Solid Foundation Read Online Free PDF

for you.”
    Dana
walked into Candace’s office and flinched at the tone of the senator’s voice. Candace was annoyed and on the threshold of
angry. Dana took a seat on the sofa and listened to Candace’s end of the phone
call.
    “What
would possess you to even ask me to co-sponsor this bill?” Candace barked into
the phone. She played with the glasses on the bridge of her nose and tapped the
pen in her hands repeatedly on her desk. “Of course, I understand the issue,
Daniel. I am not putting my name on something that has the potential to empower
the wrong people.”
    Candace
could feel her head beginning to pound. Two weeks back in Washington and she
was ready to go home. The climate in the nation’s capital was contentious at
best. Candace had one policy that she never compromised on. If she felt in her
gut that a bill would do more harm than good, she would not sponsor it nor
would she vote for it. Compromise was
necessary to get things done. Compromising her morals was not something she was
willing to do. It had become an increasingly difficult policy to adhere to.
Lobbyists and donors and worse still,
lobbyists for donors, were always knocking at her door. She often wondered who the authors of the majority of
legislation that rolled across her desk were. Were they congressional staffers
or corporate and special interest lobbyists? Candace groaned inwardly as she
listened to the senator on the line. Everything these days seemed it was special interest and little of it served the
interests of the people she represented.
    “No.
Flat out, unequivocal no. That’s it, Daniel,” she repeated her answer. “That’s nice. I’m sure that President Wallace
will appreciate your efforts,” Candace said. “My answer is still no.” Dana
looked over at Candace and Candace shook her head in disbelief. “Yes, well, I
have not made a decision about that yet. That has no bearing at all on my
answer. Yes. You as well, Senator.” Candace hung up the phone and rolled her
eyes. “Nitwit.”
    “Senator
Barker?” Dana guessed.
    “Senator
Nitwit,” Candace corrected. “What is it with these men? Do they not understand
when a woman says no, she means no?”
    “Are
we still talking about legislation here?” Dana asked.
    “Yes…and
no. I’m tired of it, Dana; the lack of respect. Half these guys couldn’t pass a
fifth grade history test and they treat the handful of us women as if we are
their wives or worse still, daughters. I am not Senator Barker’s wife. Talking to
me like I am a teenager who hasn’t learned about the birds and the bees! He’d better
watch himself before he gets stung on the ass. I could teach him a thing or two
about birds and bees.”
    Dana
couldn’t help herself. She erupted in a fit of laughter. Candace tossed her
glasses on the desk and chuckled. “Birds and bees, Senator?” Dana was laughing
so hard she began to cry.
    “Senator
Fletcher,” the office intercom beckoned.
    “Yes,
Susan?” Candace replied through a few giggles.
    “There
is a delivery here for you,” Susan said.
    “That’s
fine, Susan. Bring it in,” Candace said. She looked back at Dana and they
started laughing again.
    “Whose
office did you two toilet paper?” an amused voice inquired from the doorway.
Candace and Dana both turned in surprise.
    “Jameson?”
Candace asked in disbelief. Jameson just smiled. “What are you doing here?”
    “Nice
to see you too, Senator Fletcher,” Jameson responded.
    “Well,
get in here,” Candace said.
    “Dana,”
Jameson greeted her friend. “Sorry if I am interrupting something important,”
Jameson said playfully.
    “No,
your fiancée was just explaining the birds and the bees,” Dana replied.
    Jameson
looked at Candace suspiciously. “”Environmental legislation?” she asked.
    “Cute,”
Candace laughed. “Not exactly.” Candace stood and greeted Jameson with a hug.
“Now, really…What are you doing in Washington?”
    “I
have a meeting in Baltimore at three.