The Politician's Wife

by Vanessa Miller

  He hugged her and then Dee Dee hugged her also.

  Joel said, “You might need to check yourself into a clinic, like Betty Ford, so that your withdrawal symptoms can be monitored and dealt with around the clock. Are you willing to do that?”

  “I’m willing to do just about anything right now to turn my life around and save my family.”

  He patted her on the shoulder as he stood up. “Come on, let’s go find Eric and let him in on this wonderful news.”

  Chapter 6

  The news was not so wonderful to Eric. “Not gonna happen. Not as long as she’s still married to me.” Linda and Eric now stood in the prayer room with Joel, but prayer was the last thing Eric was thinking about. “If Linda checks into a clinic for alcoholism, I’m finished. I can kiss this next election goodbye.”

  “But son, your first duty is to your wife, don’t you know that?” Joel pleaded.

  Eric glanced at Linda and then turned back to his father with venom in his voice. “Linda hasn’t been a wife to me in a long time. And now you expect me to just throw away my future to help her… I kept her out of jail after she hit that football player, that’s all I’m willing to do.”

  Linda put her hand on Eric’s shoulder; he recoiled. Just days ago, a rebuke like that would have killed her inside, but not now. Eric was right. She had not been a good wife or mother for many years. But her father-in-law’s prayer had given her the strength she needed to decide to make a change. She told Eric, “I’m sorry that I haven’t been the wife you wanted. I want to be that for you, but I can’t do this on my own… I need help.”

  “Why are you so weak?” he asked, condemning her.

  She had no defense… just stood there with her head down. No one was going to throw a parade for the town drunk; she would have to get sober and throw her own parade, or at least attend a few. Yeah, that was it, she would get sober and then take Kivonna to as many parades as she could find.

  “Listen to me son; I know that going through the process of helping Linda to get well won’t be good for your campaign, but we’ve got to help her.”

  Eric shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “What if she had a live-in nurse at home, just so she could get through the withdrawal process?”

  “She is not bringing this into our home. All I would need is for a reporter to get wind of it.”

  “Then she’ll stay here with me. I’ll hire a nurse to help her kick the habit,” Joel said with finality in his voice.

  “Fine, do what you want. Kivonna and I are leaving in the morning.” Eric stomped out of the room without so much as a backward glance at his wife, the woman he had promised to love, honor and cherish.

  Joel took Linda in his arms and held her as she cried. He rubbed her back as he whispered, “It’s going to get better, sweetheart. Trust God, and put this situation in his hands.”

  “He hates me, Dad.”

  He continued to hold her. “It seems like that right now, but I’ve got a feeling that there is enough love in you to change a man’s heart and mind .”

  ***

  “Daddy, why are we leaving Mommy?” Kivonna asked as they rode in the limo to the airport.

  “Mommy’s not feeling well, so she’s going to stay with Grandpa Joel for a while.”

  “But you always take care of Mommy when she’s sick. And why is she always sick anyway? Kivonna asked with anger in her tone.”

  He turned his head and looked out the window. Each block they passed was like the passing of time. His eyes watered as his mind’s eye pictured his wife dancing. Linda had loved to dance, and he had loved watching her. There had been a time when he had loved so much about his wife… the way she laughed or smiled at him. For Eric, Linda’s very presence could light up a room.

  But then after the miscarriages, she had started drinking, and Eric couldn’t remember how many times he’d told Kivonna that she couldn’t see her mom because she was sick. Or that her mom couldn’t take her to school because she was sick.

  “Daddy, don’t be sad,” Kivonna said as she tugged on his shirt, bringing him back to the present. “When I grow up, I’m going to take over your job as mayor so you can look after Mommy.”

  It did Eric’s heart good to know that his child wanted to follow in his footsteps, but in truth, he didn’t know if he could continue taking care of Linda.

  ***

  True to her word, Linda stayed with Joel and began the process of detoxing. Her mind was set on doing the right thing. She endured the shakes, but by the third day when sweat poured from her face like a waterfall; she started feeling nauseous, and developed an eye twitch. She was ready to scream uncle and throw in the towel.

  Linda tried to pull herself out of bed, but her nurse, a drill sergeant by the name of Betty Farley stopped her. “Stay there, I’m about to bring you something to eat.”

  “I’m nauseous. I’m about to throw up.”

  “You won’t throw up, now lie down and let me go get your soup.”

  “What if I have the flu? Maybe I need some NyQuil.”

  Nurse Betty had on a wraparound scrub top, decorated all over with butterflies and a pair of light blue pants. She put her hands into the pockets of her top, leaned her head back and laughed.

  “What’s so funny,” Linda demanded, looking miserable… like she wanted to be anywhere, but there.

