Chapter 2
The Community Bakery
Little Rock, Arkansas
Walking in, Bennett spotted Williams immediately.
He was sitting in his favorite booth toward the back with a good view of the front door and the bathroom.
That way, the old dog could monitor all the patrons' comings and goings.
Local politicians and business people frequently met at the diner for an early breakfast. More deals had been done here than any golf course or legislative offices in the Capitol.
It paid to know who was here and why, which is why Williams made sure he ate breakfast here every day that he could.
Williams waved him over. The heavyset man, in his eighties, made no move to get up but did extend his hand in a firm handshake as Bennett approached his booth.
"Good morning, young man. It sure is good to see you. It feels like a month of Sundays since I last saw you. Good work yesterday. I was happy to hear you are doing so well for yourself."
Nodding, Bennett said, "Thank you, sir. Yes, it has been a while."
They quickly exchanged pleasantries, and in true Williams fashion, he got right to the point and said, "I guess you are wondering why I asked you here today."
Nodding, Bennett said, "Well, yes, I must admit I am a bit curious. I assume it has something to do with the case."
"You're right. Mighty good work was accomplished with that win. There's been a lot of buzz around the state about you."
Shocked, Bennett felt taken back, "Why? All I did was my job."
"Yes, you did, and you did it with style, grace and flair. Three things all good politicians need to succeed."
"Politicians? I am no politician. Not anymore. I am out of that game,” Bennett responded vehemently. “Or have you forgotten what happened that ended my political career?"
Bennett had been the up-and-coming politician in the country once upon a time. Years before, the sky had been the limit for him, but all that changed overnight. In many ways, he and his family were still dealing with the fallout from it all.
"No, I have not forgotten, but most voters have.
The world is a different place after that damn pandemic and two divorced presidents with more dirty laundry than a boys' college dormitory.
Add in a government insurrection with a ping-pong economy, and it is a whole new ballgame.
After your big win against a major drug trafficking organization made front-page news, the powers that be think you are just the next man in line for the Governor's mansion. What do you say? Are you ready to throw your hat in the ring and give this another go?”
Leaning in close to Bennett so that only he could hear him, Jameson whispered, “You can’t tell anyone this, but our current governor is about to be appointed to a high-level cabinet position by the new president.
When that happens, we are going to have a special election in late 2025 for the governorship. You are our man.”
The governor's race? It was the last thing that Bennett expected Williams to say.
Not once since he had resigned from the Senate almost a decade ago had he even contemplated running for office again. Yes, he had been appointed special prosecutor by the current governor.
"I can see by your face that I have surprised you.
If you are worried about what happened in the past with the press, we have a plan for that.
You still have those all-American good looks.
If rumors are to be believed, you have a stable family life and enjoy a close relationship with your ex-wife.
You still have what it takes to win. The only real question is whether or not you are ready to return to the arena? You got any fight left in you, boy?"
Bennett put his hands up, making the slow down motion."’Whoa. Slow your roll there, Jameson. First of all, who is we? And secondly, what do you mean, you already have a plan for the press?"
He shook his head and added, "Have you forgotten the skeletons in my closet? Because I promise you, reporters have not. They will drag my family back through all of that again the second any one of them gets a whiff if I even consider another crack at running for office."
Jameson chuckled, "Calm down, boy. You are wound tighter than a kid's wind-up toy.
It's 2023, for heaven's sake. Social media changed everything.
It is a double-edged sword. As much as it can kill a career, it can resurrect one.
The public's willingness to overlook past indiscretions has increased.
Voters today are more concerned with electing someone who will grow the economy and provide leadership that focuses on issues they are concerned about, not who someone slept with twenty years ago.
"And yes, your past will have to be addressed, but the party leaders feel we can get in front of that issue.
What used to be a major issue now barely raises any alarms. With the twenty-four-hour-a-day news cycle, stories come and go quickly.
The public has a short memory. We spin your story as a love story.
Arkansans love a good comeback story. And a pretty boy like you who messed up and then did better will sell like an ice cream on a hot day in August. The public is going to lick it right up.
The fact you have two gorgeous, accomplished women who managed to rise above everything that happened and found a way to become one big happy family will make you all candidates for Family of the Year.
More importantly, we need you, Bennett. The state of Arkansas needs you. "
Bennett knew it was madness even to consider the offer, but something inside him stirred at the thought. While his heart leaped at the mention of a comeback, his head kept him from readily agreeing.
"I just don't know Jameson. I can't even consider it without talking to Poppy, Ben, and Taylor. There's a lot of moving parts to this. I am not going to lie. I am intrigued. But I need a couple of days to think about it. I will talk to my family and let you know."
With that, Bennett stood and extended his hand again, "I hate to do this, but I need to run. I have to be in court shortly."
Taking his hand and giving it a firm shake, Williams replied, "Sounds good.
Just know that if you agree to it, we'll get together and find someone to do a full article on you and your family.
Tell the whole story from your perspective.
We'll run it in one of the glossy lifestyle magazines in the state.
We will have complete spin control. Nothing will be shared that you are uncomfortable with. "
Bennett almost snorted at that. He was utterly uncomfortable sharing any of it and figured that went double for Poppy and Taylor. Who knew how Ben would feel?
Nodding, Jameson, sensing that Bennett was open to the idea, added, "We can do this. We can tell your story in such a way as to take away the shock value and make it a non-story. This is your chance, son, to go back to doing what you were born to do."
Once upon a time, Bennett had been so sure he knew what that was. Now, who knew? He did know that he had to get a move on. Being late for court would not help his case or any future campaigns, so with a nod, Bennett said, "Thank you for thinking of me. I will be in touch."
With that, Bennett walked out of the cafe and headed to court with his mind buzzing with a million thoughts, not one of them about the case he was headed to finish.
Fifteen Hours Later…
After a long day in court, which saw all four defendants assigned long prison sentences for the myriad of crimes they had committed, followed by an afternoon and evening of interviews, Bennett drove home exhausted but excited.
He had been featured on all the major news outlets around the state.
He had watched a few sound bites on his phone.
There had been a short interview on the courthouse steps followed by two in-depth interviews done in studios at the two larger stations in Little Rock.
One done by Melissa Jones and the other by Pat Patterson.
Tammi had texted him that the story had been picked up and was running on several national news broadcasts.
Jameson had sent him a text congratulating him again and reminding him not to let all the great publicity go to waste.
Bennett was surprised that Williams could text.
He could not exactly envision a man who had campaigned for Reagan being able to access modern communication technology so well.
The prosecutor in him would typically have been replaying the events of the day from court over in his head, but today, his mind was singularly focused on the governorship.
He would have liked to have said that he had moved past his old desires to lead and be a part of the movers and shakers politically, but he hadn't.
He truly believed he could make a difference for the people of Arkansas, and dammit, he wanted an opportunity to try.
However, the reasons he left politics before were as valid today as they had been more than a decade earlier.
His family. He had resigned to protect those he loved.
Could he risk exposing them to the negative publicity that sharing their story could generate?
He was brave enough to admit that getting back into politics excited him.
In the end, though, he had to honor those who, if he ran, could be hurt.
He decided to tell Poppy, Ben, and Taylor about the opportunity.
If any of the three did not want the story told, he would not run. Period. They had to come first.
It was after 11:00 when Bennett walked into a silent, empty kitchen.
He knew that he had to feel Poppy out about sharing their story as soon as possible.
However, Bennett could not deny he was relieved not to have to talk about it right away.
After eating cold leftovers, he quietly slipped into bed next to her.
Bennett wrapped himself around her and fell asleep, pondering the possibility of a future he never dreamed he might ever have again.