Beauty Queen (5 page)

Jeff Hunter must have been reading his mind, because he suddenly leaned forwardso abruptly that it startled Matt and said, We asked you here, Matt, because were interested in building the party toward the future. The fact of the matter is a lot of our state senators and representatives are nearing retirement. We need to bolster the important work of the Party in this state with new blood and new, relevant ideas, or were going to watch Austin turn from the last bastion for Democrats in Texas to a Republican stronghold to rival Waco. You can just imagine what effect that would have on our representation in Washington.

Not really, but who cared? So whats stopping you? Matt asked cheerfully, and picked up his bourbon.

Its not easy, said Doug, pushing aside his vodka. There arent that many people out there who are willing or capable of leading Texas Democrats into the new century. We need smart men and women with solid foundations who can be in Austin every legislative session. Were looking for people to serve .. . people like you.

Matt damn near sprayed bourbon all over them. Like who?

You, Matt, Tom said, and clapped him solidly on the shoulder.

Matt did the only logical thing he laughed. Set his glass down and laughed hard and loud. The last thing he would ever aspire to be was a politician. Christ, the only reason he continued to hang with Tom was because they were fraternity brothers and because Tom was fun at a Longhorn football game. Besides, it helped to grease the wheels of government every now and again. But become a Tom? Still laughing, Matt clapped Tom right back on his shoulder and looked at Doug and Jeff. I think youve got your new blood right here, guys, he said. Im not the political type. Ive got a good practice and, trust me, Ive got some ghosts in my closet that you dont even want to come near.

Come on, Matt. Hear us out, Tom pleaded. Were not suggesting you run for an office right now. Were only asking that you work closely with me on my campaign, see how you like Texas politics, and let us see how Texas politics likes you. Youve got the right look, the right reputation. If theres a good fit, we could talk about some substantial backing to put you in an office some day. .. like maybe district attorney.

While Matt wouldnt mind seeing the current DA gone he strongly disagreed with her capital punishment policies politics wasnt his bag. Youre barking up the wrong tree, Tom I dont see myself in an office.

If everyone had that attitude, then Texas would go to the dogs, wouldnt it? Jeff asked sincerely.

Hey pal, thats not gonna work on me, Matt scoffed. Thanks, but Im not interested.

Jeff started to retort something, but Tom held up his hand. Hey, hes not interested! We gave it our best shot. Im starved; lets order! He picked up his menu.

After an awkward moment, Jeff and Doug did the same. Matt smiled behind his bourbon and downed it before picking up his menu to peruse the specials.

By the way, Matt. .. remember Cal Blivins from Conroe?

Remember him? I vowed to beat the crap out of him the next time I saw him, he said with a chuckle, closing his menu. You know that.

Did you know hes considering a run for state senator in the next four years? Word is hes got some pretty impressive financial backers already on board.

Whoa .. . Cal Blivins? The Cal Blivins who attended the University of Texas at the same time as Matt and Tom? The same worthless piece of shit who had done Matts girlfriend in the back of his pickup? Okay, so she wasnt much of a girlfriend, and he really couldnt remember her name anymore, but that was beside the pointthe point was, guys didnt do that to guys. Cal did. Cal was forever pushing to see what would stick. There wasnt a sleazier man in the entire state, and the bastard would sell his mother to the devil if there was something in it for him. Youre kidding, he said flatly.

We wouldnt kid about something like that, Doug assured him. Blivins has so many hands in his pockets hes already talking about cutting services. Tom said you sit on the board of the Childrens Aid Services, right? Well, Blivins thinks the private sector ought to pick that up. Worse, hes making noises about the unthinkablesay hello to state income tax.

Matt gasped in abject horrorthe lack of a state income tax was the last sacred cow in Texas.

He had never, not even once, thought of political office he never thought of politics at all. Yeah, but hed never thought of Cal at the capitol, either. Still... he didnt know shit about running for office.

But then Matt made the grave mistake of looking at Tom and felt his heart flutter. Nothing against Tom, but he was in politics because he couldnt do anything else. Was he the Democrats great hope? Matt caught the waiters eye and held up a finger before asking, very cautiously, very tentatively, and oh so very stupidly, So what exactly are we talking about here?

