...Not So Self Evident

By Greg Howard Jr

When his mother became Vice President of the United States eight years ago, Rory Dexter said he was hanging up the campaign life to figure out what truly mattered. As the Joseph-Dexter administration leaves the White House, Rory answers the siren's call of the campaign trail once more and readies himself for the most important election of his career... His own race for Congress. With old friends and new ones to guide him, will Rory have what it takes to beat the new face of the Republican party?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Greg Howard Jr
• Release date: Nov 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223268062

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Greg

Howard Jr

Not So Self-Evident is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book

are fictitious or used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Your Life: The Mixtape Media LLC ™ is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

A Your Life: The Mixtape Media LLC ™ Publication

Copyright © 2023 Your Life: The Mixtape Media LLC ™

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

For Katie & Tracey, who are the only reasons this story got told

RORY DUCKS INTO a storage room off of the Oceans Ballroom at the Georgia Aquarium. He just needs a few minutes, without a gaggle of reporters hovering around, to himself. He tosses his jacket onto a stack of chairs. He checks his phone for any sign of a text from Myles letting Rory know he’s made it in from Washington. Nothing.

I’m not sure what the procedure is for this, he says over his shoulder to the security guard assigned to him.

I’m required to keep my eyes on you at all times, Mr. Dexter.

Rory sighs, he sure won’t get used to this part if they win this election. He’s itching for a cigarette, but that’s not going to happen not tonight, not in this place. He loosens his tie and rolls up the sleeves of his button-down. He’s never been this stressed out on election day. But then again, his mother wasn’t running to be the Vice President. The press had called today the most consequential election of our lifetime. Rory couldn’t help but laugh because while for the country it may be the most consequential election, his mother was on the ballot.

The door on the far side of the room clicks closed. Neera, carrying baby Symone, have slipped away from the watch party.

Sorry if I’m interrupting, Symone gurgles in her arms. She was getting fussy with all the noise and camera flashes.

No, no. You’re totally fine. I can relate.

Do you mind taking her for a minute, I’ve got to get these heels off.

Like you even had to ask, Rory laughs taking his niece in his arms. The infant’s eyes widen as she realizes that she’s no longer in her mother’s arms.

Haven’t seen Myles tonight, Neera adds off-handedly from a couch, rubbing at the arches of her feet. Any idea when he’s getting back?

Rory checks his phone, chewing on his bottom lip for a moment. No new notifications. He doesn’t have an answer to that. He’s had to force himself to focus on this day. He’s sent texts and called a few times but each time he’s received no answer. Rory’s trying not to worry, Myles is an adult.

I don’t know, Rory sighs. He said he would be back as soon as he could.

Maybe he had trouble getting a flight. If he said he’d be here, he’ll be here.

He shrugs. I hope you’re right.

I am always right, Neera laughs.

Your mommy is being mean to me, he coos at Symone. I might never give you back if she keeps this up.

I’ll be sure to call you when she wakes up at two in the morning to eat or when she needs a diaper change.

On second thought, maybe not, he laughs handing the baby back to her mother.

There’s a small commotion outside the door.

Jeremy bursts through seconds later.

I’m the son of the next Vice President and son-in-law of the next President of these United States, he says smoothing his blazer. You would think I would have access to the room my wife and brother are in. He shoots a childish look over his shoulder at the two security guards standing behind him. More results are coming in and we’ve got some more photos to pose for.

How many more photos does the press need? Neera sighs, slipping her heels back on. Didn’t we just have a six-hour photocall this morning?

That was for People or Vanity Fair or something like that. Jeremy takes his daughter from Neera. These photos are for the GPO, I think. Y’know another one of those ‘first in history’ moments where the President and VP candidates have been in-laws so it has to be documented for posterity.

It’s a short walk to the event space where the photo shoot is set up. An experience only made worse by Jeremy trying to joke with the stone-faced security people assigned to their detail. Inside, photos are being taken of Adhira and Charlie while at the other end of the room, Carrie and Reginald Dexter are having their photos taken at the same time. A lanky man in all black gets up from his seat behind a laptop and hurries over to them. Rory recognizes his face, but couldn’t for the life of him place a name. He feels like he vaguely remembers the man from a rerun of America’s Next Top Model that he and Myles watched in Texas.

Ah, finally, the children have arrived! Roddy… Neeta… Jerome!

It’s Rory, Neera, and Jeremy, Rory all but barks at the man. He knows there will be a snippet in Page Six about this tomorrow, but if there’s one thing he hates more than anything in the world it’s when someone gets his name wrong.

Right. Rodney, you’ll take a few pictures with your parents, while your brother and sister-in-law take photos with Senator Joseph. Then they’ll join you. Should be done in no time!

The man leaves them immediately headed back to his place behind the laptop. Rory, Jeremy, and Neera just stand there. Not entirely sure what just happened. Thankfully, someone’s assistant comes to point them in the right direction and give them a better breakdown of what is happening.

