by Combs, Sasha
Somewhere in those sentences lie a joke; a lighthearted message. Even though William wasn’t ignoring the seriousness of their situation, his choice in words spoke volumes. He was slamming his foot down on the topic. No matter what, neither the marriage nor the baby would be undone, so everyone would have to learn to live with it or bunk it.
William lowered his head to brush his lips across her mouth. The contact caused a flurry of desire to well up in him, pressing his body to have more of her. His fingers kneaded the back of her neck, then splayed out in her hair bracing her head while he deepened their kiss. With sweeping motions, they each explored their mouths with their tongues, while pulling at their clothes. Their moans were muffled sensuous sounds that coiled and vibrated in their kiss. The sensation tempted sexual parts of their body, making them want to lay prone on the small couch, unfortunately the space wasn’t large enough. Yet, their tight quarters didn’t stop them from wanting this. His darting tongue twirled and teased, doing exquisite things to her mouth. Pamela always enjoyed how experienced William was when it came to making love. He knew his way around her body and she credited his advanced age for this knowledge. It never took much for him to excite her because any little thing he did with his hands set her body on fire. At first she thought her fascination with him was due to her over zealous mind. Yet, after spending more time with him, Pamela had come to accept William’s superiority as a lover.
Being in the back of the airplane reminded them that LaShawn was still awake and they didn’t want her coming to see if Pamela was still ill in the restroom. Forcing himself to regain his self control, William slowed the kiss, while easing his lips away from hers. He could still hear LaShawn’s scolding words, admonishing him for not acting like an adult. She was right of course but at this moment, he wasn’t thinking about what he’d done wrong. Currently he was thinking about the floor plan in the planes cabin and the lack of privacy it afforded him. If they were to continue making love to one another; ensuring that they wouldn’t be disturbed would be necessary and at present he couldn’t guarantee that. He understood the dilemma. They were in the wrong place and the timing was no better.
When the kiss had been broken, their foreheads locked while they each managed to catch their breath. Looking into her eyes, he said...
“We’d better get back. You mother is worried. She noticed that you haven’t eaten today.”
“Maybe I’ll try a few saltine crackers. That should settle my stomach.”
William stood, extending his hand to her, then helping her to a standing position. As they walked slowly back to their seats, he squeezed her hand to ensure her of his devotion.
“Have a seat and I’ll go to the galley to get you a ginger ale and some saltines.”
When Pamela sat, she and her mother watched as William strolled down the isle with purpose. LaShawn peered over at her daughter, concerned for her health.
“Morning sickness?” She said as a question. Pamela nodded, then said...
“More like all day sickness. I didn’t feel like this a few days ago.”
“If you’re anything like me...the nausea should subside right around week twelve or thirteen.”
Pam couldn’t imagine seven more weeks feeling like crap all day. But she nodded, because the nausea brought on by elevated hormones was a good sign. At least that’s what her doctor had said.
Pamela moved a strand of hair from her field of vision, and she noticed her mother’s changed expression. The look was no longer a show of concern over Pamela’s nausea. This stare pricked at Pam’s nerves because she suspected that her mother’s question had something to do with her and William.
“What is it mom?” she said, keeping her voice level.
“Honey...I don’t mean to be nosey but...I’m just trying to understand something. How did you and William manage to cultivate a long distant relationship without me or your father ever being the wiser? I just don’t see how that possibly could have happened.”
Pamela did. Her parents were workaholics and they always strived to be the best. The best attorneys and the best parents. She loved them and she had no doubts that their love for her was genuine but their desire to be successful at all things affected their roles as parents. Since the practice required their full attention, the only other alternative for them as parents had been to send Pamela to boarding school. It got them out of the hot seat as parents and they still could say that they were giving their daughter the best advantages and a superior education.
After she graduated from college, then accepted a position at her parents law firm; even then, most times her parents weren’t aware of her pastime activities. Weeks would go by, and her parents wouldn’t know about tiffs with her girlfriends or a breakup that tore at her heart. Most times, their conversations dealt strictly with the office and the running of their business.
Even though this was the truth, and her parents didn’t see her time away from them quite the same way Pamela did; she didn’t tell her mother this because hearing the truth often times can be painful. Even when the person talking has no intentions to cause pain.
“Mom, we saw each other whenever we weren’t working.”
“But, you seldom missed a day at the office.”
“Yes,...that’s right. But, there were still weekends, vacations and three day weekends. Don’t forget the out of state cases you and dad sometimes would take. Not to mention the unplanned travels brought on by your high maintenance clients.”
LaShawn’s forehead still appeared creased with long lines. It was obvious that she still wasn’t buying this.
“Are you telling me that you flew to see William when you weren’t at work and when your father and I were out of the office?”
Pamela nodded, but she recalled telling her mother this earlier and for some reason she’d forgotten or perhaps she was testing for holes in her story. She watched as LaShawn geared up to ask another question.
