This was what we were supposed to do this week—fire up the female base. I just hoped it wasn’t going to turn into constantly rehashing my own sexualassault.
Avon and I worked together on preparing short speeches, tailored specifically to each event. I was relieved that some of the events were at schools or with teachers. It felt like years since I’d stepped foot in a classroom. The first stop was at a school and on the way, we passed by my favorite store with its bright red trademarkbull’s-eye.
“Stop. Stop here, please.” I looked at my watch and knew we wereearly.
“Why are we stopping?” Avonasked.
“We’re not walking into a school without schoolsupplies.”
Avon smiled brightly. If I couldn’t be with Jameson, then I could distract myself until we were togetheragain.
Avon and I powered through the back-to-school section, loading up two carts with supplies. I coerced Lewis and Jenkins into coming as well and we filled their carts with backpacks and even more supplies. It was hard to contain the excitement I felt purchasing supplies for teachers to hand out tostudents.
When we arrived at the event, Lewis, Jenkins, the driver, and our small security team were enlisted to carry in all the bags. I could see the immense gratitude on the faces of the teachers we met with, knowing they would be able to give their students the tools necessary for success. Everyone thought that what Avon and I did was so great, and they ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’, but in reality, it was the right thingtodo.
“Please don’t thank me for doing this,” I added to my already prepared speech. “So often, teachers are asked to do more with less funding and they reach into their own wallets to provide the resources their students need in order for them to be successful. This means providing anything from a pencil to a notebook to a backpack, or even a hot meal. It will be my honor to represent you in the White House, and to make sure that teachers finally have a voice in educationpolicy.”
The gymnasium was filled with thunderous applause and I smiled, embarrassed by the attention. Avon and I waved before walking off the stage that had been set up in the middle. We were ushered out a set of doors and into thewaitingcar.
“Girl, you had them eating out of your hand!” Avon was smiling brightly, and I felt relaxed and happy. For the first time since Jameson and I made our deal, I felt like I made adifference.
“Maybe working with you won’t be so bad after all,” I replied, winkingather.
“Thanks! I’m so glad you find my company tolerable.” Avon rolled her eyes and we bothlaughed.
“Seriously, I think we need to do something like that for at least one of our stops every day this week. Aren’t we going to a shelter for homeless womentomorrow?”
Avon took out her phone and scrolled through her calendar. “Yes. And also alibrary.”
“Awesome. So, why don’t we try and arrange to have a local salon come out and provide haircuts to the women? And we can assemble care packages for them with things theymightneed.”
We spent the rest of the car ride looking through our schedule and trying to find local resources to help the people we met, and their communities. It wasn’t enough for me to tell them what Jameson would do when he was the president or what I would do for them as First Lady. I had to show them. The people I met with needed to see I cared, that they had someone who would listen and speakforthem.
By the time we made it to the hotel, I was exhausted. Avon and I had separate but adjoining rooms. I hesitated to open the door between our rooms because we were little more than strangers. This kind of female comradery was unfamiliar to me. I had very few close friends because letting people in meant the possibility of getting hurt. After my father lost everything, most of my friends withdrew and I started putting up walls to protect myself. When my parents died, I stopped letting people in and focused entirely on my job. I felt awkward around Avon because friendship was a foreign concept to me now. However, being with Jameson taught me that I didn’t need to keep people out anymore and I was ready to tear down thosebarriers.
Avon knocked before I could even raise my hand. I opened it and she stood there before me, wearing purple sweatpants and a gray T-shirt. Her gorgeous caramel-colored hair was fastened in a beautiful purple paisley silk scarf and her face was wiped clean ofmakeup.
“You work fast!” I had yet to change out of my black capri pants and red boatneckblouse.
“I thought we could work on those care packages for the homeless shelters. All of the stuff was delivered to thehotel.”
“Sure. Give me ten minutes to getchanged.”
