Solid Foundation by J. A. Armstrong

choose. Most never knew my
grandfather, and even those who did, Mr. Burgess; they knew Governor Stratton,
not Granddad. He was part of a greater person. I am not running for governor to
reclaim the past. I am running to make an impact on the future. History teaches
us, but it is past. None of us can go backward. And, why would we want to when
there is so much living still to do?” she asked him.
    ***
    Jameson sidled up next to
Melanie. “Having fun?”
    Melanie
jumped and then smiled. “I am, J.D. This is great. By the way, I am really happy for you.”
    “Thanks.
What about you?” Jameson asked.
    “Me?”
    “Anyone
interesting in your life these days?” she asked.
    Melanie
blushed. “Maybe…not sure yet.”
    “Oh?”
Jameson inquired. She watched Melanie’s gaze fall on Michelle and sighed. “Mel,”
she said.
    “Yeah?”
    “Be
careful,” Jameson said bluntly. Melanie turned to Jameson and flushed
immediately in embarrassment. “Shell’s been hurt once, pretty badly.”
    “J.D.,
I…”
    “Just
listen. She’s a big girl. This might sound weird to you. Shell’s not just my
friend. She’s only nine years younger than me. I get that. To me, she is like a little sister, but in reality
she is my step-daughter now. I love her.”
    Melanie
smiled weakly. “The thing is J.D., I love her too.” Jameson was surprised at
Melanie’s revelation. As far as she knew, Melanie was straight. That worried
her. Her hackles were raised protectively. She adored Melanie, but she loved
Shell. It was almost unsettling how protective she felt. Melanie watched
Jameson’s jaw tense. “ J.D…. I really do. I
didn’t plan it. I didn’t see it coming. The thing is, she’s become like my best
friend. I don’t even know how she feels. I don’t want to lose her, so you don’t
need to get all mama bear on me. I haven’t even said a word to her.”
    Jameson
took a deep breath and scanned the crowd for Michelle. Michelle’s forehead
creased in worry when she caught sight of Jameson looking at her and standing
beside Melanie. Jameson chuckled uncomfortably and turned back to her friend.
This was an awkward situation. Melanie was a friend but also Jameson’s
employee. Michelle was Jameson’s friend but also Jameson’s step-daughter.
Melanie’s words had stuck a personal chord with Jameson. No one could predict when
they would fall in love. She looked at the ring on her finger and back to
Melanie with a shake of her head.
    “You
do know how she feels,” Jameson said. Melanie swallowed hard. “Look, I can’t tell
you this doesn’t worry me. It does. If you really love Shell, you owe it to her
to tell her that. I just hope you are prepared for what that means.”
    “J.D.,
Shell is not some experiment if that’s what you are thinking. I miss her when
she’s not with me; you know? Like…I just want to talk to her. It’s kind of
scary for me too; you know? I’ve known for a long time I guess, about me. I just ignored it. My parents, they won’t be
like your parents are, J.D. With Shell, I just…I don’t want to lose her.”
    “I
can see that. I do understand. Just be sure this is what you want. Shell, she
talks a good game. She’s really very sensitive and I do know when she falls,
she falls hard,” Jameson said.
    “Yeah,
I know. If she hasn’t fallen for me, I lose her altogether .”
    Jameson
saw Michelle beginning to make her way over. “Somehow, Mel, I don’t think you
need to worry about that,” she said. “Just know…you break her heart, I’ll kick
your ass. And, I’m a lot less intimidating than Candace,” Jameson said just as
Michelle reached them.
    “What
are you two whispering about over here?” Michelle asked. Melanie looked at the
ground nervously.
    Jameson
shrugged. “We weren’t whispering. You just weren’t here to hear us,” she said. “I
need to go find my wife,” she said with a smirk.
    “That’s
so weird to hear,” Michelle said.
    “Yeah,
not really. One day you’ll get