Campaign Wife

Chapter 6

"Why don't you go upstairs and play with your cousins?" Liv suggested to Amelia. The little girl nodded reluctantly before climbing the stairs of Jack and Liv's cape home.

Liv had attempted to keep everything white and airy when decorating the ancient home, and it had a very cool, vacationy feel inside. Liv herself tended to the numerous flowers and bushes outside, and watered the large vases filled with lemon grass that dotted the house inside.

Liv was now carrying a tray containing empty glasses and a pitcher of iced tea outside to the brick patio. Waves crashed on the sand less than 25 yards away, and butterflies darted along the hydrangea bushes that lined the house.

On the wicker furniture sat James, Carrie, and Jack. Her brother and sister in law had brought their children over to play for the day while the adults talked business.

"Thanks, Liv," Jim said, taking the glass she handed to him. Once everyone was served and the hostess was settled on a wicker armchair, the heated discussion began.

"I am absolutely disgusted on your choice of Vice President." Liv's eyebrow raised slightly at James's outburst. Jack just stared at his brother. "So you don't have anything to say?"

"What do you want me to say?" Jack asked. "I need Ed to get the southern votes."

"Out of all the southerners in the United States, you pick Ed Thompson," James fumed.

"Jim, Jack's right, it will be crucial for him to get the southern votes," Carrie said softly. Then more strongly, "But I agree, he's a horrible man."

"I don't care if he's horrible or not, I can't win without him. No one connects with me down there," Jack insisted.

"Ed doesn't connect with you either. Do you know what he called you to all the other senators?" James demanded, standing from his chair and leaning back against the railing of the patio.

"You've reminded me a thousand times, Jim. The past is the past, and its done. Ed's going to be my vice president."

---

"Come on, Em! They are going to start without us!" Liv urged, resolving to scoop her daughter up and carry her across the grass yard. The convenient thing about having four large Callahan houses in a sort of L-shape next to one another, was that family was only a short walk away. Liv loved that there was always a mix of cousins and aunts and uncles wandering from house to house, and sometimes a pack of Callahan kids would be waiting on her back patio and knocking on her kitchen window for a snack.

But now all of the Callahans were gathering at the big house for a family tradition. A football game. They usually took place in David and Diane's front yard, however, it was such a nice day, so it had been moved to the beach. The spectators were to sit in the sand, where Diane and Kate had set out some snacks on a blanket. Liv helped herself to a sandwich before letting Amelia go roam with her cousins.

"Who are the captains today?" Liv asked, taking a seat on the sand next to her mother in law.

Diane was a waspy woman in her 60s, with short, gray hair, blue eyes lined with sharp wrinkles, and thin lips pulled in a tight line. She was a wonderful grandmother, but always had been a bit cold to Liv.

"Jack and Jim. Will you be playing today, dear?" Diane asked, looking at Liv out of the corner of her eye.

Liv rarely participated in the games, she was not nearly competitive enough to take part in Callahan games of any kind, and she wasn't a very good football player. "Not today, and I wouldn't want things to get heated and hurt the baby."

"You know, exercise is important during pregnancy. There isn't a need to gain more than 15 pounds," Diane commented, looking Liv up and down.

"Well- I haven't-" Liv stopped herself. There wasn't much point in arguing.

"Liv, you in?" Carrie called from the gathering of Callahans a few yards away.

Liv waved her off, not surprised that the 6 month pregnant woman would be playing. Carrie was unbelievably competitive and athletic, and was one of the star players.

The teams broke off, consisting of all the adult members of the family besides Liv, Diane, and David. Even some family friends were playing, along with a few campaign staff members. Children were strictly prohibited from the adult games, because they were taken so seriously.

Liv grinned as Carrie handed the ball off to Jim, Daniel charging at them from the side. There were shouts and laughter as the players ran through the shallow water, throwing up sand in their wake. She enjoyed watching the game, it was a welcome distraction from the heated campaign.

The game was tied as Jack was thrown the ball. Liv clapped as her husband sprinted towards his end zone, a grin on his face. There were gasps when suddenly, James flew in from the side and slammed his shoulders into Jack's hips, sending them both to the ground. The brothers tumbled a few times before coming to a rest on the sand, a wave washing the white sand from their skin.

"Hey, it's touch football, Jim!" Kate reminded, a bit out a breath with her hands on her hips.

James jumped up as Daniel offered Jack a hand to help him up. "Why did you do that?" Jack demanded.

"Sorry, I tripped," Jim shrugged, walking back to his team.

Carrie and Liv exchanged looks, but Liv wasn't surprised. James was very passionate, and was probably irate that Jack had chosen such man for his Vice President that had so obviously disrespected him in the past.

"You okay, Jack?" Liv asked her husband, trying not to smile. It was hard for her to not fiJim's tackle funny- he had good intentions.

"Yeah," her husband answered, limping slightly.

The game commenced, with a heated rivalry between Jack and James. So heated, in fact, the brothers rarely have up the ball and specifically targeted each other with their blocks and fakes. In one case James was darting down the beach with the ball and was forced into the water by Daniel and an aide, losing the ball.

"Come on, Jim, I was wide open!" Carrie groaned, pushing her now soaking husband playfully.

James shot a mock glare at Jack. "My brother is going to be president, I'm not letting him beat me at football."