Woman King

CHAPTER 33

Election Day is always a strange day for campaign consultants. After weeks and weeks of nonstop work, there is nothing to do now but wait. When a race is in play, it can feel like the longest day of the year. The polls in California don’t close until 8 pm and the results don’t begin to trickle in until an hour or so later. That means that from the minute I wake up, and then for another ten hours or more, I have to find a way to occupy myself, hoping that in the end, all of my hard work pays off. Every consultant has a different way of coping. I know some who arrange long, extravagant lunches with friends. Others go into the office and busy themselves with other projects. For me, it’s a rare day to get in plenty of exercise.

On this Election Day I got up early, as I had for the last several weeks. But instead of heading to Josef’s studio, I had another idea in mind as I stared at William in my bed. With a little prodding, he agreed to join me for a run in Golden Gate Park.

“Let’s run to the beach and back,” I said, as we stretched at dawn on the sidewalk in front of the house.

We jogged through the Music Concourse, its rows of sycamores fading with autumn. A dozen Chinese senior citizens were doing their tai chi exercises, accompanied by traditional music coming from an old cassette player. We passed the de Young and then quickly turned behind the museum and headed west toward Ocean Beach. I looked up at the now-empty floors of the tower, where we normally met with our colleagues. Still dark outside, the copper skin of the building was illuminated by the white glow of interior office lights, giving the building an odd, artificial color.

“It’s amazing to realize this building leads two lives,” I said as we jogged past.

“Sort of like you,” William said.

“I guess so,” I said. “All of us, really.”

“A necessary evil,” he said. “Because in this case, the truth is more complicated than the fiction.”

As we continued to run, I picked up on the distinctive caw of a raven somewhere behind us. I stopped for a moment to stretch and casually turned toward the noise, and there atop a streetlight was a trio of the black birds. William, who’d run a few paces ahead of me, realized I’d stopped and circled back.

“Why’d you stop?”

“I was distracted by the ravens,” I said, pointing. “I’ve never known them to be so bold, so early in the morning.”

He eyed the enormous creatures with disdain.

“Get out of here, you three!” he said, facing in their direction. “Tell your master you’ve been discovered.”

The ravens didn’t move, nor did they make another sound either. We were locked in a staring contest, making me feel like a character in a Hitchcock film.

“They can understand you?” I asked quietly under my breath.

“I’m guessing,” he said, never taking his eyes off the trio. “You said it yourself, these birds are normally not this active so early in the morning. I think they’re spies, shape-shifters that report to someone, perhaps Nikola.”

“That’s odd. I don’t sense anything. How can you be sure?”

“I can’t,” he said. “All I have is my instinct, but their presence is odd.”

“Let’s ignore them,” I said. “You might be right, but what can they tell him anyway?”

“OK,” William said. “But don’t say anything you don’t want him to hear.”

“You mean Nikola?”

William nodded.

“Oh, but I should like to send him a message,” I said.

“That’s exactly what I was afraid of,” he said. “Say nothing, love. Let him know nothing of what you’re thinking.”

Reluctantly, I agreed.

“Come on,” I said, turning my back on the birds. “I feel like going over to Strawberry Hill instead of the beach. We can run up the hill and look out at the Golden Gate.”

A few minutes later we turned onto the access road that climbs up to Stow Lake, and followed the pavement until we reached the opening for the trails that lead to the top of the hill. Morning was in full swing for the creatures of the lake, the ducks and geese quacking and honking, waddling back and forth as they searched for their morning meals. Small pink crayfish were crawling out of the muck onto the grass, creeping slowly toward a point unknown. I marveled at the activity as we slowly zigzagged up the dirt path, climbing up the hill, the city panorama coming into view. Our climb finished, I paused with my hands on my knees to catch my breath. I looked around for the gathering of fallen tree trunks we’d first sat on months ago after the bluegrass festival and pointed them out to William.

