When Love Calls (19 page)

“Randolph is single and unattached. Unlike Vincent Dupree, who was a very married man.”

“You remember everything that happened, right?” Louise nodded. “Could you tell me? I mean, I’ve read all about it in the newspaper archives, but you were actually there. I tried asking my dad or grandma, but they never wanted to talk about it. All I can gather from her is that she was accused of having an affair and publicly humiliated.”

“First of all, there was never any proof, know that. As far as the newspapers and public opinion go, they could only speculate.”

“Mamma Lou, you don’t have to sugarcoat it for me. I’m a big girl, I know it happened. When Grandma is having an episode, she talks about the senator as if he’s right there with her. I remember Grandpa and she never talks about him like that. She really loved this senator, didn’t she?”

“In her way, yes. I believe she did.”

“But he didn’t love her back, did he?”

“It was complicated. His family and his career were very important to him. It was a different time. The sixties were extremely turbulent—the war, civil rights, the deaths of King, Kennedy and Malcolm X—there were so many things happening all at once. We were no longer the innocent kids on the block. We had to open our eyes and take responsibility for our actions. Vincent and Allie got caught up in all that.”

“And all that was to say that there was no way they were gonna be together, right? And he knew it. So why did he use her like that?”

“I can’t answer that.”

Alyssa nodded her understanding.

“When did Allie start showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease?” Louise asked after a few minutes.

“A few years ago, I think. I can’t really pinpoint when exactly. She started forgetting things, easy things, like turning appliances off and losing stuff. I was still a registered nurse at the hospital at the time.”

“And you stopped to work at the foundation?”

“Yes, I loved being a nurse, but working to help change public policy is very exciting. Unfortunately it’s not as simple and straightforward as I thought it would be. There are so many twists and turns. I sometimes wonder how anything ever gets done in this city.”

“But things do happen and laws are made that really help people. Washington is a remarkable city, vibrant and exciting. I enjoy the energy here.”

“But you don’t live here, right?”

“No, I live on Crescent Island in Virginia.”

“Crescent Island. Where is that exactly?”

“It’s a picturesque paradise about twenty-five miles off the Virginia coast, and it’s absolutely beautiful this time of year. It’s not called
God’s Garden
for nothing. It’s paradise with a rich history and beautiful scenery.”

“Wow, it sounds absolutely incredible.”

“It is, and I’d like you to consider coming to visit me. I have more than enough room and it might do Allie good to get out of the city awhile, and I’m sure you could use vacation from work.”

“Thank you, I’ll definitely see about arranging that, even if it’s just for a long weekend. But speaking of vacations from work—” she glanced at her watch “—I’d better get back there or I won’t have a job to go back to.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that, dear.”

The check was paid and they walked outside into the warm sunshine. “Where can I drop you, Mamma Lou?”

“Oh, don’t worry about me, my ride will be here in a minute.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, here he comes now,” she said as a large dark town car parked across the street at the traffic light.

“One more thing, Mamma Lou. You paid for the tables at the foundation fund-raiser Monday night, right?” Alyssa asked. Louise nodded. “Then you knew Randolph was going to attend, right?” She nodded again. “Is that why you invited my office, so that he and I would meet there?”

“But the two of you had already met,” Louise said.

“Are you playing matchmaker like Grandma said?”

The car pulled up and a driver got out and opened the door for her. “Goodbye, dear. I had a wonderful time. We must do this again.”

“’Bye, Mamma Lou,” Alyssa said, realizing that she wasn’t going to get an answer one way or the other. She waved as the town car drove off, then got in her car and went back to work.

With the weeklong conference finally over, Kent walked back into the meeting room just as the last presentation was over. He took a seat in the last row as the final acknowledgments were being given. Nodding agreeably as some passed and glanced at him, he watched as large groups of attendees began filing out, all eagerly discussing the two-day program, excited to put their newfound knowledge to good use.

