“That’s a portion. Not the whole. It’s also a symptom of not having things like arts and recreational buildings and programs. This city needs to be uplifted and that means starting from the bottom. Not the top. Nobody in my tax bracket is hurting for funds to send their kids to private schools.”
“And public school is free so why are there still struggling middle-class citizens, Van? They don’t have to come out of pocket for tuition or uniforms or extracurricular programs. It sounds like the upper class is coming out of pocket far more than anyone else. Why not direct some funding where it’s needed?”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing.” I grabbed the decanter and carried it to the kitchen so I could refill it with Jameson. My steps were stiff and measured. My spine was a plank of wood and my jaw was immovable.
“You’re putting funds in the hands of people who don’t care about them,” he said.
“Dad, I’m going to vote the way I want to. I’ve done it for years and I plan to continue.”
“You used to vote the way I wanted you to. Now you’re turning into a fucking leftist.”
“If you’re done, I’m going to get off the phone.” I emptied the whiskey bottle into the decanter and poured another glass.
“I’m not done. What is this nonsense I heard from Alexis about you taking full custody of Francesca and getting a nanny without consulting her?”
“Why are you even talking to Alexis?” I didn’t need to hear his answer though. I knew why. He thought Alexis was the perfect political wife. She was beautiful and came from a wealthy family. She went to all the right schools and she fit into the mold perfectly.
The problem came from us not being in love. We were only put together because our families were friends and went to the same clubs and parties. Alexis was a socialite from the jump. She didn’t give a fuck about giving people opportunities or making the lives of her fellow citizen better. She cared about being seen and being maintained.
I was perfect in her eyes because I was able to take care of her. I realized when I stood at the foot of the aisle on our wedding day that it was a mistake I’d regret for the rest of my life. I still tried to hang in there. I told myself love would come.
It never fucking came.
Headaches came.
Trust issues came.
Love didn’t.
I learned to ignore it once Frankie was born. I threw myself into being her father and starting my political career as a senator. The older Frankie got, the less I was able to stand being around Alexis. Eventually, we divorced and went our separate ways. I paid her alimony and took good enough care of Frankie that I didn’t need to be put on child support.
My parents were pissed that we’d gotten a divorce. My father hated how it made me look in the eyes of the state and country. My mother wanted me to find another wife immediately. She still sends me information on women she thinks I’d match well with.
I didn’t match well with anyone. Nobody understood me and I wasn’t willing to open up. I was in the public eye too much and it was hard to distinguish between a woman who wanted me for me or who wanted me because of who I was. I was better off being alone.
I knew who to call when I needed pussy. I knew who to call when I needed my dick sucked. I knew who to call when I wanted threesomes. My sexual needs were being met. I was happy to have my house to myself. I was more productive without Alexis crowding my space.
Hell would have to freeze over before I ever thought about getting married again.
I was fine being the bachelor senator.
“Alexis is my daughter-in-law,” Dad said.
“No. She’s not. When I divorced her, she became your ex-daughter-in-law.”
“Either way, a mother needs her child. She’s still Francesca’s mother.”
“And I’m still her father. I’m not going to let my child get neglected because she doesn’t subscribe to Alexis’s flashy front-page lifestyle. She’s better off with me right now. If things change then I’ll reevaluate.”
“Mmm-hmm,” he grunted. “Who is this nanny? Alexis doesn’t seem to think she’s fit to tie Francesca’s shoe. Who else’s child has she nannied for? Maybe I can ask around about her background. She’s not illegal, is she?”
“Goodbye, Dad.” I ended the call and pressed the heels of my hands against the edge of the counter, letting my head drop and my shoulders rise.
I stared into my glass of whiskey and shook my head at my father. When they were picking parents in heaven what the hell made them pick Warren Freeman for me? He was stubborn, set in his ways, and always pushing an agenda.
Soft melodic sounds coming from the formal living room pulled me out of my frustration long enough to make me curious. I tilted my head and listened to the haunting sound.
What the hell was that? I knew that song.
My feet led me down the hall and to the left where I saw Xari sitting on a stool in front of a giant harp at least four times her size. I was transfixed by the way she wielded the instrument like it weighed nothing tipping it back and forth and cradling her head against it like she was rocking a child.
The most impressive and stunning thing to witness was the way her fingers moved. She pushed notes through the air by moving her fingers so eloquently that I became hypnotized. Her entire body was at ease. The smooth
