Solid Foundation (3 page)

Candace took a deep
breath. She wasn’t sure what Jameson was about to reveal, but she was positive
it was a painful memory. “You can tell me anything. You don’t have to
tell
me unless you want to.”

“I do want to,” Jameson
said assuredly. She kissed Candace gently. “I was sixteen. He was nineteen,”
Jameson said. Candace took another deep breath. “I suppose I knew, I mean…I did
know that I liked girls. Of course, I did. I just…Well, that wasn’t really an
option. I didn’t think so; you know?”

“I think I understand.”

“Anyway…People suspected.
I know they did. A couple of my friends hinted about my sexuality; my crushes
on girls. It scared me,” Jameson admitted. “I don’t know what scared me more,
to be honest; the idea that it was
true
or the possibility that people would realize it was true,” she said. Candace
listened silently and tenderly caressed Jameson’s abdomen as Jameson continued.
“Jed…He was popular. Older, handsome…not cute,
handsome
.
He paid a lot of attention to me. Not like he was the only guy to, but…”

Candace smiled. It was
not hard to imagine Jameson garnering the attention of either gender. Jameson
was a beautiful woman. She was athletic and feminine, all curves and softness,
even when she tried to wear a rugged exterior. She had a natural charisma and
charm that she was not aware of. It was endearing and one of the many things
that Candace cherished in Jameson. “Go on,” Candace encouraged her lover.

“It just happened. I
guess I should have expected it. I didn’t,” Jameson said softly.

“Expected what?” Candace
asked, expecting she already knew the answer.

“Why else would he want
to be with a sixteen year old high school girl? It’s not like we hadn’t made
out before. I just…I didn’t expect it to continue. And, I didn’t know what to
do…I just…Candace….I asked him to stop. He said the rumors must have been
true
,” Jameson sighed deeply. Candace let out a
nervous breath. Her heart ached for Jameson, for Jameson’s innocence. “I didn’t
kick him. I didn’t scream. I cried. I just cried, but even when I was crying…I
still…he touched me and it…”

“Jameson,” Candace said
softly. “He had no right to take that from you. And, you can’t always control
what your body does, love.”

“I should have. How could
he have? How could I have? I just…”

Candace kissed Jameson’s
forehead. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I am so sorry that anyone hurt you that way.”

Jameson nodded as a tear
rolled over her cheek. “It’s easier for me to make love to…”

“I know that,” Candace
said.

“But, with you…I want you
to take me there. I know that you will…”

 
“Sweetheart, you don’t ever have to be or feel
anything with me that is not honest. You know that; don’t you?’

 
“Yes, I do,” Jameson promised.

“Good. I’m not perfect. I
know there are times that something I say or something I do will hurt you.”

“Candace.”

“Listen. It’s true. We
both know that. The last thing I ever want is to see you hurt.”

Jameson smiled. “I know.
I feel the same way.”

“I want you to feel
safe.”

“I do,” Jameson said.
“That’s the point. I’ve never felt safer. Not ever.”

Candace kissed Jameson
and pulled her closer. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

“There isn’t anything I
don’t want to share with you.”

 
“Sometimes, Jameson, I can’t remember what it
was like without you here. I don’t want to imagine what it would be like now.”

“Well, there would be no
cats and your roof would probably be leaking by now.”

Candace chuckled as
Jameson snuggled into her embrace. “You really are a lunatic sometimes.”

“You love lunatics.”

“Yes, I guess I do.”

Candace wandered into the
kitchen and stopped to watch Jameson talking to Jinx.

“Your
mommy said yes, you know?” Jameson said to the cat at her feet. “That means you
are both stuck with me now. So, now you really get two mommies, just like every
other kid, or well, kitty in your case.”

Candace
leaned in the doorway and smiled. “Should I call the lawyer and draw up the
adoption papers?” Candace asked.

Jameson
stood up and turned to her lover. “You would let me adopt Jinx? Really?”
Candace shook her head and closed the distance between them. She kissed Jameson
on the cheek and headed for the coffee pot. “So? What are your plans for the
day?” Jameson asked.

“Actually,
I was going to ask you that.”

“Hadn’t
really thought about it. I told my dad I’d call him later. Things sort of took
an unexpected turn last night,” Jameson said.

“Oh?”
Candace asked. “What things might those be?”

“Well,
I woke up thinking about trimming tree branches and I fell asleep thinking
about weddings.”

Candace
sat down at the table and sipped her coffee. “Jameson, out of curiosity; when
did you decide to propose?”

Jameson
shrugged. “Truthfully?” she asked. Candace nodded. “Uh…well…”

“Jameson?”

“Okay.
I bought the ring when you went back to Washington after New Year’s.”

Candace
was stunned. “Jameson, are you telling me you have been keeping that ring since
our first month together?” Candace asked. Jameson shrugged again. “You’re
serious.”

Jameson
sat down across from Candace and sighed. “I don’t know. I just knew someday I
would need it. I just didn’t know when that someday would be.”

