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

alone. She wished Hunter hadn’t left, but she knew his presence only made her more isolated.

She washed her face, scrubbing the grease and makeup off her skin. Clean, she didn’t look so fierce. She didn’t look like the force of nature she felt like when all made up. So she closed her eyes and lay down in bed. She wouldn’t sleep, but with the covers pulled up around her neck she could let herself crack open. A tear escaped her eye and she let more follow. Sometimes no matter how strong a woman is, she still just needs to cry.

Chapter 22

Madeline arrived home the next day after her early morning flight. She looked senatorial as always in her skirt suit and perfectly made-up face as her car dropped her off in front of her driveway. She thanked the driver and walked into the house, noticing that Brandon’s car was in the driveway. Inside, Brandon was sitting on the couch with his computer on his lap and headphones on his head. His socked feet were up on the coffee table and his glasses reflected the screen. “NO! How many times do we have to go over this?” He yelled into the headphones. “These bugs are unacceptable at this stage. I shouldn’t be hearing about these things. The product team should be taking care of them before bringing it to the CEO. Please fix and get back to me.” Brandon looked up to see Madeline in the doorway with her small carryon luggage. He immediately straightened up and pulled his headphones off his head.

“What are you doing here?” She asked. His presence made it seem like something was wrong. He should be at the office, going through his normal routine. He never waited for her at home when she came back from a trip. There was no need.

“I wanted to see you,” he replied. “I thought we could get the kids together from school. They have a lot of questions.”

Madeline nodded and took her suitcase upstairs to unpack. She switched out of her suit and put on jeans and a blouse, making herself look more like a mom than a senator. She needed the afternoon off. Jane would handle the staff and update her in the evening. While it may seem contrary to take time off when things were becoming so heated with her campaign, it was actually the smart thing for Madeline to do. Time off gave her time to think. It gave her staff time to rethink before they gave her any rash recommendations. It was a move that had served her well through other stressful times in her career—when she had seen negative press against her for the first time, when she had been forced to support something her constituents would not understand. Time off always gave the right answers. Madeline hoped this time it would too.

When she walked back downstairs, Brandon was no longer sitting on the couch. The smell of coffee led her to the kitchen where he was pouring himself a mug. She grabbed her own mug and prepared a cup. The two stood quietly in the kitchen, the only sounds the slurping of coffee. Madeline averted her eyes. She felt full of things she should say, but none that she would allow to be released from her lips. They continued to stand together, quietly, in the kitchen, drinking their coffee. Then, with a thud, Brandon placed his mug in the sink. “I have to get back to work,” he said and he left the kitchen and Madeline with her coffee that was no longer warm.

When the clock ticked towards when the boys’ school let out, Brandon and Madeline silently made their way into Brandon’s car. They always took his car when they drove as a family. It was an unspoken rule for no particular reason other than Brandon preferred to drive. Madeline’s car had less mileage, was cleaner, maybe it was even a little roomier, but as a family, they traveled in Brandon’s car. As they drove to the school, Madeline felt like Dorothy, waking up in the land of Oz. Something was different about the neighborhood, the streets they drove through. It took her a moment to notice what it was. At first, all she saw was a small square on someone’s lawn. They drove past it before she could see what it was. There wasn’t another square for a few more minutes, but this time, Madeline’s eyes caught it before they drove past. Austin for Senate. There were already signs in people’s front lawns. Not many, but enough to make Madeline wonder where her signs were. She quickly pulled out her phone and texted Jane. Need to move up the campaign relaunch. Already behind.

They arrived at the school right behind Mrs. Albertson, whose car’s rear window had already been painted advertising Madeline’s adversary. Madeline watched as Mrs. Albertson parked and got out of her car, wearing a blue t-shirt with Austin for Senate on it and giant red sparkly earrings that looked more like party favors than jewelry. Madeline let out a sigh before she and Brandon shared a look. The couple got out of their car and walked towards the school entrance where other parents were already waiting. A few kids had drizzled out, but the bell had yet to ring.

“Madeline!” Mrs. Albertson said. “I guess you heard the news.” Madeline acknowledged her politely. “I’m volunteering with the campaign. It’s great for teaching our children about civic duty. We’ll be canvassing on the weekends.” Mrs. Albertson had a smug smile on her face and nodded her head vigorously. The bell rang and students began swarming out like bees from their hive in desperate search for honey. Brandon squeezed Madeline’s shoulder as they searched for their sons.

Soon Adam arrived and moments later Noah. The couple turned to their car, Brandon with the boys’ backpacks on his shoulders.

“May the