24. About The Agreement

EVANGELINE

Being back in Washington is like being thrown back into the hornet's nest. Clarksville felt like a safe bubble, but I knew it was time to get back to reality, or at least my version of it. That meant attending the first Board meeting of the new year for the Abigail Pershing Foundation.

I thought it was more of an informal meeting, maybe not folding chairs in a circle, but something adjacent. I'm not sure why I would even consider that with someone as poised and elegant as Audrina Ellwood running it.

As if proximity to the Supreme Court and the Shakespeare Library weren't daunting enough, Bethany York is making a beeline straight towards me.

"Evangeline!" She takes me by the shoulders and gives me a light peck on the cheek, careful not to transfer her perfectly pale pink lipstick onto me. Her genuine enthusiasm at my arrival puts me at ease, and when she notices my knee-length pencil skirt and heels, she smiles her approval.

"How was your holiday?" she inquires, leading me into the conference room. "Darren said you went to the lake house."

"Yes, it was very nice. It's so beautiful there." I set my purse on the table.

"I remember when they first built the cabin and we all went down for the weekend to break it in. Merrill had a good eye for decorating, and she would host the most sublime dinner parties," Bethany beams, but there's always a bit of sadness in her tone when she tells stories about Merrill.

"Well, I'm afraid I'm not as good a hostess as Merrill, but we all did manage to have a nice Thanksgiving," I offer.

"I don't think Darren would care if he ate dinner from a taco stand every night, so long as it was with you," she surprises me by saying.

"Thank God we have Lottie, because as much as I love tacos, I don't think I could have them every night," I laugh.

"You and me both," Bethany winks.

"I hope you're not laughing at me! Dupont Circle is always such a mess, and I'm sorry I'm late." Audrina leans in to give Bethany a kiss on her cheek, then does the same with me.

"We wouldn't dream of it," Bethany teases. "Just laughing at our lack of homemaking skills."

"Don't ever go to Bethany's for dinner unless it's catered," Audrina advises as she shucks her jacket and drapes it over the back of the chair.

"I will never live that down," Bethany sighs.

"The duck was raw," Audrina lets me in on the joke.

"Well, I'm not Martha Stewart that's for sure, but I suppose now I'll have time to learn," Bethany jests.

"How long did you work for the National Archives Museum?" I probe.

Beside Bethany being an intimidating force, she's also a very interesting person that I'd like to get to know better.

"Nearly thirty years. I was fortunate enough to get an internship while I was in college, and then I was hired on after I graduated."

"That must have been a wonderful career." I can't help but feel a small pebble of jealousy. I loved the idea of being a journalist, but there was so much out there I hadn't experienced. Lately, I've allowed myself to wonder what a different kind of life would be like. I'd been so focused on taking care of Mimi that I never wondered what I could do with my own life, especially with the money I'm about to acquire.

"It saw me through two divorces, so I suppose it was the only thing that was constant and loyal," Bethany jests, bringing me out of my own thoughts.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," I offer.

"Don't be. My first marriage… I was young and stupid, and when he got a job offer in California and I didn't want to leave Washington, that was the end of that," she says sadly. "The first one always stings the worst."

"Bethany has always been a career woman," Audrina offers teasingly, but I don't sense any condescension, only a playfulness.

"How wonderful it must have been to work in the same building as so many priceless documents. I think it would be magical," I admit, knowing I sound a bit na?ve at the thought of spending all day in dusty archives with the musty smell of old paper. Being able to look at the Emerson letters and the Declaration of Independence sparked a fire inside me that I had been missing for so long.

I might have had some misgivings about working on the charity, but they've been nothing but welcoming.

"Are you looking for a job?" Bethany wonders as she lays out a binder on the table in front of each seat.

"Oh, no, I just meant how wonderful it was for you."

She laughs. "I'm not offering you my old job, but having your own life outside of being a Walker will be challenging. Darren will find his way eventually, and when he does, there will be no limits," Bethany finishes.

"Audrina!" A middle-aged woman with brown hair pulled into a tight bun approaches. They give each other a peck on the cheek. "I trust you had a lovely holiday," she chatters, shucking off her jacket and laying it over the back of the chair.

"We managed to get out of Washington for a short vacation." She looks in my direction. "Oh, have you met Evangeline? This is Darren Walker's wife."

I extend my hand while Audrina introduces her to me. "This is Rebecca Langley."

My hand falters but Rebecca grabs onto me, shaking politely. Of course, I knew Senator Langley had a wife, but I never expected to be in the same room as her. Washington is very small, and the room feels even smaller.