“What about your friends? Where were they during this time? Are you telling me that you neglected your friendships, to spend time in Washington with William?”
Pamela didn’t like the phrasing but pretty much, that’s exactly what had happened.
“I did see my friends, but instead of the weekends, I saw them during the workweek. We would go out to lunch, or dinner. Sometimes we would go to a club or a movie in the middle of the week. I saved my weekends and my other free time to be with William”
“Honey, you must have traveled countless air hours. I know your father and I pay you a good salary but you don’t make enough to fly to Washington or Massachusetts every weekend.”
“William paid for my airfare. On a few occasions, when his secretary Mandy couldn’t schedule my flights, William would tell her to arrange for one of his families private planes to shuttle me.”
LaShawn was shocked to hear that William’s secretary had been involved with their deception. Then she considered the enormous risk he’d been willing to take by involving someone he paid a salary. This new bit of knowledge spun her thoughts in a completely different direction. LaShawn wondered, who else was involved. Did his house staff know about his affair and was his driver privy to information that had been kept from her and Michael?
Pamela looked to the front of the plane. William was holding a container filled with a fluid. The steward was placing small crackers and some other food that she couldn’t recognize on a white china plate. As much as she would have loved continuing this conversation, she didn’t want William returning, finding himself smack dab in the middle of one of LaShawn’s cross examinations.
“Mom, I know this is all confusing but William and I made our relationship a priority. We did what we had to do to be together. Sometimes that meant spending only one night together. And believe me, there were many weeks when that happened. On the rare occasion, we would have three days when no one would call or interrupt our weekend. For us, the old saying was fitting. Absence did make our hearts grow fonder. During this past year, I was happ
iest when I was with William.”
Her mother digested this for a minute. Then she looked over to Michael, wondering if he heard any part of this conversation. In some ways, she wished that he had.
“Mom...” she said and LaShawn leaned across the isle to listen intently due to her whispering.
“Will daddy behave when we arrive at William’s home? I mean... He won’t make a scene in front of William’s parents and his daughter?”
Michael could be unpredictable when it came to their only child. Pamela was the love of his life and he’d always wanted the best for her, not this situation she’d become entangled in.
“Your father...” LaShawn stopped because she wanted to tell the truth and say the right thing.
“Your dad will do whatever is best for you.”
Pamela knew exactly what that meant, and she also knew they would all have to wait to see what Michael deemed was best for her.
When the plane landed, Pamela had expected to see something larger than the small airport with a runway just long enough to land their plane. The pilot used his skills to touch down, then break the speed of the landing aircraft.
After the ground crew directed the plane to where it needed to go, not much time passed between them disembarking, then loading into the large Sports Utility Vehicles that waited outside of a private hanger. To their surprise, Frederick was there to greet them all, and he pointed her parents to the vehicle parked in the rear.
“LaShawn...Michael... You’ll be traveling in this SUV while I ride with the senator. There are a few things that we need to discuss.”
Michael still had not said one word to William since the signing of the marriage certificates.
“Thank you Frederick.” LaShawn said. Then she looked at Pamela.
“Take this soda and these crackers darling. I asked the steward to give me a small snack. You may need this just in case you begin to feel ill again.”
“Thanks mom.” She said.
“Yes, thank you LaShawn.” William added. He still felt a little out of sorts and seeing his campaign manager did little to make him feel any better. Frederick could be a loose cannon and his no-nonsense way of talking and dealing with things wasn’t what this trip needed. When he last spoke to Frederick, it had been decided that his campaign manager would remain in Washington, while William spent time alone with his family. Even after hearing every reason meant to persuade him; William had not been convinced and he still wasn’t sure if Frederick’s presence would be helpful.
When LaShawn and Michael were seated in their vehicle, William looked at Frederick.
“What are you doing here? I thought we discussed how we were going to handle this.”
Frederick pointed to their SUV, while walking in that direction.
“We can talk about this on the way to the house. There have been a few changes. Nothing major, but after running the numbers, I have devised a plan that I believe will be acceptable to your constituents.”
Once they were inside of the SUV, Frederick began to lay out his idea. William listened intently, because he liked what he was hearing and he believed it would solve some of his concerns.
“Do you really think a second ceremony is necessary?” Pamela asked.
“It could mean the difference between William being reelected or losing. You must understand; in the eyes of the voter, appearances are important. When I release the news, announcing your marriage to the press, I’ll casually mention the ceremony in Ohio. You know, little details hinting that it was a private gathering with very little fanfare. Then...to add a twist to this story; we’ll show pictures of the bride and groom surrounded by their families at Barn Wood Hudson. We’ll say that your reason for slipping out of Washington was because you wanted to have a private ceremony for your families away from photographers and reporters.”
