Candidate: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens Read Free Book Online

don’t need to mention that you should remain abstinent on that day too, because . . . well, hopefully that’s not an issue for you right now.”
    At this, Kate said nothing, but she actually lowered her head to the table and tried to remember if she had Tylenol in her purse, as her mother continued.
    “Anyway, please try to squeeze in the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, if you can tear yourself away from your very important job. Good Friday is our most somber day, Katie. I don’t make you kids go anymore, but you should—”
    “Remember what Christ gave up for me. Right, got it. Talk with you later, Mom.”
    “Bye bye.”
    Good Friday service, was she kidding? Kate hadn’t been to church since . . . she couldn’t remember. She was a heathen in her mother’s eyes, so Kate wasn’t sure why she kept trying. Finishing up her coffee, needing a refill and Toaster Strudel, Kate took her empty cup and her zip lock bag to the kitchen to find the office toaster.

    That night, Kate arrived at a fundraiser for Senator Malendar. While she was a little aggravated that Grady had not shown up to the parent center opening at the children’s hospital yesterday morning, she was still pleased they had gotten through a week without incident. She stopped by the powder room to check her dress before entering the Agave Ballroom. It was very nice for a hotel event. The ballroom had four sets of doors that were open and leading to a balcony. It was beautifully lit and there were fresh flowers on each of the round tables throughout the room.
    Kate set her bag down at her place setting. No one was at her table yet so she turned to get a drink at the bar. The sound guys were doing mike checks, and Kate saw Stanley adjusting the microphone at the podium. Stanley, who never liked to be called Stan, was a balding guy, she guessed mid-forties. He was incredibly well dressed, and seemed to do it with ease. From what Kate could tell, dressed-up Stanley was the only Stanley. His hair was cut very short to his head and his ears were small and round. They stuck out a little, and when he was angry, he looked a bit like a monkey. Stanley was often angry or frustrated with what he considered “the incompetence all around him.” Kate smiled in case he saw her, but he was engrossed in shaking hands and passing important people along to the senator.
    Kate wore a simple black silk dress. Long, straight across and off the shoulders. It was her “go to” dress. She loved the lines, the feel of the silk, and the barely-there strappy sandals she always wore with it. It fact this dress was the only time she ever wore the insanely high strappy sandals. Her hair was up and she felt together, calm even, when she ordered a sparkling water and lime. She didn’t often dress up to the evening gown level, but when she did she was always reminded that she was a woman. She knew that was silly, of course she was a woman, but since the divorce she had forgotten a lot of things.
    Grady, who was talking with a man and a woman Kate recognized as his childhood friends, Peter and Samantha, looked over at her and then excused himself and made his way through the crowd. As he approached, Kate was now acutely aware she was female, and slightly annoyed that the temperature in the room went up an easy ten degrees.
    “Katherine.”
    “Grady, haven’t we settled the name thing? It’s Kate.”
    “I’m sorry, but that is not a Kate dress. That is most definitely a Katherine. Hepburn, Deneuve, take your pick, but it’s a Katherine.” He took her hand, kissed her knuckles and lingered. Kate tried to remember if a man had ever kissed her hand. If it had happened, it was never like this. “You look stunning.”
    “Thank you.” That was all she could get out of her mouth. It was one thing to know the magazine cover Grady. No question he was lovely to look at and his tux was perfect, but since spending time with him, Grady had grown on her a bit. There was something