Monday July 1 2019 in Capitol City

The sun was rising when they landed in Cap City. A black SUV was waiting to take them to Hennessy’s. His house was on the larger side of mid sized and had a grand 2 door entrance and he unlocked one side and they went in. The living area had a high ceiling. She could see the kitchen was down about 6 stairs and there was a full staircase that went from the main floor to a half second floor above the kitchen. “There is a big formal living room here on the main, big library beside it. Kitchen, dining and family room down and 2 bed and 2 baths up. Make yourself at home”

Bobbie looked down at the terrazzo flooring. “This is lovely Brose. It’s very Mad Men. I’m going to check out the bedrooms, OK?”

Brose was looking at his phone. “OK, I’ve got to run and get to the office early. The PM has a presser at 10, head over and we can introduce ourselves after she speaks. We’ll gab a quick lunch and head get to the park for the celebration at 1. Do you want me to send my car?”

No thanks. “I’ll walk.”

“I see, I guess I’ll see you later then.”

She got her mom’s skirt and associated accessories out of the garment bag. She made sure she had her suits in the garment bag. She handed it to Brose. “I’ll need this for the press conference, can you take it for me?”

“Sure.”

She kissed him goodbye and dragged her suitcase upstairs, missing her elevator a little, and went into his room. She hung her mothers dress on the edge of the closet, then found an empty laundry basket and partly unpacked into that.

It was still only 7 am so she lay on his bed for a nap. An hour later her phone alarm dinged so she went downstairs and made herself some scrambled eggs and toast. She went back up and freshened up put on her blue linen pants and a white and blue striped T. She grabbed her bag and headed out. She locked the door behind her, put on large sunglasses and a hat and set out for the yarn store on Larch St. She was there in 10 minutes. Bobbie knocked on the window and a lady opened the door. “Good morning, I just got into town and remembered you were here, I’m wondering if you are open.”

The older lady stood in the door. “I’m not really opening until noon today. I’m here taking stock though. What can I do ya for?”

“I’d like some 4mm straight needles, and some linen/cotton blend yarn.”

“Here are my needles, these are nice and here is my linen. This yarn is made by an indie dyer from Podunk and makes great facecloths.”

“I think I follow them online. Facecloths are exactly the project I’m thinking of. Now I’m just visiting and don’t have my swift, can I impose on you to wind these skeins for me?”

“I usually charge a bit for that since you are just visiting, I can wind it for you right now. Do you plan on knitting this while you visit?

“Actually, I’m already doing my Christmas socks, I have 2 sons and a partner who I knit for. This yarn is for a friend who shows an interest in knitting.”

As the lady wound her yarn Bobbie looked around the shop she saw a cloth bag made from a silky material with a black cat and a ball of yarn embroidered on it. When she was ringing everything in, Bobbie grabbed the bag and said “I’ll take this project bag too, we can put the yarn and needles right in.”

“And my card, Thank you for your business, have a nice day.”

“You too!” Said Bobbie, donning her hat and glasses. It was time to head to Maple Street and find Brose. Back in 2014, she spent 3 months here, on an acting assignment for work so Bobbie knew her way around Cap City quite well. She walked around the city a lot back then. Brose’s office, in the parliament Building, was close.

She found the main door and walked over to the information desk and gave her name, showed her ID and explained who she was visiting. She was asked to wait and in a few moments a 35ish year old very handsome man came out of an elevators. He walked over slowly letting his eyes travel up and down the length of her. He gave her a smile and shook her hand. “So you are Brose’s girl. He’s always kept romance very close to his chest you must be special.”

“Yes, my name is Bobbie Orlov.”

“Right, I’m Brock Simms, Brose’s right hand man.”

They entered the elevator, arrived at the 7 floor and Bobbie got out and looked for signs for the office. Brock walked away from her and motioned. “This way.”

They entered the office and Brose was there. He smiled at her and closed his laptop I see you found us OK. I was just Telling Brock I might finally get a meeting with Katherine Fox now you’ve put me on her radar.

Brose said hi and pointed to his bathroom.“I put your bag in there? But we picked out something for you, that I want you to try on.”

