The Girl in Seat 24B Page 23

  “You know I wouldn’t be upset if you went without us. I know you have to work and I realize how important this is.” I casually threw it out there.

  He took off his reading glasses and looked over to me smiling. “Nice try, Carly.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means I’m not going without you. Period.”

  “That’s nice and all, but are you going to only take assignments now where the kids and I can come?”

  “Carly, you realize after this book comes out I can pretty much do what I want, and I want to be with my wife and children. Plus, I was thinking you could support us now with your business.”

  I threw a pillow at him, carefully as to not hit my little bundle of joy, and glowered at him.

  He laughed quietly. “Seriously though honey, I don’t want to go without you and when this is all over, I plan on finishing my novel. And maybe, just for fun, I’ll teach some classes at the university.”

  “Really? I thought that was too tame for you?”

  He reached over and picked up my hand and kissed it. “Life with you will never be boring.”

  “Hmm …” I rolled my eyes and turned back to my monitor and half smiled. “Ok, let’s go to Myrtle Beach.”

  Not only did that make Michael happy, but Joseph Xavier was also thrilled. He took time out of his very hectic schedule, his campaign was almost at the finish line, to personally call and tell me that he and his family looked forward to having us. It really did seem surreal to be going to the home of what could be the most powerful man in the world someday. I had to say I was also intrigued by him. He wouldn’t be campaigning that weekend or the day before Election Day because he wanted to spend it with his family; he figured if he hadn’t already sold the American people, he wasn’t going to change their mind in a weekend. Of course his opponent was having a heyday with it, as was the press, but Joseph didn’t care. He said he was a family man and he meant it. It might also have to do with the fact he was about ten points ahead in the polls. Of course, in politics there were no guarantees, but I admired him for taking a weekend with his family just in case he won and his life was no longer his to do with as he pleased.

  Michael was true to his word. He did most of the planning and packing. I just hoped Ashton and Mia’s clothes matched. I took care of getting myself and Dani ready. I was nervous about the trip, but I reminded myself that women with babies crossed the plains, and not in nice new 4Runners with climate control and entertainment systems. I worried about things like my breasts leaking and reeking of spit-up, you know all the fun things new moms have to deal with, and then there was the lack of sleep and the unknown status of my marriage. I didn’t want to have to pretend we were some happy couple when we were tentative. Ok, I was tentative, Michael was gung-ho.

  We weren’t fighting. In fact we got along well, but I was still very reserved and guarded around him. I was still praying for answers, for direction, and for help to forgive him. The only thing I could say was the hate I had felt for him had subsided, and I no longer felt like I wanted to smack him, so that was a positive.

  We loaded up bright and early Friday morning. Ok, Michael loaded up and I watched. Of course it was raining like crazy. We didn’t get snow in November in Georgia, we got rain. I hated driving in the pouring rain, but Michael assured me it would be ok, and it was only supposed to rain for the first part of our trip. I made him check the weather at least ten times before we buckled in all of the kids. Going from two to three kids seemed like a much bigger leap than one to two, and it definitely seemed like you forget all the things infants need when you go so long without one.

  Michael really was happy. He kept expressing how this was the best of both worlds for him and how much he had missed being able to travel on assignment with me. I guess I had never realized how much that had meant to him and the loss he felt when that was no longer an option. For me, I wanted to separate home and work as much as possible, but I was learning for him, intertwining the two created equilibrium.

  As happy as he was, it wasn’t an easy trip there. Mix in torrential rains, a carsick Mia, a baby that demanded to be nursed and held, unending traffic, and a sleep deprived mommy, and you basically have a recipe for disaster. Oddly, though, it was Michael that kept his cool and kept trying to keep everyone positive. He was desperate to prove that we could do this, and not only do it, but do it well. I, on the other hand, kept saying this was a big mistake and what were we thinking, but Michael insisted we trudge forward because it was going to be great. His eyes pled with me to believe him and to please try, so we trudged forward; what should have been a six hour trip turned into a nine hour arduous trek. We spent the last hour listening to our baby cry and Mia and Ashton begging us to make her stop. I don’t think you have ever seen people get out of a car so quickly once we made it past the tight security that was guarding Joseph’s luxurious home on the beach.

  “Well, that was fun,” Michael said as he unbuckled Mia and I retrieved my very unhappy baby. Thankfully, as soon as I picked her up, she calmed down. She loved being held and wasn’t used to being in a car seat for long periods of time.

  Ashton climbed out from the back. “You should have had a boy, Mom,” he announced loudly.

  Michael and I both laughed and told him that her being a girl made no difference. He looked between Mia and Dani as if he was begging us to differ with him. The laughter and just being out of the car hit the reset button on my mood. I took a deep breath and snuggled Dani close and told myself it was ok to enjoy this. After taking a moment to look around at the scenery, I realized I would be silly not to. I was definitely breaking out my camera.

  Joseph came out and joined us. I noticed how his armed detail followed his every move; that would be hard to get used to. It was also a little disconcerting that we were staying with a man that needed around the clock protection.

  “You get used to it,” Michael whispered.

