Free Rough Drafts by J. A. Armstrong Page A

her desk slowly. “I did,” she responded.
    “And?”
Dana urged.
    “She’s
considering coming on board. I promised her that you would be there to guide
her,” Candace said.
    “I
will,” Dana responded. She watched as Candace’s face transformed into a
familiar expression, one that told Dana there was something else on the
senator’s mind. “Uh-oh. What happened? Is J.D. okay? I know Friday was an
eventful day for her too.”
    “Jameson
is all right. She’s headed back there today,” Candace said.
    “Are
you worried about her?”
    Candace
smiled. “I always worry,” Candace reminded her friend. “Jonah is with her.
She’ll have a buffer—at least for today.”
    “Jonah?”
Dana asked in surprised.
    “Mm-hm.”
    “I
didn’t know Jonah was coming home,” Dana said.
    “Neither
did we,” Candace said with a nervous chuckle.
    “Is
Jonah okay?”
    “Oh,
he is okay. He just had some news he wanted to share,” Candace explained.
    “He
got a job lined up already?” Dana guessed.
    “Nope.”
    “He
met someone?” Dana’s eyes grew wider.
    “You
could say that, yes,” Candace replied.
    “Did
he bring her home?”
    “No
yet, no, but I think you can safely say we will be meeting her,” Candace said.
Dana’s curiosity was piqued. “It seems that I am going to be a Nana again,” Candace explained.
    Dana
seemed confused for a moment before Candace’s meaning hit her. “Oh my God,
Jonah got someone pregnant?”
    “Laura.
Her name is Laura, apparently,” Candace said.
    “Holy
shit! What did you say?” Dana asked. Before Candace could respond, Dana repeated her reaction. “ Holy shit !”
    Candace
laughed. “Not exactly what I said, but pretty much my reaction too,” Candace
admitted.
    “I
did not see that one coming,” Dana said. “Is this a serious relationship?” she
asked.
    Candace
shook her head. “It is now,” she said. “Would it have been?” she mused aloud.
“I don’t know, Dana. You know Jonah. He’s quiet about those kinds of things.”
    Dana
nodded. “Have you talked to him about how this will eventually hit the media?”
    “No,”
Candace said flatly. “He’s been around things enough to know that. If I can,
I’d like to keep this at bay as long as possible.”
    “Any
reason, other than the obvious?” Dana asked cautiously.
    “There
is something he is not telling me,” Candace said.
    “What
do you mean?” Dana wondered. “Something that we need to worry about?” she
asked.
    Candace
groaned. “I don’t know,” Candace confessed. “Right now, I am not worried about
that.”
    “I
know, Candy. I get it, it’s early now. I hate to say this to you, but letting
this out now might be for the best. Any negative blowback will blow over before
the campaign season heats up in earnest.”
    Candace
kneaded her forehead in frustration. “I know that,” she said. “The campaign is
the least of my worries.”
    “I
know that ,” Dana responded. “I
understand. But, Candy—you have a commitment to this election as well. You know
that. This is the reality.”
    “Shit,” Candace huffed. She massaged her temples
and closed her eyes.
    “Candy,” Dana began sympathetically. “I do
understand. Jonah has been around this his whole life. He knows the drill,” she
pointed out.
    Candace opened her eyes and shook her head. “As
long as you can manage it, at least for now,” Candace said. “I want to leave it
in the personal realm. Okay?”
    Dana frowned. “You’re the boss, Candy. You know
that this could be worse for everyone the longer we wait.”
    “I haven’t even met the girl, Dana,” Candace said.
    “Can I ask?” Dana started.
    “Go ahead. That’s your job.”
    “When is the new addition expected?”
    “October,” Candace told her.
    Dana nodded. “Just before the election. Well, that
could prove advantageous,” she mused. Candace rolled her eyes. “I know you hate
this,” Dana said. “That’s what you pay me for. And, Candy, Shell will have