The Longer The Fall by Aviva Gat (best new books to read txt) 📗

had to mirror this feigned interest in her colleagues’ spouses and children, listening to stories of missed school plays, crazy nannies, and some spousal gossip that she responded to, acting as though it were as important as the SAVER Bill she needed their support for. Some colleagues gave support. Some mentioned quid pro quo for bills they were working on and some requested a few changes in the bill. Jane sat in all the meetings taking notes to bring back to their legislative team to research and make recommendations to Madeline about what she could agree to.

At the end of each long day, she called Brandon, her heart pumping every time they were on the phone. She felt like she had been caught, as if she was in trouble. Brandon too seemed a little uneasy, but the two continued their conversations, as though everything were normal. He told her about their daily lives—how Noah’s suspension was over, but he had started daily meetings with his student counselor. How Adam had decided he was going to build a nuclear power plant for the science fair—did Madeline know where he could get some uranium? How Brandon had taken them out for Chinese food on Sunday night and Noah’s fortune cookie promised something big to look forward to. By the end of their nightly talks, Madeline would feel grounded. Reminded about the stability in her life that she so much appreciated, yet feared could tumble at any moment. But sometime between hanging up the phone and when she called the next night, her feet seemed to lift off the ground, she felt like she was hovering and she couldn’t control forcing herself back down.

Monday she sat through a four-hour lunch with the National Committee, during which they discussed her reelection and what would be her next steps. Another six years in the senate and then she was ready for bigger things. Of course, she needed to accomplish a few things in those six years, getting onto some of the more sought-after committees and turning her name into one recognized in every household. What was her strategy there? The SAVER Bill was her big strategy, she reminded them. Voters loved it and they would never forget something so life changing. With her popularity, it would be easy to get onto the top Congressional Committees. The lunch ended with everyone confident that Madeline had nothing to worry about in her reelection. Although she couldn’t help feel doubt when thinking about the one thing that could jeopardize her reelection. The unresolved blackmail case that could easily blow up on the brink of her campaign relaunch. It would ruin everything. There would be no reelection. No new committee appointments. Likely no SAVER bill. But she didn’t say any of this to her colleagues. She continued through her appearances as though on autopilot, doing and saying the rights things, making everyone feel they had her full attention when in reality they had so very little of it.

Tuesday morning finally rolled around. Madeline told Jane she was taking the morning off. She was going to go for a run in Central Park, walk around Columbia and see her old neighborhood. She’d meet her back at the Langham long before they needed to leave for their DAR luncheon. Madeline did start the morning with a short run in the park. Then, after a shower, she had her car drop her at Columbia. She told the driver he could take time off and pick her back up in two hours, right at the university’s entrance. Once he was out of sight, she left the university’s gates and walked into Harlem toward Hunter’s City Council Office. The office was nothing like her Senator office. Hers sat in a giant office building with a doorman and had multiple office rooms and conference rooms with teams of people huddled inside researching and brainstorming for her. Hunter’s office looked like a remodeled convenience store. It stood right at the street with his name and title painted on the front window. Madeline pushed open the door, which rang a soft bell. Inside, Hunter was sitting at a large table in the middle of the office across from a woman and a young boy.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Hunter said to the woman who was rubbing the boy’s shoulders. “Thanks so much for coming in.” The woman and boy thanked Hunter and stood up. Hunter held out his hand, shaking the woman’s and the young boy’s, giving him the same respect he would to any adult. His guests then walked out of the office, averting their eyes so as not to meet Madeline’s.

“JJ wants to get the basketball court up on 144th fixed,” Hunter said. “His mom brought him in here to file an official complaint with the city.” He held up a piece of lined paper that had been ripped out of a notebook and folded several times. He held the paper like it was an official document, or rather one written on parchment paper. Madeline could see the pride in his eyes, she could see the satisfaction he got from helping his constituents. It was the same pride she felt when she saw the impact of her work.

Hunter walked over to his desk and placed the paper in an envelope, which he stacked in one of the paper trays. Then he turned to Madeline. “Maddy, how can I help you? You want some coffee? I can make a fresh pot,” he said, motioning to the far corner of his office where a little kitchenette with dull pink counters stood.

“No thank you.”

“You sure? It’ll just take a minute. I got some great coffee from this shop on 95th. I know 95th isn’t technically my district, it starts at 96th, but it’s close enough! And the shop sells amazing grinds. I’ll brew a pot, once you smell it, you’ll want some.” Hunter walked to the kitchenette and dumped