"Stevie, I don't want to add to
your burden," Jon began, "but you need to hear something before you
see Shawna again." Jon described his late-night conversation with their
very soaked, very distraught fourteen-year-old daughter cuddling a wide-eyed
black kitten. Jon related Shawna's feelings of abandonment in the midst of her
mother's busyness with the campaign. He told about their daughter's search for
acceptance among members of the "Young Women's Leadership Club."
Stevie cringed at the description of the Halloween party. The harsh reality of Shawna's pain cut into
Stevie deeply. Waves of conviction and remorse prompted another outflow of
tears.
"Shawna said she tried to talk
to you, but you were always too busy," Jon concluded. “Is she blowing
things out of proportion?" Stevie was tempted to respond to Jon just as
she had repeatedly rationalized to herself when putting the campaign ahead of
the kids: I'm
doing it for them. I'm committed to making North California a haven against the
world's version of tolerance. As soon as Senator Bellardi wins the election,
everything will get back to normal for the kids and me. "No, she's
not exaggerating. I have a lot of making up to do."
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