Candace
laughed. “You are a hopeless romantic, Jameson Reid.”

“Not
really. I knew it would be a while. I thought about asking you on the Fourth of
July. That’s when I had the fortune cookie made.”

Candace
grinned. “Really?”

“Yeah.
I chickened out.”

“Why?”

“Why?
What would you have said?” Jameson wondered.

“I
would have said the same thing I said last night.”

“Really?”
Jameson was surprised. “We’d only been together six months.”

“This
from the woman who buys an engagement ring the week after she sleeps with
someone for the first time,” Candace laughed.

“Good
point. Remind me never to debate you.”

Candace
laughed again. “Does anyone know?”

“That
I bought the ring?” Jameson asked. “No. What do you think the kids will say?”

“I
doubt they will be surprised. What about your family?”

Jameson
rolled her eyes. “My mother will be delirious. Not only is her daughter getting
married but she’s marrying a
Democrat,
who happens to be a senator. She’ll probably want a red, white, and blue themed
wedding,” she laughed.

“What
about you?” Candace wondered. “You said you fell asleep thinking about
weddings. What were you thinking?”

“Me?
That’s your department. You handle my mother, and
Dana
and the kids,” Jameson said. “As long as you show up, it
doesn’t matter to me. Whatever you want is fine. I just want to marry you. It
could be us at City Hall for all I care.”

“No
wedding fantasies?”

“I
didn’t say that,” Jameson winked.

“You’re
impossible,” Candace laughed.

“What
do you want to do? When do you want to? Not that I am pushing. I don’t want you
to think…”

“Jameson,
relax. I would marry you today,” Candace said. She sighed thoughtfully.

“But?”

“There’s
no but,” Candace said.

“Uh-huh.”

“There’s
not. There are realities. Some that I don’t like,” Candace explained. “The
press will grab onto this. We have to decide how we want to handle that. Do we
try and do it quietly or do we just put it out there?” she continued. “If I
decide to run…well, they will want to make it a publicity plus,” she said with
a groan.

Jameson
shrugged. “Will it help you? If you run, I mean.”

“Probably,”
Candace admitted.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Candace questioned.

“Yeah. God knows I have no other way to help you.”

“That’s not true,” Candace said flatly. “This is
our
life, Jameson. I don’t want you to
think our marriage is a publicity stunt.”

“You worry too much about me,” Jameson said. “I don’t
care what people think, Candace. They can all still believe you hate cats. I
know the truth.”

Candace rolled her eyes. “I still don’t know what I
want to do,” she said honestly.

“About running or about a wedding?”

Candace smiled. “I would like to do that here,”
Candace said.

“The wedding?” Candace nodded. “And?” Jameson asked.

“And, I would like it simple and small. You, me, the
kids, your family…maybe a few close friends. No politicos, no press, no
dignitaries,” Candace said. “As far as when; I guess I would say when it is a
little warmer. When Marianne and Rick can be here with Spencer.”

 
“So much for
all is quiet on the home front. When do you want to tell them?” Jameson asked.

“How about now?” Candace suggested.

“Now?” Jameson coughed.

“No time like the present,” Candace said. Jameson
turned pale. “I thought you didn’t care what people thought.”

“Your kids aren’t people,” Jameson said. Candace
raised an eyebrow. “You know what I mean!”

“Okay. How about we start with the
easy
ones. Why don’t we see if Shell and your
parents are available for dinner tomorrow?”

Jameson took a deep breath. “They’re going to think
something is up.”

“Something is up,” Candace laughed. “Second thoughts?”

“No. Can’t we just go to Vegas and then tell them? It
worked for Kelly Ripa and Bette Midler.”

Candace shook her head. “Kelly Ripa and Bette Midler?
Do I want to know how you know that?”

“I don’t need tabloids. Melanie is like E!
on
steroids.”

“I see. Well, I don’t think those are the best models
for us.”

“I was afraid you would say that.”

“Would you feel better if Pearl came tomorrow?”
Candace asked knowingly. Jameson nodded. “Your protector,” she chuckled.

“Pearl is everyone’s protector,” Jameson said.

“That she is,” Candace agreed before making her way to
the sink.

“Candace?” Jameson began. Candace turned and raised
her brow. “Would you really let me adopt Jinx?
”

 
“Lunatic.”

“That will make you Mrs. Lunatic,” Jameson quipped.

Candace picked up a dishtowel and tossed it at
Jameson. “I guess they call it committed for a reason,” she said.

***

“So? What is going on?”
Michelle asked pointedly.

“What
makes you think anything is going on?” Candace asked as straight faced as she
could manage.

“Umm…Besides
the fact that J.D. keeps finding reasons to leave the room, there is the fact
that you have casually
kept
your hand hidden
this whole time.
Nice
ring, Mom,”
Michelle laughed.

“Shell,”
Candace whispered.

