Mirror Image

“You’ve got our support, Tate,” Nelson said staunchly.

“Will I have your patience and understanding when I can’t be two places at once?” Tate divided his inquiring look between them. “I’ll do my best not to sacrifi

ce one responsibility to the other, but I’m only one person.”

Nelson assured him, “We’ll take up the slack for you.”

“What else did Eddy say?” Jack asked, greatly relieved that the crisis had passed.

“He has volunteers stuffing questionnaires into envelopes to be mailed later this week.”

“What about public appearances? Has he scheduled any more?”

“A tentative speech to a high school in the valley. I told him to decline.”

“Why?” Jack asked.

“High school kids don’t vote,” Tate said reasonably.

“But their parents do. And we need those Mexicans in the valley on our side.”

“We’ve got them on our side.”

“Don’t take anything for granted.”

“I don’t,” Tate said, “but this is one of those instances where I have to weigh my priorities. Carole and Mandy are going to require a lot of my time. I’ll have to be more selective about where I go and when. Each speech will have to count, and I don’t think a high school audience would be that beneficial.”

“You’re probably right,” Nelson said, diplomatically intervening.

Tate realized that his father was humoring him, but he didn’t care. He was tired, worried, and wanted to go to bed and at least try to sleep. As tactfully as possible, he conveyed that to his brother and father.

As he saw them out, Jack turned and gave him an awkward hug. “Sorry I badgered you tonight. I know you’ve got a lot on your mind.”

“If you didn’t, I’d get fat and lazy in no time. I rely on you to badger me.” Tate flashed him the engaging smile that was destined to appear on campaign posters.

“If it’s okay with y’all, I think I’ll go home tomorrow morning,” Jack said. “Somebody needs to check on things at the house, and see how everybody is making out.”

“How is everything there?” Nelson asked.

“Okay.”

“It didn’t look okay the last time I was home. Your daughter Francine hadn’t been heard from in days, and your wife… well, you know the state she was in.” He shook his finger at his elder son. “Things have come to a sad pass when a man doesn’t exercise any more influence over his family than you do.” He glanced at Tate. “Or you, either, for that matter. Both of you have let your wives do as they damn well please.”

Addressing Jack again, he said, “You should see to getting help for Dorothy Rae before it’s too late.”

“Maybe after the election,” he mumbled. Looking at his brother, he added, “I’ll only be an hour’s drive away if you need me.”

“Thanks, Jack. I’ll call as developments warrant.”

“Did the doctor give you any indication when they’d do the surgery?”

“Not until the risk of infection goes down,” Tate told them. “The smoke inhalation damaged her lungs, so he might have to wait as long as two weeks. For him it’s a real dilemma, because if he waits too long, the bones of her face will start to heal the way they are.”

“Jesus,” Jack said. Then, on a falsely cheerful note, he said, “Well, give her my regards. Dorothy Rae’s and Fancy’s, too.”

“I will.”

Jack went down the hall toward his own room. Nelson lingered. “I talked to Zee this morning. While Mandy was asleep, she slipped down to the ICU. Zee said Carole was a sight to behold.”