Final Table

by Carolina Mac

  Something else she’d discovered the hard way, Blaine Blackmore-Powell held all the cards. The power in Texas was his for the taking. She could not afford to piss him off.

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BLAINE let the dogs out the back door into the recently landscaped yard, then padded barefoot to the kitchen in search of coffee. Carm was an early riser. She was up and dressed and coffee was brewed and sitting on the warmer.

  Blaine gave her a hug and spoke to her in Spanish. “Are you excited about going to Cat’s inauguration?”

  She shrugged. “Maybe a little.”

  “It will be boring.” He flopped his head forward. “You will fall asleep.”

  She giggled. “Your madre will be there, and she will make me laugh.”

  “That’s true.” Blaine smiled, thinking of Annie. “Mom will make you laugh.”

  Carmelita Flores was like a second mother to him. He had dated Carm’s daughter in a past life, and when Fabiana died on assignment for the DEA, Blaine moved into this house with Carm to keep her company. Things changed, he’d purchased the house and renovated it and now they were family.

  Farrell dragged into the kitchen in his Harley boxers and plopped down at the table, holding a pack of Marlboroughs in his hand. “What time do we have to go to the thing?”

  “It starts at noon, and then there’s a reception later in the afternoon, then drinks after that and then dinner.”

  “Jesus.” Farrell screwed up his unshaven face. “We’ll be there all fuckin day. What time do we eat?”

  “I guess we’ll eat when they tell us to,” said Blaine. “Eat a good breakfast so you don’t pass out.”

  “Is Travis going with us or with Ginny?”

  “He’s picking Doctor Rodriguez up at her place and meeting us there,” said Blaine, “He’s her date but more of an escort and only for today, so he says.”

  “Is Cat gonna have a date?”

  Blaine shrugged. “Don’t know. I guess she could if she wanted one. I’m sure the new Lieutenant Governor will be bringing his wife.”

  “What time is the parade?” Misty floated into the kitchen and put the kettle on for tea. She was gone just as quickly out the door, across the foyer into the front parlor where the flat screen was located. Carm followed her with a bowl of eggs in her hand.

  “Guess we won’t get any breakfast until the parade is over,” grumbled Farrell.

  “Get some coffee and pop down some toast to tide you over,” said Blaine. “You need nourishment. You’re mean and vicious as a wolverine when you’re hungry. It’s gonna be a hell day on its own without you pointing out how much fun we ain’t having.”

  Farrell laughed at Blaine as he rummaged through Carm’s perfect pantry for a loaf of bread. He found a loaf and popped down four slices of bread.

  STATE CAPITOL, Austin.

  “I DO solemnly swear I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Governor to the best of my ability.”

  Cat sounded more nervous than Blaine had ever heard her. He might be nervous too, in a similar situation. He hoped to hell and back he never had to find out. He hated crowds, and this was a huge fucker of a mob packed into the Governor’s Reception Room, even though he was one of the lucky ones near the front with his crew and his family.

  Pictures now. The Chief Justice was affixing the seal and making everything official.

  Jesus, I hope she can hold it together for four years.

  A roar went up, the new Governor, elegantly dressed in an emerald green dress and matching jacket, smiled and stepped in front of the mic to make her first official speech.

  Hope it goes over well. I spent hours writing it.

  “WHERE TO from here?” asked Farrell when the speech was over, and the crowd was flowing like a tidal wave on to the next event.

  “Hope it’s somewhere with a bar,” said Annie. “It was hot in there with all those people too close to me. I could use a beer.”

  “She made a good speech,” said Jesse. “Damn good. Don’t know when I’ve heard better.”

  “Thanks,” said Blaine.

  Jesse raised an eyebrow. “You write it, Blacky?”

  Blaine shrugged. “Somebody had to.”

  Annie giggled. “Doesn’t she have a speech writer?”

  “She needs a better one,” said Blaine.

  “I’m following the crowd,” said Farrell, “Hope they know where they’re going.” He grabbed Mary’s hand and pulled her closer. “Don’t get caught in the stampede, Miss Mary.”

