Solid Foundation by J. A. Armstrong Page A

to practice it too, I’m sure,” Jameson said.
Melanie coughed. “You okay there, Mel? Something go down the wrong way?” Michelle
looked at Jameson suspiciously and instinctively put her arm around Melanie. Jameson
shook her head. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she said.
    “Based
on Mom’s scream last night, I’d say we are screwed then,” Michelle quipped.
    Jameson
shrugged. “Jealousy doesn’t become you, Shell.” She winked at the pair and took
her leave.
    ***
    Candace searched the
crowd for Jameson. “She’s over there,” Pearl said as she pointed to the pool. “How’d
the tour go?” she asked Candace.
    “Oh,
you know...Fine. What would Granddad think of his married, lesbian granddaughter
running for his old office?”
    “He’d be very proud,”
Pearl said. “And, he would love Jameson; just in case you wondered at all.”
    “No,”
Candace said. “I know he would.”
    “You
do?”
    “Sure.
You love her. You’re just like him,” Candace said.
    Pearl
smiled. “I guess I am, except I am a far better cook.”
    “Agreed,”
Candace chuckled. She smiled as Jameson caught sight of her and began heading
over.
    “Speaking
of just like someone,” Pearl gestured to Michelle.
    “What
is going on there?” Candace asked. Michelle was sitting next to Melanie with
her head on the architect’s shoulder.
    “Young
love,” Jameson answered. She kissed Candace on the cheek.
    “What?”
Candace asked. “Shell is in love with Mel?”
    “Yep.
Think so,” Jameson said. “And, Mel is in love with Shell. Oh God, that rhymes. Mel and Shell? That’s just…”
    Candace
whacked Jameson gently. “Leave them alone,” she said. Jameson moved behind Candace
and wrapped her in an embrace. Candace leaned back happily.
    “They’re
cute,” Pearl said.
    “Mm,”
Jameson groaned.
    Candace
gently stroked the hands holding her. “You don’t approve?” she asked Jameson as
the trio watched Michelle and Melanie in the distance.
    “It’s
not that,” Jameson said.
    “What
is it then?” Pearl asked curiously.
    “Like
I told Mel, if she breaks Shell’s heart I’ll have to kick her ass. Good
architects are hard to find, you know.”
    Candace
laughed. “A little protective; are we?”
    Jameson
huffed. “Maybe, I am,” she admitted.
    Candace
leaned back farther and let Jameson support her weight. “How do you know it won’t
be Shell to break Melanie’s heart?”
    Pearl
laughed. “You two. Why do you think anyone’s going to get their heart broken?” Candace
and Jameson both turned to Pearl. “Peas in a pod. See that? I seem to remember
a similar pair sitting in my kitchen all goo-goo eyed and too afraid to say
anything about it.”
    “What
are you talking about?” Candace asked.
    “Uh-huh.
Nice try, Candy. Just like looking in the mirror; isn’t it?” she chuckled.
    “We
were never like that,” Jameson said indignantly.
    Pearl
looked at the pair and shook her head. “Kids,” she muttered before walking
away.
    “What
do you think?” Candace asked.
    “About
them?” Jameson replied. She felt Candace’s nod against her. “Well, I hope they
are as lucky as us.”
    “Me
too.”
    “Hey?
Where’d Perez Hilton go? Is he snooping round here somewhere still?” Jameson
asked.
    “Do
you have a nickname for everyone?” Candace wondered.
    “I’ll
never tell,” Jameson said.
    Candace
laughed. “No worries about snooping. I left him in the company of Gollum.”
    “Ooo.
You must not like him much. His ankles are gonna be sore tomorrow.” Candace
laughed harder as Jameson’s lips brushed over the top of her head. “You are a
complete lunatic.”
    “Careful
how loud you say that. Perez will be calling you Governor Gazoo.”
    “Maybe
he should call me Governor Reid.”
    Jameson
pulled back and spun Candace to face her. “What?”
    Candace
grinned. “What?” she repeated the question back to Jameson.
    “I
asked you first.”
    “You
don’t think it sounds good?” Candace