Rumor Has It (26 page)

“Your father?”

“Damn, how thick is that file you have on me?”

“I do my research,” Teresa said. “Maybe I'm wrong about you, and for your sake, I hope that I am. Working with Jackson, I've come to believe in him. I'll be the first to tell you that I've been wrong about a politician before.”

“Yeah, you were really deep in John Edwards's corner for years,” Liza said as she pulled into the parking lot of Starbucks.

“I see you've done your share of research as well.”

“Well, I was trying to figure out who the competition was, but after I got to know Nic, I wasn't sharing anything. That man is an asshole with a capital
A
.”

“Don't I know it. He has people fooled.”

“But not you.”

“Nope. Not me. I sniffed that snake out when he came up with the inane plan for John. But that's neither here nor there. I hate corruption and dirty tricks.” She focused a cold stare on Liza. “Don't be a dirty trick.”

Liza held back her laughter and told herself that Teresa was the kind of woman you definitely wanted as your friend.

 

 

Jackson counted to ten when he saw Robert walking his way. He still wanted to punch this man for all of the lies he told on Liza. “Jackson, I guess congratulations are in order,” Robert said, sarcasm dripping from his words like honey.

The cameras were gone now, but some mid-morning voters were making it to the polling place. “I don't want to talk to you right now,” Jackson gritted.

“But you're cuddled up with my former best friend. I just hope she makes you happy.”

Jackson laughed sardonically. “I'm sure you do, Montgomery. Maybe you need to go shake some more hands and see if you can gain some more votes.”

“Aww, but your little public display with Liza probably gave me all the ammunition I need to trounce you.”

“Get. Out. Of. My. Face.”

Robert folded his arms across his chest. “What are you going to do, deck me because you fell for a whore?”

Jackson's jaw tensed. “Funny, you're the one who pays whores. Or are we supposed to forget about Miss Brown because your mama left you at a fire station?”

Robert glared at Jackson. “You sorry—”

“No, that's you.” Jackson smiled. “You're the one who played dirty and started those rumors about Liza hoping to turn the tide in your direction. All because she caught you being the sorry piece of shit you are. Liza was right about you—if the woman you love can't trust you, why should the people in the state think they can?”

“We'll see what happens when the polls close and when you're nothing. Then Liza will turn her back on you and you'll return to being a damned brick.”

Oh, if only he had a brick to slam against his thick skull. “Good luck, Robert. You're going to need it.” Jackson walked away and rounded up half of his volunteers so that they could move on to their next voting place.

Chapter 29

It was more like lunchtime when Chante and Liza finally met up. Liza had dropped Teresa off at the polling place where Jackson had moved his party. Liza had an idea as to why he left and she couldn't blame him at all.

Knowing Robert, after all of the cameras had been turned off he probably started some low-key mess. Joining Chante at 300 East, she was happy to see her friend with a smile on her face.

“Sorry about the delay.”

Chante waved her hand. “I saw the news. Bold move by your man.”

Liza tried to hide her smile, but she couldn't. Just thinking of Jackson as her man made her tingle with happiness.

“So,” Chante said, pointing to her “I voted” sticker, “where's the victory party going to be?”

“I'm not sure,” Liza said, realizing that her talk with Teresa had kept her from having a conversation with Jackson about his plans for the evening.

“Well, I have a great dress that I'd like to wear, if I'm invited.”

“Of course you are. Girl, we have a lot to celebrate and it's going to start with you not marrying a jerkoff.”

Chante rolled her eyes. “While I was waiting for you, I got a call from the office. Taiwon said my suspension will be lifted in a month.”

“That's good, right?”

“Maybe it's time for me to take control of my destiny. This is the very excuse they need not to make me partner. I'm tired of busting my ass for men who don't value what I do or what I bring to that firm. One million dollars in billable hours last year.”

“That's a lot of damned money.”

She nodded. “Yet, I have to beg them to make me a partner? Then I have to put up with Taiwon. What an ass. I'm betting he was bullied as a child or dropped on his head.”

Liza laughed, agreeing with her friend. “I don't see how you've put up with it as long as you have.”

She shrugged. “I guess it was what I was supposed to do. Or rather, what I was expected to do. You go to law school, graduate at the top of your class, and get a job with one of the most prestigious firms in the state.”

Liza reached out across the table and placed her hand on top of Chante's. “You know what this means, right?”

“What?”

“It's time for you to stop doing what's expected and do what you want, finally.”

“You're right. Now, if I could figure out what that is.”

Liza was about to reply when her cell phone rang. It was Jackson and she excused herself from the table to take the call.

