This is part six of my series about Maddie and Ted. As always, I would recommend reading the last pieces. The politics aren't real. I am just trying to have some fun and always enjoyed political thrillers and such. It is also still meant to be a sexy love story. There is less sex in this episode, but it moves the story forward quite a bit. As always, this isn't a political science textbook. It is me having fun. I hope you do too. Enjoy
* * * * *
The transition back to the real world was tough, but it was good to be back in some ways. I immediately threw myself back into the Ohio union law fight. The Speaker was pleased with my work and put me on the labor relations committee. Maddie was added to a new small business subcommittee thanks to her work on infrastructure. Raj was still the hero of healthcare, and there was some talk that if Grace won reelection, there would be a place for him in the White House. He kept joking about how it was because of his good looks. Eddie had to do his two weeks in the reserves and was late getting back.
Arnold Play continued to provide entertainment. He caused a stir by calling Doug Santos' wife ugly at an Iowa debate before the caucus. He claimed that the country deserved a "smoking hot babe" for the First Lady. Santos turned beet red and claimed he wouldn't dignify nonsense with a response. Surprisingly, it didn't seem to hurt Play very much. Larry Free tried to stay above the fray by attacking Democrats back in Ohio on charges of socialism.
In the second week of January, my mom came to town. Maddie and I took her out to dinner. It was great. She and Maddie joked and laughed, usually at my expense. After dinner, the talk turned to politics.
"Maddie, I hate to ask, but where do you stand on Mr. Play?" mom asked.
"He's a joke that gives a bad name to Republicans. If I am honest, I am not a fan of any of the front runners. Play is in it for the money. Santos is a crusader who doesn't have anything to crusade about. I normally like Larry Free, but his fight with Ted and the unions are made up. He knows that unions are popular. He's doing it to be the nice guy most of the time but adds a mean streak he thinks Santos has. He made up his anger at public unions," she finished. I was in shock, though I had suspected something like this. She was the first to say it.
Mom said, "I don't know, guys. Play may be in it for the money, but I think he has a real chance. The rallies that he throws are real. Sadly the cheers he gets are real. I think he has a chance."
"Mom, there is no way Arnold Play can make it through this. If he isn't saying something mean, he is saying something racist. It won't work. American won't elect a shock jock as president," I said, shaking my head.
"I just don't know," mom replied. "I have an awful feeling, and I want you two to be careful. This election doesn't feel right."
After dinner, we took mom back to her hotel. She and Maddie hugged, and mom told me she was a keeper. I made plans to take her to lunch the next day before heading up to Baltimore to visit my aunt.
"You hear that slick," Maddie said, slapping my arm. "I'm a keeper. A mom-certified keeper."
"She barely knows you. Also, she didn't stick you on a private jet and fly you to paradise," I retorted. Maddie stuck her tongue out at me. Raj had the TV on when we got home, and Eddie, still in uniform and with his bag from his reserve training, was standing behind the couch.
Before we could say hi to Eddie, Raj said, "Will you look at this shit?!" On the screen was Arnold Play. Raj turned the sound up.
"That's right, folks. We are gonna build a big beautiful wall. There is a flood of immigrants coming into the country. A flood. And the liberal, socialist, Democrats, they really are terrible people folks. The liberal socialists just want them to flood in. And we know why. Everyone knows why. The media. I call them the liberal media cause they are. They know, and they won't tell you. They know that the only way we lose, THE ONLY WAY, is when they let these illegals come in, and they flood the polls. It is terrible. It is so terrible, folks, and we have to stop. We have to." Raj pushed mute.
"Fuck that guy!" Eddie shouted at the tv.
"He's been saying it all day. Just going around Iowa and making shit up," Raj said. "He even brought up the Amigos thing again. I think he is getting close to saying us by name."
"Guys," Maddie chimed in, "I get it, but Arnold Play is a joke. There is no way in hell he has a shot. He fills media time."
"Well, the media needs to pull their heads out of their asses," Eddie shot back. He picked up his bag and went upstairs. I looked at Raj, and he shrugged. Maddie ran up the stairs after him.
"Is your mom still coming to lunch tomorrow?" Raj asked.
"Yeah," I paused. "Mom said something tonight. She's scared. She thinks that Play has a real shot."
Raj looked over his shoulder, "I don't know what is going on with Eddie, so I'll say this lightly. I think he does too. They showed his crowd size in some earlier shots. Something is happening here."
We heard people coming down the stairs. It was Eddie followed by Maddie. Eddie almost looked like he had been crying. His tie was undone, but he was still in uniform.
"Look," he said, "I'm sorry I exploded. I already said sorry to Maddie, and I'll repeat it to the two of you that I shouldn't have ripped into her like that. The military is way better about gays serving, but it still dicey. I was told that I would be granted exceptions if I wanted. That I could claim Congressional service and be excused. I just." He broke off with a sob. Maddie put her hand on his shoulder. "I think it's because of Play and what he said over Christmas Break. I love being a Marine, and I swore I would keep going no matter what."
"Shit, Eds, I'm sorry," I said, hugging him. "This is fresh now, but once Play starts to get trounced, things will get better."
"I hope, man, I do," he sighed. We all went into the kitchen and grabbed a beer to catch up.
The next day, I took my mom into the Capitol. I showed her around my office and took her down to the Congressional Cafeteria. Maddie was in a meeting, but Raj and Eddie ate lunch with us. Raj, as he always did, put on a show. He talked and joked and had mom rolling with laughter. When he found out that I hadn't gotten her a special visitor's pass, he scolded me and then called his office to get one. He took her on a tour of the statue gallery that is usually off-limits to average tourists.
As we were walking, I leaned over to Eddie, "Jesus, I'm sleeping with Maddie, and she didn't try this hard."
"It's Raj, man. Whatever he else he is doing, he is always running for mayor of most Popularsville." Eddie replied, shaking his head.
When I was walking mom out to her car, she kept gushing about Raj. Finally, I asked, "Mom, Raj is great, but he isn't my type. Do you like Maddie?"
"I do, sweety. You two are very cute together, and for a Republican, she doesn't seem like she is as cutthroat as some of the rest of them seem today. You smile a lot around her, and that makes me very happy." She gave me a peck on the cheek.
On Maddie's birthday, we went to a great little Greek restaurant. The hummus was amazing. We almost ordered two helpings. The carafe of 'table wine' and the glasses were small juice cups. It was also excellent. We each ordered different meat kebabs and barely spoke while eating. Finally sated, we came up for air.
