Ed Gorman: Blindside

He was flustered now, shaking his head as if trying to escape a nightmare, hands fluttering around his head. ‘This is insane. The party needs this seat.’

‘The other side’ll have a fresh candidate after Burkhart loses and we need one, too. You’re damaged goods, Ward. Your little affair with Bryn’ll come out and then you’ll be toast. So get ahead of it all and announce that you won’t run again. It’ll be better for everybody.’

I walked to the door. Opened it. I looked back and said, ‘Nice knowing you.’

I was six or seven steps down the hall when I heard him run to the door where he shouted, ‘You’re crazy if you think I’ll go along with this!’ He slammed the door with enough force to make the floor tremble.

Kathy had her coat on when I replaced the coffee cup on the silver tray in her office. ‘It sounds like you guys are better friends than ever.’

‘Almost blood brothers. But he wouldn’t let me cut his wrists for him.’

She giggled and kissed me on the cheek. ‘God, I’ll be glad when I don’t have to work for him anymore.’ Then: ‘Let’s go get drunk.’

I was leaning over and packing my bag when Kathy came out of the bathroom, all showered and fresh. In her white hotel bathrobe, she made it tempting to take a later plane.

She walked over and slid her arms around me as I finished my packing. She smelled clean and cool and wonderful. ‘I hope I didn’t ruin the night by crying there just before we went to sleep.’

‘It’s sad, Kathy. It deserves some tears. Waters is dead and a lot of people got hurt.’

I turned around and took her in my arms. The feel of her flesh made me tremble. We got into one of those kissing matches that more often than not end up with both people dropping to the floor and writhing around like crazed animals. It had been a while for me before last night and now I wanted more. My lust was like a lovely ache. But then I had no choice but to pull away. I managed to say, ‘Airport.’

She favored me with her great grin while she pretended to fan herself. ‘Wow. I should sue you for alienation of affection. You really had me going there.’

‘Maybe you can visit me in Chicago for a day or two after the election’s over. Then we can get a little crazy again.’

‘I’d like that, Dev. I felt very comfortable last night and it’s been a long time since I felt that way with anybody.’

‘Me, too, Kathy. But now I’ve really got to go.’

This kiss, this hug, were ones that my third-grade nun would have approved of. ‘There’ll be a cab downstairs to take me to the airport in five minutes. I already checked out while you were showering.’

She took my arm and squeezed it. ‘I hope everything goes all right. I hope they get everything with Erin and I hope you and she have that long talk you’ve been needing all these years. And if you want to talk while you’re there, you have my cell number.’

At the door I said, ‘You’ll hear from me. Probably more than you want to.’

One hour and twenty-five minutes later I was sitting in my United seat. Right then all I could think about was Erin — how much I’d loved her and how much I feared for her now. Then the plane was lifting and we were heading back to the past.