orange juice. Warner felt he never had a minute alone any longer. He was supposed to please Edmund. Please Carolyn. Please the people – well, fuck them all.
Granted, he could play the role, but he refused to buy into the bullshit. Everyone was out for himself. Their greedy agendas rested on his success and sucked the life out of him. Carolyn was the worst of them all. She thought she ran his campaign. Well, he had a surprise for her. A big, fat, juicy payback of a surprise.
Warner poured himself a glass of orange juice. Damn, he needed to snap out of this funk. Pump himself up. This was his year. The victory and the glory were going to be his, and he needed to keep that in focus.
What he needed was a drink, something to take the edge off the stress. He drank half of the juice, then headed into the bathroom, glass in hand.
Ernie remained submerged in the morning paper.
Warner opened the cabinet door and pulled out his flask. He poured a jigger of Jack Daniels into his orange juice and drank it down. He eyed the empty cup, then refilled it with the whiskey. He tossed it back with a grimace, rinsed out the glass, and rejoined Ernie in the sitting room.
“Let’s go,” Warner said as he shrugged into his suit jacket, popping two mints into his mouth.
The meeting had already started when Warner and Ernie walked in. Matt, Nick, and Carolyn were all sitting around the conference table in the basement of their home.
“Nick, where are you with the new economic plan?” Carolyn asked as Warner and Ernie took their seats.
“Almost finished. My staffs working on it even as we speak.”
“How about the press? I know they’ve been quizzing us on the details.”
“Handled. I released a statement this morning saying we’d have the entire document to them in two weeks.” Nick shuffled some papers. “And here’s your speech on the war on drugs you asked me to review. I edited it last night. Go over it one more time, fine-tune it for your style. You don’t need it until the Women in Politics caucus tomorrow, right?” He handed the loose pages to Carolyn.
“Yes, and thank you.”
“About the platform issues we were discussing yesterday. Our polling suggests that Carolyn stay with the war on drugs platform. The public loves it. Warner can focus on tax relief and the environment.” Nick proceeded to hand them packets of information. “Here’s a synopsis of the research, my reasoning and some of the facts that back it up.”
“Great job.” Carolyn said. “Is there anything else?”
“One more thing. Here are the travel arrangements for New Hampshire.” Nick passed out additional folders, stuffed with a variety of travel documents.
“If that’s it, then we’re adjourned,” Carolyn announced.
Warner held up his hand. “Wait a minute, everyone, I have a few comments.”
They sat back down.
“You’re all doing good work here, and Carolyn and I appreciate it. The New Hampshire primary is critical, and as you all know the polls show a close race. Some believe that we don’t have a chance of winning. It’s time to prove them wrong.” Warner hit his fist on the table. He met the gaze of each person in the room.
“I want a concise message. If we’re talking tax relief, then let’s be specific. Apply that to the environmental issues as well. I also had a thought about Carolyn’s undefeated record against drug lords and child abusers. As the polls show, her image is tremendously strong, let’s build on that. Maybe coin the phase, the ‘undefeatable team.’” Everyone in the room remained silent.
“Edmund taught me that perception is reality. If we’re perceived as indestructible, then we’ll be unbeatable. The voters want politicians to save them. We need to be superheroes capable of righting all wrongs. Carolyn’s abilities have already been proven. Capitalize on them, and we can ‘leap tall buildings in a single bound.’”
Carolyn flushed under his praise. It surprised her that he cared enough to include her accomplishments in what was clearly his show.
Carolyn watched Warner in a conversation with Nick and savored a glimpse of the man in whom she’d seen so much promise. The man she’d allowed herself to fall in love with; a man who walked the edge of ambition but instinctively kept his balance. His compliments felt good like drops of rain falling on a parched traveler in the middle of the desert. She slammed the brakes on her train of thought.
The thought of their defeat during his first reelection campaign and his subsequent behavior was the splash of ice water that kept her focused. She couldn’t afford to forget his history of becoming arrogant and self-destructive when he was on top. Warner’s volatile pattern had been established.
Warner caught up with Carolyn as everyone walked out of the meeting. “I know things have been strained between us lately, but I believe this is our year,” he said. “I’ve given up my bad habits. I’m committed to this, to us. You’re my partner, my teammate. Together we’re indestructible. Shit, our entire lives have been about this goal, and I haven’t lost focus. Together, we’ll make it happen.”
Carolyn wrinkled her nose, his breath projected the bitter smell of alcohol thinly disguised by breath mints. The reminder destroyed the warmth of her earlier thoughts. He’d given up his bad habits? Right
She shook her head, spun on her heel and walked away. It hurt to love a man beyond his faults, and to know that it wasn’t enough. Nothing she did or said could protect him from himself Her challenge lay in damage control. But could she hold him together though this campaign?
THIRTY-SIX
They attacked New Hampshire, and the resultant campaign drew copious amounts of blood. Martin Gaston targeted Warner with precision, slicing into his voting record on the hill.
Struggling to stay in the hunt for the White House, Senator Dave Taylor fought for press coverage by spraying the other candidates with a shotgun of issues.
Regardless of the barrage of attacks fired over the helm of the Lane campaign, Warner remained the most charismatic of the candidates. His speeches flowed eloquently, and he charmed the television cameras. News crews clamored for interviews and photo shots of the candidate.
The polls showed that the voters weren’t listening to the negative campaigning strategies of the other candidates. Warner was the clear front-runner.
His message was simple: he was one of them. A hometown boy who was going to take on Washington and change the way government was inn. Warner Lane cared for the people. His motto became “People before business.” The crowds devoured it.
Warner finished a speech at a high school gymnasium in Concord late one evening. The crowd surged to a standing ovation, and he was flying on their energy and enthusiasm as he walked out into the crowd to shake hands.
Matt Carson caught up with him and pulled him aside.
“We’ve got a problem.” Matt whispered. “Our motto. ‘People Before Business.’ is about to be crammed down our throats.”
Warner stopped walking. “What do you mean?”
“The tabloids are releasing a story claiming you own a company that’s using children, in sweatshops, in Haiti to manufacture goods. Tell me this isn’t true.”
Warner stepped back. “Son of a bitch!”
“I take it these accusations are true.”
“No.” Warner shot back. ‘They’re not true. Those are Edmund’s holdings. They have nothing to do with me.“ He felt queasy.
“Well, unfortunately, your father’s business just became our business. This is bad, really bad. When this is
