to disappear. Levi would apologize, announce his donation and we would get back to talking about Lacy and her policies. That was what this election was supposed to be about in the first place.
****
CHAPTER 29
I turned my car onto University Avenue, but found that every parking space around the campaign office was already taken. I circled the block, finally finding a space around the corner and walked slowly toward the office. I was in no hurry to jump into the circus. I knew it would be tense until we got through the speeches. I stepped through the mob of reporters, promising we would begin promptly at 3, which was in less than an hour. As I walked past the press corps, I noticed JP standing off to the side looking at me. I raised my hand to wave; I didn’t see any reason to ignore him. He saw my gesture, but did not wave back. As I turned to walk away, it struck me as ludicrous that I had ever contemplated a romance with someone capable of such pettiness.
I made my way to the conference room at the back of the suite of offices we’d rented. There inside, wearing tense expressions, were Levi, Gabriel, Maggie, Patrick, but no William, whom I assumed would show up when things got started. We took the few remaining minutes we had to get organized and then walked toward the front of our headquarters, where a table was set up to face the press.
“Bonne chance,” Gabriel said to me as we walked toward the media throng. “You have done a good job of taking control.”
“Do you blame me for this mess?” I asked, knowing the walk was too short for such a conversation.
“No, no, not at all,” he said quickly. “The fault of this lies with the man who let his tongue slip, and no one else.”
I took comfort in his words as Levi and I took a seat at the table, which was now covered with microphones from radio and television stations.
“OK, folks,” I said, greeting the assembled group. “I think we’ll get started, but first I want to give you a brief description of the format for today’s conference. At this moment, Maggie and Patrick from the campaign are handing out a statement from Richard Lyon, in which he issues an apology for his outburst two nights ago. As you know, Richard made his remarks at a private party, where he was videotaped. Then, his remarks were distributed over the Internet, unbeknownst to him. This statement will be his only comment regarding the other night. He will not be giving interviews, and is not here today at the conference. In a few moments, Levi Barnes will make a statement, and when he is finished, we will take your questions.”
I was relieved to see William slip into the back of the room, just as Levi prepared to address the crowd. Levi waited until everyone appeared to have a copy of Richard’s statement in his hands, and then he rose from his chair. “I’d prefer to stand if you don’t mind,” he said to the assembled group of reporters.
“Let me begin by apologizing to the voters of congressional District 15 for this unnecessary detour from discussing the issues I know they want to talk about. I also want to apologize for Richard Lyon’s remarks. He is one of my oldest friends, and yet here today, in this very public way, I must say that I strongly disagree with his statements, and I wish I had said so more forcefully the other evening. Of course, I didn’t know the conversation was being recorded. But I want to make it clear today that I do not share Richard’s sentiments. I believe they have no place in politics—certainly not as a part of the kind of campaign I am committed to running.”
Levi looked up at the reporters for a moment before continuing. “The fact is that I do believe in the power of people to change their lives, to change careers, to reinvent themselves, because I did, and I know that many others in their lifetime will, too. I think that is the fundamental promise of our country, but that promise is predicated on a few things that I think are worth mentioning: hard work, honesty and civility. Without those things, there is very little that can be accomplished, which is why I have asked Richard to step down as chairman of my campaign’s fundraising operation. His presence