Page 45

“I don’t have a choice but to face Sanders head-on, no matter what he throws my way. The day I became a celebrity attorney was the day my privacy started walking out the door. Clint just pushed it to a level I never anticipated.”

“That’s an understatement,” Jacinta added and lifted her glass to her lips.

“Excuse me, miss. My career path is your fault. You’re the one who introduced me to Representative Jones and suggested I’d be the best attorney for her case.”

“Jacinta Ellen Camden, how could you send that awful woman to her?”

“Mom, Tracy isn’t that bad. She speaks her mind, and she doesn’t agree with Dad’s viewpoints.”

If Carol only knew that Tracy Jones was the one who put the bug in my ear to run for office years ago and was now my political adviser. Poor Carol was in for a shock when she found out.

I broke the glaring contest between the mother-daughter duo and said, “I’m not worried about my relationship status. As Tyler stated, I’ve never hidden our relationship. I just never acknowledged it in public. If anyone investigated me, they’d find I’ve lived and shared a home with Devin from the beginning of our marriage.”

“What about the separation? Don’t you think the press will figure out you’re legally separated?” Jacinta asked.

Carol dropped the cookie she was about to bite into. “Say that again. You two aren’t together anymore? But…but what about all the sex you two are obviously having? Don’t try to deny it. I know exactly how Devin woke you up earlier.”

I winced, glared at Jacinta, and then peeked toward the library window. Dev paced as he discussed something with his father.

Most likely me.

“I never filed anything. I had Tara draft a separation decree and send it to Devin. However, I never took the step to have it recorded with the court.”

Jacinta smacked me on the shoulder. “You sneaky girl.”

“Don’t scare me like that, young lady.” Carol fanned herself with her hand. “In my opinion, you should have kicked his ass into gear years ago. Then maybe I’d have a baby to take care of while you’re on the campaign trail.”

My eyes just about bugged out of my head as the tea went down the wrong pipe, making me cough. She was always the poised Southern lady, and she was throwing jabs right and left without trying to cover it up with genteel grace.

I looked at Jacinta, who seemed as surprised as I was.

“Mom, I swear, I thought you’d be on his side.”

Carol cocked a hand on her hip. “He’s my oldest son but that doesn’t mean I won’t recognize when he’s wrong. Or when you are.” She paused and took my hand in hers. “You allowed a man to dictate how you lived your life. What was wrong with you?”

“It’s complicated. All I can say is that I’ve come to my senses and decided that I had to make my needs a priority for a change, and at this time in my life, it is my career.”

“What about Devin? Is he still important to you?”

I sighed. “Of course he is, Carol. Devin’s been the love of my life for twelve years. It doesn’t suddenly stop. I’m at a crossroads that will decide if we have a future or not.”

Jacinta set her glass on the table and stared me in the eye. “You mean if he’s willing to let you take center stage.”

I didn’t respond. It was more than about career.

“Samina, if Devin wasn’t committed, my boy would never have gone up against his father. Don’t close off the possibilities. He loves you more than you could ever know.”

“I love him too.”

Dev was never one to stand up to his father, but today he defended me and supported me in a way he’d never done before.

“God,” I said, releasing a sigh. “We are each other’s escape from controlling fathers.”

Carol smiled at me and patted my arm. “Then don’t give up on him.”

“I hope you’re talking about me,” Tyler said as he walked up and slid into the chair beside Carol.

Devin approached a few seconds later, staring at me with a look that told me he’d heard the tail end of the discussion.