Chapter 52 Rebecca
“There were sounds coming from Mom’s bedroom this morning, Rebecca,” Gigi said, just about gagging over the phone. “Sounds
I’ll need to rehire my therapist to forget.”
Rebecca found this rather alarming as well, but she couldn’t help but be a little impressed. “Isn’t it inspiring to know that
passion can come at any age?”
“No, I would not say that listening to our mother get railed by her fiancé is inspiring . Now that they’re engaged, she finds it appropriate for Clyde to stay over. As if he doesn’t have an entire suite at the
Grand that they can shack up in. But she says she likes seeing him integrated into her everyday life, whatever that means.”
“She really has loosened up this summer.” Rebecca wondered if things would have happened this way if she were still on the
island. She had a sense that her mother had benefited from some space from her. It didn’t hurt her as much as she’d expected
it to. She, too, was valuing a little distance.
“Mom told me that when I’m engaged, I can share a room with my partner,” Gigi went on. “Rather than saying I have to be married,
like she always used to. She’s probably just changing the rules because she realizes it’ll never happen.”
“Never say never,” Rebecca said. “Things sound like they’re getting pretty good with James.”
“We’re just friends,” Gigi clarified quickly. “I’ve told you.”
“I thought things might’ve changed now that he’s staying.”
“Nothing’s changed.” A beat passed. “I do want to give it a try with him,” Gigi went on. “I’m just scared.”
“Since when have you let that hold you back? The best thing about you is how you go for what you want.”
“But I don’t usually want things this badly. The mayor position, James...”
Rebecca appreciated the way her sister seemed to be taking things more seriously without losing her spunk. “It’ll work out,”
she said, knowing better than to push too far. “So tell me about this horse Dad got you.” She couldn’t remember the last time
he had even sent Rebecca a birthday card.
“It was just a gift for my campaign,” Gigi said, downplaying it, though Rebecca couldn’t help but feel it was more than that,
that it was cold, hard proof that Gus chose Gigi as his favorite daughter. A prior version of Rebecca would have held this
against Gigi, but now she only felt inclined to hold it against her dad. Not like a weapon, but a boundary. He would need
to try harder if he decided he wanted back into her life.
“But we can share Noelle when you visit,” Gigi went on. “You deserve her more than I do for all the work you’re doing to launch
me to global stardom. I just give good speeches; you’re the one who makes me go viral.”
“I do have a knack for it,” Rebecca said, enjoying the newfound purpose Gigi’s campaign had given her.
From the comfort of her couch, Rebecca edited clips of Gigi’s campaign rallies. In a matter of weeks, she had turned her sister
into one of the most recognizable names in local politics. Rebecca’s best idea had been to include the link for donations
in every video. Total funding for the campaign was now over one hundred thousand dollars. The figure made Rebecca stagger.
“I’ll use the money we’ve raised to rent a house on the island,” Gigi said. “My very own mayor’s mansion.”
“Unfortunately, campaign finance laws don’t work like that,” Rebecca said. “But we could put the fundraising money toward a local TV and radio push.”
“Old media is dead,” Gigi said. “I want to keep making viral videos for social. Cause a real scene.”
“I think you’ve already done that,” Rebecca said. “You’ve brought more attention to Mackinac than anything since the governor’s
attempted kidnapping.”
“Soon we’ll have surpassed that news story too. Has your campaign manager paycheck arrived?”
“It’s a volunteer position,” Rebecca said. “I’m under no illusions.”
“Who would I be if I exploited my sister now that I’m loaded? I’m paying you a salary. It’s well within the rules. I researched
it, or at least I had Mom research it. Go check the mail.”
Rebecca slipped on her loafers and walked out onto the driveway. It was a muggy August day. Kaley, the wife next door, was
outside watering the flower beds. Rebecca braced herself for an icy interaction, but Kaley smiled and flagged her down.
Rebecca told Gigi she’d call her right back.
“I just wanted to apologize,” Kaley said. Her voice had a Southern drawl, and her hair hung in perfect ringlets. “I realize
we haven’t been the most neighborly since you’ve moved in. Caught up in our own little world, I suppose.”
“That’s all right,” Rebecca said. “We’re still acclimating. I’m from a very small town, so Traverse City has been a little
overwhelming.”
“I get that,” Kaley said. “I grew up in rural Georgia. How ?bout you?”
“Mackinac Island,” Rebecca said. “Up north.”
“I’ve seen that place on social media!” Kaley exclaimed. “Videos of that spitfire of a gal running for mayor have been going
viral.”
“That’s my sister,” Rebecca said, feeling more proud than embarrassed, which was quite the change.
Kaley nearly sprang out from the flower beds. “Well, how about that. We’ll have to visit the island one of these days. And what’re you and your husband up to this Friday? We’re hosting a little end-of-summer gathering. You’ll come, won’t you?”
Rebecca tried to play it cool, though she was doing cartwheels inside. “That sounds great. What can I bring?”
“Just some ghost stories to share around the bonfire.”
“Can do,” Rebecca said. “Mackinac has a lot of those.”
Feeling oodles lighter, she went back inside and opened two envelopes she’d retrieved from the mail.
The first was from Clyde, a handwritten card.
You don’t need to think of me as your father, of course. But I might not be able to keep from thinking of you as my daughter.
I love you, Rebecca. Thank you for sharing your mother with me.
Rebecca reread the card three times, tearing up—whether from the pregnancy or the poignancy, she wasn’t sure. All she knew
was a growing family was a good thing. She would never turn down love from someone who thought of her as his daughter. Tacking
the card on the refrigerator, she couldn’t wait to show it to Tom when he got home.
The second envelope was from Gigi. It held a check for five thousand dollars. “It’s too much money,” she told Gigi when she
called back.
“You’ve earned it,” Gigi said, and Rebecca felt a rush of independence at having her own income stream, separate from Tom’s.
“Use it to furnish the nursery. Nothing pink, though. I’m still recovering from all the bubblegum and Barbie programming from
childhood.”
Rebecca smirked. “Tom and I will pick the colors,” she said. “You can pick the name.”
“You’re not serious,” Gigi said.
“Dead serious. Neither of us wants the responsibility of our child not liking their name and blaming us. They can hold it
against their crazy aunt Gigi instead.”
Gigi was delighted. “I’ll find the perfect name,” she assured her. “Just watch.”
“We do retain veto power, though.” Rebecca lifted the blinds in the house so the neighbors weren’t blocked anymore. “I’m going
to get back to work on these campaign videos. Keep up the momentum.”
“I liked that filter you put on me last time,” Gigi said. “My skin looked like it was glowing.”
“I didn’t use a filter. You’re just naturally radiant. Couldn’t be because you’re in love, could it?”
“Of course not,” Gigi snapped. “It’s because I’m stepping into my own as a nearly thirty-year-old woman assuming a leadership
position over an entire island.”
“Right.” Rebecca smiled and patted her stomach. “My mistake.”