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Lance

There are cheers co from the crowd of supporters Posters with the words "Anders for Mayor" are being waved I watch asto the crowd "Thank you! Thank you all for your support," he says into thefa to both Jocelyn and I with his palm outstretched "My beautiful wife, Jocelyn, and ather here today I know there are s on all of our y, aht of what is most important, and that is the love and devotion of family"

With that, the crowd cheers eventrying to fool? When was faet it He needs to play this up to win favor in an already tight n

And then he continues, "It's been said before, but is worth repeating here The love of fa Love, trust, sacrifice, helpfulness, respect, and coh Today, and every day, you should be thankful for your fa a part of itvery special and wonderful, and bigger than yourself Strong, healthy, loving, and nurturing faet that New York!"

I see he's really fucking laying it on thick—like peanut butter thick—and the crowd is going wild Ithis shit up Especially with the thinthe last election, he knows he needs to push this issue not just with his supporters, but with his opponents as well, to cover his ass I look over at Jocelyn to see if I can detect any hint of e ahead, s the part of the Mayor's happy and devoted wife She looks perfectly put together I don't fucking blaet eaten But she notices that I' this, Lance"

It's what I don't want to hear Imyself to ad bad? I can have any woman I want Why this one?

"I know," I whisper back, but even when I say it, we both look at

each other in a way that suggests we only half believe e're actually saying

"I'm a married woman; we need to take a break from each other," she continues at a soft whisper

"But how do you stay with him? I've seen the way he doesn't even look at you at home It's like you don't exist"

"I owe it to oes beyond just Michael and I, you know Like I said, a lot of people are depending on me And besides, Michael isn't a bad man I don't have a terrible life with him"

"So, you're saying you're happy living in the same house with a man who doesn't love you? A man who refuses to show you the affection you deserve? A man on't so much as touch you?"

As soon as I say that, I regret it I know I've struck a sensitive nerve because there's a pained look on her face

Instead of answering er than I arand scheme of it all? And besides, you're my son Albeit, my stepson, but can't you understand that this is an impossible situation that we've found ourselves in?"

Of course she's right I fucking know she's right, but it kills , I let her words sit in my mind and I look ahead and listen asho about fa those closest to us and enerations to come As your Mayor, I promise to uphold these values both publically and privately, and together, I knoill bring the realof family back to modern families here in New York"