Page 4 of Campaign Season
One
The White House
Tension always accompanied election season. Candidates worried about the outcome, but it was often the people surrounding them who created the most anxiety. Candace Reid understood this better than most. In the end, a candidate either connected with voters or didn’t. A few contests might come down to razor-thin margins, but those were increasingly rare in a nation more polarized than ever—where ruling parties had perfected new ways to silence opposition voters.
She’d like to claim such tactics belonged solely to the other side, that Democrats never waded into the muck. But the truth was, no matter how hard anyone tried to keep a race clean, someone was always muddying the waters in their favor.
Now, with campaign season winding down, Candace felt more relief than triumph. She still enjoyed meeting people—chatting with concerned parents at rallies, fielding questions from enthusiastic college students. Those conversations reminded her why holding office mattered at all levels. However, this year, the work left her more drained than she could ever recall.
It wasn’t the pressure of governing a nation that wore on her most; it was the distance from home. She doubted there would be many more years when Cooper, their nine-year-old, would be excited about Halloween. She hated missing it. For weeks, she’d been locked in a polite but stubborn battle with the Secret Service to let him trick-or-treat with the Toles kids in Arlington.
Creating a sense of “normal” was never easy at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Cooper handled it with grace, but Candace could sense his disappointment. He might be proud his mom was the president, but that pride didn’t erase his need to just be a kid—running through the neighborhood in a costume, pillowcase in hand, laughing with his friends.
Candace removed her glasses with a sigh and massaged her temples.Coffee or whiskey? Maybe both.“I don’t know if I need a cup of coffee or a jug of whiskey,” she muttered.
“Thinking of instituting a nine a.m. happy hour?” Cassidy Toles asked as she stepped into the office.
Candace looked up and groaned. “If I didn’t think a glass of wine would put me to sleep, I would.”
“That bad, huh?”
“No.” Candace gestured toward the door, and Cassidy closed it.
“Candace, maybe you should think about foregoing a few events.”
“It isn’t the pace or the distraction that has me…” She hesitated. “Well, exhausted.”
“Go on.”
“I’m worried about Cooper.”
“Cooper? Why? Did something happen?”
“He has his heart set on trick-or-treating with Mackenzie. I don’t see me winning this battle with the Secret Service.”
Cassidy nodded. “So? We’ll change the plan.”
“Cass, you can’t change Mackenzie’s?—”
“Mackenzie told Alex she’s too old for trick-or-treating.”
“When did this happen?”
“Last night. Apparently, now that she’s twelve, she needs to attend a party. Costumes are acceptable, no bobbing for apples or cheesy games. Her words.”
Candace chuckled.
“Alex will take the twins and Fallon around the neighborhood. Honestly, they don’t seem as excited this year,” Cassidy said.
“The move?” Candace asked.
“That’s part of it. A bigger part is Mackenzie… and Claire. As much as she likes to protest, Claire delights in taking the kids anywhere. Costumes are a bonus.”
Candace smiled. “Do you think you could coax her and Eleana to come down for the weekend?”
“I don’t think it would require much coaxing.”
“I know Cooper would love to see Claire. If I had to guess, so would Jameson.”
