Page 13 of Campaign Season (By Design #18)

“What’s going on? I saw Larry talking to you,” she asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Shell said. “Time to head to Cassidy’s. That is, unless Uncle Jeff rescues JD in his spy wagon.”

Mel crinkled her nose. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t ask,” Jameson advised.

Melanie reached into Avery’s candy bag, pulled out a candy bar, and popped it into her mouth.

Michelle grabbed the bag and looked inside. It was filled with empty wrappers. “How many of those have you eaten?”

Melanie shrugged.

“Mel?”

“What? I’m a hungry hippo.”

Jameson burst out laughing. “This family is nuts.”

Arlington, Virginia

Being at Alex and Cassidy’s reminded Candace of Schoharie: constant motion, kids darting underfoot, coffee brewing at all hours, and a bottle of wine waiting in the fridge.

“How many kids do you expect?” Candace asked.

“Only six for Kenzie’s soirée,” Cassidy replied. “Plus Kenzie and Coop. Claire and El took Ian and Eva down the street to a couple of houses. Alex and Claire set up a party for the little ones in the living room. I have a feeling that one might get a bit more animated.”

“You know, you didn’t need to invite Shell.”

Cassidy shrugged. “Why not? Fallon loves playing with Amanda. And it’ll be good for Ian to have Brody here. Apparently, Claire and Alex came up with some games.”

“Do I want to know?”

“Don’t ask me,” Cassidy said. “Something about horns. That’s all I heard.”

The kitchen door swung open, and in marched Cooper and Mackenzie, shoulders squared as if stepping onto a stage.

Cooper tipped his fedora with an exaggerated flourish, a leather satchel slung across his chest, and a toy whip coiled at his side. Beside him, Mackenzie adjusted the oversized goggles on her head, her bomber jacket and white scarf unmistakable.

Candace and Cassidy exchanged a smile.

The kids had been secretive about their costumes. Candace wasn’t sure what she’d expected—superheroes, pirates, maybe monsters. But Indiana Jones and Amelia Earhart? It was perfect.

“I figured if I got lost like Amelia, Coop could find me and rewrite history,” Mackenzie declared.

“How did you put that together?” Cassidy asked.

“We had help,” Cooper replied.

Cassidy’s eldest, Dylan, came in from the basement. “I was drafted.”

“And where’s your costume?” Candace asked.

Dylan pointed to his T-shirt. A map was printed across the front, with a red circle marked in the middle of the ocean. “I’m the map to the treasure.”

“He means me,” Mackenzie said, grinning.

Candace laughed, the sound escaping her before she could hold it back. For a moment, as she watched her family, she forgot the weight of Washington, the upcoming election, and even Jonathan's declining strength. All she saw was her son and his best friend—creative, clever, and full of life.

In an instant, the kitchen was filled with a flurry of voices and footsteps. Jameson entered, her hippo head tucked under one arm, followed closely by Shell, Melanie, and their three kids. Claire and Elena trailed behind, expertly guiding Ian and Eva through the doorway.

Before Candace or Cassidy could finish greeting them, Alex appeared with Fallon, Connor, and Abby in tow, herding them toward the counter like ducklings.

Mackenzie rolled her eyes at the sudden crowding and tugged on Cooper’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get to the door before this turns into a zoo.”

Cooper followed dutifully, adjusting his fedora as he trailed after her.

“What does she mean—zoo?” Alex asked.

Claire folded her arms across her chest, her eyes scanning the room. She nodded toward Jameson, Shell, and Melanie. “Hippos.” Then she gestured to Fallon. “Penguin.” Finally, she hoisted Eva onto her hip. “Monkey. It’s a zoo, Alex. Maybe we should’ve stuck with tradition.”

“Tradition?” Jameson asked, arching a brow.

“Yeah,” Claire said. “Pin the tail on the donkey. Instead of pin the horns on the monster.”

Candace caught Cassidy’s amused look across the kitchen, and a laugh slipped between them.

“On that note,” Cassidy said, her tone mock-serious, “Candace and I have some things to discuss.”

“You’re working tonight?” Alex teased.

“They’re not working,” Michelle corrected, smirking. “They’re drinking wine on the patio, pretending to work.”

Cassidy only shrugged. “Rank has its privileges,” she said, grabbing a bottle of Chardonnay from the refrigerator.

Candace smiled, grabbed the two glasses on the counter, and followed Cassidy outside.

"They're really leaving us with all these kids?" Claire asked.

Jameson laughed. "More candy for us, Claire."

"Ah! Bonus!"

Candace took a deep breath as Cassidy closed the sliding glass doors.

The night air was crisp, filled with the scents of fallen leaves and wood smoke from the fire pit that Cassidy had tended to earlier.

Beyond the glass doors, the joyful sounds of children ebbed and flowed—a chorus of giggles, shrieks, and stomping feet, muffled by the walls yet still lively enough to be heard.

Candace exhaled as she lowered herself into a chair across from Cassidy, a glass of wine in hand.

“You know,” Cassidy said, swirling her glass, “I think Michelle’s right. This doesn’t look much like work.”

Candace smiled faintly. “It feels familiar—like home.”

They sat in silence for a moment, letting the fire pop and crackle between them.

“You’ve only got a handful of stops left before Election Day,” Cassidy said at last. “That has to feel like some relief.”

Candace tilted her head. “Relief isn’t the word. I’ll be in Pennsylvania and Michigan, then to New York for Election Night. It’s a sprint, and every race matters. If we can hold ground in the House and keep the Senate, maybe we can keep the wheels from flying off.”

Cassidy studied her. “And if not?”

Candace took a long sip before answering.

“Then it gets harder. Gridlock, obstruction… all the things that eat away at people’s faith in government.

” She drew in a breath. “And we both know that serves Lawson's ambitions.

" She sighed. "I spoke to Jonathan last night. He’s…

tired, Cass. I could hear it in his voice.

He missed so much time with the kids. They've gotten closer since…” Her voice trailed off.

Cassidy leaned forward, her expression soft. “I know it's hard. It's not easy for you, either.”

Candace looked into the fire, watching the flames curl around the wood. “No. In all the upheaval—all the hurt, we lost our friendship.”

Cassidy nodded slowly, her throat tight. “But you found it again.”

Candace swallowed. “I know. I just—after everything—we’ve come full circle. I've known him my entire life. We've been through so much, Cassidy. Birth. Death. Letting him go, even now, it feels impossible.”

“I understand,” Cassidy said gently. “But he's still here. Whether it's for a day or a month. You made the right decision to go home this week. Time isn't promised to any of us. We've both learned that the hard way."

"Yes. We have."

For a moment, the only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the muffled roar of laughter from inside, where someone had just declared victory in one of the children's games.

Candace’s lips curved, fragile but genuine. “Listen to that.”

Cassidy raised her glass. “That’s why we do any of it, isn’t it? Family. The next generation. Knowing that even when everything feels uncertain, there’s something to be grateful for—someone to love.”

"JD!" Claire yelled.

"You pinned horns on his butt!" Brody screeched with delight.

Candace shook her head. "I can think of a few people I'd like to?—"

Cassidy laughed so hard she snorted. She raised her glass. "To horny butts."

Candace looked at her for a moment before bursting into laughter and raising her glass.

The sound of laughter echoed, creating a rare and perfect moment. It was simple yet profound, reminding her of the importance of being present and striving for something better.

Candace leaned back and sipped her wine, chuckling to herself. Lunatics. All of us.