Page 61 of Tate
“I’m in the shade, Mother.”
“I know, I just…” She drew in a breath. “I just want you to be happy.”
Oh. Uh.
“And, I have a campaign problem that I don’t know what to do about. I need your help.”
Her. Help? Glo set down the iPad.
“Nicole got an email from Carter, hoping to coordinate security for the CMGs and…she looked at the calendar. I have an event that day in Atlanta and trying to coordinate the security staff to get back for the awards show…maybe I should cancel the event.”
Glo stared at her. “You’d do that for me?”
“Of course. You’re my daughter. And you’re getting a big award. And I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.Security is essential, and you need the entire team. Nicole says the venue is a nightmare, even if she coordinates with the CMG security people. We could hire more people, but to get them trained and up to speed before both events…it’s a logistical nightmare.” She paused. “No, of course I will cancel. I’ll call Nicole and tell her to halt the preparations for Atlanta.”
Glo considered her mother, measuring her, but she had picked up her phone?—
“No, Mother, don’t be silly.”
Her mother looked up, her thumb hovering over the Send button.
“I don’t even know if we’re going to win, and if we do, the last thing I want to do is go onstage. No. I don’t need to go. Besides, it’s just going to cause chaos for everyone. It’s just selfish.” She touched her mother’s hand. “Go to Atlanta. Maybe I’ll even go with you. Hold a sign or something.”
Her mother stilled, met her eyes with so much surprise, even warmth in them, it coursed right through Glo, hit her heart, left it a little unwieldy.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Glo’s voice emerged embarrassingly wrecked. “I’m here to support you, Mother.”
“Oh, thank you, Gloria. The folks in Atlanta have worked so hard.” She squeezed Glo’s hand and got up. “I’m so glad you’ve joined our team. We could use your help if we’re going to make it all the way to the White House.”
She went inside and Glo leaned back in the chair, feeling strangely unsettled. But of course it was the right thing to do.
“Apparently, there’s an epidemic going around.”
She turned at the voice and startled to see one of her security standing nearby, quiet, unobtrusive. But he’d spoken, so she pulled down her glasses. “I’m sorry, what?”
“People not getting what they really want.”
“I’m sorry, which one are you?”
“Rags—Art Ragsdale, ma’am. And I know it’s none of my business, but I think you should go to that awards show. Get your award.”
“You’re right, it is none of your business.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Just seems that it’s not selfish to enjoy the fruits of your labor, so to speak. But apparently, suffering in silence is epidemic around here.”
She opened her mouth to retort, had nothing, and closed it. Then, “Are you…I was expecting?—”
“Rango, right?”
She raised an eyebrow. “No. Mr. Marshall.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry, but he’s not here. He left this morning.”
Left?Left…?
“What do you mean?”