Kent looked around, quickly spotting Randolph standing in front surrounded and talking to several attendees. As usual, he waited patiently in the back for the last few people to file out. Several men walked over and joined the small group, all listening intently to what Randolph was saying.

Kent smiled and shook his head. His friend and employer was the most promising political figure in years. When he spoke, others listened. His record was impeccable and he was known for his honesty and openness. When he made a promise, he stuck to it, and one way or the other, he would find a way to enrich someone else’s life.

Kent knew that recently Randolph had been distracted. His solitary lifestyle was beginning to take a toll. He unintentionally cut himself off from exactly what he needed.

Kent opened his leather binder and looked at the news clipping one more time. He smiled. The clipping was news to him and he prided himself on knowing everything there was to know. He knew his boss well, but apparently not well enough. The photo was clear and the woman by his side was definitely with him. He held her hand securely, but unfortunately her identity in both photos was obscured.

He looked up, seeing that small group beginning to disband, then called for the driver to have the car waiting out front. He’d already made arrangements to go directly to the airport, then back to Washington that evening. The only concern was the weather.

The forecast called for heavy rains, high winds and the possibility of scattered hail. There was also a tornado warning in effect. With all that, he knew that there was a real possibility that the flight might be canceled. He only hoped that it wouldn’t be.

Kent glanced over at Randolph again, then nodded, indicating that all had been arranged. He discreetly held up his open palm, signifying that they had about five minutes. He refocused on the folder in front of him. After one last look at the clipping, he flipped it over and started reading a report he’d been working on all week.

The last four days were completely exhausting for Randolph. He and Kent had left early Wednesday morning and hadn’t stopped since. The first two days were both physically and mentally torturous in and of themselves. In a burst of political energy, Randolph had crisscrossed two states, five cities and a countless number of counties and townships campaigning and supporting fellow politicians. He shook hands, talked, joked and attended rallies. He made speeches, introduced candidates and generally lent his face and name to candidates he believed in.

It was an election year and a lot of very important seats were up for grabs. Two were of congressmen whom he respected and admired a great deal. Three others held great promise and he wanted to add his voice to their campaigns.

Afterward, Randolph had attended a two-day conference on health-care reform for senior citizens. There were presentations, speakers from all over the globe and a number of very prominent health-care-reform advocates.

Inundated with medical research and scientific studies, the proposal offered interesting possibilities that he considered developing for a broader audience.

When the conference was over, he had the opportunity to speak at length with several medical experts about the latest developments in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. They offered little hope, but were extremely helpful in directing him to other specialists in the field of degenerate mental conditions.

While he was busy to the point of exhaustion, the one thing that kept him going was his nightly conversations with Alyssa. Even now, he smiled just thinking about them. He usually called her late when she was already in bed and they talked about everything under the sun until early the next morning.

When they hung up each time, he realized that he missed her all over again. Now the knowledge that he would see her in a few hours was all he needed to prompt his hasty exit.

“Hey, we all set?” Randolph asked standing over Kent.

“Yeah, just finalizing transportation,” he said, as he received a text message that the driver was already out front and waiting. Already checked out of the hotel and their bags stored with the bellmen, they headed straight to the lobby.

Randolph stopped several times to shake hands and talk briefly, adding a few minutes to their departure. Kent got their luggage and the driver put it in the trunk. By then, Randolph had gotten into the car and they were on their way to the airport.

The weather was horrible and traffic was disastrous.

Kent opened his folder and handed him the clipping.

Randolph looked at it and smiled, half chuckling. “I’m surprised it took so long to get into the papers. This was more than a week ago. My popularity must be slipping.”

“I doubt that. Looks like it was a telephoto-lens photo, nicely detailed. I’m surprised it looks so good.” Kent smiled. “Did you need a report done?”

Randolph smiled at him. “You already did.”

“Ms. Alyssa Wingate, I presume,” Kent said quietly, well aware of the driver in front. Randolph nodded. “Good, I like her.”

“So do I,” Randolph said.