"Very nice to meet you," Rebecca assures, and all I can do is nod.

Audrina offers me a seat next to her while she calls the meeting to order. All the board-members are wives of prominent figures in Washington which I shouldn't be surprised about, but still am.

I listen in while the treasurer walks everyone through recent donations and plans for how the money will be spent. Most of it goes to practical things like insurance and operating expenses for the safe houses. It was always my desire to be more hands-on, and finding out the Compton House, named after Merrill's family, is not too far away, I'm excited to talk to Audrina about putting in some time there.

I certainly don't have any experience with finances or party planning, and when one of the members start discussing legalities of setting up a new charter, I'm just completely out of my depth. I can't help but look across the table at Rebecca and wonder if she knows who's she married to. Does she care? It's not something I ever thought of before, even knowing ninety-nine percent of my clients were married. But I've never had to come face to face with one of their wives.

When the meeting is over, I want to linger so I can speak to Audrina about Compton House, but I don't want to speak to Rebecca again.

"This isn't really your thing, is it?" Bethany asks, stopping me from leaving while she gathers up her belongings.

"Was it that obvious?" I laugh, but inside I'm a little embarrassed that Bethany picked up on it.

"Don't worry, I get the same look when Lisbeth goes over the numbers," she teases in an attempt to make me feel better about the Treasurer's presentation.

"I really appreciate the opportunity, but I really don't think serving on the Board is my place. I know you were hoping to have someone from the family take over, but I don't think that's me," I apologize, hoping I haven't disappointed her.

"I can understand. It is a lot to get used to in such a short amount of time."

"However, I am very interested in learning more about the Compton House. I think that's where I can have the most impact," I offer.

Bethany surprises me by putting an arm around my shoulders, tugging me into her side in an almost motherly way. "I think Merrill would have really liked that. She spent a lot of time there."

Bethany tracks my gaze to Audrina who is engaged in a conversation.

"I hate to disappoint her."

Bethany waves me off. "Don't worry about Audrina, I'll handle her."

I gather my purse.

"Let's have lunch next week, and I can give you the details." She kisses me lightly on the cheek before releasing me.

As I pass Audrina, she says, "Thank you, dear. We'll catch up soon."

I wait by the elevators, practically bouncing on my feet. I can't wait to get home and tell Darren about it.

I'm distracted so much by my thoughts of Darren that when the elevator doors open, I rush in, not paying attention and run right into Senator Jonathan Langley.

At first, I don't even recognize him and apologize. I look up at his steely blue eyes and a sick feeling starts in my belly and spreads out to my limbs.

"Excuse me." I try to walk around him, but he stops me.

"Did you really think you could pretend to be a Washington housewife?" he asks.

"I'm not pretending to be anything."

"Darren's lucky I didn't press charges." He looks me up and down.

"Let's not forget you were the one handling me," I remind him.

"I could see right through you all those years ago. You picked the wrong target, but Darren? Well, you're more his type," Jonathan sneers, and all pretense is wiped away.

"I highly doubt you care anything about my agenda," I boldly say back to him. "I think you were jealous that Kerry was a better man than you are, and Darren," I pause, "well, he'll be ten times the man you could ever be."

He laughs. "Do you think that Darren will get anywhere in politics once the public finds out what you are?" he threatens. "If he knows what's good for him, he'll cut you loose, but we all know what head Darren thinks with."

"I guess that gives me the advantage."

"You'll be his downfall." As if he can see right through me, he continues, "And I think you know it too."

"Senator Langley," I hear Audrina's voice from behind and I cringe, hoping she didn't hear any of that. I don't care what Jonathan thinks of me, but I'd be crushed to have Audrina think I was taking advantage of Darren.

"Audrina, so nice to see you," Jonathan plasters on his politician's smile and greets her as if he didn't just say the most hurtful things to me.

But Audrina doesn't extend her hand for him to shake and there is no smile, not even a fake one, on her lovely face.

"I'm sure you've heard the saying about people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." Audrina gives him a saccharin smile, and when he starts to protest, she says, "I believe your wife is waiting for you in the conference room."

She turns to me. "I didn't get a chance to introduce the two of you properly, but Mrs. Langley is quite accomplished. Her family owns hotels all over the U.S and Europe."

Jonathan clears his throat. "Yes, uh, she's very fortunate."

"Oh, I think you're the fortunate one," Audrina continues. "Rebecca is lovely, isn't she?" She gives me a very satisfied smile. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was getting a kick out of making Jonathan squirm.

