Another Notch in the Beltway (32 page)

Corrine shifted in her seat.

“You're not a skank. That implies someone who has overt sexual experience. Which definitely leaves you out.”

Jack choked on his water as he started to roar with laughter.

“V-very g-good, Byron,” his son finally wheezed out.

****

“You guys don't trust ole Nolan Hubble, do you?” Nate asked as they settled themselves in the great room after Nikko and Hubble had left.

“No,” MP answered for both of them.

“Why?”

“He was responsible for the
Sentinel
story on MP,” Lenore said.

“Great. So he is a loose cannon and doesn't just play one at social functions.”

“I'm not sure that's his normal state. I think he's trying too hard to impress Nikko, and it backfires every time he opens his mouth,” Lenore said.

“Yeah, he's missing the boat there,” Nate laughed and MP agreed.

“Please, let's not talk about him.” Lenore could still get distressed by the upset the article had caused her and MP. She was trying to get beyond it, but it wasn't easy.

MP took her hand and gently squeezed it.

Nate got the hint and said, “So for the moment we're saying nothing. Plan B was shut up and see what transpires, correct?”

“Unless you want to, Nate,” Lenore said softly.

“No, I don't. But Corrine has told someone who we are. I get the sense the reporters know too. Maybe they don't have enough verification to go public with our IDs, but you could tell they know something. Asking if the mother was an intern, if the son went to school with Jack.”

“Yes, and if it goes public, a member of Connor's firm will read a statement confirming facts. The fact it was agreed to between Maxwell and me to keep a private matter private and that you were tested to be a donor and Jack decided against the transplant.”

“Which is already out there,” Nate commented.

“Yes.”

“When the news breaks, I'll need a place to stay. Neither my roommate nor the others in the apartment complex need the press hanging around.”

“Connor's firm has a corporate apartment right in Georgetown. I think it's closer to campus than your own apartment is. I'll ask him if you can use it.”

“Brilliant, Mom. I like the idea.”

“Thanks,” she smiled at him. “Will your profs be understanding if you need to hide out for a few days and miss classes?”

“Yeah, I think so, especially once it comes out who my father is. They'll probably give me bereavement time.”

“Indeed,” MP snorted.

“I'm sorry, Nate,” Lenore said for what seemed the millionth time.

“I'm coping,” Nate said with a grin. “In all fairness, he did okay this morning.”

“I agree with you,” MP said.

“Let's see what CNN has to say,” Nate said and turned on the TV.

“Too funny,” Lenore said when she discovered that they had psychologists on talking about what compelled seemingly successful men to stray from their wives.

“At least that means they haven't uncovered you yet,
mo chuisle
.”

“But they think they've uncovered the flaw in these successful men. They feel they can do anything and there are no consequences. I could have told them that,” Lenore laughed. “Either they believe they won't get caught or someone takes care of the mess.”

“Like Morris, you mean?”

“Yes, Maxwell's major domo. He couldn't get his shoes on the right feet without him.”

“But you had a relationship with him, Mom.”

“Yes, but it took me a while to see that side of it. I think he was losing his luster even before he was so ugly to me.”

“But you would have married him, if he had left his wife for you?” Nate asked.

“Probably,” she said with a shrug. “If I'm honest with myself, I think a part of me thought he would. I was wrong.”

“Sorry, Mom.”

“Don't be, honey. I think we turned out better for it. Plus, I might not have found MP.” She smiled brightly at her new spouse.

“You guys are embarrassing,” Nate teased.

“Nik called us disgusting the other day,” MP said.

“I was trying to be nice. Nik doesn't know how.”

They all started laughing, and the doorbell rang.

Lenore glanced at her watch. “Oh, my goodness, it's the car service.”

“I'm packed and ready to go, Mom. You need to stop worrying about me. You did a good job raising me. Believe it or not, I'm fairly competent. MP, make her stop worrying about me so much.”

“See, Lenore, he is a smart man. He didn't say make her stop worrying, but rather stop worrying so much. Nate knows you'll always worry at some level.”