“Do you remember when we sat on those logs?” I asked. “I told you my story and then you disappeared.”

“That’s not exactly how I remember it,” he said.

“How do you remember it?”

“I kissed you,” he said. “I kissed you, and then I disappeared.”

“That’s right,” I said. “I was so disappointed. When I opened my eyes you were gone.”

“I was disappointed, too, darlin,” he said. “But I thought it better to leave.”

“Did you know I would find you?”

“I hoped you would try.”

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” I said, surprised at my admission. “I mean, I wanted you so badly, but I didn’t realize…”

“I know,” he said. “That is why I decided to leave that day.”

“And now?”

“Now,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “Now I know that you know exactly what I’m thinking.”

What he was thinking is that he wanted to kiss, so I obliged, several times over. And this time, when I opened my eyes, he was still there, right by my side. The moment wasn’t lost on me and I decided to make my long-term intentions clear by mentioning Paris.

“My mother has invited me to visit her in Paris,” I said. “She has an exhibition there. I told her I would come for a few days to visit after the election. I thought maybe we would go together.”

“You want me to meet your mother?” he asked.

“Isn’t that normally what people do before they get married?” I asked, hoping my proposal would make him happy. “But I need some help. What should we tell her? Will she be able to sense you’re a vampire…the way I can?”

“I’m not sure,” he said. “We’ll have to see when we get there. I have an apartment in Paris, the one my father bought before the war. It’s near the Canal St. Martin. We can stay there.”

“You still own an apartment in Paris…from the war?” I asked.

William nodded. “After we’re married, I’ll tell you more about our holdings. We’ve been very fortunate over the years.”

“Can we have a ceremony?” I asked.

“If you can live with a judge instead of a priest, then yes,” he said. “We can have a ceremony in Paris if you like, or wait until we’re back home.”

I was already imagining a small café on the Left Bank, or maybe inside the Hôtel de Ville, City Hall. And then by chance I got to the part in my daydream where they say “till death do you part,” and I caught myself wondering what life will be like watching myself grow old, when he would not.

“I can hear your thoughts. Don’t worry about that now. We have many years together before that is an issue. Let’s enjoy our fortune in finding each other. Even human couples have no guarantee that they will grow old together, Olivia.”

“You’re right,” I said, taking his hand in mind. “Let’s take it one day at a time.”

We jogged back through the park and returned home, no ravens in sight. By the time we showered and changed, it was time for me to leave for Palo Alto. William said goodbye, promising to meet me at the campaign offices later in the evening. We would monitor things for a while from there, and then move to a restaurant nearby that Levi had rented for the evening.

After I arrived at the office, I passed the last few hours until the polls closed packing up boxes of confidential documents and organizing the equipment and other supplies we’d rented so they could be returned.

By 7 pm I was ready to check in with the local news outlets and see what they had to say about election results. I managed to stay calm most of the day, reminding myself that our own internal polling had shown Levi ahead in the race by a solid ten points for several weeks. The numbers for undecided voters, however had not moved, making it possible we could still lose the race if those votes went to Lacy.

Levi had texted me earlier, letting me know he would see me at the bistro at 8 pm. I didn’t see any reason for him to arrive sooner. Gabriel was also coming around that time, and I suspected William, Lily and perhaps even Josef would follow. At the last minute, I’d sent Josef a text inviting him to the dinner, figuring I should include my future brother-in-law in our plans.

Just as I turned on the local news a reporter began discussing the station’s process of exit polling. It is possible to predict the outcome of a race using exit polling, although not always. Exit polls, they said, showed Levi Barnes as the winner. I could only hope they were right, I mused, as I tried to stay busy for the final hour of voting.

At 8 pm we all assembled and indulged in a light dinner and plenty of wine as the first results arrived. Each update revealed a slight lead, until finally at 10 pm, with most of the precincts reporting, Levi had jumped twelve points ahead. It was astonishing, a better win than we could have hoped for.

