Chapter 9 #2
Perhaps she had. Or perhaps choice was a word men used when they wished to claim innocence.
Nicolaus lifted a hand for his car.
"It is up to you now, Alexis."
The White House
Tuesday, December 17th
Candace turned from starting the coffee pot and jumped.
"Jameson?"
Jameson smiled. "Good morning."
"You're home."
"Looks like it."
"How did you manage to get home without me finding out?"
"How do I manage to get Chinese food delivered to the Oval Office?" Jameson returned.
Candace laughed. She walked to Jameson and kissed her soundly.
"I thought you were coming home on Friday," she noted, wiping a smudge of lipstick from the corner of Jameson's mouth. "That really is not your shade."
Jameson chuckled.
"Seriously. I'm thrilled you're home?—"
"Coop has a school assembly this afternoon."
Candace stepped back.
"I thought one of us should be there."
"He hasn't said a word to me. Come to think of it, I don't think Cassidy knows anything about an assembly either."
Jameson nodded. "I don't think he told anyone."
Candace's expression tightened. "How did you find out?"
"I overheard him talking to Mackenzie. Something about mid-year recognition."
"Why wouldn't Coop tell us?"
Jameson looked toward the coffee pot, then back at Candace. "Because he didn't want you to rearrange the day."
Candace closed her eyes briefly.
"I know," Jameson said.
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do."
Candace opened her eyes. "The Indian Prime Minister arrives this morning. I have congressional leadership this afternoon. Jennifer moved three calls yesterday to make room for the security briefing after dinner." She shook her head. "I couldn't go even if he had told me."
"I know."
Candace groaned. "Shit."
"Coop knew you would feel like this," Jameson said. "That's why he didn't tell you."
Candace shook her head. "What time is this assembly?"
"Candace, there is no way—not with the Prime Minister visiting—that the Secret Service is rearranging your schedule. Not for a school assembly."
"If I?—"
"Candace."
"He shouldn't be protecting me."
Jameson shrugged.
"Jameson... Do you know that he asked to play Scrabble this weekend because he noticed my wrist bothers me when I throw a bowling ball?"
Jameson smiled. "He's growing up."
"He just turned ten."
"Yep. And some days he's still nine. Other days he's more mature than Jonah and Shell put together."
Candace laughed despite herself.
"He needs to feel like he can help," Jameson said.
Candace sighed.
"What?" Jameson asked.
"Do you think he convinced Mackenzie to keep this assembly a secret from Alex and Cassidy?"
Jameson chuckled. "I would bet they conspired. They probably bribed Connor and Abby to go along with it."
Candace covered her face and laughed. She was frustrated with the situation—with Cooper trying to protect her. Jameson's theory was likely correct. And there was no denying it was also funny.
"Those two just might run the country one day," Candace said.
"Might?" Jameson asked.
Candace dropped her hands and looked at Jameson. She huffed.
"I'll be there," Jameson said.
"I think I should call Dee."
"I already called the school and got the details."
"I think we should let Dee know. That way she can make sure?—"
"Candace, I will talk to Dee when I'm at the school. Let's not make this into something bigger than it is."
Candace lifted a brow. "I agree."
"Good."
"But this time it's an assembly, Jameson. And I know the intentions are pure."
"And I know he can't keep us in the dark even if he means well," Jameson said.
Candace sighed.
"Don't worry so much," Jameson said.
"You sound like Cooper."
Jameson smiled. "Well, he learned from us."
"That doesn't make me feel better."
Jameson laughed.
Candace groaned when her phone buzzed. "It's Cassidy."
Jameson went to a cabinet and grabbed a mug for coffee. "Maybe CNN found out about the assembly."
Candace swatted her and answered the call. "Cass?"
"Are you with Jameson?" Cassidy asked.
Candace looked at Jameson. "Yes. How did you know she was here?"
"Shell saw her getting into the elevator."
"Jameson was right."
"What?" Cassidy asked.
"Just something about CNN."
"Okay... Can you put me on speaker?"
"You're on speaker," Candace said. "Should I be concerned?"
"That depends," Cassidy replied. "Do you consider our children forming a coalition to keep us in the dark concerning?"
Jameson grinned.
Candace closed her eyes. "Let me guess. You found out about the assembly."
"I did," Cassidy said. "Mrs. Dearborn called me this morning."
Candace looked at Jameson.
"Go on," she said.
"Apparently, Mackenzie and Cooper decided not to give anyone the invitations," Cassidy said.
Jameson pointed at Candace, silently triumphant.
Candace swatted her hand away.
"Did she say why?" Candace asked.
"She did," Cassidy said. "She asked Mackenzie that exact question. Mackenzie told her that their parents had more important things to do than sit on wooden bleachers watching kids get ribbons and paper certificates."