She frowned and went in the bathroom and saw the flowered dress hanging beside her things. She felt a little self conscious but slipped on the dress. She looked at herself and thought it was very June cleaver. She decided to put her hair up. She came out of the bathroom and Brock moved away. Bobbie asked Brose to zip up the dress.

“I’m not sure about this dress, are you sure?”

“It’s perfect, Brock is really good at what he does. He’s trying to smooth things out for you. There is a lady here that will help you with your hair and makeup.”

“Hi Sweetie, I’m Maxine. I’d like to keep your hair up. I just have a few ideas. I might punch up you eyebrows too.”

The prime minister was coming in from the press conference. “Hello, I’m Vicky Gough and you are Roberta Orlov. I’m pleased to meet you and hope to talk to you soon.”

She seems nice and gets to wear a suit, thought Bobbie a little resentfully and they stepped out onto the stairs.

Ambrose welcomed the press and began. “The rumours are true, I have a special friend” He talked for 10 minutes.

“Can we talk to Bobbie? How long have you known Ambrose?”

“We’ve been friends since 1979, like he said.”

“How long have you been dating.”

“We connected when Ambrose was giving a speech at the university in my town.”

“Who are you wearing?”

“All right this is not the shopping channel, You will have more chances to talk to Bobbie.” Ambrose led her inside.

“That went pretty well.”

“You did a great job Bobbie. They walked back to his office. The phone rang and Ambrose ignored it. He went over and pressed a button. “Screen all my calls Brock.”

Bobbie’s phone started to ping. Messages from her friends and family saying how great she looked at the press conference. Charlie told her Niko’s whole class saw her and Hennessy wearing the orange ribbons.

“Bobbie, are you hungry, I’m dying for a meatball sub do you want some?”

“That sounds so bad, but so good!”

He pressed his intercom again. “Brock, grab a foot-long meatball sub with the works from Papa Dino’s and some fries and a couple diet colas.”

After they ate, they changed their clothes and headed in his limo to the confederation day party. They mostly sat in reserved seating and chatted with the PM and her husband. The PM laughed when Brose told her about Katherine Fox and called Bobbie a Trojan horse.

The official show was over and a rock show was setting up for the evening and playing until the fireworks at midnight. “Do you want to stay Bobbie, I know you love music shows. We can change into more casual clothes in the limo.”

“Oh Bose, I’m sorry, I’m just too tired.”

“Today was a lot Kid, I just want to go home too.”

They fell asleep right away. Bobbie awoke when Brose came out of the shower around 7:00 the next day. “Hey Sweetie. I have to head into the office and probably won’t see you before you go at 1PM. I’m slammed with meetings. I can send the car around at noon.”

“I have an errand to run, I won’t need your car.”

“I see.” He kissed her and said. “Check out the news, I think you’ve made me the cool kid.”

After he’d gone she called Katherine Fox. Katherine was sending a car for her at 9 and would take her to the airport for noon after their visit. On the way to Katherine’s Bobbie wasn’t thinking of politics or wealth or anything other than how to teach Katherine to knit.

Katherine cleared her morning schedule and was thrilled with the knitting gift. They chatted and knitted and drank tea and Kathy swore she had to come see the Motel and the Art Gallery and have high tea. She felt good when she got to the airport and had a good flight.

Bobbie got out of her elevator and called. “Hello, anybody home?”

“I’m in here, I recorded you yesterday, come see.”

“Oh no Barb, my only consolation was that I didn’t have to see it.”

“Well, come here and sit down.”

“At the press conference you look great, you look like a really nice supportive spouse or something.”

“I wanted to look like a nice close friend but I felt not quite right wearing that dress.”

“It really wasn’t your style, why did you wear it?”

“Brose said it would be best.”

Barb frowned and showed her a glam photo that was all over the internet. Whomever released it did a skilled and subtle photo shop job and Bobbie looked like the best ever version of her self. Bobbie shook her head. “I don’t even look like that. I wish all this fake fame stuff was over.”

“Your new boyfriend is complicated, I have work tomorrow.”

“Thanks for looking after Fossy.”

Bobbie unpacked her bags, got some supper out of the fridge and called Brose. He was happy with her trip. She ate, had a relaxing bath, tended to Fossy and went to bed. She slept soundly like she hadn’t slept in a week.