"Oh, but I guess you've had your accomplishments too," she playfully taps his arm. "Especially coming from that small town in Arizona. Such a rags-to-riches story."

Redness starts creeping up his neck.

"Yes, well, Rebecca's waiting. Pleasure as always," he says tightly, and walks past us.

As soon as he's out of earshot I begin, "Audrina, if you're wondering if I'm a gold digger, you're wrong. I married Darren for his winning personality and his work ethic."

She lifts an eyebrow. "Well, I knew you and Darren were well suited. It's that attitude: I don't give a shit what anyone thinks."

"Something like that." I shift uncomfortably on my heels.

"I know you're not a gold digger, dear. Washington is very small. People talk. If you were only interested in his money, I'm sure you would have traded in that – ring – for something a bit more appropriate by now," she offers, and I lift my hand to run my thumb over the band.

"It's kinda grown on me." I set my arm back down. "I'm betting you're very good at reading people."

Audrina graces me with a half-smile, which is encouraging. "I think that might be something we have in common."

"Senator Langley and I, well, there's history," I explain as best I can, because I think I owe her that.

Audrina lets out a breath. I'm sure she thinks I'm referring to what happened at the charity event, but she doesn't ask.

"Reputation is worth more than trust funds in Washington," Audrina explains. "Jonathan should do well to remember that."

Whoever she thinks I am and whatever history she thinks I have with Jonathan… she's reminding me that I have more of an upper hand than I thought I did. I can't let him intimidate me.

"Understood."

"Besides, I don't take kindly to one of my friends being spoken to in that way, Senator or not," she declares pointedly.

I look at her thoughtfully, an unlikely ally, and I appreciate her even more. "Thank you."

"As long as Darren is happy," she remarks, "and you're happy," she adds, which makes my heart feel full.

I grab the next elevator, and Bailey is waiting at the curb. He opens the door for me, and to my surprise, Darren is waiting for me. He must see the look on my face because his smile falters. I slide into the backseat and kiss him. He doesn't hesitate, pulling me into his lap. The excitement I had earlier at telling Darren about Compton House was overshadowed by my run-in with Langley.

He pulls away enough to ask. "Was the Board meeting that bad?"

I debate whether I want to tell him. It might just provoke him even more into doing something rash.

"Evan?" he says my name like a warning, as if he can tell I'm holding something back.

"I ran into Langley at the elevators," I admit. "Quite literally," I add and notice how Darren's body stiffens.

His silence is unnerving. "Don't do anything stupid, please."

"That depends," he grits out.

"Depends on what?" I slide off his lap as Bailey pulls the car into traffic, but his hand remains on my thigh, holding me close to him.

"A lot of factors."

He pulls my leg into his lap and tugs the heel off my foot, letting it drop to the floor and then does the same to other one.

"You know I'm going to have to put them back on to walk into the house," I tell him.

"Not if I carry you inside." He gives me a wicked smile.

"Darren." I place a hand on his chest. He covers it with his own, running his finger over my wedding band. I hadn't let Darren get me a new one because there really wasn't a point – was there?

I try to move my hand away, but Darren stops me.

"Tell me what happened," he prods in a very calm, un-Darren-like manner.

"Nothing I couldn't handle, and Audrina interrupted before it got too far," I offer. "She really cares about you, Darren. You may have lost your parents, but you still have people looking out for you."

"I don't think I'm the only one they're looking out for." He runs his hand along my leg and under my skirt.

"Not if Audrina thinks I'm a gold-digger."

"Did she say that?"

"No, Langley did, but Audrina overheard," I sigh. "And you never told me his wife was on the Board." I smack his arm.

"If I knew, do you think I would have offered for you to be a part of it?" Darren asks tightly.

"It just threw me off is all." I relax, resting my head against his shoulder. "But I don't think I want to be on the Board, Darren."

He shifts enough so he can look down at me. "Don't let Langley intimidate you, I'm sure not."

I'm afraid to ask what he means by that.

"No, it's just that I realized I'm not really suited for that, but there was a mention of the Compton House. I think that's something I'd really like to do." I settle against him again, feeling the rattle of the car as we travel through D.C.

"I'm familiar with it." His chest rumbles against my ear.

"So, then you're okay with it?"

"Of course." His hand circles my thigh, dangerously close to my panty line.

"Can I ask something of you in return?" he requests, and I sit up, feeling the seriousness of it.

"I want you to meet with Alistair." Before I can ask why, he stops me. "About the agreement."