“Hi, how's it going out there?” she asked.

“I'm tired and hungry, but it's well worth it.”

“Where's the victory party tonight? Chante and I want to be there to help you celebrate.”

“You and Chante made up, that's reason enough to party even if I don't win.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

“Why do you think you aren't going to win? I've seen a few exit polls and they have you up two to one.”

“It's still early. Where are you?”

“Three hundred East.”

“Umm, an Asian tuna burger would be delicious right now,” he said. “Wait for me. I think it's time for a break.”

“I'll be here,” she said. Returning to her table, she smiled at Chante. “That was Jackson.”

“The smile on your face gave it away.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin and then set it on the side of her plate. “And while you were outside talking to your Mr. Wonderful, I got a call of my own. Robert Montgomery is truly the definition of insanity.”

“What the hell did he want?”

Chante laughed. “Me to come to his
victory
party tonight. Said we could make up when he wins and show the public that love can overcome anything. I was like, fool, I am not Tammy Bakker.”

“Yeah, that is insane. What did he say in response?”

She looked over her shoulder. “He didn't have a chance because I told him to hug and kiss my black ass. And that couple over there heard me because I got a little loud. That's why they keep staring at me.”

“Forget them. That was a good one, though. I'm going to use that.”

“Yeah, in the throes of passion with Jackson,” she quipped, then waved for the waiter. “I need a really big glass of wine.”

Liza looked at her watch. “Umm, it's not even one-thirty.”

Chante rolled her eyes as the waiter approached the table. “It's five o'clock somewhere.” She turned to the young man and ordered a four-ounce glass of merlot.

“And you, ma'am?” he asked, turning to Liza.

“I'm good,” she replied. “Just a refill on my tea. And I need an Asian tuna burger.”

When the waiter returned with the wine, Jackson was also walking over to the ladies. “Hello,” he said to Chante and Liza. Then he looked at Chante's choice of drink. “Hard day?”

“You have no idea,” she said, then took a big gulp of her wine.

“You two need to be alone?”

Chante shook her head, then put her glass down. “No,” she said. “You two need to be alone. I'm going to take this wine to the bar and give my grandmother a call. I think a trip to Charleston is in order. And, Jackson, I voted for you today; I hope you win.” She rose to her feet and headed for the bar. Jackson sat down and smiled at Liza.

“What was that all about?”

“Robert. But you know what, we're not talking about him. I ordered your food, and for the next hour or so, you are going to relax.”

“Relax? Are you seriously telling someone to relax? I'm impressed.”

Liza rolled her eyes. “I'm tired of hearing that.”

“Need I remind you that you're the woman who said she didn't have an off switch?”

“And you simply showed me that a pause button is worth using sometimes,” she said, then took a sip of tea.

After lunch, Jackson headed back out on the campaign trail, while Liza and Chante headed to their respective homes to get ready for what they both hoped would be Jackson's victory party at The Ritz-Carlton in uptown.

 

 

Jackson sat in the silence of his headquarters and prayed. He prayed for the Lord's will to be done. If this was his election to win, then he would leave it in God's hands. Saying amen, Jackson stood up and grabbed a room-temperature bottle of water. He drank it down quickly. There were two hours before the polls closed and he'd already written his concession speech. In it he thanked the voters and the volunteers. Then he congratulated Robert on his win and asked that he remember the trust that the people put in him as he made decisions in Raleigh. He reminded Robert that the children of North Carolina and the elderly were depending on him. Told him it wasn't the huge corporations that made the state great, but it was the people and the military that made North Carolina an amazing place to live and it was his job to protect those people and make sure he always spoke truth over power.

He'd memorized the four pages that he'd written. Especially the last few lines:

No matter what speech he gave tonight, the ending would be the same. His life was going to start with Liza—win or lose.

The lights flickered on and Teresa walked in. “I figured you were in here. Have you finished your victory speech?” she asked with a smile.

“Nope. But the concession speech is ready.”

She rolled her eyes. “You're not going to need that. I have a confession to make.”

“You fixed the election?” he joked.

“Don't even go there. Liza and I had a talk today and I have to say I was wrong about that young lady.”

“Let me write this down. Teresa Flores admits that she was wrong about something.”

She smacked him on the shoulder playfully. “You're something else, you know that? She's special, Jackson. You'd better hold on to this one.”

He smiled. Oh, he planned to hold on to her very tightly. “What changed your mind?”

