Free Conservative Affairs by Riley Scott Page A

“But you can’t exactly embrace everyone when you run for office.”
    “I understand. It’s how our donors think, how this area of the world works,” Jo conceded. “I doubt that you would have received many votes if you supported the gays, even though you were running strictly on the issues of government accountability and limited spending.”
    “You sound like a campaign commercial.” Madeline attempted a laugh, but the sound fell awkwardly in the space between them. “But what about you, Jo? How supportive are you of the gay lifestyle?”
    “I have many friends…” Jo trailed off as Madeline’s brow arched in curiosity. Jo could tell where this was headed.
    “So are you…?”
    “Do you need clothes or anything else from your house?” Jo interrupted. It was better to avoid anything that personal for right now.
    Jo could see that Madeline wanted to pursue the subject. She had to find a way to cut her off at the pass.
    “I can go get them for you if you’d like,” she continued, determinedly steering the conversation down a different path.
    “I’ll go with you.” Madeline finally gave into the subject change. “And then you can drop me off at a hotel. That way, I can be out of your hair and your life can return to normal.”
    “You are more than welcome to stay here.”
    “Oh no.” Madeline waved her hand in the air, dismissing the thought. Jo’s heart fell a little as she continued, “I’ll give you your space back.”

Chapter Eight
    Madeline hadn’t expected Jo to come home so early. She needed to have a talk with Jaws.
    “A warning bark wouldn’t have killed you, you know?” she imagined telling him.
    At least Jo hadn’t walked in an hour earlier when the heat on the television screen had become too much for Madeline to take. She had given into temptation and pleasured herself on Jo’s couch as she watched two women make love, long-forgotten lust reawakened by the images.
    It had been electrifying, and she hadn’t been lying when she told Jo she’d check out the show sometime. In fact, it was nearly all she could think about as they drove to her house to pick up her clothes.
    At the same time, she couldn’t help but wonder about Jo. Why did she own all the DVDs of a lesbian television series if she didn’t enjoy watching two women together? Was this why the DOMA speech had been a little soft at first?
    Was Jo Carson a lesbian? She let the thought circle around in her head. She secretly hoped the answer was yes. It wouldn’t play well in the press if anyone learned that one of Mayor Stratton’s staff members was a lesbian, but Madeline hoped that one day—if Jo were, in fact, a lesbian—she could come out of the closet and embrace who she was.
    Madeline knew she was dreaming. Times were changing, but no one in the world of politics was that lucky or that free. Everyone was restricted. Everyone had the full attention of the media on them at all times. Everyone was under a microscope. So those who had such desires had to keep them under lock and key.
    Everyone, Madeline reminded herself again, had secrets they needed to keep. For her, that meant spouting angry words in speeches on the subject of same-sex relationships, words that she could hide behind. It was a necessary evil if she wanted to continue her political career, her “normal” life. It was for the greater good if she wanted to keep trying to accomplish positive changes for the city. In a perfect world, it wouldn’t even be an issue. But the world wasn’t perfect. All of which meant those feelings of the past had to stay that way.
    As Jo pulled into the driveway outside of the house, Madeline was thankful to see that John’s car was not there. This, at least, would be quick and easy. She would grab her things and leave. Later on, after the dust had settled and the paperwork was drawn up and signed, she would return to take whatever she needed and never again come back to this place… The House of Broken Dreams , she