“But two ceremonies Frederick? Is that really necessary?” William said but his question didn’t seem to phase Frederick. His campaign manager slyly smiled. “That’s the beauty in this. We’ll say the first ceremony was performed because you weren’t sure if the press would buy the false information, telling them that you were vacationing somewhere else, other than Barn Wood Hudson. So you see... They will think that you got married in Ohio because you didn’t want to take any chances that your second ceremony wouldn’t be interpreted by the press. And the pictures...well that part of the plan should speak for itself. I’m telling you William...this will all work out fine.”
Frederick’s plan hinged on a photo opportunity, she thought to herself. But as a senators wife, Pamela knew she would have to get use to that sort of thing; keeping up appearances. As much as she dreaded having to repeat her vows, especially after the way her father stubbornly stood like a gargoyle; Pamela would do this one thing for William because she didn’t want his campaign to be negatively affected if she refused to participate.
William noticed how quiet Pam had been while Frederick talked. He took her hand in his, stroking her fingers soothingly.
“Darling...does all of this meet with your approval?”
She smiled while looking at their joined hands. They were in this thing together.
“Yes, it sounds all right to me.” She said, resigned to do what Frederick had proposed.
“Don’t worry Pamela. I’ll see to everything.” Frederick said, pleased with his idea. In his life, he’d done far worse for others who’d hired him. Over all, this job didn’t require any strong arm tactics or the calling in of favors. In Fredrick’s eyes, that was his definition of easy work. He wondered at what juncture would William sit back and relax, allowing Frederick to do what he’d been paid to do.
After Frederick had shared his idea, he noticed the expression on William’s face. He spotted the clear signal instructing him to turn forward in the passengers seat, leaving him and Pamela alone. The drive to the mountain house was more than an hour away. William didn’t want anymore talk about second weddings, politics or his campaign. He wanted Pamela to have this quiet time to rest her nerves and steady her brain.
As the vehicles trailed behind each other up tree lined mountain roads, not one persons eyes drifted from the spectacular scenery outside of their windows. Even though many of the narrow roads were close to cliffs and rock walls; the hairpin turns and long drop-offs didn’t take away from the beautiful view they all were being treated to. As much as Pamela wanted to say that the ride was the best part of their trip; nothing was more magnificent than the view that they saw once the trucks turned onto the property, then pulled up in front of the large sprawling oak log home, Barn Wood Hudson. She found no words adequate to describe the place.
The hour was late and the sun had already taken up its position on the horizon. The yellow glow shone down on the wooden home, giving it a golden hue spanning out across the grounds like an enormous mansion.
“William, this place is breathtaking.” Pamela said, as the vehicle came to a stop.
“My great grandfather owned the property but he only used the land to hunt on it. He supervised the construction of several hunting cabins that each vary in size. My father build this house and about ten years ago, I had the entire place renovated and brought up to date.” He pointed in an easterly direction.
“Over there, we had a solarium added and to the rear an indoor pool was installed.”
“That had to be a massive undertaking.”
“Not really. The construction workers in this part of the country are quite accustom to building homes in densely wooded areas. It took them less than a year to do all the improvements and to add on the additions.”
William saw no need to tell Pamela that the company contracted to do the work had employed their entire staff of construction workers to complete the job. Doing this had been the only way the company could avoid going over budget. The job had been an enormous undertaking, but every company within driving distance wanted to bid for the ‘Hudson’ job. William’s family was well known in the area for their philanthropic work and f
or being generous employers.
Frederick had already jumped out of his seat and he’d already begun giving instructions to the drivers. He was pointing down the road in the direction to the nearest hunting cabin.
Pamela watched through the drivers side window while he this. She didn’t want to pry but her curiosity got the better of her.
“What is Frederick doing? He acts like he’s been here before.”
William laughed. Knowing Frederick as well as he did, more than likely, his campaign manager had memorized the layout of the entire property before arriving.
As he studied his wife, William noticed Pamela’s calm demeanor. The picturesque views appeared to have been a good dose of medicine for her. She didn’t appear concerned nor bothered by the task that lie in front of them. For now, William didn’t mind that Fred’s take charge attitude held her attention, at least for the moment.
William pointed in the direction where Frederick and one of the drivers were facing.
“Down that road there is a cabin. He’s showing our drivers where they will be staying throughout the duration of our stay.”
Pamela looked at the lavish house, then back in the direction leading to the cabin. She didn’t know why but she was concerned about the drivers.
“Is the cabin a comfortable place? I won’t sleep well if I know that they’re roughing it.”
“All the cabins closest to the main house were updated with modern conveniences during the renovations. Believe me...they won’t be roughing it.”
No sooner than he got those words out of his mouth, William turned to the sound of his door opening.
“Morgan’s coming.” Frederick said in a low voice. A second later, William could hear the squealing sound of his daughter’s jubilant voice.