  “I’ve been doing this for years, and just about every patient I get tries to pull the ol’ NyQuil trick on me. But I’ve got news for you, Mrs. Linda, every medicine cabinet in this house has been scrubbed clean of any and all medications that might be able to give you that buzz you want right now.”

  Linda turned away from the woman. “How can you be so cruel? I’m sweaty and nauseous.” She put her hand to her face, trying to stop her eye from its uncontrollable movements. “My eye is twitching… Can’t you see that I’m hurting?”

  Nurse Betty’s voice held a bit more compassion as she said, “You’re in withdrawal, hon. It hurts now, but you’ll be stronger once it’s over.”

  “I don’t want to be stronger. I want a drink.” She turned to Betty and pleaded, “Can’t you get me just a little something. Just enough to take away the nausea?”

  The door to her bedroom opened and Joel walked in as Linda was begging for a drink. “You don’t want that, daughter.”

  Linda closed her eyes. “I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment, Dad, but I do; I swear I need a drink.”

  “No, what you need is to win your family back, and liquor won’t help you do that.” He sat down in the chair next to her bed. He was holding his big, well-used Bible in his hand.

  “Has Eric called?” Linda asked; the same as she asked every day.

  “Not yet, sweetheart, but you’ve got to give him time. And remember, it takes two to give up.” He opened his Bible and told her, “I want to read you a passage from a book that brings me comfort. Is that okay with you?”

  In all the years she had been married to her husband, why had she never noticed what a loving and kind man her father-in-love was? She had been too busy fighting against an injustice that had never been there, and trying to make sure that Eric didn’t get the short end of the stick. Linda had always believed that Isaiah and Elaine were Joel’s favorite children because they served the same God he did. But now that she had taken time to get to know this man, she realized that he didn’t play favorites. He loved… that’s it, end of story. “Yes, Dad, please read something to me. Maybe it will take my mind off of how miserable I feel right now.”

  He turned to the sixth chapter of Matthew and began reading at the seventh verse:

  Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

  Or what man is there of you whom his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto yo
ur children, how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

  When Joel closed his Bible, he turned to Linda and said, “Tell God what you need, sweetheart. He can handle your business better than you ever could.”

  ***

  Eric was in his office with Darien discussing their strategy to win the governorship. The problem was, his election prospects had just taken a nasty detour that Eric would have to battle his way out of. The much beloved mayor from another city in Ohio had just thrown his hat into the race.

  “With Tom Johnson in the race, we’ll have to fight through a primary before I can take it to Kasich.”

  “Don’t worry buddy, you’ll get that nomination, if it’s the last thing I do on earth.”

  “All right now, don’t dig yourself an early grave.”

  Darien laughed. “But seriously, man, we need to define ourselves in the campaign and we need to do it soon.”

  “I hear you.”

  “I’ve been thinking,” Darien began. “You still haven’t done anything with that foundation you’re supposed to set up for your father, have you?”

  “No, I’ve been too busy with work. My brother hired someone to help him get his foundation up and running… But then he ended up married to her.”

  “Isaiah might think of that as a plus.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure he does,” Eric said, remembering how happy Isaiah seemed this weekend as he and Ramona said their vows.

  “I’ve got to get going, but you need to think about using that money to do some good in this state. Like helping people with their mortgages… loaning money so they can start a business—things that will get your name and face out there as someone who cares about the people.” He headed for the door, then turned back toward Eric and said, “Colleen Mills will replace me in the office while I’m gone, you can start working out some of the details with her. You two will be working very closely together for the next few weeks.”

  “I don’t like the way that sounds,” Eric said.

  “Oh, let’s just say that I have it on very good authority that Colleen has the hots for a certain mayor, who’ll soon be the governor of Ohio.”

  “I won’t be the governor of anything if I start up an affair with some woman.”

  “Colleen is discreet. You don’t have to worry about anything getting out.”

  Eric stood up and walked over to his friend. “How long have you known me, Darien?”

  “Since college, why?”

  “Have you ever known me to cheat on Linda?”

  Darien shook his head. “No man, you never have. Look, I know you have this whole honor code that you live by. But you’re not happy, and I just want to help you get your happy back, that’s all.” Darien reached in his pocket and handed Eric a business card. “Here man, take this.”

  “What’s this about?”

  “I’m tired of seeing you moping around here. You want a divorce; I found someone who can handle it discreet and quiet like.”

  Eric looked at the card as he tried to decide what he really wanted. His father had always been a great example of how wonderful the union of marriage could be. The poor man must cry to his God every night about his disappointment with his children and their marriage woes. Eric lowered his head as he said, “Thanks, I’ll give him a call.”

  Darien put his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “Well, I’ll see you later; I have a few meetings scheduled this afternoon with your fundraising committee.”

  “Do I need to be there?”

