Thursday morning
Blinking against the bright sun and balancing a cup of coffee and her laptop in both hands, Therese carefully made her way to a shady place on the terrace of the big house. It was almost noon. She had spent her morning at the guesthouse, going through the by now impressive amount of photos she had made since her arrival last Saturday. She was pleased with the result: after she had arranged them by subject, she concluded that she had covered the different areas of Harge’s life quite well. Most pictures were shot during the official occasions: the fundraiser at the Eccles Theatre, Harge’s meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and his first pitch at the Ballpark. Therese especially liked the series she had made when Harge and Carol had read for the children of Nibley Park. They showed a lighter, more playful side of the usually serious politician.
Selecting the pictures that were more personal, depicting Harge’s private life, had been more difficult. Blushing, Therese noticed that, as the week progressed, she had increasingly concentrated on Carol, leaving Harge and Rindy out. She decided to select only a few of the photos that were solely of Carol and to focus on the one’s that showed the happy family of a father and mother doting on their adorable daughter. The pictures of Carol she put in a separate file, that she stored in her personal files on her laptop.
Working on the photos had taken her mind of the conversation with Harge the day before. Furious, she kept hearing his arrogant voice, demanding that she leave Carol alone. Apart from the fact that he had no right to order her around, she wondered how he had come to this. She was certain Carol would not have told him about what was happening between them. Did this mean that it was all too obvious that she felt attracted to Carol and that Carol answered those feelings? And that Harge felt forced to defend what he considered to be his?
“Is it okay if I join you?”
Therese had not been aware of someone entering the terrace, but was relieved to see it was Abby.
“Of course!”
Therese retrieved her laptop that she had put on the chair beside her. Abby took off her cream coloured, linen blazer and draped it over the back of the chair.
“Taking a break?” Abby smiled and nodded at the laptop.
“Yes. I’ve been sorting through the pictures. I hope to present a suitable selection to Harge and Carol tomorrow that can be used for the campaign. Tonight I will make some last shots at the gala.”
Therese sighed. She was not looking forward to the gala, where no doubt Harge and Carol would present themselves once again as the happy, attractive power couple ready for Washington. Sensing Therese’s discomfort, Abby frowned.
“Therese, can I be frank with you?”
Surprised, Therese nodded. Abby cleared her throat before she continued.
“What are your intentions with Carol?”
As if stung by a bee Therese jumped from her chair.
“Fuck, not again!” She walked to the edge of the terrace, followed by Abby who, alarmed, grabbed Therese’s arm.
“What do you mean?”
“Yesterday Harge had the nerve to ask me the same question. Or better, he made it clear I had to stay away from Carol.”
Stunned, Abby fell silent. Therese agitatedly started to pace the terrace.
“Why do I have to defend myself because I happen to fall for an attractive woman whom I have only just met? What gives Harge the right? What gives you the right?”
She now stood in front of Abby, who resisted backing away from Therese’s obvious anger. Instead she brought her hand to Therese’s face, forcing her to look at her.
“Because I care, Therese.”
Therese shrugged, feeling how her eyes filled with tears. Abby took her hand, leading her back to their chairs.
“Come, let’s sit down.”
Trembling, Therese took a sip of her now cold coffee. Abby waited until she put the cup down.
“Okay, now tell me what happened with Harge.”
Therese tried to gather her thoughts.
“Abby, first I think you must know that Carol has told me about the nature of her marriage, about how she and Harge …”
Abby looked stunned. Therese knowing about Carol’s greatest secret meant that things between them were much more serious than she would have guessed. Therese looked at the woman sitting next to her.
“Does that surprise you?”
“Well, yes. There are very few people who know this. Her telling you is … She must have great confidence in you to trust you with this.”
Therese blushed.
“It’s complicated.”
She sighed.
“Abby, I feel crazily attracted to her and I know she feels the same. But I don’t know how to be with her. One day she is cold and detached, the other day caring, loving even … Look, I know I’m messing up the well-ordered life she has with Harge and Rindy, I understand why Harge is warning me to stay away from Carol…
She hesitated.
“… I will even understand if Carol tells me to leave…”
“But she doesn’t …”Abby added.
Therese raised her hands, waving in the direction of the house.
“No, she doesn’t.”
Abby’s heart went out to the confused young woman next to her. She knew how difficult if not impossible it was to read Carol’s intricate and sometimes outright erratic behaviour.
“Therese, I can see that you understand the complicated situation that Carol is in right now.”
She reached for her bag and took out her cigarettes. Lighting one for Therese and herself she continued.
“And it is complicated. I know that Carol genuinely cares for you. Actually, she cares for you so much that for the first time she is questioning her choices, questioning her life with Harge and Rindy.”
Abby took a large drag of her cigarette.
“You must know that until two years ago there have been other women, but Carol never let them come close enough to disrupt her feelings or her secure life. With you it’s different. I’ve never seen her like this, seen this longing in her. And knowing her so well, Harge must have seen it too.”
Therese listened intently to the woman she knew was closer to Carol than anybody else. She was relieved that now she could talk about Carol, about the intensity of their feelings for each other.
“You must be right about Harge. And thank you for being so frank with me. I’m glad I can talk to you. But I must admit I still don’t know what to do, what to expect from Carol.”
Abby smiled. Poor girl.
“I think you have done very well, up till now. Carol may be bewildered, but I have never seen her so alive, so passionate for a very long time. Most of all she needs time to process what is happening right now, time to understand her feelings and to weigh the consequences. Don’t pressure her but while you’re still here, make her aware of your presence, your feelings, your thoughts. That may not be easy, especially because Harge will be there. But she loves a fight and she will respect you for it.”
Therese shrugged nervously, feeling a growing excitement in her stomach. Would she be able to assert herself, to make Carol aware of her with Harge present? She touched Abby’s shoulder.
“Will you be at the gala, tonight?”
Abby nodded reassuringly.
“Of course. I will be right behind you.”
__________________________________________
Abby left soon after her talk with Therese, leaving her behind at the terrace, brooding. Their conversation had surprised her. Therese had revealed that Carol had let her in on her secret. And by doing so Therese had also revealed the depth of their feelings for each other, leaving no doubt that they were a force to be reckoned with. Abby now realised that Carol faced the perhaps most important decision of her life. She decided to try and help her friend with making this decision.
In the car she reached for her bag and took out her IPhone. She scrolled to Carol’s number. After some deliberation she wrote a short text.
“Harge knows about her.”
Then she pressed “send”.