“I love you guys.”

****

Maxwell paced his best friend's home office and ran a hand through his hair.

“Byron, if it helps, I think you did a remarkable job this morning with the press. Masterful even. Lenore and her camp say the same thing, and that includes your son Nathan,” Morris said.

The senator nodded. “I feel awful for Jack. His mother's behavior, more than the news of a half sibling, knocked him for a loop. For God's sake, he's dying, Gerald.”

“I know. I'm sorry.”

“He's in his old room at the moment, but we're having the study turned into a temporary hospital room so when the time comes, we can have hospice care at the house.”

Morris was struck by the lucidness of his friend's speech. Maxwell was a strong orator when coached on what to say, but he hadn't been coached that morning and not at the moment either.

“I think that's a good idea.”

“He wants nothing to do with Corrine. Feels betrayed by her behavior. Wants to know why she couldn't wait until he was dead to dredge all this up. He thinks she's trying to punish him for being born.”

“Is she? Corrine never took to that boy.”

“No, it's me she's trying to punish. After all, I got her pregnant.”

“Takes two for that to happen.”

“In theory anyway,” Maxwell said and puffed out his cheeks.

Morris looked at him oddly but let it go.

“Fucking press is all over; Jack's friends can't even come and visit. Kelly's afraid to set foot in the house because of Corrine.” He sighed. “It's a mess. I had to run the gauntlet to get out of the driveway. But we need to deal with this head-on. Should I resign?”

“Not if you don't want to. Plus, what you said this morning is true. There is a legal contract that you and Lenore entered into saying you'd both keep silent about this. Both of you have. If details get out, it will not be from Lenore.”

“Nor I then. It happened almost twenty-two years ago. You're right. If Newt can run for president with his track record, I'm not going to resign.”

“I see no reason for you to. Bigger issue is Corrine. What's her agenda?”

“I asked her not to continue this campaign against me until after Jack dies, in deference to him, not me. Not sure she can even call back what she started. But the doctors say Jack has four to eight weeks left. She's waited thirty years; she can wait a few more weeks.”

“Did you have any impact?”

“I don't know. I hate to ask the woman to do or not do something, because she usually does the opposite to spite me.”

“Your father didn't do you any favors when he found that one.”

“Mom, thanks for coming. You too, MP,” Nate said as he ushered them into Connor Walker's firm's corporate apartment, two weeks after their wedding.

“You're welcome, but no thanks are needed, Nate. Family does for family.”

Lenore squeezed MP's hand in acknowledgment of his kind words, and he returned the gesture.

“Place is great,” Lenore observed as she walked farther into the apartment, taking in the classic elegance of the neutral decor.

“What time is your visit with Jack Maxwell?”

Corrine Maxwell had told Jack who his half brother was in an attempt to make amends for the surprise press conference she'd arranged. Jack, in turn, asked his father to set up a meeting.

“Three o'clock. I know it will be uncomfortable for you, Mom, but Corrine won't be there.”

“I don't care. I'd be there for you regardless.”

“Since it's been a couple of weeks and nothing has leaked about us, I'm afraid that Corrine might pull something,” Nate said.

“Nothing that woman does would shock me.”

“Agreed. Maxwell said he asked her not to pull any more shit while Jack was alive. He only has weeks to live. Apparently, Jack won't even look at Corrine, he's so hurt and angry. Can't say I blame him. But enough of this depressing talk. Let's get you settled. The second bedroom is larger; take that one,” Nate said, already picking up a small suitcase and walking toward it.

****

The Maxwell house was silent and smelled medicinal.

“I appreciate your coming,” Byron said to Nate but was looking at Lenore. “This will mean a lot to him.”

“Byron,” MP held his hand out to the senator, even though Maxwell seemed to ignore him.

“MP,” said the other man, having no choice but to shake his hand.

They did the rounds with Morris as well, except he bent to kiss Lenore's cheek. “Congratulations on your marriage. I wish you every happiness,” he said to Lenore.