Surprisingly enough, the remainder of the photoshoot goes by quickly. Rory didn’t have to snap at anyone for butchering his name. Small victories, he thinks. They’re led into another room adjacent to the main hall of the aquarium. This one serves as the backstage area of their election night party. The two families are greeted by Senator Eliann Santiago and Senator Patrick Sparks. They, thankfully, agreed to run point on this party to give the candidates and their families one less thing to worry about. Rory’s glad to finally be met with some familiar faces after a week of telling his entire life story to strangers.

The results for Pennsylvania and Georgia are coming in pretty fast, Senator Sparks looks back and forth between them and his phone screen. If either of these states swings our way, that’s ball game.

Senator Santiago appears from behind Senator Sparks brandishing a bottle of champagne and nine flutes. After each of the glasses is poured, the Senator from Texas raises hers. No matter, which way this goes it’s been a hell of a ride!

Rory’s mid-sip when a roar rips through the Georgia Aquarium. On the other side of the wall, it’s hard for any of them to tell if it’s one of triumph or despair.

Senator Sparks looks up from his phone. His face is unreadable. The Associated Press, CNN, and Fox News have all called Pennsylvania. He slips his phone back into his pocket, looking anywhere but at the faces of the candidates and their families.

Patrick, I need you to give us something, Carrie Dexter is effectively rattled.

Senator Sparks takes a deep breath. I didn’t want to have to be the one to break this to you… But… I hope you’ve got a victory speech prepared Madame Vice President!

The next ten minutes are a blur for Rory. If anyone asks him how he felt when he heard the news, he’d have nothing to tell them. He knows there are tears and lots of hugging, but beyond that, he doesn’t think there are words that would be able to describe the gamut of emotions that he’s feeling at this moment.

Ready for your victory lap? Senator Sparks asks. After receiving the affirmative, he opens a door behind him, saying a few unheard things to whoever is in the darkened room on the other side.

It’s pretty dark in there, but when the curtain opens you’ll see three steps. There’s a railing on each side if you need it. Neera, Jeremy, and Symone are up first.

A massive drum roll erupts from the speakers, followed by a booming voice. "Honored Guests, please welcome the daughter of President-Elect Adhira

Joseph and the son of Vice President-Elect Carrie Dexter. Mr. Jeremy Dexter And Mrs. Neera Schroeder-Dexter."

The crowd erupts. It sets Rory’s nerves on edge. So much so that he downs the rest of his champagne to calm himself. Senator Sparks holds the door for Jeremy and Neera to enter, closing it quickly behind them. Senator Sparks turns to Rory.

You’re up next champ!

Rory steps into the darkened room. He suddenly feels very alone. Even though he can hear people milling about, he can’t see them. He’s doing his best not to panic, wishing for nothing more than Myles to be there to hold his hand or just tell him that it’s alright. That’s not going to happen though. For all he knows Myles is still in Washington watching on television like countless millions across the country. The drum roll makes him nearly jump out of his skin.

Honored Guests, please welcome the son of Vice President-Elect Carrie Dexter. Mr. Roderick Michael Arthur Dexter.

The lights are enough to blind a person after being in a darkened corridor. Rory almost forgets to smile and wave at the people gathered there that night. He does though, he’s watched enough of these to know what the protocol is. He joins Neera, Jeremy, and Symone on the side of the stage. Jeremy says something to him but he doesn’t hear a word of it over the roar of the crowd. Perhaps it’s because he’s a glutton for punishment but a voice in the back of his mind tells Rory to scan the crowd for Myles. So he does. It’s a fruitless venture. The lights of the stage don’t allow him to see beyond the first row of guests. None of their faces look remotely familiar.

Neera’s elbow meets his ribs. Rory has to lean in to hear what she’s saying through a smile and clenched teeth. Stop looking like someone kicked your puppy! He hadn’t felt his smile falter when he didn’t find Myles in the crowd, but he screws it back on.

His mother’s and President-Elect Joseph’s speeches are beautiful and poignant. Both take a moment to recognize the history that they made as the first two women to lead the United States. Rory found himself wiping tears from his eyes for the third or fourth time that day. The crowd was silent enough that you could have heard a pin drop during the speeches.

And now your future President, Vice President, and their spouses will share their first dances as the next leaders of the United States of America.

The opening notes of President-Elect Joseph’s favorite Lena Horne song play through the speakers and Rory’s phone buzzes in his pocket. As discreetly as possible he peeks at the notification on the screen. A text. Everyone who could or would possibly text him right now is on the stage with him right now. Rory goes unnoticed slipping off stage to read the text.

Text4Text5

Everything okay? Neera mouths when he returns to his spot on the stage.

He shoots her thumbs up and a reassuring smile. His phone buzzes in his pocket