As we were regarding the computer screen, watching the Department of Elections update the results, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to glance at the caller ID, curious since most members of the press and campaign team were already standing within a few feet of me. The number was blocked, but I answered anyway, putting the phone to my ear to say hello.

“Are you going to claim the seat?” said a voice that was familiar for its unique salty brusqueness. Paul Levant, head of the California Democratic Party, went straight to the question, skipping any greeting, as usual.

“I’m thinking about it,” I said. Claiming the seat meant having us declare ourselves the winner…before Lacy had conceded losing. It was a bold statement.

“Christ Almighty, you’ve got it in the bag, kid,” Levant said. “Our own number-crunchers are calling you the winner, with fifteen points to spare.”

“Shit, really?” I was dumfounded. Fifteen points was a hugely comfortable margin. It afforded a candidate the kind of maneuvering room that freed him from having to glance over his shoulder at the opposition too often. Candidates who win by two points can never say their ideas have a mandate. But win by fifteen points, and the world is yours.

“There are still a few precincts outstanding,” I told Levant, unable to overcome my superstitious nature.

“Suit yourself, kid,” he said. “But I am telling you Levi Barnes will shortly be Congressman Barnes. I’ll expect a sizable donation from him to the party toot sweet!” The line went dead, his words ringing in my ears, my pulse in my throat.

“Who was that?” Levi asked.

“It was Levant,” I said. “He says the seat is ours by a margin of fifteen points, and we should call the race.” Silence followed as everyone looked up at the television above the bar, which was now, in fact, posting election results confirming our fifteen-point lead, with two precincts left to report.

Victory chants cropped up around the restaurant. “Levi! Levi! Levi!”

“OK, let’s call it,” I yelled over the din. I hugged Levi, “Congratulations, Congressman Barnes, I think you should address your supporters.”

Levi smiled and embraced me tightly. “Amazing. Amazing work, Olivia,” he said. “The way you took control and stayed calm. I’ve never seen anyone with better instincts and courage. Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” I said, smiling. “It’s easy to run a race for someone like you. Promise me you’ll call when it’s time for re-election.”

“Aren’t you coming back to Washington with me?” Levi looked puzzled.

“No, not this time. I hope you’ll take Maggie and Peter with you; they will make great legislative aides.”

Levi squeezed my hand. “You’re not the same person anymore,” he said. “There is something, a certainty in you that didn’t exist before.”

“I suppose I know more about what I want now. Perhaps with not so much certainty, but confidence in my own decisions,” I said, “which is really about growing older and knowing oneself.”

“Ah, but they are all cousins,” said Gabriel, who had come up behind us while we were talking. “You cannot be certain without confidence.”

Richard Lyon was with him. They both urged Levi toward the front of the room to give his victory speech. I nodded in agreement and promised to follow in a moment. As they departed, I stopped and exhaled deeply, releasing much of the pent up stress and anxiety I had been harboring for weeks. It was over. We’d won. A weight that had been pressing on my chest lifted and a feeling of lightness returned to my body. I was about to turn and make my way to the front when an arm wrapped around my waist holding me in place. It was William.

“Well done, darlin,” he said, pulling me to his side. “Now that you’re officially unemployed, can we kiss in public?”

“Yes, definitely,” I said.

We did, quickly, and then walked forward to the main area of the bistro’s dining room in time to watch Levi climbing onto a chair to speak to the crowd. I glanced over at Patrick, giving him a nod to grab a glass and a piece of silverware to signal to the crowd to quiet down. After a few whistles and clinks on a beer mug, everyone fell silent and looked toward Levi as he stood above them. Flush and happy, his blue oxford shirt rolled up at his sleeves, here was the newest member of Congress from the great state of California, alone, with no entourage, no driver, not even a microphone. Remember this moment, I silently urged Levi; as a consultant I knew it was fleeting, irreplaceable.

