Page 13 of The Politician

Sarah pulled into the dirt driveway, and the smell of cow manure wafted through the air filter system. “It’s definitely a farm.”

“I’ll go and check.” Kendra stepped out of the car and into a puddle. “Shit.”

“Yes. I can smell it. Maybe the Imperial would have been a better option?”

Kendra went to the door, Sarah’s admonishment still turning through her mind. She hadn’t wanted to mess up but right now, it was looking like she’d totally missed the mark. A woman dressed in a flower-print skirt and black wellies opened the door. She had rosy cheeks and a cheery, welcoming smile.

“We thought you might have got lost. It’s a bit tricky to find us in the dark.” The woman rubbed her hands on a cloth. “Come in.”

Kendra pointed to the car. “I’ll get my colleague and our bags.”

“Right you are.” She waited and greeted Sarah with an even bigger smile. “How lovely to meet you,” she said.

Sarah smiled. “Thank you.”

“We’re big supporters of yours, me and Arwel. Come this way. I’ll show you your rooms and the living room. You’re the only ones in tonight, so I made a tasty shepherd’s pie. Or there’s chicken if you’d prefer?”

“Shepherd’s pie sounds great,” Sarah said and followed her up the creaking stairs.

“If we could eat sooner, that would be great,” Kendra said as the owner opened the door to the first room. The double bed with a soft downy quilt caught Kendra’s eye. What she wouldn’t do to lay on that right now and put her feet up until morning. “It’s been a long day, and we’re both tired,” she said.

Sarah put her bag down next to the bed. “This is quaint,” she said, staring around the room.

Kendra wondered if she meant small.

The owner smiled. “What about a sherry or something stronger while you wait? There’s a fire on in the living room. Are you happy to help yourselves to drinks?”

“That sounds lovely,” Sarah said.

“Here’s the second room. It’s a shared bathroom between the two bedrooms, with access from both.”

Kendra turned to Sarah. “I’ll meet you down there. I’m just going to change.”

“I’ll see you two ladies in a bit then. Dinner in about forty minutes, okay?” She turned the cloth in her hands.

“Lovely.” Sarah closed her bedroom door.

Kendra was the first down to the living room even though she’d been the second to shower, and it occurred to her that maybe she should have knocked on Sarah’s door in case she’d fallen asleep. Kendra would have easily succumbed had she not still been working. She searched through the drinks on the trolley and couldn’t decide whether she wanted anything or not. The bright red glow of the open log fire threw out heat like a furnace. She yawned, slumped into the couch, closed her tired eyes, and drifted towards sleep with the sound of crackling wood. A whisper of a breeze caressed her face, and the echo of unfamiliar sounds stirred her awareness. She opened her eyes and met Sarah’s smile from the chair opposite.

“Sorry, did I wake you?” Sarah swirled the drink around in her glass and took a sip.

“Have you been there long?”

Sarah held up her glass. “Second drink.”

“Shit. You should have woken me.”

“Never wake a sleeping baby,” she said and smiled.

Kendra frowned. There wasn’t that big an age gap between them, and she didn’t want to be thought of as a child. But something in Sarah’s expression and the way she stared at her suggested it was a term of endearment or affection even. She let it go.

“I learned that one very early on with twins. You’ve worked hard and the stress can be a bit intense, especially if you’re not used to it.” Sarah stood. “Can I get you something?”

“Um.” Kendra sat up in the chair and rubbed her eyes. There was more tension in the office than she’d expected, and she had been burning the candle at both ends. Not just to impress Sarah but because she enjoyed being around her, perhaps more than she should give their working relationship. “Sure. Whatever you’re having.”

Sarah smiled. She poured Kendra a whisky. “You did a great job today.”

Kendra sniffed the drink and took a sip. It burned the back of her throat. There was something pleasant about the experience of being sat alone in the room in the comfort and warmth after their manic day and the relaxing effect of the drink. “Thanks.”

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