What Remains Important
Chapter Three
"Senator Tan!"
Dana turned to find the owner of the exuberant voice was making his way over to her.
The man's gelled blonde hair was the only signifier that his voyage through the sea of party guests was successful. As he finally emerged from the cluster of finely dressed citizens, he quickly extended a gentle hug to Senator Tan.
"So good to see you Dr. Medalen," she said exited the embrace of his broad shoulders. "And such a wonderful celebratory occasion."
Sparks ignited in his emerald eyes. "Isn't it though? You can really feel the spirit of optimism in this building right now. The growing sense of progress is really abundant here tonight."
"I couldn't agree more with you and I have to extend my most sincere congratulations to you."
"Thank you, though I want to reserve all accolades until the final victory. This primary was just a stepping stone for the larger goal."
Dana, tilting her head, assured. "I hate to make premature assessments, especially since only a few hours ago Governor Zerolo made his ascent to the status of the party's nominee, but I feel confident your husband will be our next President."
He humbly chuckled as he placed his hand on Dana's shoulder. "If anyone else said that my nervousness would still be a blaze, but coming from you, Senator Tan, it alleviates the pressure tenfold."
"Well I'm glad I could help calm the pressure."
Dr. Medalen shifted his gaze to Dana's side, expecting to see a figure attending with her. When he looked back at Dana, she nervously grinned.
"And is your husband attending the ball tonight?"
"He's somewhere around here," she chuckled, adding, "Sometimes these type of events make Terry uneasy."
Placing his hand on his chin, Dr. Medalen let out of a cavern-deep laughter. "Well that's completely understandable." He politely requested a drink from a server and received one for Dana as well. Handing Dana the drink, he took the first swig after swirling the dark liquid around the glass chalice. "A few of these will make political events easier to digest."
Dana followed his motion. "You should acquaint yourself with these types of fundraisers. You'll probably be attending a multitude of these within the next few months." She indulged in another gulp and amicably smiled.
Dr. Medalen mischievously looked at Dana for a moment, his eyes burning with a secret. "Perhaps you should follow your own advice, Senator Tan."
For a moment, Dana stood there, her facial expression painted with perplexity. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut short.
"There he is!" Dr. Medalen exclaimed as Terry walked up beside his wife.
Terry planted a soft kiss on his wife's cheek before extending a handshake to Dr. Medalen. "It's been some time," he grinned. "And congratulations, though I'm sure you've heard that at least a thousand times tonight."
"I haven't been counting," he replied, coolly. "But coming from my favorite couple in Washington, it means something more."
"We're so happy for you and Governor Zerolo, or should I say President Zerolo."
"Should we not jinx ourselves?" Dr. Medalen raised an eyebrow.
"Terry isn't one to subscribe to superstition," Dana placed her hand on her husband's chest delicately. "It makes campaigning a bit difficult at times."
Terry looked at his wife and then at his friend. "Dana would make me save fortunate cookies that had positive messages on them."
"Terry!" Dana playfully jabbed him in the ribs. "You weren't allowed to reveal that secret!"
"Senator, if that's the only secret you have, you are a saint by Washington standards." He began to chuckle, but his laughter did not infect Terry and Dana.
The couple looked at each other nervously.
Dana could feel the sweat beads accumulating around her brow. She had been in this type of situation before but she assumed that with Terry with her at tonight's event, speculation would be absent. So many times, several colleagues in the Senate would comment on her perpetually being voted the most "ethically" member of the legislation and it was something Dana prided herself in. She diligently kept records of donors, always scrupulously attended funds to make sure her campaign financing was not tarnished. Her grass roots methodology helped in constructing her image as the "pure" Senator, as one publication dubbed her three years in a row.
And the irony of it all was that she was calling one of the biggest secrets of the nation her husband. Dana never allocated her worry in scandals regarding finances, policy or the myriad of other burdens that are guarantees to curtail a politician's career. Instead, she was faced with the most unique, potential scandal: being married to the vigilante who had managed to become a polarizing figure in Washington.
Countless logged hours have been spent in the Senate debating how the public officials were to handle Batman in a tangible way. Some persisted that Batman was a specific policy that should be attended at state level; some thought the federal government should do its part in revealing that enigma that is Batman. Some believed Batman was a hero and should have a day commemorated in his honor. Dana always attempted to employ a pragmatic approach to the issue, as to not appear biased, which often cultivated jokes between Dana and Terry the few moments they spent together.
Mr. Wayne's deteriorating health combined with his duty as Batman left Terry in Gotham constantly. Dana rarely had time to break from her duty as a Senator, except during the summer sessions. The two had made the agreement years ago and while it had placed strains on certain aspects of their relationship, for the majority of the time, it worked rather fluidly. Terry's emerging public profile as the heir apparent to Wayne Corporations helped assemble feasible excuses for Terry's absences at dinner parties and fundraisers.
Still, anytime someone brought up Dana's record as a "saint," she found her throat dry and her spine tight.
"Well, consider her a saint," Terry drew Dana to his side and planted a kiss on the top of her head.
"I already do." He turned around to see a group of people motioning for her attention. "I'll allow you two some time to mingle with the rest of the party. So great to see you two again."
"You too," Terry replied with a handshake goodbye while Dana met Dr. Medalen's departure with a small hug.
As Dr. Medalen became another blur in the crowd, Terry snidely smirked, "Saint Dana Tan."
She crossed her arms and attempted to flash a sign of frustration. When Terry looked at her accusingly she threw her arms in the air and wrapped them around her husband. "You're going to be the end of me," she buried her face in Terry's shoulder.
"Someone has to make sure you don't have a Caesar worthy career."
She recomposed herself and took a deep inhale. "You do realize this is the just the beginning of tonight, right?"
"Oh, I'm well aware."
"Don't sound so downtrodden about meeting and greeting. It could be worse, you could be fighting Jokerz tonight."
Terry scanned the crowd of attendees. "Trust me, the Jokerz are a slice of cake compared to these people."
Sorry for the waiting period, this semester's forthcoming work has left me in a bit of a tizzy. Nevertheless, another chapter has been installed. Sorry this one is tad bit shorter than its predecessors, but I feel this was needed to buttress the succeeding chapter, which will hopefully be released sooner rather than later. I'd like to point out that Dana does indeed keep her maiden name in tact after her marriage to Terry. I feel like the patriarchal tradition would be obsolete for a young woman of Dana's age. Again, I'd like to extended my greatest gratitude for those who have generated excitement around this story and those who have offered criticism and praise. Please enjoy.