In Rebeccas eagerness to move to the lake house, she had not counted on sharing it with so many refugees.

The latest refugee to reach them was big and brown and covered with ticks, had a leg that had been broken and then healed funny, which made him look like he was half drunk when he walked. Even more unfortunate for the mutt was that he was too ugly and too used up for anyone to want him. He was never going to look much better than he did at this moment, covered head to toe in soapy bubbles.

Rebecca had discovered him in the early dawn when she had gone outside to become one with nature (as advised in a new book Rachel had sent her. Changing Lives: A Return to the Basics Through the Power of Tai Chi). His head was deep inside her garbage can, the contents of which had been strewn about the gravel path leading up to the main road. But the poor dog hadnt found much to sustain him, and when Rebecca called to him, he didnt bolt, but banged around the garbage can in his eagerness to get out, wagging his tail like a dog who enthusiastically and firmly believed that where there was a woman, dog food couldnt be too far away.

Now that his belly was full, Rebecca and Grayson were bathing him or rather, the as yet unnamed Big Dog was bathing Grayson, who was likewise covered in soapy bubbles. Rebecca hadnt fared much better her T-shirt now sported two distinct paw prints where the dog had jumped up to thank her for his Purina. He was such a gentle and loving giant, it was beyond Rebeccas ability to comprehend how someone could drive down a near-deserted road, open the car door, push him out, and then drive off. Surely there was a special place in hell for those folks and based on what shed seen, it would have to be a very large place, because Big Dog was the fourth mutt to have found his way to her door, in addition to a pair of parakeets who had roosted for a week in the old cottonwood tree.

Of the three prior, Rebecca and Grayson had agreed to keep Bean (so named from a broken tag where only Bean-something was legible), because the chunky yellow dog was mentally deranged. He walked into doors, couldnt find his food bowl, and always seemed to be going in the opposite direction of the rest of the world. Rebecca and Grayson found homes for the other two, sitting out front of Sams Corner Grocery in nearby Ruby Falls one long Saturday afternoon.

Now it appeared that loony Bean would have company. Big Dog must have known Rebecca wouldnt turn him away, that she of all humans would understand why he had come here, for after all, it was the same reason she had come hereto escape the reality of being out there. And truthfully, she didnt mind; the dogs gave her something to do to fill the endlessly empty moments that piled up around her.

The lake house was a perfect refuge for outcasts, too. It was really an old ranch house, three quarters of an hour outside Austin on a lonely stretch of river between the Highland lakes, and six miles from tiny Ruby Falls. The house itself was big and airy; its many windows were covered with sheer, silky drapes that lifted gracefully with each breeze off the river. A porch wrapped all the way around the big square of a house, and one corner was screened off to make a sleeping porch for those sultry summer nights. Inside, the floors were made of old timbers, and in the center of the house was a huge great room with dueling limestone fireplaces. On one end of the great room, a corridor led to three bedrooms and one and a half baths. On the other end, just behind the enormous kitchen and utility room, another corridor led to the master bedroom and two rooms that served as storage and an office.

What Rebecca loved best about the house was the long and gentle slope of green grass down to the bank of the Colorado River, lined with pecan trees and tall cottonwoods. That was where Rebecca and Grayson were hosing down Big Dog, screeching with laughter each time the dog wound up and shook off the water, spraying them in the process.

As a phone began to ring on the porch, Grayson picked up the hose and sprayed him a second time and the dog resolutely shook the water off again, sending Grayson into another shrieking fit of laughter. Rebecca ran up the steps, wiping water from her face, and as she grabbed the phone, she yelled, Dont drown him, honey! Hello?

Hey.

An old, familiar shiver shot down her spine at the sound of his voice. His phone skills definitely hadnt improved, but he really didnt need to identify himself, as she would know that voice just about anywhere. As would the rest of Texas, who had to listen to him at least live times a day on the radio or TV. Bud, she said simply.

Whats all that racket? he asked, hearing Graysons laughter on the lawn.

Grayson is giving a dog a bath.