Jameson choked on her coffee.
Candace stared at the phone.
"Wooden bleachers?" Jameson managed.
"Jameson," Candace warned, trying to suppress her own laughter.
"I'm sorry." Jameson coughed. "That is very specific."
Cassidy chuckled over the line. "Mackenzie told her teacher she shouldn't bother us with, and I quote, 'trivial things.'"
Candace shook her head.
They all laughed.
"There's no way I can make the assembly this afternoon," Cassidy said. "My mom took Alex to the airport. She should be here in an hour or so. And there's more."
Candace dropped her hand. "Of course there is."
"It's not only mid-year recognition," Cassidy said. "Apparently, Cooper and Mackenzie are receiving a special award."
Candace blinked. "For what?"
"Well, from what I understand, they created an initiative to collect cans and bottles to raise money to help save whales and other sea creatures from plastic."
Jameson slowly lowered her mug.
Candace looked at her.
Neither woman spoke.
"Did either of you know about this?" Cassidy asked.
"No," Candace said.
"Nope," Jameson added.
"Good. Neither did we."
Candace sat down at the kitchen island. "They created an initiative?"
"That's the word her teacher used."
"At school?"
"At school," Cassidy said. "Though from what I gathered, it may have expanded."
Jameson's brows lifted. "Expanded where?"
"I'm afraid to ask," Cassidy said.
Candace leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. "Whales."
"And other sea creatures," Cassidy reminded her.
Jameson nodded. "Important distinction."
"Jameson," Candace said, then chuckled.
"What? It's true. Look, they are always watching movies about animals."
"Mm," Cassidy said. "I think Fallon's obsession with sea creatures might have helped shape this idea."
"Fallon? How?" Candace asked.
"I also heard that Mackenzie explained there were no efforts to save the mermaids because mermaids only exist in cartoons."
They all laughed again.
"How long has this been going on?" Candace asked.
"I guess it started in October."
"Why didn't they tell us?"
"I don't know," Cassidy said. "But I know someone needs to show up."
"Well, that's why I'm home," Jameson said. "I was about to come find you after I talked to Candace."
"Wait—how did you find out?" Cassidy asked.
"I overheard Coop and Mackenzie right before I left for Connecticut. I didn't know when this assembly was happening until I called the school. I was going to come home last night, but Jonah and I got caught up working on something."
Candace lifted her brow.
"I'll explain later," Jameson said.
"Well, you should be able to catch up with Alex at the school. I'm not sure if she'll head home first or come here," Cassidy said. "Listen, I have a meeting with Shell in five minutes. I'll see you when you get down here."
"I'll be down in a few minutes," Candace promised.
She ended the call and looked at Jameson.
"I can't believe I'm going to miss this," Candace said.
"I'll record it on my phone," Jameson said.
"Not the same."
"I know."
"Why didn't you tell me about this when you called?"
"Because I wanted you to enjoy your time with Coop. It could wait, so it did wait."
Candace studied Jameson for a moment, caught somewhere between gratitude and guilt.
Then she nodded toward the coffee pot. "Fine. But if you record the floor instead of the award ceremony, I reserve the right to invoke executive authority."
Jameson reached for her mug. "Seems fair."
Candace chuckled. "I'm glad you're home."
"Me too."
"Jameson? What project?"
Jameson smiled. "Let's deal with saving the whales first. It could benefit your environmental legislation."
Candace laughed. "Lunatic."
Carecom Headquarters
New Haven, Connecticut
Claire looked at Dylan. "I thought your mother was going to stay for a few days to help me make sense of this place. A text. She sent me a text. Four words. Headed home. Explain later. She knows this place is a tomb, and she doesn't want to get buried with us."
Dylan laughed. "Nah. Mom called her when I was walking out the door."
Claire turned.
"She's fine, Claire. Geez. You two worry so much about each other."
"Yeah, well... it's a thing."
Dylan smiled. "Kenzie has some kind of assembly today. All Mom told me was that Kenzie and Coop hid it from everyone."
"Why?"
"Because they know everyone is super busy with important things."
Claire shook her head. "Yeah, well, I don't know the president as well as the rest of you. I know JD. And I know your parents. An assembly at school probably trumps any dignitary or meeting with one of the blowhards on the Hill."
"Yeah. I know. But Kenzie is like that. Cooper is, too."
"Like what?"
"Protective."
"Mm." Claire shrugged and returned to what she had been doing.
"That's it? A shrug?"
Claire shrugged again. "Makes sense. Their parents are the same way. You are, too."
"Mm-hm. So are you."
"Me?" Claire laughed. "No one has ever thought I was Batman."
Dylan set aside the laptop in front of him. "Actually, I think you're a lot like Batman."
Claire looked back up, her eyebrows lifting into her hairline.