“Oh,
I know. Mum is the word
until
J.D.’s
folks and Grandma Pearl get here. You do know that you can’t walk around with
your hand in your pocket all afternoon,” she laughed.

“Sometimes,
Shell…if I didn’t know better, I would swear you and Jameson were related,”
Candace commented.

“Will
be soon enough!” Michelle responded.

“Will
be what soon enough?” Maureen Reid asked as she entered the living room with
Jameson, Duncan, and Pearl.

Jameson
looked at Candace curiously and Candace shrugged. Michelle was trying not to
laugh. Jameson rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you guys have a seat?” she
suggested. “I’ll go grab a bottle of wine and we can relax before dinner.”

Pearl
looked at Jameson and crossed her arms. “You’ll go get the wine?”

“Well,
yeah. You are guests…”

“Sit
down, Jameson,” Pearl ordered. Jameson sighed and took a seat between Candace
and Michelle. Michelle could no longer hold back her amusement and feebly
attempted to conceal her growing smirk with her hand.

Jameson
looked at Candace and then at Michelle. “Busted?” she whispered to Michelle.

Michelle
nodded “Nice ring, though,” she whispered back just as Candace lightly smacked
Jameson’s knee.

“What
was that for?” Jameson asked Candace.

“All
right, you two,” Pearl interceded before Candace could respond. “First off, I
have not been a guest in this house in more than forty years. Impromptu family
dinners. Jameson wants Candace drinking wine at three in the afternoon. Shell
is giggling like a school girl. Quit whispering. Who died? Who is pregnant or
who is getting married?”

“Shell!
You’re pregnant?” Jameson asked excitedly.

“Yeah,
and the Pope is a Jewish lesbian,” Michelle quipped.

Candace
looked a Jameson. “Face it, honey, we are…”

“Busted,”
Michelle said.

“Am
I the only one who is lost here?” Maureen asked.

Jameson
took a deep breath and then took Candace’s hand. “Sorry, Mom. Okay…The thing is,
I asked Candace to marry me.”

“And
she said yes?” Maureen responded.

“Yes,
she said yes!” Jameson answered. Candace laughed.

“About
time,” Pearl said. Her smile belied the firmness in her voice. Candace looked
at Pearl and shook her head.

“J.D.,
when?” Maureen asked.

“When
what?”

“When
are you getting married?” her mother inquired.

“We
haven’t decided that yet,” Candace answered honestly.

“Yeah.
We still have to tell Marianne and Jonah,” Jameson said quietly. She felt
Candace squeeze her hand in reassurance.

“Don’t
sweat it, J.D.,” Michelle said. “Marianne will be
fine
. It’s not like you got Mom pregnant or anything. Although, I’m
sure you tried,” she whispered not so softly in Jameson’s ear.

Jameson
rolled her eyes. “I’m never going to live that down; am I?”

“Well,
at least it will be legal now,” Maureen said.

“Mom!”
Jameson scolded her mother.

“You
mentioned wine?” Candace asked. “I think I could use a glass now.”

Pearl
chuckled and followed Candace into the kitchen. She watched as Candace grabbed
a bottle of white wine and began opening it. “So, let’s see it.”

Candace
smiled and made her way to Pearl. She held out her hand so Pearl could see the
ring Jameson had given her. Pearl was markedly quiet. “Pearl?”

“She
is really something,” Pearl said emotionally.

“Yes,
she is.”

“Candy,
you don’t recognize that ring; do you?” Pearl asked.

“What
are you talking about?” Candace asked.

 
“Come with me.” Pearl led Candace into the
study and retrieved an old photo album. “I wondered why she asked me about
that.”

“Asked
you about what?” Candace wondered.

Pearl
pointed to a picture in the album. Candace squinted without her glasses of
bring it into focus. It was a photo of her Granddad and her Grandma when they
were first married. “I don’t…” Pearl sighed and flipped another few pages
forward. She pointed to another photo.
 
“Oh my God,” Candace gasped. She looked at her ring. “This is almost
exactly the same as Grandma’s ring.”

Pearl
nodded. “You can’t really tell what kind of stone it is. I wondered why Jameson
asked me that. But, you know Jameson. She’s curious about everything. She’d
asked about the color of the wallpaper, what type of cigars your granddad
smoked, every detail she could think of. I told her the story about the time
you dressed up in your grandma’s wedding dress. How she found you and told you
that one day you would find someone just as special as she did. You swore you’d
marry someone just like your granddad,” Pearl laughed. “She loves hearing those
stories about you, you know? I should have known,” Pearl mused. Candace’s eyes
had drifted to her ring.

“Hey,”
Jameson’s voice called from the door. “I wondered what happened to you two.
What are you doing in here? I thought you went to get some wine.” Candace
walked to Jameson and put her arms around Jameson’s neck. “What did I do?”
Jameson asked. “And, was it a good thing?”

“I
love you,” Candace said. Jameson looked at Pearl in confusion. “What? You don’t
believe me?” Candace asked. “I’m an idiot,” she said.