“We did it,” he said to a sea of cheers. “Can you believe it? We won by fifteen points! I’m not prepared to say much more except that I want to thank all of you, my supporters, for believing in me. I want to thank the voters who made me their choice; I promise to work hard on your behalf. Finally, I want to tip my hat to Lacy…”

A chorus of boos rang out from the crowd.

“Now, now,” Levi admonished his supporters, but with a smile. “I do want to thank Lacy Smith. I may not agree with her on just about anything, but I respect her for raising the issues.”

More applause. More cheers.

I smiled, squeezing William’s hand. When you’re a winner on election night, anything seems possible. Fly to the moon? Sure. Balance the budget? Immediately! It’s like getting into your new car at the dealership and driving off into a brilliant orange sunset. Tonight, at this moment, these people were ready to follow Levi on a great journey. Would they feel the same way in sixty or one hundred days? Who knew? And that is the essence of politics. I really hoped Levi would enjoy the evening, because tomorrow the real work would begin.

After speaking, Levi stepped off the chair and disappeared into a crowd of well-wishers. Champagne corks were popping, the volume on the music rose and the group prepared to party into the night. It was, after all, officially a victory party and in politics, there is no better place to be.

My thoughts drifted to Lacy and whether she would concede. I wondered too, if Halbert would have the courage to dial my number. My answer came across a television screen, as a tearful Lacy climbed the stage at her campaign party and spoke into a microphone to say she “had called Levi Barnes to congratulate him.”

“This was not our moment,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, her mascara following in streaks. “God works in mysterious ways and I’m sure he has a purpose for us beyond tonight’s defeat. This is not the end. We will continue to fight for the things we believe in.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring her words. I had no doubt she would live to fight another day, but for now, she was no longer my concern, nor were her advisers. Still, I wondered where Halbert was, knowing he would be furious at his loss. When I opened I eyes, I noticed reporters entering the restaurant. My job was to lead each one of them to Levi for an interview. I made sure he gave them each a quote, but I wouldn’t let him speculate about what he would do next. For now, it was enough to declare victory and thank his supporters.

I sent word through William to ask Richard Lyon to stay in the back of the room while the press was around. I couldn’t ask the man who’d raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the campaign to leave, but I felt no compunction at asking him to make himself scarce for a few moments.

Levi seemed about finished with his interviews when I realized there was one major player missing from the room. JP had not been in the building all night. It didn’t seem possible that the valley’s biggest online journalist would skip the party, but I knew better than to assume anything. His relationship with Halbert had been a revelation, one that had taught me to assume nothing.

Finally, about a half hour after most of his colleagues had departed, JP appeared in the doorway. He looked timid, as if he expected to be stoned by the crowd. If anyone had been sober enough to care, there might have been trouble. In general, drunken winners are a magnanimous group, and JP was able to walk inside unscathed. I stood still, waiting for him to notice me. When he caught my eye, I waved him over.

I began by giving him my most professional greeting, a gracious winner’s smile. “Would you like some time with the congressman?” He nodded, a notebook and pen clasped in his hands. “Will you be videotaping this?” I added, unable to resist.

“Yes” he said tersely. “But…”

“This is on the record?”

“Yes,” he said. “Exactly.”

“That’s certainly a much better way to do things,” I said, my heart not really much into scolding him further.

I caught sight of Patrick from across the room and signaled that he should join us. Since the two men knew each other, I didn’t make introductions. Instead, I simply asked him to find a quiet place where Levi and JP could do an interview. As they were leaving, I pulled Patrick aside and whispered in his ear to keep the interview short and not to allow any questions about the fundraiser that was the scene of the controversial recording.

“If he dredges up the past even for a second,” I said, “stop the interview.”

Patrick nodded and escorted JP out of the main dining room.

“That was very magnanimous of you,” William said, coming to stand beside me again. “You could have been much harder on him.”

“I haven’t any energy left to be that petty. I could sense his shame the minute he walked in, and besides, he doesn’t know it, but I already promised an exclusive interview to a rival publication when Levi arrives in Washington. JP will be furious, but it will make us even as far as I’m concerned.”

