The Governor's Sons by Maria McKenzie

Author:Maria McKenzie [McKenzie, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, United States, African American, Historical, Romance, Multicultural, Romantic Suspense, Multicultural & Interracial, Mystery & Suspense, Suspense
ISBN: 1466473002
Amazon: B005WMLA6E
Published: 2011-10-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

“Gavin.” Charlene knocked on her son’s bedroom door. “May I come in?” After Gavin said she could, Charlene walked in dressed for the company that would be arriving soon. Her dress was an emerald green silk, accessorized with a single strand of pearls and she wore ivory pumps.

Gavin lay comfortably on the bed propped up on pillows. He was dressed and appeared to be in the midst of reading.

“I just wanted to make sure you were ready for Aunt Mikki and Uncle Heath.” Charlene sat at the foot of his four poster bed. “You’ve been holed up in here all afternoon. I thought you might be asleep.”

“No,” he held up a book, “just reading.”

“Oh, Mr. Lincoln and the Negroes. I read that. It’s a good book.” Charlene hesitated. “You’re turning into quite the reader lately.” Gavin didn’t respond.

His summer lifeguard job at the country club wouldn’t start until next week. But since Gavin had been home from school with lots of free time, Charlene had noticed that if he wasn’t out with friends, he’d either be with Otis, or shut in his room reading. Reading! She still couldn’t quite fathom that. He hated to read, but if something held his interest, he’d manage to muddle through.

“So—you’re doing a lot of political reading?” Charlene glanced at his nightstand and saw a copy of Lincoln, the Unknown. You think maybe—one day—you might want to pursue politics, like your father?”

“I dunno,” Gavin replied vaguely.

Charlene’s eyes wandered around the room. Pinups of Brigitte Bardot and Ann-Margret decorated his walls along with sports pendants and NASCAR posters. His bookshelf was cluttered with several trophies he’d won in junior high and high school for track and field, swimming and baseball. Framed pictures of him winning and showing off his awards were on those shelves, too. And Ash was hardly in any of them. She and the girls were there—and so was Otis.

Charlene wished she could figure out what was going on in Gavin’s mind. He’d always been carefree and easygoing for the most part, but over the past few months he’d changed. Charlene began to notice a difference in him around spring break. He’d seemed subdued then. Now he was almost brooding most of the time.

Charlene changed the subject. “You met up pretty early with Uncle Otis this morning. What did you do?”

“Went fishing.”

“Oh,” Charlene smiled. “Did you catch anything?”

“No. It wasn’t a good day for it.”

“Did Libby join you?”

“Yes.”

Charlene nodded silently. “She seems a little strange to me, but Otis sure is crazy about her. You know, Gavin, my brother’s not the best parental role model.” Charlene laughed. “He doesn’t even have kids. But he’s got a heart of gold. Honey—Otis can’t—take the place of your dad, and—”

“Who says I want him to?”

“Your father’s going into his fifth year as governor. It’s a demanding job. I wish he… honey, I know your father can’t spend the time with you that Otis does, but—”

“But when he does,” Gavin slammed his book shut, “all he ever

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