Senator Dalton sat in the Cloakroom reading, awaiting an upcoming vote. There were clusters of senators conversing in the narrow, L-shaped room, but she sat alone.
“Hello,” she heard a cheery male voice say.
Not thinking it was for her, she didn’t look up. Then a body plopped into the chair next to hers.
“Good morning, Senator Dalton,” Gavin Crawford said.
“Senator. My apologies, I was light-years away.”
“No doubt,” he said, leaning forward in a confidential manner, “there are many places nicer to be than this.”
“How did you know I was thinking of home?”
“It’s good to go . . . home. I do it as often as possible. It helps to clear the mind.”
“You have two real homes. Here I live a solitary life in a local high-rise in Virginia, and I no longer have my own abode back home. After my election I sold the house H.T. and I had lived in and moved in with my parents,” she said wistfully.
He smiled. “Well, our house is always available for company.”
“Be careful what you offer. I’m afraid, though, my current absorption is over my telling our leader that I would no longer be his parrot.”
“I’ve never heard of party loyalty being likened to a parrot before. A helpful hint: Once an issue is resolved, we are free to speak our minds within these walls.”
“I guess I’ve now added to my pariah reputation unnecessarily, but I can’t go around being something I’m not.” There was a pause. She changed subjects. “Have you seen the demonstrations against the FDA? I hear the talk shows have been rife with scientists, doctors, health experts. There’s a great rage over Tutoxtamen’s death sentence.”
“That’s Washington and the tabloid mentality of the press.”
“I don’t think all journalists are like that.”
He shrugged. “Maybe not, even though it seems that way.”
“Gavin, you said I could talk to you. Does that mean in confidence? And no, I’m not planning the overthrow of the Senate leadership, as much as I’d like to.”
He let out a low chuckle. “You have it.”
“Michael told me the crowds in Rockville were growing.”
“FDA Director Miles will make an announcement as to the rationale of their decision. Unless someone comes up with irrefutable evidence to the contrary, nothing will change it.”
“Of course, that makes perfect sense. But I won’t give up.”
“So,” his inflection indicated a change of subject, “how would you like to come out to our house Saturday for a bar-b-que? Fred and Sally Pembroke are coming over. It’ll be very casual.”
“I would love to, but I must ask for a rain check. When this vote is over, I’m out of here. I’m flying home for a long weekend. But thank you, Gavin, and thank Mariel.”