Blue Bloods of Bois D’Arc (33 page)

Chapter 77

And then there were three

Two days later, Rod pulled up to the front door of the house with Cass and Nicole. “I think we’re going to have to get a minivan like the rest of the soccer moms drive. These sport cars won’t cut it with a baby on board.” He ran around to open Cass’s door, took Nicole from her, and helped her up out of the car.

“We definitely are,” Cass said. “I can’t take getting up from these low seats anymore. How about tomorrow you take care of that little chore?”

When Rod reached for the front door handle, the door flew open. “Welcome home!” Earl greeted them. Cass stepped in first and was pleasantly surprised at the immaculate condition the house was in, knowing Earl had hung out with Rod while she was in the hospital. She took the sleeping Nicole into her beautifully decorated gender-neutral nursery. With the baby down for her nap before feeding again, the three friends settled around the dining-room table. It seemed so long ago that they hammered out a winning strategy for Earl’s campaign at that same table, but it was actually just weeks ago.

Reminiscing about the many crises and changes during the campaign, Cass said, “I think changing your name from TJ to Earl for your campaign was a brilliant idea.” She then focused her attention on Rod. “And I think it’s time you changed your name, too. You’ve come a long way since you were a high school jock. You help run one of the most successful defense companies in the country and deal with international heads of state and power brokers in Washington.”

“And what is your point?”

“My point is since you travel in lofty political and industrial circles, you should have a more professional sounding name like your given name, Rodney, instead of your high-school nickname Rod. It sounds too sophomoric for the life you live now. It worked for Earl. Just think what it might do for you if you decided to run for office someday.”

“First of all, I have no interest in running for office. And second, I like Rod. There are plenty of famous people named Rod. There’s Rod Steiger, a great actor. I loved Rod Serling’s TV series,
Twilight Zone
. Rod Taylor’s another great actor. How about Rod Stewart, the great singer-songwriter?”

“Okay, okay, at least think about it.”

“I will later. Right now we need to celebrate.” Rod broke out an expensive bottle of vintage wine they’d received as a wedding gift and saved for a special occasion.

“I think this is a pretty special occasion to break out the really good stuff. Chateau Haut-Brion, anyone?” He inserted the corkscrew and slowly extracted the cork.

Cass immediately placed her hand over her glass.

“You’re not having any? This may be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.”

“None for me. I’m nursing in less than an hour.”

Rod quickly went to the refrigerator, retrieved his favorite cran-apple juice and half-filled her wineglass. He poured Earl and himself a half glass of the most expensive wine either of them had ever tasted.

“Thanks. Now I can at least pretend I’m drinking wine for the toast.”

“This has been one hell of a year,” Rod said. “I, for one, am ready for it to be over.”

“I second that,” Earl said.

“Okay, then, let’s raise our glasses to salute our new mother Cass, baby Nicole, Earl, our new congressman since he has no opponent in the general election in November, and the future of RJ Systems.”

The click of glasses and a resounding “Cheers!” filled the room.

“Thanks a lot you two. I have to run – lots to do. First thing I need to do is put together a staff and locate living quarters in DC. Catch you guys later.” And Earl was gone.

Chapter 78

Election aftermath

“Finally some peace and quiet.” Cass said. “Now maybe we can have that talk we’ve put since Christmas.”

“What talk?” Rod asked, “I thought we had already done that. What do you want to talk about now?” Completely oblivious to the storm that was about to hit him. They sat at the dining table still covered with campaign paraphernalia and the wine bottle of happier moments.

In a soft and serious tone, Cass said, “I’ll go first. Now that I have Nicole, I won’t be bothering you as much about being home. When you went to work for Jack, you became a different person. I have tried to adjust to your long absences and late nights, but an empty bed wasn’t what I bargained for. You are married to the company, and I can live with that. I will expect you to satisfy my sexual needs when you are available, but our lives have changed and will be different from now on. I will dedicate my time to our daughter and you have the company to fulfill your life.” Cass paused. “And, yes, I still love you and look forward to us growing old together. Just not the way I had planned.”

Stunned by Cass’s blunt assessment of their life, Rod reacted defensively. “I’m sorry if I haven’t lived up to your expectations. All I have ever done was love you and try to measure up to the standard your family expected of you. I’ve cherished every moment we have had together and will continue to love you the rest of our lives. I’m sorry if that isn’t enough. There are circumstances at the company that make demands on me over which I have no control. I thought you understood that.”

“What I understand is, I foolishly thought I could break the family tradition of more than a hundred years. I will always love you and will adjust to what our lives have become. Welcome to the blue bloods of Bois D’Aarc.

Other books from
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and
Soul Mate Publishing
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THE DAY STEAM DIED

Ann sneaks out to meet her lover, Rick Barnes, who lives across the hall in their creaky old apartment house to collect spilled coal in the rail yard of the dying railroad town. Escaping her alcoholic father for stolen moments of intimate bliss, they plan their future together. A future that Tank, the son of Sam Johnson, the most powerful man in town, aims to disrupt. Suddenly, Ann and her family vanish without a trace. Rick is devastated. Using his resources as a successful newspaper reporter he begins investigating Tank’s political career, the man he believes is complicit in Ann’s disappearance. Living in another city with her family through a financial arrangement with Sam Johnson, who shuts down the railway repair center, Ann is well paid to keep silent about her maternal condition. Even though she marries later, she is never able to totally shut Rick out of her fantasies. Sam pays for her silence, but doesn’t stop her determination to punish him and Tank for what they did. A shocking murder of a friend and colleague gives Ann the evidence she needs to incriminate Sam and Tank. Her revenge is bittersweet, but an unexpected twist changes her future prospects.

Available now on Amazon:

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