  Joseph was jovial and welcoming as he greeted us. He acted very grandfatherly toward Mia and Ashton. Mia took right to him, but Ashton was a little wary. Dani began to cry again as we were ushered in, so I asked for our room so I could change and feed her and give her the attention she deserved. Joseph had his people bring up our luggage. I didn’t have much of a chance to look at his home as we walked upstairs, but just the brief glances were eye candy. I heard the noise of children playing and adults in conversation, so I assumed his family had already arrived. Joseph showed us to a large room with a private bath. The room boasted a four-poster king size bed, a sitting area with fine furniture, a large screen TV, and all the comforts you would find in a fine hotel. It was decorated in warm and inviting tones; it almost made the drive worth it.

  Joseph left us alone so we could settle in. Before he left, he reminded us the kids could sleep with his grandchildren in the children’s quarters that had lots of bunk beds and a large play area. I told him we would see how Mia and Ashton took to it all and let them decide whether to stay with us or with his grandchildren. I was kind of hoping they wanted to stay with us. I didn’t know if Michael and I were ready for sleepovers yet, even though he said he would take the floor.

  As soon as he left, I began to take care of Dani while Ashton and Mia explored the room and Michael unpacked.

  “Feel free to take the kids down. I’m going to be a while.” I wanted to freshen up before I made an appearance.

  He reluctantly agreed and came over to the chair I now occupied to kiss both me and the baby before they went down. “Thanks for being a good sport,” he said.

  I wasn’t sure my behavior would constitute good sportsmanship—I had been pretty cranky the whole day, but I smiled anyway. “I’ll be down as soon as I can.”

  “I can’t wait,” he responded.

  I wondered if this Michael would last.

  Dani greedily ate. She acted as if she was starving, poor thing. She was having no issues gaining weight; her little cheeks and thighs were already filling out. She really was
the most adorable baby. I took my time feeding her and just snuggling her until she fell asleep. I laid her in the portable crib we brought and freshened up by changing my clothes. I was in the weird stage where my regular clothes didn’t quite fit yet, but maternity clothes were way too big. I broke down and bought a few outfits for the interim and specifically for this trip. I threw on some jeans and a soft charcoal gray turtleneck sweater, fixed my makeup, and called it good.

  I carefully picked up my sleeping baby, and we proceeded to find the rest of our family. It didn’t take much, I just followed the noise downstairs. There was a large gathering in what looked like the family room that was open to the spacious kitchen. Michael was immediately drawn to us and joined our side. He excitedly introduced me to the group. All of Joseph’s daughters were there with their husbands. I think the couples were as follows – Hope and Greg, Michelle and Cody, Natalie and Mark, and Kristine and Dan. The children, including mine, were all in the play room. Everyone was cordial and, of course, very interested in Dani. Who wouldn’t be?

  Michael took our daughter. He hadn’t been able to really hold her all day and, like I said, we were both addicted. There’s something about a man holding a baby that is very attractive, especially when you could see in his eyes how much he loved her as he looked at her. I was only allowed just a second to look on Michael as I was bombarded with requests to take photos while I was there for the next five to six days.

  “Please don’t feel obligated,” Joseph said, but he added in, “I would love to have this weekend captured in pictures, especially through your lens. You have a gift.”

  How could I say no to that? “I would be happy to take some photos.”

  Joseph was delighted.

  “I can do some posed shots, but I would love to do some candid shots if that’s ok with everyone.” I just loved capturing people living life, and what a life this family had. They all readily agreed. Michael’s facial expressions emitted pride.

  “You are an excellent team,” Joseph said. His overt attempt to express his opinion on our status as a couple was not lost on me or Michael.

  I just grinned, but Michael verbalized his agreement. “There has never been a better team.”

  There were a couple of aahs from Joseph’s daughters. This was going to be a long weekend, I thought.

  Dinner preparation was a family affair in the Xavier family. It was fun to watch them interact with each other. His daughters were all close in age. His oldest, Hope, was thirty-six and his youngest, Kristine, was twenty-eight. They all seemed to get along so well together, and it made me a little jealous. I don’t think Melanie and I had ever been so easy and comfortable around each other. Even now, as adults, we had to try really hard to be around each other for long periods of time. These sisters seemed to know everything that went on each other’s lives. It was fun to watch and take pictures of them. Joseph and his wife, Marilyn, had done a good job as parents. I hoped someday in the future my three little ones would be so close.

  Michael used this as an opportunity to casually interview “Joseph’s girls,” as they were called in the media. He asked them about their mother and about their favorite memories growing up. It was fun to hear them reminisce about holidays and dates gone badly, but it was touching to hear them talk about their mother and what an example she had been to them. She sounded like the strong, silent type that you didn’t want to get on the wrong side of, but from the sounds of it, she was the best friend and fiercest protector you could ever have.

  While Michael was in his element, I took several shots of him when he wasn’t paying attention to me. I hadn’t seen him work in a long time, and I realized how much I had missed that. He had a way of making people feel comfortable enough to open up. Watching him through my lens made me see him in a way I hadn’t in a long time, probably in a way I should have been more aware of these last several years. He finally caught me taking his picture and looked up and smiled and winked. I lowered my camera and smiled back.