I closed my eyes again, this time feeling weary as I thought back to JP’s video and the damage it had caused.

“Let me take you home, love,” William said, pulling me close. “You look exhausted.”

I was completely spent, and serious fatigue was creeping into the corners of my body now that the adrenaline had finally receded.

“Let me say goodbye and then we can leave,” I agreed, making my way through the crowd. On my way out, I promised to meet Gabriel and our small inner circle for dinner the following evening. I scanned the room, waving to a few acquaintances and noted with pleasure that Josef and Lily were out on the dance floor, dancing cheek to cheek.

“Does he know she is a fairy?” I asked William as we were leaving.

“Yes,” he said. “Everything is always more complicated when you mix species, but they’ll be fine. They both live very openly in the human world, so it probably gives them something in common.”

“Is he giving her a lift home?”

“Don’t worry, darlin,” William said. “All of your baby chicks will get back to the nest safely.”

“I’m a worrier, I know,” I said, smiling. “I’ll stand down for the evening.”

As we departed, I turned back, savoring the image of celebration. Victory was finally mine again. I had overcome my demons, helped a good man win a seat in the United States Congress, and I had recovered my sense of identity along the way. I leaned into William, as I peered through the glass, enjoying the sensation of a partner at my side.

“Not a bad day’s work, darlin,” William said. “What’s next? The Senate? Maybe the presidency?”

“For now…Paris,” I said, feeling content. “I’ve been thinking about places we should visit,” I continued. “Maybe we can take a trip to Normandy, see the coastline. I’d like to visit the memorials and maybe visit your father’s grave.”

I continued rattling off potential destinations, blissfully unaware that Stoner Halbert was approaching. It was only when William gave my hand a painful squeeze and I looked up to chide him, that I noticed the teetering figure coming toward us. Halbert was drunk, almost to the point of incapacitation. Fifteen points is a bitter loss to swallow, especially when you’re supposed to have the advantage. William made a noise next to me that sounded almost like a growl.

“Halbert,” I said. “What brings you here? Did you come to congratulate me?”

“You would like that, wouldn’t you,” he slurred. “Shall I get down on my knees and tell you how magnificent you are? You’re all the same—not happy until the man has been ruined and humiliated.”

“I think you have the wrong person,” William said. “Olivia has never done a thing to you.”

“She’s never done a thing for me,” he said, almost incoherently.

“Halbert, what is this about? First you steal my clients, then you try to ruin my reputation as a consultant, and now you’re here to what…hurl insults at me? You need to call a cab and go home. It’s one election, sleep it off and get a life.”

“You made an ass out of me,” he said, coming to stand directly in front of me. “Lacy threw me out of her campaign office.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “You did that all by yourself. Now go home.”

Halbert swayed back and forth, clearly trying to formulate a response, but no words escaped his lips.

Finally, after a few awkward seconds, I turned my back on Halbert, grabbed William’s hand and walked away.

For a moment, I felt sorry for him. The pain and disappointment of his life hung about him like a cloak. It permeated the air, giving him a rank and bitter scent. This, I mused, was an example of human betrayal left festering, and I felt some compassion for the man whose life had been so disturbed by his wife’s ambitions and dishonesty.

And yet, everything that transpired from that moment on had been his choice. He chose to align himself with the darkest of paths, but had no better angel to come to his aide. Now, he was left with nothing but his own reproach, a reprobate saddled with a growing paranoia that all women were out to humiliate him. Even if he won his next campaign, or the next, I doubted he’d ever find happiness again. Halbert seemed either incapable or unwilling to move, so we left him standing alone on the sidewalk, backlit by the halogen glow of a streetlight.

“I doubt you’ll ever see him again,” William said, as he unlocked my car door.

“You never know,” I said earnestly. “Fate is a funny thing, and the world of political consultants is so small.”