  “Naw man, you just stay here and take care of your business. Maybe the next time I see you, you’ll even have a smile on your face.”

  “I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow, so I don’t think I’ll be up to smiling by then.”

  “Get your mind back in the game, bro. I just told you that I’m leaving. I’m outta here for about three weeks. One week of vacation… the other two weeks I’ll be busy setting up offices in about seven different cities in Ohio. We’ve got to get the jump on the competition.”

  “Send someone else to replace you, Darien. I don’t want to see Colleen in my office.” Eric walked back to his desk and as Darien left his office, he found himself staring at the business card of the man who could take him out of his misery.

  The phone on his desk rang and Eric jumped. He put the card down and answered the phone. “Mayor Morrison speaking.”

  “Hey son, it’s good to hear your voice.”

  It was his father, and Eric knew that comment was meant as a criticism, since he hadn’t called to check on Linda in the four days that she’d been away from home. “How are you, Dad?”

  “I’m doing good. It’s your wife I’m worried about.”

  “Why is that?” Eric asked as concern filled his tone.

  “She has a fever today. She’s trying real hard to kick this thing, son, but she needs you right now.”

  “I’ve been busy, Dad.”

  “Can you at least call her? She asks me every day if you’ve called. She’s trying to be strong but I can tell that it breaks her heart every time I admit that you haven’t called.”

  “I’ll call her tonight. But right now I need to get back to work, okay?”

  “All right son, you take care of your business there. But don’t forget about your business here,” Joel said and then hung up.

  Eric leaned back in his seat and stared at the business card again. He could divorce Linda and be free from all her drama. And all the lies. He just prayed that Linda would go quietly and not put up a fuss or add more drama to the situation. After all, Linda owed him big time. If it weren’t for the lie he told, she would be going to prison for driving under the influence. Ironically, it was the lie he told that made it impossible to look his wife in the face anymore. He’d lost his integrity because of her and now he just wanted out.

  Chapter 7

  Day five and I’m still alive! Linda kept chanting that to herself. The call from Eric and Kivonna the night before had helped… gave her the strength to make it through the night. Now that her fever had broken, Linda dared to believe that she could actually be clean and sober again.

  She had a lot of work to do to rebuild her family, but somehow she would find a way to turn things around with Eric and Kivonna. She felt nothing but shame for the way she’d allowed her weakness to take over her life for the past five years. Her daughter was nine now, half way to eighteen. Linda doubted that Kivonna remembered her early years, when her mom was sober. Tears flowed down her face, and she had to stop herself from dwelling on how much she had damaged her child, because if she kept thinking about it, she would get up from her bed and go find herself a drink to numb the pain. And that’s the last thing she wanted to do.

  There was a knock on her door. Linda was grateful for the interruption. She wiped the tears from her face and said, “Come in.”

  Joel walked in with his trusty Bible. Linda found herself smiling as she noted that he had the Bible, and wondering what he would read to her today. “Good morning, Daughter. Nurse Betty told me that your fever is gone.”

  She nodded. “I think I’m going to make it, Dad.”

  “What’s this think business? I know that you are going to make it.”

  She gave him a half smile, then looked at the Bible in his hand. “So what are you going to read to me today?”

  Joel set the Bible on the nightstand. “God directed me to some scriptures that you need to meditate on, but before I read them to you, I come bringing good news.”

  “What?” Now she gave him a full lip smile. She hadn’t heard any good news in a long while and was anxious to know what her father-in-law wanted to tell her.

  He clasped his hands together and said, “Terrell Anderson left the hospital today and was transported to a top-notch sports rehabilitation clinic. He’ll receive the best possible care there,
Linda, so you don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

  Never in all her life had she felt so much joy over a blessing that belonged to someone else. But her heart was so overwhelmed that she covered her face with her hands, trying desperately not to cry. “Thank you for doing that for me. Thank you so much!”

  “It was my pleasure,” Joel said as he sat down and picked up his Bible. “Now, young lady, during my prayer time this morning, the Lord showed me that you’ve been taking yourself on a guilt trip about the things you’ve done in the past.”

  “My very recent past,” she reminded him.

  “It doesn’t matter. The past is the past… once God cleans you up, no man can ever call you unclean again.”

  Linda turned her head, not able to face her father-in-law. He was a good man, but she was scared… of her past and her future.

  Opening his Bible he said, “I’m going to read you a passage from Psalm 51, so you can see that you aren’t the only one who’s ever felt like they’d done so much wrong that there was nowhere to turn. He flipped a few pages and began reading:

  Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies – blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

  Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest…

  He continued until he had finished the entire chapter. When he closed the book, he looked up and saw the tears flowing down Linda’s face.

  “That’s exactly how I feel. Except it seems as if I-I’ve sinned against God, Eric and Kivonna. I don’t know how to fix that.”