  Since I had been caught, I took that as my opportunity to head up to the play room, with Dani swaddled against me, to take some pictures of Joseph’s grandchildren. I also wanted to check on mine, even though I knew a nanny was present upstairs. There were three levels to this monstrously beautiful home, and a good portion of the third level was a children’s wonderland. I feared Ashton and Mia may never want to go home. The room boasted slides, a bouncy ball pen, a drawing and painting station, a theater area, and a mini stage. It was like kid paradise. Heck, even I wanted to stay. I was happy to find Mia and Ashton playing well with the other kids. There were five grandkids in total. Hope and Greg had two boys ages eight and nine, Michelle and Cody also had a seven-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy; that left a three-year-old boy that belonged to Natalie and Mark.

  The nanny, Addison, remarked to me how Mia had no issues bossing the boys around and getting her own way. That sounded like Mia. She did say that my kids were well behaved; that also sounded like them. I had been so grateful for that fact this past year. I don’t think I would have survived had I not been blessed with the children I was given.

  I tried to carefully remain in the background so I could take some natural shots, but kids love to pose (at least some), so I ended up rearranging them and giving them direction. The boys weren’t really into it, except the three-year–old, who was darling and had the curliest red hair. I could have eaten him up. Mia and Clarissa were more than happy to pose for the camera, but they had their own ideas about what would be best. I was happy to let them direct me. After all, all I had to do was focus and click, but even that didn’t last long. I had apparently interrupted a game of house, so I made my way back downstairs.

  On my way down, I ran into Joseph.

  “Carly, I was hoping to run into you.”

  “Well, here I am.” I smiled.

  He smiled in return. “I would like to show you something in my office.”

  “As a politician, that sounds nefarious.”

  He laughed heartily. “Maybe I should hire you as my public relations consultant. You would certainly keep me out of trouble.”

  It was my turn to laugh, but I agreed to follow him to his office down the hall. I wasn’t sure an office near the playroom was a good place, but he probably enjoyed being close to his grandchildren. I knew I would. He led the way and opened the double doors to a very masculine office with lots of wood, leather, and bookshelves. I also recognized several foreign art pieces I’m sure he collected during his travels. His office reminded me of several of my father’s offices throughout my growing-up years.

  At first he just let me walk around and admire the art and the pictures of his family over the years. He followed me as I walked around. It was as if he was waiting for me to discover on my own what he asked me in for. It didn’t take me long to come across a picture of him and my father together in India, both sitting atop elephants no less. I touched the picture almost reverently. Then I looked down at my sleeping baby that was wrapped against me. So many times I had wished my parents were alive to enjoy my children, especially during this last year. I had desperately wanted my mother.

  My father and Joseph looked like men that were on top of the world in the picture. It was just so weird to think that this man next to me was a friend of my father.

  “That picture was taken only a month before … ”

  He didn’t finish. I knew when he was talking about. I still remembered that day, how I frantically watched the news and tried desperately to reach my parents. I remembered Michael not leaving my side for a minute and him just holding me and not saying a word when my worst fears were confirmed. He knew there was nothing he could say, but his actions spoke volumes.

  A small tear found its way down my cheek. “Thank you for showing me this.” I figured our little pow-wow was over, so I made a motion toward the door.

  “Carly, can I talk to you?”

  I turned back toward him. “Sure.”

  He motioned for me to sit
on his leather couch, and he sat next to me. For a guy that usually looked unfazed, he was acting awfully nervous.

  “I wanted to apologize for our last meeting. I probably sounded insensitive, but I had no idea.”

  I rested my hand against his for a moment.

  “Please, no apology is necessary. How could you have known?”

  He smiled sweetly at the gesture. “I hope you don’t mind me saying, but I noticed you’re not wearing your wedding ring. Are you … ?”

  I rubbed my finger. “Confused?”

  He gave me a knowing grin.

  “You know, several times I caught Michael holding your ring and just staring at it. At first, I didn’t realize what it was, and I when I found out, I was quite surprised.”

  I shook my head. “Believe me, no one has been more surprised by all of this than me.”

  He gently patted my hand. “But you’re working things out?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess. He wants to, but … but I just don’t know. I wanted to for so long, but he crossed a line and I just don’t know what to do.”

  He just looked at me for a moment. He reminded me so much of my dad. I could see why they were friends. “Can I tell you something in confidence Carly?”

  “As long as it isn’t some secret inner working of the government.”

  He laughed. “You really are delightful. But no, this is much more important.”

  I gave him my full attention.

  “To look at these pictures that surround us, you would probably think we look like the perfect family, but as you know, no family or relationship is perfect. Moments of perfection, yes.”

  I smiled down at Dani. She was one of those moments for me.

  “But most relationships have moments of great imperfection, and sometimes those are insurmountable, or so they may seem. Marilyn and I had that moment about twenty years ago. At the time, my business was booming, our daughters were healthy and beautiful, and we were making more money than I ever imagined.” He looked around. “It was the year we began building this house,” when he looked back my way, he looked saddened, “but success costs.”