Page 8 of Revisions

“No. I don’t know why Shell pushed for this. It doesn’t take a genius to know he’s not batting for Team Candace.”

“No. But it’s good?—”

“Practice?”

Dana shrugs.

“We both know he’ll edit that into something he can use to assault her character.”

“We’ll see.”

I laugh. “You think so, too.”

“I think the next two years will get messy, JD.”

No doubt. “I hate it.”

“Being here?”

“No,” I reply. “Sometimes, Dana, the way people treat Candace pisses me off. I hate that my hands are tied.”

“You’d like to take a few swings.”

“Yeah. I would.”

“I get it,” Dana says.

“How have you done it all these years?” I ask.

“What’s that?”

“Well, Candace is like your mom. You’ve had to field ugly questions and fight back accusations against her longer than me.”

“It’s how I protect her,” Dana explains. “And it’s how I’ll protectyou.”

“I don’t need protection from assholes.”

“No, but they might from you.”

I look at Dana, and we laugh.

“Have you talked to Candace today?” Dana wonders.

“Not since this morning.”

“She hasn’t called?”

“She left me a message. I think she’s looking forward to this trip.”

“A chance to press the flesh,” Dana observes.

“And to be away. She’ll steal a few moments of solitude on the plane. And she’ll have Cassidy with her tomorrow.”

“Are you worried about her?”

“No more than I always am.” And I am always concerned for Candace.

“JD, we’ve known each other alongtime. Icanread you. Something is on your mind, and it’s more thanThe Late Great Americapodcast.”

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