Page 17 of The Senator's Wife

“He did, Mrs. Montgomery.”

“Please, call me Sloane.”

Athena smiled. “The senator said you wanted someone who could drive you places and assist you at the foundation. I have to say that it’s what made the position sound so interesting to me. I’m familiar with the work your foundation does to help women, and any way in which I could help would be a privilege.”

Sloane studied her with interest. “Have you done work in this area?”

“I have. When I lived in Greece, I volunteered weekends at a homeless hostel in Athens. Over time, I even learned how to help them with some of their accounting and donation tracking using donor-management software.”

Sloane raised an eyebrow. “How nice to hear. Well, Athena, I think you’d be of great assistance with the work you’ve done and your administrative skills. We have an accounting department, so I won’t need your help there, but emails and correspondence build up quickly, and I don’t want to fall behind. I see that you were a communications major, which will also be an asset.” Sloane looked up from the résumé to Athena. “I’ve been told I’ll have a physical therapist come to the house three or four times a week, so your PT experience will be very helpful as well.” Sloane closed the folder in her lap and rested her hands on it.

“Now, as my husband told you, the surgery is next Thursday. If you could start tomorrow, that would give us time to do some preparatory work before the operation. You can come with me tothe office and get familiar with some of the work. Also, get to know the staff and the lay of the land here at the house. I should only be in the hospital overnight, so I’ll be home and moving around with the help of a walker the day after surgery. They’ve stressed to me that it’s important to take it easy. And to be careful not to fall. The last thing I want is to hurt myself and end up back at the hospital.”

“I can start tomorrow. It’s tempting to try to do more than you’re ready for in those first few weeks, but my job will be to see that you don’t.”

Sloane laughed. “You’ll have to forgive me if I get impatient with you. Taking it easy and going slowly are not my strong suits. And I really can’t imagine not being able to drive for six weeks.”

“Six weeks will be up before you know it, and everything will be back to normal. You’ll see,” Athena assured her.

Sloane rose from her seat. “Thank you, Athena. I look forward to seeing you first thing tomorrow. Sound good?”

“Sounds perfect.” She smiled.

- 14 -

ATHENA

The meeting with Sloane Montgomery yesterday had gone exactly as Athena had hoped. She could tell she’d made a good impression, and that Sloane felt at ease with her. Athena was used to making others feel comfortable. Her mother had always told her she had a gift for getting people to open up.

It was a fifteen-minute drive to the Georgetown home of Senator and Mrs. Montgomery. On this beautiful fall day, Athena put her window down as she steered her six-year-old Toyota Prius up Wisconsin Avenue, passing high-end boutiques and distinctive restaurants. The streets pulsated with life, throngs of people strolling the sidewalks and filling the tables of outdoor cafés. It must be great to live here, she thought, peering down tree-lined avenues of distinguished homes before she reached the Montgomery residence. Quite a far cry from the small condo Athena worked so hard to afford.

The three-story red brick house was set back from the street and surrounded by a low brick wall. Tall trees and lush shrubbery gave the impression of permanence and longevity. After her interview with Sloane, Athena had searched the address online and found that in addition to its seven bedrooms and ten bathrooms, the back terrace overlooked a heated swimming pool. She texted the link to the listing and floor plan to Clint. It wasn’t difficult to find that the last time the house had sold was sixteen years ago, to Senator Robert and Mrs. Sloane Chase, for $6.2 million. And that was just the DC house; never mind the Rehoboth Beach house or the place in Key West.

Athena pulled her car into the driveway as she’d been instructed.She turned off the engine just as Senator Montgomery came walking out.

“Good morning,” he said, giving her a warm smile as she got out of the Toyota. “Can I help with your things?”

“Thank you, Senator. I can manage. I’m a famous overpacker.”

“So is my wife.” He laughed and Athena followed him to the house.

Sloane appeared in the foyer as they entered, and Doris, the tall older woman she’d met yesterday, her dark hair pulled into a bun, stood next to her.

“Good morning, Athena,” Sloane said. “Doris will show you to your room. After you get settled, come downstairs and we’ll go to the office and get you familiar with things.”

“I’m heading out,” the senator said, and leaned forward to kiss his wife.

Athena climbed the stairs, keeping up with Doris while taking in the art lining the walls. The paintings looked important with their ornate gold frames and old-world themes, but none of them were familiar to her. She’d promised herself that she would take an art history class one day, but other things had taken priority.

As they reached the second-floor landing, Athena stopped in front of a large window with a stunning view of the Potomac River.

“Oh my. How beautiful,” she couldn’t resist saying.

“Yes. This house sits on one of the highest points in Georgetown. You can see the Capitol and the Washington Monument from here too,” Doris said with pride, leading Athena down the hall and past three bedrooms before finally stopping. “This will be your room, miss. Mrs. Montgomery is the next bedroom down, right next to yours. If you need anything, just use the intercom phone beside the bed to call me.”

“I will. Mrs. Montgomery mentioned that you’re the one who keeps things running smoothly around here. She’s very lucky to have you.” Athena hoped she wasn’t laying it on too thick.

Doris said nothing for a moment, then leveled a look at Athena.“I’ve been with her for over twenty years now. I’m the lucky one. Mrs. Montgomery is one of a kind.”

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