Guilt and grief overcame her. No longer could she stifle her sobs. Her stomach roiled. Carolyn dashed into the bathroom. After vomiting, she splashed cold water on her face and stared at her reflection.
The world saw a poised and elegant, thirty-five-year-old assistant district attorney, a successful woman with a happy marriage and a golden path before her. She knew she was nothing but a vulnerable, flawed woman who struggled to maintain the self-assurance expected of one the youngest wives of a United States senator.
Everyone assumed she had it all, but her life was a grotesque fairytale. Only she seemed able to see the truth – she had an image built upon air. Carolyn turned away from her reflection in disgust and returned to the bedroom.
Warner still slept soundly, no doubt due to his indulgence in bourbon.
Carolyn stared down at the note as she stood in the doorway. Who was this woman? How long had they been seeing each other?
Warner was her entire life, her only family. Her gaze trailed from the note to his face. He was so handsome, it made her ache. They hadn’t made love in almost a year. Now, she understood why.
Regardless of his affair, she loved him deeply. She couldn’t divorce Warner; she wasn’t capable of it, despite his betrayal. Not only would her marriage be destroyed, but so would her life. Their professional lives were so intertwined with their personal lives that one didn’t exist without the other.
Should she confront him about his affair? Her first impulse was to wake him and yell and scream. Emotional, she thought, too emotional and definitely not smart. A confrontation might force a decision that would be detrimental to them both. No. The subject was better left alone until she could decide on the right approach.
She crossed the room and snatched the offending piece of paper off the floor. She folded it neatly, opened the top drawer of her lingerie chest, and placed it in a tray at the back. She wasn’t sure why she took the note, except that she couldn’t stand the thought of him keeping it. Yet, she couldn’t destroy it. If nothing else, this painful piece of evidence grounded her in reality.
Her emotional considerations aside, his behavior was jeopardizing his political future. Their future. Warner was a powerful man. and Carolyn knew that powerful men required special handling.
She eased back into bed and pulled the covers up under her chin, determined to rest for the few remaining hours of the night.
FIVE
The sound of the alarm clock came as a relief. Carolyn looked over at Warner. “Time to wake up.”
“What?” he murmured groggily.
“It’s time to get up.” She smoothed a lock of hair from his forehead. “We’ve got church this morning. We’re running late. You’d better hurry.”
He shrugged away from her. “I flew in late last night. Let’s skip church.”
“No way,” she said. “Your father wants us to appear in church together every Sunday that you’re in town, and you wouldn’t want to disappoint him. So get out of bed and get in the shower.” Carolyn crossed the room to the walk-in closet. “Besides, you have to give a speech today at the opening of the State Fair. We need the press coverage. The speech is on the desk in your study. You should go over it before church.”
“Who’s going to be there?” Warner yawned.
“The local big-wigs. Senator Rudly. Miss Missouri. She should bring in a big crowd.”
A half-hour later, Carolyn watched in silence as Warner stood behind his antique desk, reading the speech she’d written. His staff had provided her with some notes, then she expanded the text. adding the fire, the voice, the true agenda.
Warner raised his eyes to meet hers.
“Let me hear it.” Carolyn prompted. The habit of critiquing his delivery was a tradition between them.
Warner recited the script verbatim, never once referencing the pages before him. He was truly amazing, she thought nodding her approval. With his photographic memory and her writing skill, they’d already accomplished a great deal.
After church. Warner took his usual spot in the front seat of the Lincoln with State Trooper Harry Masterson from their special security detail. Carolyn relaxed in the back.
“Church ran over today,” Warner said. “It’s about an hour to Sedalia. We’re going to be late to the fair.”
“Don’t worry about it. They’ll wait for you.” Carolyn said. “Besides. I thought the sermon was excellent.”
Warner ignored her and wondered why she had insisted on coining to the fair. He’d always made these appearances on his own.
The fairgrounds amphitheater offered no shade and radiated the sun’s glare. Regardless of the swelter that rose in waves off the stage, Warner knew he looked cool and relaxed.
He placed his hand over his eyes to block the sun and glanced at Carolyn. She dutifully stood off to the side with her politician’s wife’s half-smile. her brown eyes bright seeming enraptured by his message. Beautiful in a light blue linen suit with a cream-colored silk blouse. Carolyn winked when she caught his eye, then suddenly frowned. He followed her gaze into the crowd.
Warner saw his political nemesis. Patrick Dunfey, just before he heard him.
“ Senator Lane, tell us about your real politics.” Dunfey yelled. “You’re not for the working man. You’re for making the rich richer.”
Warner maintained his composure. Experience told him the only way to deal effectively with a political heckler like Dunfey was to meet the problem head-on. “Mr. Dunfey, what’s your specific question?”
“Why don’t you explain how building an extravagant airport with the taxpayers’ money will make you and your big money friends richer.”
“Thank you, Mr. Dunfey, for that question.” Warner responded. “As you all know, everything I do is always in the best interest of both the State of Missouri and her people. The new airport is a critical step toward making our state stronger economically by encouraging industry and tourism. We need to keep up with the times in order to compete in today’s marketplace. The construction alone will bring twenty thousand new jobs to the area. I believe-”
“Could you tell us how having a mistress fits into your idea of personal responsibility and family values?” Dunfey interrupted.
Warner’s smooth smile cloaked his shock and anger.
Carolyn walked over and took her husband’s hand.
With flushed cheeks she smiled up at him. but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
He hesitated then turned his attention back to the crowd. “Mr. Dunfey. I’m happy to answer your political questions, but when you insult my wife and me, I draw the line.”
SIX
Jack Rudly leaned against a fence pole to the side of the backstage area and watched two police officers escort Patrick Dunfey from the amphitheater. The sounds of camera shutters clicking told him what the lead story
