Episode 7: A Private Moment

Senator Castillo stood and stretched. “Sitting in a chair all day catches up with you.” She pulled out the bright yellow pencils that secured her hair and let her hair cascade down her back.

“That’s age catching up with you,” Senator Travis smiled. “Ten years in the House, and then the youngest Senator in history. But not so young anymore, are you, Roxy?”

“Someone should tell you it’s rude to point out a lady’s age, Chad,” Castillo punctuated her rebuke by slapping the bright yellow pencil onto the table.

“I’m just a straight shooter speakin’ the plain and honest truth,” he drawled with an arrogant smirk. Then, he paused and adopted a more serious countenance. “You should have married me when you had the chance, Roxy. We’d have been the ultimate power couple.”

“What I should have done is ignore your… loutish advances when you first hit on me,” she frowned at him. “The president of the Law Review interested in little old me? What a sucker I was!”

“Roxy, whatever our differences then or since,” he assured her, “it was a sincere offer.”

“Stay home and look after your kids?” she struck a power pose with her hands on her hips. “Meanwhile you sleep around with the latest star-struck intern or lobbyist or political consultant who strikes your fancy?”

“Who, me?” Travis had an exaggerated expression of innocence. “Don’t believe everything you hear, Roxy.”

“The Hill is a small place, Chad.” Castillo resumed packing her things. “You have no secrets. One of these days, your behavior is going to catch up with you. And none of your gun or oil or space or defense lobbyist pals will be able to save you.”

“It could have been different,” Travis insisted. “It didn’t have to be this way.”

“I know,” she nodded. “I didn’t have to be the most powerful woman in Washington. I didn’t have to be leading the polls for the nomination. I didn’t have to be on the verge of being president.”

Castillo turned to face him.

“Instead, I could have been your little haus frau. I could have dangled on your arm at cocktail parties and gotten all stretched and fat and UGLY carrying your children.”

Castillo turned away, picked up her bag, and held it as if she was about to throw it at Travis. “Why the HELL would you even think I would even for a moment consider throwing away everything I’ve accomplished to stay home and change stinky diapers?”

Senator Castillo lowered her bag to a comfortable carrying position, turned her back to Travis, and walked purposefully out of the courtroom, high heels clicking rhythmically on the hard floor.

Senator Travis grinned, watching the oscillation of her receding hips. He stood a long moment in thought before stepping forward to the prosecution table, picking up the bright yellow pencil from the table and examining it. Then, closing his eyes, he passed the pencil under his nose taking in the lingering aroma of Castillo’s hair. He carefully placed the pencil in his jacket pocket and left the courtroom.