Page 79 of Executive Decision
“Can I come in?”
She paused, then squeaked, “Yes.”
I found her curled up by the bathtub, looking upset. Trying to diffuse the situation, I turned on the shower.
“Why don’t you wash up? Okay?” I asked. “Not that I need you to. I’m not bothered by any of this. Promise. It’s just… I think you would probably like a minute. I could join you if you’d like.”
“No ulterior motive?” Daphne sniffled.
“No. You have drained my tank for the foreseeable future, Daph. No motive other than I want to make sure you’re okay.”
I reached out to help her stand. She nervously dropped the towel and went into the shower. I sensed Chandler often shamed her. I didn’t want to ask too much directly, since these things triggered her. I did, however, want to ensure she felt safe.
“Washcloth,” I handed her one from my linen closet. “If you need anything else?—”
“I’m okay. Just… don’t look at me while I get cleaned up.”
I waited back to the wall in the cold until Daphne relaxed.
“I’m sorry for going off. I just… I saw all the blood. It freaked me out. I didn’t want you to hate me.”
“Daphne, I could never hate you,” I turned, unable to ignore her. “And it was barely anything.”
Daphne didn’t shout at me. Instead, she moved aside so I could soak up some hot water.
“I know what you meant. I think,” Daphne said. “And to some degree, I never paid any attention to the… circumstances of why I ended up with him. He was my supervisor. I was an intern. We never did anything while I was on his staff, but he took me out immediately afterwards… I dunno. I think he fetishized the fact that I lacked experience. And I figured initially you wanted the same when we hooked up. Well, until you told me I was in charge and did whatever I wanted you to. That was all new to me.”
“I am sorry for that, Daphne. For the record, I wanted you because I wanted you. I didn’t want you because you were young and I wanted to dominate you. That was never it.”
“I know. I get that now. You treat me like an equal—you always did. I told myself that was the case with Chandler, but it wasn’t. He loved that I was younger because I got to be a trophy. Then, when I didn’t give him children, I just became an old, dried-up husk of a woman he didn’t want anymore.”
I shook my head. “Daphne, none of that is true. I hope you know that. You are vibrant. You’re smart. I love your fire. There is nothing dried up or husk-like about you, baby. And I’m sorry he was so bad at appreciating you, but given my body count is alothigher than yours, I can say you are no cold fish.”
She blushed.
“You’re magnificent, okay? Don’t let anyone tell you to settle for less. You deserve it, Daphne.”
“Thanks,” Daphne said. “And while that was pretty great—not gonna lie—I don’t think I have the stomach for period sex. I will have to disagree with Lanie and Dahlia on this one firmly. It may have been fun, but I’ve tried it and I’m not really into it unless you have to have it.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “But if you aren’t into it, I’m not either. Daphne, you can always say?—”
“I wanted to try something different, Cal. And you taught me that I could get off in missionary, which is a pleasant surprise. But, can we hold off a bit?”
“You lead the way. In the meantime, I will soak up whatever time I have to hopefully wake up next to you in the morning.”
Daphne smiled. “I would like that.”
29THE SPEECH
Cal
My first majorspeech as mayor came after the “voluntary” resignation of the Chicago Superintendent of Police. How willingly Reggie stepped aside is still debated, but he eventually left. It took two weeks of protests for me and activists to smoke him out and get what we wanted. But once it happened, I was ready to go. My only limitation was the assumption I should be subdued versus the way I felt—ready to jump for joy over the breaking of chains.
I was the mayor of a machine city—themachine city in the eyes of many—about to end a decades-long way approach to policing. I knew my moment awaited me at the city hall podium. I fought a smile while looking over a room of reporters. We did it.
“Thank you all for coming,” I said. “I can confirm my acceptance of Superintendent Ramsey’s retirement after over thirty years with CPD. In the past twenty-four hours, I’ve spoken with leadership within the force and community organizations about next steps. After much discussion, I have asked Sherry Wilkes-White to step in as interim superintendent. Chief Wilkes-White previously served as Executive Director of Community Policing and the First Deputy Superintendent in the same bureau. She is a licensed clinical social worker with over twenty years of experience on the force.”
I looked at the small group of police willing to share a stage this morning. I was the most hated man in the room to them right now. I appreciated that Sherry bravely broke rank to join me. Her detective husband’s steely gaze indicated he wished she told me no. There were no guarantees this would be a permanent gig and there was a considerable risk of personal harassment.