“Thank you. We are very happy,” she said, reaching for MP's hand.

“Where's Jack?” Nate asked, seeming impatient to get the meeting underway.

“Right through here. We've turned the study into a bedroom for now,” Maxwell said.

Nate looked at his father. “For now?”

“Yes, we'll turn it back to a study once Jack dies.”

Nate gave him a ‘you don't get it' look.

“This will mean a lot to Jack; he's been asking to meet you since his mother told him of your existence,” Maxwell said.

Nathan nodded his head and walked to the closed door.

He had already told Lenore and MP that he would talk to his brother alone. This would most likely be his first and last contact with Jack Maxwell, and if Jack had something he wanted to get off his chest or something he wanted to share before he died, Nate would listen.

****

“While the boys talk, we can wait sit in the parlor.” Maxwell motioned to a large room with double doors.

“Corrine is out?” Lenore asked, wanting to make sure she was not going to pop out of the woodwork.

“Yes, a charity function. You understand.”

She nodded and seated herself on a long davenport. MP sat next to her and took her hand. It was cold and clammy.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“I'll have a glass of orange juice, if you have it,” Lenore said.

“Vitamin C,” Morris said simply.

“Yes, to keep my immune system up,” she said simply.

“MP?” Maxwell asked.

“I'll have the same.”

There was OJ in the bar, most likely for screwdrivers.

“How is Jack doing?” Lenore asked with compassion.

“Getting weaker by the day. The doctors give him two weeks.”

“I am sorry, Senator,” she said gently.

They all sipped their drinks in silence for a long moment.

Letting MP's hand go, Lenore stood and asked, “Where is the ladies' room?”

The men stood with her, and Maxwell told her where it was.

****

Nate stood in front of the closed door taking in the room. There was a hospital bed and every conceivable piece of medical equipment he could think of. Jack was hooked to an IV for nutrition, pain medication, or a combination of the two, Nate didn't know.

“Jack,” he said quietly.

His half brother fluttered his eyes and struggle to focus on him.

“I'm Nathan Held.” He didn't offer his hand, as Jack looked too frail to shake it.

“Thanks for seeing me. I've wanted to meet you since my mother told me I had a half brother.”

Not one to be a hypocrite, Nate simply nodded.

“Too bad you weren't a better match; I might have gone for the transplant.”

“I was all set to do it,” Nate said honestly and went to sit by the bed.

“I know. I couldn't face it. Even if I lived through the transplant, there was a good chance I'd develop GVHD. I couldn't deal with that after the chemo. I hated being sick all the time. It wasn't worth it to me, and as Byron and Corrine said, I'm an adult and able to make my own decisions.”

He nodded his understanding.

“You're the lucky one, you know,” Jack said without bitterness.

“Yes, on any number of levels.”

“I'm glad you recognize that. Our father is an ignorant, manipulated puppet, and my mother is a cold bitch. Your mother, on the other hand, seems to be remarkably normal.”

“My mother is a wonderful woman. The only thing I can fault her for is sleeping with our sperm donor,” Nate offered with a wry smile.

His half brother started to laugh. “See, you don't even know him well, and you have the same sentiment. I bet he tries to get close to you after I'm gone.”

“Don't be too sure about that. I've given him no encouragement, and he seems put off by me.”

“You're smart. You intimidate him. But he'll have no one but Morris, and maybe not even him, once I'm gone. Things with him and Corrine have been bad since the beginning, and I'm sure she'll be filing for divorce once I'm dead.”

“I guess the senator will be a lonely man.”

“He's not that bad. Just clueless and easily led.”

Nate nodded again.

“I know you think I'm a shit and don't like the things that I've done.”

“It doesn't matter what I like or don't like, Jack; we all live by our own moral compass.”

“Moral compass,” Jack laughed and coughed. “I guess my family's directional arrows are both bent and twisted.” He laughed harder and started coughing more. Nate held a glass of liquid with a straw for him to drink from.