Page 49 of Power
“Do you believe you’re a good president?” Wow, what a hairy question to be asked by a ten-year-old.
“I try my hardest to do right by everyone, and to be the best president I can be.”
“Huh.” She picks up the remaining starting pieces and holds her hand out to him. “Which one do you want to be?”
Bennett picks the top hat, and Emily puts his piece on the starting square. “What about homeless people?” she casually asks Bennett. “Why do we have so many homeless people in America?”
Bennett pulls his shoulders back and quickly switches into politician mode. I swear, if he tries to school Emily, I’m throwing him out of my house and never seeing him again. “We have a big problem with people who are homeless,” he finally responds.
“Maybe you should fix it,” Emily says. “You said you’re trying your hardest to do right by everyone, so...do right.” I’m so proud of my little girl. She has no idea how impactful her words are, because to her it’s simply a conversation, but to us as adults, she’s going for the jugular without even realizing. “Don’t you like the pizza?” she asks with innocence.
“Yeah, I love it.” Bennett shoves the remainder of his piece in his mouth and chews.
“I didn’t think you’d be allowed to eat pizza,” Tash says. Both Bennett and I look over to her. “Don’t you have to have your own chef to cook for you, just to make sure your food isn’t poisoned?”
“Do you?” Emily asks.
“I’m invested in this now, I need to know more,” I say.
“Actually, it’s a team of chefs, and they’re always being watched to make sure nothing happens with my food. But considering no one even knows I’m here, and you’ve all eaten from the pizza, the chances of me being poisoned is nonexistent.” Bennett reaches for another slice, hesitates and pulls his hand back. “Unless that’s just what you want me to believe.” He casts a wary eye over us and stops at Emily. “Are you trying to poison me, Emily?”
She shrugs and shakes her head. “I didn’t even know who you were until Mom and Tash told me.”
Bennett throws his head back as he brings his hand to his stomach. Booming laughter vibrates through him. “This is true, Emily. So, I don’t think you’d poison me.”
Emily’s brows squish together. “I mean...” She looks to me and lifts her shoulders.
“Mr. President,” Mark announces as he enters the family room.
Bennett stands and huddles away from us, whispering with Mark. He runs his hands through his hair and nods. I watch as they discuss whatever it is they’re talking about. He steps back and walks over to us. The look in his eyes and gloomy heaviness of his tense shoulders screams volumes. “I have to go.”
I stand and walk over to him. “I understand. Everything okay?” His jaw tightens making his neck tense.
“Walk with me.” He motions with a flick of his head. “Goodbye, Miss Emily. It was a pleasure meeting you.” Bennett holds his hand out for her to shake.
“Nice meeting you too.” She shakes his hand.
“Bye, Tash.”
“See ya.” She lifts her hand and casually waves to him.
Bennett wraps his arm around my waist as we walk toward my garage. “Dinner, tomorrow night,” he says.
“No.” I shake my head.
“What?”
“No. Emily is home tomorrow, and I’m spending time with her.”
We stop walking when we get to the door leading between the kitchen and the mudroom-slash-garage. Bennett tightens his arms around me and softly kisses my forehead. “Sunday night, I’m not taking no for answer.”
“Well, you’re going to have to.”
He lifts his hand and gently tips my head back. “I’m not taking no for an answer, Miss Maxwell,” he repeats.
“I heard you the first time, and my answer is still no. I’m spending Sunday with myself after I take Emily back to school. So, you’re going to have to accept what I say, which is...no.”
He runs his tongue over his teeth, before clicking it to the roof of his mouth. “Monday night. No negotiation.”
