Page 71 of Executive Decision

He listened for a moment, then rubbed his temples. “Right now? You realize I’m in Traverse City, right?”

This was work-related. I could smell it. And it wasn’t new. I’d been deserted over far less by Chandler. I wouldn’t have minded it so much if I wasn’t also possibly just inseminated by a man who had no claim to me and wasn’t obligated to stick around. My skin crawled at the idea that I could have suffered five long years of infertility, only to get pregnant in my cousin’s boathouse with a man I shouldn’t want. Shame hit me like waves swallowed a lighthouse.

“Yeah, okay. I will call a car or something. Get me a flight, okay? Thanks.”

He hung up. “That’s my chief of staff. We have an issue with a police officer.”

I sensed he couldn’t say more.

“Daph, I am so sorry. I feel like a total dickhead leaving you to deal with this.”

“It’s… it comes with the territory, alright? I can handle it. I’m a big girl. Go deal with your chaos, Mr. Mayor.”

He shook his head, then gave me a long kiss. “Let’s talk when you get back. Let me know if you need something. I’ll miss you, Daphne. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” I said. “Shit happens.”

It did, but seeing him rush away so soon after this incident felt lousy. It gave me pause. Could I ever rely on Cal to justbe there?

26THE PILL

Daphne

The dayafter the boathouse incident, I feigned period cramps and rushed to the pharmacy for supplies. When my pain supposedly got “too bad”, I elected to drive home, and no one stopped me. On the six-hour drive back, I fought terrible cramps but thankfully no bleeding. My period was due in a week and now began the countdown in hopes it justhappened. I’d waited years to see happy, positive lines on a test, but this wasn’t the time. I padded upstairs and threw myself into bed.

I avoided my mother, who would leave early for Lake Geneva the next morning with friends. Next, I booked an appointment with a concierge women’s health service. After talking to the doctor about my options, I felt better. She assured me I did the right thing. Since my cycle was regular, I was unlikely to have conceived so late. I knew this, but it confirmed things. She wrote me a script, and I went home in a better mood. I left to get groceries.

Returning, things fell off the rails. My mother left a note.

Daphne,

I did not go to Lake Geneva. Patty fell ill, so we are taking a raincheck. I will be home for dinner.

Great. I pulled out my laptop and watched reality tv, spit balling how I’d get out of it. I scrolled until I saw what Cal was dealing with on the front page of theChicago Daily Tribune.

The Mayor’s Office and Chief of Police have different versions of what happens next. Following the elevated response to an assumed school shooting at Roosevelt High School, Mayor Markham’s office believed a tape should be released for the purposes of public transparency. However, the police union and Chicago Police Department refuse to release the footage. Evaluating this, it appears Mr. Markham’s office is outhorsed. Inside sources suggest tackling policing will be more difficult than expected.

As I finished reading, Mum appeared.

“Things are hairy out there,” she gasped. “Don’t go. I predict there will be demonstrations.”

“What is this about?” I asked, concerned.

“Cal’s office is—along with Black leaders—demanding they release a tape. There was a school shooting just before your father’s death. CPD made it sound very dangerous. They used tear gas and rubber bullets on students. Well, theysayit was a shooting, but I’d say it was a student who brought a toy gun to school to appear cool. The boy was wounded, but teachers said he did not appear to wish harm on anyone. Other students said they feltlesssafe after CPD’s response—not more.”

“So, Cal inherited this?”

“He did. And he ran on a reform platform, so good luck to him,” Mum sighed. “It will be a mess. Bishop Yates is going to hold his feet to the flames.”

I winced. “He should, but that sucks for Cal.”

My parents and Bishop Yates, a social justice leader on the South Side, formed an alliance in charity work. Mum thought the world of him. Yates was generally good-natured, but I suspected he had a big hand in getting Cal elected and wasn’t afraid to hold him accountable.

Mum rolled her eyes. “It does. CPD is corrupt. They are goons. At least the administration is. I suspect the Chief will be sacked—as he should be—but only after people march.”

“That’s awful.”

“The good news is, I was able to get us some essentials and pick up your prescription from the chemist. I needed to fill my migraine medication, after all.”

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