Heads You Win

“How can you possibly know that?”

“The chairman’s wife, Jackie, told me you got one hundred and forty-nine votes, and the other two shortlisted candidates got one hundred and fifty-one between them. If you’d only got two more votes, she said, they would have selected you this evening. So by this time next week!”

“One of the safest seats in the country,” said Sasha. “Less than twenty minutes from the House of Commons and only fifteen from our home in Fulham. What more could a man ask for?”

“I’m pregnant,” said Charlie.

Sasha slammed on the brakes. There was a cacophony of angry horns coming from behind him, but he ignored them, as he took Charlie in his arms and said, “That’s wonderful news, darling. But we must make sure the committee know before they meet next week. Perhaps you should give your new friend Jackie Samuel a call.”

“I must confess that wasn’t quite the reaction I was expecting,” said Charlie.

* * *

“Congratulations, darling,” said Elena when she heard the news.

“Thank you,” said Sasha. “But they haven’t actually selected me yet.”

“Not you, idiot. I was congratulating Charlie. What are you hoping for, a girl or a boy?”

“A girl of course,” said Sasha. “After all, there hasn’t been one in the Karpenko family for four generations.”

“I don’t care,” said Charlie, “as long as he or she doesn’t want to be a politician.”

“But she could end up being Labour’s first woman Prime Minister,” said Sasha.

“It’s not natural for a woman to be Prime Minister,” said Elena.

“Don’t let Fiona Hunter hear you saying that,” said Sasha, “unless you want to be banished to the Tower.”

“If that woman ever became Prime Minister, I’d seriously consider returning to Russia,” said Elena. “Meanwhile, some of us ought to be getting back to work, especially if we’re going to have a Member of Parliament in the family. I’m told they’re not very well paid.”

“And they don’t get any tips either,” said Charlie.

“Other than everyone telling them how to govern the country,” said Sasha as he ran a finger down the evening bookings, coming to a halt when he noticed a familiar name.

“I didn’t know Alf Rycroft was booked in for tonight.”

“Yes,” said Elena. “He rang this morning, said he hoped both of you would be able to join him for dinner, as there’s something important he needs to discuss with you.”

“He’s probably hoping you’ll agree to contest Merrifield again at the general election,” said Charlie. “But of course he doesn’t know that you’re about to be selected for a safe seat.”

“He’ll be delighted when he hears the news,” said Elena, “and so proud that his protégé will soon be a Member of Parliament. How’s that Hunter woman getting on?”

“Rather well, actually,” said Sasha. “After only a couple of years of sitting on the green benches, she’s already been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs.”

“How important is that?” asked Charlie.

“It’s the first step on the ladder for MPs who are thought to have a promising career ahead of them.”

“It will be interesting to see which one of you gets into the Cabinet first,” said Elena.

“Don’t let’s get ahead of ourselves,” said Charlie.

“Agreed,” said Sasha. “I’ve still got to make sure I’m selected for Wandsworth Central, and as I’ll have to prepare a completely new speech for the final round you won’t be seeing much of me before next Thursday. By the way, Mother, have you given any more thought to whether you want to run a third restaurant?”

“Yes, I have,” said Elena, before disappearing into the kitchen.

* * *