Another stray?

Uh-huh.

Take him to the pound and let them put the poor thing out of his misery.

(A), that was like the last thing she would ever do, and (B), when would he stop telling her what to do? But before she could ask him, he said, You always had such a soft heart, Becky. Remember Flopper?

That caught her off guardshe hadnt thought of her horse Flopper in a long time. Bud had given her the gelding for their first wedding anniversary, and Rebecca had loved that horse. When he got sick, Bud was the one who took him to the vet and returned home alone. Rebecca had cried for days in Buds arms, which she really didnt want to think about now, and asked, What do you want, Bud?

Jesus, he said, whats the matter with you? appar-ently miffed that she wasnt being nicer to him.

Of course the old Rebeccathe doormat? would have politely carried on a conversation about Flopper, regardless of how she felt or how much she despised Bud for what he had done to her in the last few years of their marriage. Fortunately, that Rebecca had been put out of her considerable misery. Im sorry, Bud, did you forget? Were divorced.

I know that, he said irritably. But we were together a long time, and Id think the least you could do is be friendly.

Was he seriously out of his philandering mind? He wanted to be friends now? Bud. What do you want?

You know, sometimes you act like it was all one way. You had your part in it, too, Becky you think youre that perfect?

Oh. Dear. God. How had she endured all those years with this man? Did you really call to discuss ancient history? she asked (pleased that even though he was making her puh-lenty mad at the moment, she wasnt falling into old traps, just like her book Surviving Divorce: A Womans Guide to Starting Over said: Never let your ex-spouse drag you back into conflict. Walk tall, walk proud, but most importantly, walk away!).

No, I called because I ran into Robin, and she said you were looking for a job. By the way, that sister of yours still has a mouth on her.

Rebecca could only hope that she laid a few choice words on ol Budro. And? What if I am?

Well, for starters, why? And what do you think you can do?

First Dad, now her ex. Rebecca closed her eyes, tried to draw on the inner peace she was supposed to be learning through tai chi, recognizing instantly that in spite of the claims on the back of the video box, it wasnt working for shit at the moment. Frankly, its none of your goddamn business, Bud, she said.

Its my business if it affects my son, he said gruffly. But if thats what youre going to do, at least call one of my dealerships down there. We can put you in the office somewhere

No thanks! she snapped, as a million better retorts slammed around her brain.

Bec, Im just trying to help.

Like hell. I dont need or want your help, Bud.

He sighed again, only louder. Fine. Whatever. Listen, Candace and Ive been invited to Aspen this weekend, so Im gonna have to bail on Grayson.

Rebecca sank onto one of the Adirondack chairs, her anger giving way to frustration. Why should I be surprised? Youve bailed on your son four times in the last two months. Dont you know that he misses his father?

Hey, youre the one who moved!

You didnt see him in Dallas, either, Bud.

Dont try and lay a guilt trip on me! Just tell him

Uh-uh, no way! Rebecca quickly interrupted. You tell him Im sick of carrying your water.

My water? he started, but whatever else he said, Rebecca did not hear, because she had already jerked the phone away from her ear and yelled, Grayson! Your dad wants to talk to you!

The kids face lit up; he instantly dropped the hose, left the dog standing patiently. Rebecca winced, her heart sinking for Grayson as he rushed to the porch, struggling to take the stairs two at a time. He snatched the phone Rebecca held out to him, and she leaned back, looked up at the ceiling fan turning lazily above her head as he said, Hi, Daddy! Guess what. We got another dog!... Huh? ... No, its brown. The other one is yellow. He was eating out of the garbage can and Mom found him, and we havent named him yet.... Huh?

Grayson stopped; the light began to fade from his face. Rebecca could not hear him breathe; he was holding his breath, concentrating on what his father was telling him. It probably took no longer than a moment or two for Bud to tell his son that he had chosen Candace over him once again, but it seemed to take forever for the disappointment to seep in before Grayson said quietly, Oh. And then, But when can I come see you, Daddy? Another long moment passed. Well, can I come see Lucy? . .. Oh ... okay, he said softly, and handed the phone to Rebecca without another word.