“Mr. Sherbrooke,” a male reporter called out. “Is Mia Troy expected? She was a big supporter of your uncle during his presidential campaign.”
“As far as I know, she will not be here,” he answered. “If you’ll please excuse us, Jen and I don’t want to be late.”
The door opened before he touched the handle. The earpiece in the doorman’s ear and the slight bulge under his jacket suggested he wasn’t a Harbor House employee but rather part of the security team hired for the event.
His parents descended on them before they crossed the marble-tiled atrium. Lily Pierce, his press secretary, and Carl weren’t far behind them. Both his parents managed only a brief hello before Carl reached them.
“Excellent, you’re here,” Carl said before turning his attention to Brett’s parents. “It’s nice to see you both again.” Extending his hand, he looked in Jen’s direction next. “Carl Filmore.”
“Jennifer,” she said, shaking the campaign manager’s hand.
“Yes, I know, and later we should sit and talk. But right now I need to borrow Brett.” Carl looked in his direction. “Samuel Castle is here and wishes to have a word with you.”
Brett recognized the name. Samuel Castle owned not only a multinational food manufacturing company that had its headquarters in Springfield but was also the co-owner of the New England Rebels. Lawrence Castle, Samuel’s brother and the other co-owner of the professional football team, had already publicly endorsed Vince Reed. According to Carl, Lawrence had donated a lot of money to his campaign as well. The two brothers were well known for sharing the same views, so Samuel’s presence tonight made Brett curious. And while he wanted to hear what the man had to say, he didn’t want to leave Jen on her own either.
“Brett, don’t worry. We’ll keep Jen company while you’re away,” Mom said, reading his mind.
He’d rather do it himself, but what he wanted wasn’t important tonight. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Brett didn’t care if there were people around them. He kissed Jen’s cheek before leaving her in his mom’s capable hands.
***
Samuel Castle was here. She wasn’t much of a football fan, but she’d heard of the man. Jen looked around the ballroom to see if she recognized any of the other society bigwigs. Immediately she spotted actor Anderson Brady, perhaps her only celebrity crush, standing alongside an older gentleman and an impeccably dressed woman. She smiled as she remembered her conversation with Brett about how she hadn’t realized who he was when she first learned his last name and how she’d gone to graduate school with a man named Anderson Brady.
“Brett looks worn out. He’s trying to do too much.” Mrs. Sherbrooke’s voice was barely audible over the hum of the other conversations. “Right now he needs to concentrate on the campaign and forget about his position with Homeland Security.”
“Carl and I have both told him the same thing,” Mr. Sherbrooke said. “Like with everything else, he’s determined to do things his way.”
The man’s voice was so low she almost didn’t hear it.
“Perhaps if you spoke to him, Jen. Maybe then he’d listen,” Mrs. Sherbrooke said, including her in a conversation she wasn’t sure she wanted to be a part of.
“I have, more than once, Mrs. Sherbrooke. And I think he might be coming around,” she said.
He’d told her earlier this afternoon he planned to take a leave of absence from Homeland Security. However, she didn’t think it was her place to share his intentions, no matter how much relief it would bring to his mom.
“His father and I would greatly appreciate any extra encouragement you can give him in that direction.” She touched Jen’s hand before she continued. “And call me Judith. Mrs. Sherbrooke is too impersonal, considering how important you are to my son.”
And just how should she respond to such a comment? “He’s important to me too.”
It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either. She’d fallen half in love with him while exchanging letters. Since their first face-to-face meeting, she’d fallen the rest of the way. She couldn’t admit the truth to his mother, especially when she hadn’t told Brett yet.
“I assumed as much.” The smile Judith gave her made Jen think the woman already knew the true extent of her feelings. “And I’m glad.”
A warm hand settled on her shoulder. A moment later, Brett pulled out the chair next to her and sat. “Hope I’m not disturbing whatever private convo you two are having,” Brett said as he put a hand over hers on the table.
“We were discussing how we all believe you’re pushing yourself too hard,” his mom said.
Brett squeezed Jen’s hand. “No need to worry, Mom. I’m going to concentrate on only my campaign for now.” He leaned into Jen’s side. “And you,” he whispered before moving away again. “I already let Carl know. Monday I’ll talk to Homeland.”
“Wise decision,” Mr. Sherbrooke said.
An excited vibe spread through the room as the buzz of hushed conversations intensified. Jen turned to get a better look at the entranceway, hoping for a glance at whatever celebrity had caught everyone’s attention this time. Only it wasn’t a celebrity, at least not a Hollywood one standing there.
“Did you know your aunt Elizabeth was coming?” Mr. Sherbrooke asked.
“Last I talked to her, she wasn’t sure,” Brett answered.
Jen watched the woman under discussion cross the room, and the fact the First Lady of the United States was Brett’s aunt hit her over the head like a baseball bat. Of course she’d known of the relationship for some time, but it had been an easy detail to overlook. With the woman coming toward them, she could no longer ignore the truth. The man she’d fallen in love with really did live in a world far removed from hers. Since he never acted as if he considered himself better than everyone else, she sometimes forgot that, but tonight the evidence was all around her. And for the first time since they kissed, she worried what it meant for their relationship.