Chapter Four

Diane noticed her iPhone was vibrating on the table in front of her, but it was the third call since they'd started the meeting, so she understood the annoyed expression on her campaign manager's face.

"It's my daughter," she explained, trying to apologize with a look as she reached for the device, determined to answer it. The last two calls had been from the firm, one from her assistant and one from Elsbeth. She had taken them, because she wanted to be available and provide any help they needed. She didn't want to sever ties with the firm just yet, she was still a name partner after all.

"Go ahead," Eli Gold murmured in an impatient voice as he leaned back in his chair.

Diane stood up and walked a few steps away before she answered, "Hey."

"Hi mom," Emma sounded calm, so Diane knew right away that she had no reason to worry about her call.

"Is everything all right at home?" she asked nevertheless.

"Yes, everything's fine. But dad called and said he's coming home later today, so I wanted to ask when you will be home." Emma said the sentence with the speed of light.

"You want to go out again?" Diane concluded with a half-smile. According to their agreement Emma had spent the weekend at home, but Diane knew she had been in touch with her boyfriend all the time nevertheless.

"Yes, please?" Emma pleaded and Diane saw her daughter's face in front of her with her mind's eyes.

"I'll try to be home before six," she promised. It was the least she could do to make her daughter happy and she owed it to her too. "But I need to get back to my meeting now, all right?"

"Sure. Thank you, mom. Bye."

"Bye," Diane hung up and wiped her smile away before she turned back and saw Eli typing on his blackberry.

"Are you done?" he inquired in a calm voice without looking up, making Diane roll her eyes. The man's manners weren't the finest, but he had a really good reputation on his field and they seemed to work well together.

"Yes," she sat back and muted her phone, not to poke the bear anymore. Sometimes she wasn't sure who was working for whom, because Eli enjoyed being the boss. But as long as he showed her respect, she accepted that he was the one giving orders.

"Have you talked to Will about the interview?" Eli asked as he placed his phone on the table.

"Yes, he will do it," Diane nodded confidently, even though she hadn't talked to Will yet. She had been meaning to, but the timing just hadn't been right all weekend, but she had no doubt about his reply. "When does Mandy want him to do it?"

"I think she can work around his schedule," he replied.

"All right, I'll ask him and let you know tomorrow," she made a mental note, because she didn't dare to touch her phone to take an actual one.

"And I need to talk to your kids," Eli reminded her.

"Yes. I was thinking we could do it at home, sometime this week?" She much rather had Eli come over than bring the kids here. She didn't want them to become the center of attention.

"Sure. So about the speech," Eli reached for his iPad, but seconds later they heard a phone vibrating on the table. Diane glanced at hers, forgetting she'd muted it, so this time it wasn't hers, but his.

Eli grabbed his phone with an eye roll and Diane had to bend her head to hide her smile, hoping this would give her a free pass for a phone call next time.

o-o-o

Diane couldn't remember when had been the last time she had seen an animated movie, but she actually enjoyed this opportunity to turn back the time a little. She and Mimi were on the couch with a huge bowl of popcorn between them, occasionally laughing and having a fun time together. Will wasn't at home yet, Emma was out with her boyfriend and Nat was in his room, probably playing some video game.

But the movie suddenly paused and Diane turned to her niece who was in charge of the remote and saw the confused expression on her face.

"Is there something wrong?" Diane asked worriedly waiting for Mimi to say something.

"If I tell you a secret will you promise not to tell mom?" The girl's dark eyes were wide open, begging for trust.

"It depends on if it's good or bad," Diane replied diplomatically. She didn't mind being her niece's confidante, but she also had to think as a mother.

"It's complicated," Mimi said, sounding more grown-up than she actually was.

"Tell me," Diane smiled at the girl, to show she could trust her.

"There's a boy in my class who I really like," Mimi confessed and Diane's smile widened. She knew her niece must have waited for a long time to tell this to someone and Diane was glad she chose her. She knew these things meant a lot to a girl her age, she always made sure Emma knew she could trust her when it came to talking about boys as well.

"Really? What's his name?" she inquired.

"Matt. He is really smart, but I don't think he likes me." Mimi's face changed from hopeful to sad in a matter of seconds. "What should I do?" she asked desperately.

Diane didn't have to think long what advice to give. She knew from experience that smart boys don't usually like smart girls, but she didn't want to discourage her niece.

"Make sure he knows you like him, without actually telling him," she responded in a comforting tone. "A smile, a small gesture like bringing him lunch, sharing your candy with him can do magic. And let him be smarter sometimes, they always appreciate that," she added, thinking of how often she used that trick on Will and it worked each and every time.

"Thank you," Mimi replied smiling, clearly appreciating the suggestion. She was about to reach for the remote, when they heard the front door open and steps nearing them.

"Hey," Diane turned to greet her husband with a smile.

"Hey," Will approached them and kissed Diane first on the lips, then his niece on her cheek, then grabbed for a fistful of popcorn from the bowl.

"There's dinner for you," Diane reminded him playfully.

"It's okay," he walked to the other side of the couch and sat down next to Diane. "What are you watching?" he inquired.

"Ice Age 4," Mimi replied and started playing the movie again.

"I'm going to heat up your dinner," Diane offered and emerged from her seat when she felt him gently grab her arm.

"You don't have to do that," he said softly, pulling her back slightly.

"But I want to," she insisted, because she knew he must have been tired and hungry. And it's not like she had to cook their dinner, because Sarah had made enough food to last for a few days. The least she could do was bring it for him.

She took a step forward, but he was still holding her arm and as she wanted to pull it from his grasp she soon felt a kiss on her palm which brought a wide grin on her face. When Will let go of her hand she stroked his face gently before moving away.

As she entered the kitchen she heard Will's voice.

"So fill me in, what has happened so far?"

Diane looked back on the uncle and his niece and observed them silently for a while, until she heard steps coming down the stairs.

"Hi dad," Nat greeted his father before he walked to the kitchen.

"Let me guess, you came down because you are hungry?" Diane smiled at him.

"Yes," he admitted. They'd only finished dinner about two hours ago, but she knew her son well enough.

"I was just about to heat up the chicken for dad, you are just in time," Diane entered the kitchen. "Did it go well with the girls today?" she inquired, happy about the opportunity to talk to him alone.

"Yeah, it was fine. You don't mind if Brad comes over sometime this week?" Nat asked, taking a seat at the table.

"Of course not, just let us know in advance," she told him, putting the box in the microwave. Brad was one of Nat's closest friends, he's been a frequent visitor in their house.

"Thanks mom."

"My campaign manager will visit us this week," she said, taking a seat next to him, "to talk to you and Emma."

"Okay," he nodded.

"I don't want the campaign to affect your life too much, he will explain a few things you should know," she told him what she'd already told his sister.

"I've read articles online, they say you have a shot at winning the primary." His competent reply made Diane smile.

"It can still go either way," she reminded him, but she wasn't surprised he did research. For some reason Nat was more interested in politics, than his sister, even though he was two years younger than her.

"I believe in you," he reassured her.

"Thank you," she smiled, and couldn't be more grateful to have her family's full support in this matter.

Their little moment was interrupted by the beeping of the microwave and she stood up to take the dinner out.

"You want to eat it in your room?" She looked back at him from the kitchen island.

"I don't mind eating here," Nat responded, making Diane even happier with such a small gesture.

She was satisfied with how her first day away from the firm turned out. It might be a little challenging at times, but she was hopeful that she would be able to make it work in the end.