“A few things. But mainly, the way she lights up when she talks about you. And Liza's sharp. You deserve a woman like that and she actually deserves you. So, while I was blinded by my dislike for Nic and the fact that she had been Robert's champion for all of those years, I see she's the kind of woman who cleans up her mistakes.”

“Kind of like looking in a mirror, huh?”

“Now, you're just going too far. There is only one Teresa Flores, all right? Maybe in a few years she'll be half the force that I am. That is, if you don't saddle her down with six or seven babies by then.” Laughing, Teresa flounced out of the office and Jackson found the inspiration to write a victory speech.

 

 

Liza and Chante felt as if they were back in college getting ready for a sorority social. They had emptied their closets and talked themselves out of and into several different outfits. Chante had decided against the dress she'd planned to wear when she and Robert were together. She decided that it gave her a Stepford Wife look and Liza agreed wholeheartedly.

Neither of them was going to be caught dead in red! Even if Liza thought the red sleeveless band dress that Chante had brought over was absolutely adorable. “We should just go shopping,” Chante said as she looked at the stack of outfits on Liza's bed.

“No. We have enough clothes right here to start a boutique. Oh, my! I'm such an idiot.”

“What's up?” Chante asked as Liza dashed into her closet. When her friend pulled out a pink bag, Chante shook her head. “I guess you went shopping without me. I've been dying to try this place.”

“You know I run their social media accounts.”

Chante grinned. “Of course you do. So, what's in the bag?”

Liza unzipped the bag and pulled out two brilliant dresses, one a strapless pink satin gown and the other a bright yellow razorback dress with a beaded bodice. Of course, Chante reached for the pink one.

“It's way too short for your long legs and you're probably going to be filmed more than me anyway. Besides, you have better arms.”

“Hello, this dress is strapless.”

“I know, but I thought I'd throw that in to confuse you.”

“Ugh,” Liza said with a laugh. “Take the pink one. I wanted to wear this yellow one anyway.”

“That's right, be that man's ray of sunshine.”

Liza smiled, knowing that Jackson was definitely the brightness in her life. She couldn't believe that she'd fallen so hard and fast for him. And he for her. It felt good to care for someone and know they felt the same way in return. She didn't have to worry about late-night phone calls from other women or catching him chatting it up with his lover. He was a man she could be totally devoted to and not feel like a fool about it.

“Liza,” Chante said, snapping her out of her thoughts. “What do you think?” She spun around in the dress and looked like a total knockout.

“Yes, that is you. I want you to keep it.”

“I can't do that. It's brand-new.”

“And? Maybe the next time you wear it, you'll be going out with your brand-new boo. Ooh, I have the perfect shoes for this dress. And those, I will be taking back.” Liza walked into her closet and grabbed a pair of nude heels, then handed the shoes to Chante.

“I don't know, girl. These shoes are fierce and I don't recall you ever wearing them, so you should give them to me.”

“Just because you haven't seen me in them doesn't mean I don't have big plans for them.” She headed back into the closet and grabbed a pair of silver stilettos to pair with her dress.

About two hours later, they were both dressed and ready to go to The Ritz-Carlton. The polls had been closed for five minutes, but Liza had been too nervous to take a peek at the early results. If she saw that Robert was in the lead, she'd probably cry and she'd worked too hard to get her makeup to pop tonight. And if she saw that Jackson was in the lead, then she would be a ball of nerves. So, she wasn't going to look. She was just going to be there to celebrate with her man. Liza prayed she wasn't going to have to do any consoling.

 

 

Jackson had gotten to the point where he was beginning to hate ties. He couldn't remember when he had to choose between so many different ties, and for what? He glanced at himself in the mirror of his hotel suite. “You are about to be the first senator of the forty-fifth district,” he said. “You ran a clean race, you connected with the voters, and you're going to be the voice that the people deserve.”

Bolstered by his short pep talk, he chose a Carolina blue and white polka dot tie to accompany his heather gray suit and white oxford shirt. He pinned his 82nd Airborne decal pin on his lapel, then brushed his hand across his face. It was time to learn his fate. Jackson headed down to the ballroom, where the party was in full swing. Waiters floated around the room with trays of wine and champagne. The first people to approach him were Carlton and Barbara.

“Hey, Sarge!” Carlton said, his eyes bright. Jackson was so happy to see him in good spirits, and the smile on Barbara's face told him that the therapy was working.

“Carlton, I'm glad you guys could make it.” He gave the couple a hug.

“You know we had to come celebrate with you,” Barbara said. “I drove about thirty people to the polls today.”

“Thank you so much,” he replied, giving her a kiss on the cheek.