  Mary Polito, Farrell’s ex was a petite dark-haired girl who worked as a journalist for the Austin paper. Pretty, smart and serious about her career, she loved Farrell madly, but she played the marriage card too soon and Farrell bolted right out of the relationship.

  Farrell found their table in the dining room and pointed to the bar in the corner of the room. “I’m getting a beer. What can I get you, Miss Mary?”

  Mary smiled sweetly at Farrell like she always did. “White wine, please. I’m wearing a dress so I’m in my refined mode.”

  “I’m not,” said Annie, “I’ll come with you, sugar pop and carry beer.”

  “You look gorgeous, Mom.” Farrell slipped an arm around her waist. “You’re the most beautiful woman in this building.” He stopped and chuckled. “I should have said in all of Texas, because all the important people from all over Texas are here now, at this moment.”

  Annie leaned up and kissed him. “You are my sweet baby boy. Do you know how much I love you?”

  “The feeling is mutual, Mom.” He tilted his head to the right, “The Governor is circulating. Should we say ‘howdy?”

  “Sure,” said Annie, “let’s do it.”

  Cat was engaged in conversation with a handsome man in a tuxedo when they approached. She was speaking in low tones, and the conversation might have been personal. She looked up and smiled. “Donovan. Don’t you look handsome in a tux.”

  “Congrats, Governor.” He tugged Annie forward. “You know my Mom?”

  Cat nodded, and the green eyes flashed. “Mrs. Powell.”

  Annie offered her hand, “Congratulations, Governor Campbell. I hope you have a productive and successful four years in office.”

  “Thank you so much, Mrs. Powell. Nice of you to come, and may I say that is a gorgeous suit.”

  “Thank you for noticing.”

  Cat moved on and Farrell escorted Annie to the bar. “Why did she sound like she didn’t like you?” he asked. “I could hear the edge in her voice and she doesn’t even know you, does she?”

  “Nope, but I’m betting she will soon.”

  “Oh, shit, Mom. Is it going to be one of those cat fights where two women scratch each other’s eyes out?”

  “It will be if she tries to use you or Blaine for her own purposes while she’s in office. Her four years will be cut short. Very short.”

  “Fuck. Let’s get a beer and get back to the table.”

  “Don’t forget Mary’s white wine.”

  Annie returned to the table with Farrell on her heels carrying the drinks.

  Jesse took one look at her and asked, “Everything all right, Ace? You look a little flushed.”

  “Sure, cowboy. Just gave my congratulations to the woman of the hour. I’m ready to party now.”

  Blaine raised a black eyebrow and looked to Farrell for some insight. Farrell shook his head.

  “I haven’t done that yet,” said Ginny. “I guess it would be the polite thing to do.”

  Travis shook his head. “Plenty of time for that, Gin. You might need a drink before you take that task on.”

  Doctor Rodriguez laughed. “You might be right, Travis.” She patted his arm and Annie glared.

  Declan noticed and smiled at his date.

  Jesse noticed Declan paying attention to Annie and stood up. “I’m going out for a smoke before the food comes. Anybod
y with me?”

  Blaine, Farrell and Travis were on their feet.

  AFTER the soup, salad, and pasta, came the main course. Farrell was going strong, but the ladies’ appetites were dwindling before the Cornish game hens arrived.

  Carm leaned over and asked Blaine in Spanish about the main course and he tried to tell her what it was.

  “Si,” she smiled and nodded, “the recipe is in Martha’s cookbook.”

  Blaine nodded. Annie had gifted Carm with a half dozen popular cookbooks translated into Spanish at Christmas. “Are you having fun?” He reached for the table wine and refilled Carm’s glass and Misty’s.

  “Si.”

  Carm was wearing a new black dress that fit her perfectly, and she’d worn her gorgeous black hair down long. Around her neck she wore the gold cross Blaine had given her for her birthday. She’d never looked lovelier.

  The head table was in plain view and Annie, sitting between Carm and Declan, tried to identify the guests. “Do you like the new Lieutenant Governor?” she asked Blaine. “What’s his name?”

  “Templeton Stokes,” said Blaine. “Seems okay, but I’ve only met him once before.”

  “Maybe he’ll be what the red-head needs to keep her straight,” said Annie.

  Blaine tipped up his beer and finished it. “Hope so.”