“I gathered that,” he said. “Okay, next order of business…”

They talked briefly about several reports and decided to forgo the next medical conference, since it would most probably interfere with an important vote on the Hill. Both men took important phone calls, then concluded by discussing last-minute travel plans.

“What’s this weekend look like?” Randolph asked.

Kent opened his small PDA and scanned through. “Just family and friend obligations. You have dinner with the Evanses Sunday evening and brunch with Senator Andre Hart Sunday morning after church. A card game switched to Trey Evans’s house tomorrow evening and a two o’clock lunch with your sister. I’ve already confirmed them. This evening and tomorrow morning, you’re free. Our flight leaves at seven o’clock tonight. James will pick us up at National.”

Randolph looked at his watch. It was already five-thirty. When they arrived in D.C. with the hour time difference, it would still be relatively early. If he planned it right, he might get to see Alyssa this evening.

The car arrived at the airport and Kent glanced at his watch. “We’d better hurry.”

The two men walked purposefully through the airport, breezed through security checkpoints and arrived just in time to see that their flight had been canceled because of severe weather, high winds and tornado warnings.

So much for his evening plans. He opened his cell phone and made two calls, one to Alyssa and one to his sister. While Randolph was talking to his sister, Kent walked up to him looking very stoic.

“Excuse me, Senator, you need to take this call,” Kent said, handing him the phone.

Randolph took the phone.

Chapter 14

“I
hate moving,” Alyssa moaned as her father looked around at the last few boxes in the living room.

“Eighty percent of it is already done,” he said.

“I’ve been taking boxes over to Grandma’s house all week long. I didn’t want to keep you all day moving me. I know you have to get back to work this afternoon.”

“Don’t worry about that. What we need to figure out is how you and I are gonna move this sofa into the freight elevator and load it onto the truck. It looks like it weighs about eight hundred pounds.”

“I don’t need it, but I can’t leave it here, so I have to donate it. I tried to get them to pick it up, but apparently they don’t do that anymore. We have to take it to them.”

“Yeah, yeah, that still doesn’t get this thing out of here.” He walked over and picked up one end to test the weight. “Yep, it’s eight hundred pounds, all right,” he said, exaggerating.

“Hello, anybody here call for room service?” Nina said, standing in the open doorway, smiling with Oliver right behind her, also smiling while looking over her shoulder.

Benjamin and Alyssa turned. “Just in time,” Benjamin said, turning his cap around backward.

“Good morning, all,” Oliver said in his usual jolly tone. “Need a hand with that, Mr. Wingate?” He scooted past Nina and headed over to the sofa.

“We drove Oliver’s flatbed pickup truck just in case you need more room,” Nina said. “The thing is massive, I swear. We could get a ton of boxes on it.”

“Dad, this is Nina, my girlfriend from work, and you remember Oliver, Mrs. Watts’s son.”

“Good to meet you, Nina,” he said, nodding and smiling, then turned to Oliver. “This is Oliver? Skinny little Oliver from next door to your grandmother’s house? The one you used to babysit?” Benjamin asked.

“One and the same, although not so little and skinny anymore, Mr. Wingate,” Oliver said happily, raising his arms and flexing his muscles, then continued to turn and pose while flexing again. Alyssa and Nina laughed. Benjamin shook his head.

“Yep, that’s the same Oliver, all right,” Benjamin said.

“What do you mean?” Nina asked curiously.

“Never mind that,” Oliver said quickly before Benjamin could respond. “Let’s get this show on the road. Where do you need me?”

Benjamin laughed. “Good point. Why don’t we put all the donated furniture on the moving truck and the rest of the boxes on the flatbed. That way we can make one stop at the drop-off on the way to Allie’s place.”

“Sounds good,” Alyssa said, picking up a box. Nina picked one up, too. “We’ll take these boxes down to the truck.”

“Is this the only thing to get donated?” Oliver asked.

“No, come on, I’ll show you the rest,” Benjamin said, taking Oliver through to the rest of the apartment.