“One of the bright points of only having a dog.” Kerry leaned against the wall next to Dar. “Besides, after all the world saving Dar's done, she's due.”
“You haven't done bad for a newbie.” Dar's eyes twinkled a little.
One of Cynthia's aides approached them, catching Kerry's eye. “Excuse me?”
“Yes?” Kerry responded. “Did you need something?”
“The Senator asked me to come find you. She'd like to speak to you for a moment.” The man said. “Could you come with me?”
Dar and Kerry exchanged looks. “Excuse us.” Dar said, putting her glass down. “Probably needs some help with logistics.” She put her hand on Kerry's back. “Lead on.” She met the aide's eyes, daring him to exclude her.
He looked like he wanted to. But Kerry motioned him on and he ducked his head, turning to lead the way across the room towards a cluster of people on the far side from where they'd been. The room was lit barely from the gray light of outside, and the candles around the edges and as they approached where Kerry's mother was, several servants appeared with more candles in their hands.
The Senator had a cluster of family around her, and Dar could see from where she was the dour faces and glaring eyes as they were spotted heading their way.
What the hell was wrong with those people anyway? Couldn't they take a damn day out to enjoy a wedding and leave off all the moralistic bull crap? Dar sighed, and felt an itch between her shoulder blades.
“Ah, Kerry.” Cynthia saw them and turned. “Thank you for coming over. Your aunt Mildred had a question and I thought perhaps you could answer it.”
“Sure, if I can.” Kerry replied with internal reluctance, regarding the short, dumpy looking woman who was watching her with a sour look. “What is it, Aunt Mildred?” She was aware of Dar behind her, and as she took a breath waiting for whatever it was, she felt the casual warmth as Dar's forearm came to rest on her shoulder.
Backing her up. Kerry had to smile. Just like when she was at work, when present or not Dar cast a very long shadow everyone was very aware of. She didn't even have to drop her lover's name anymore – it was just assumed by everyone that Kerry had her in her pocket.
Aunt Mildred was Uncle Edgar's wife. Uncle Edgar had been explicitly told not to show up for the wedding, and Kerry knew that was for her benefit since their last interaction hadn't been pleasant. She suspected Aunt Mildred was about to unload her resentment over that – though she was a little surprised her mother had bought into it and called her over.
“I would like you to explain all this about log cabin Republicans.” Aunt Mildred said, in a firm tone. “Are you a part of them? You must be.”
Kerry blinked a few times, her eyes flicking back and forth as she prodded her memory. Then she turned and looked at Dar. “Do you know what that is?”
“I think.” Dar said, after a pause to consider. “It's people who are gay, who are also Republican.”
“Yes.” Mildred said. “They have been petitioning our firm about something. So you are a part of that?”
“What does being gay have to do with log cabins?” Kerry wondered.
“Tell you later.” Dar said, with a wry smile. “Let's not get into that debate here.”
“Huh?” Kerry gave her a searching look, then shrugged when Dar merely winked at her. “And no, Aunt Mildred.. I may be both gay and a Republican but I don't belong to any groups of either type so I'm not sure if I can help you with whatever it is they want from you.” She said. “I stay clear of politics unless it concerns high technology.”
“They want us to offer benefits to our employees, benefits like we offer to married people. To people like you.” Mildred said. “It's ridiculous.”
“Mildred.” Cynthia said, sharply.
“Don't Mildred me.” She turned on Kerry's mother. “It's terrible, how you promote this. We all remember how you and Roger felt about her lifestyle. Now you pretend you don't? At least I'm honest about it.”
There was, Dar recognized, a bit of truth in that. “I'd like to think there's no dishonesty, just a learning process.” She said in a mild tone.. “As in, she learned we don't have horns and tails and walk around seducing children.” She added. “There's nothing immoral about health benefits. You attract a better employee base if you treat them well.”
“Of course you'd say that.” Mildred snapped.
“Of course I'm the CIO of an international Fortune 500 company. So yes, I have an opinion about that regardless of my sexual orientation.” Dar responded, her voice taking on a sharper note. “But Mrs. Stuart also has the right to form her own opinions as well as have them change over time.”
Cynthia gave her a brief, acknowledging smile. “There is more truth to that then you perhaps believe.” She said. “Mildred, this is not the place for your bias. Kerry has answered your question, now let's all go sit down for some lunch.”
“Disgusting.” Mildred said, unrepentant. “I don't' know how she had the gall to enter that church or you had the temerity to allow it.”
“Mildred that's enough.” Cynthia said. “Either go in to lunch, or leave. I will not have you here speaking this way to my daughter.” She gestured to the aide. “John, please escort my sister in law.”
“Ma'am.” The tall security aide moved closer to Aunt Mildred, who ignored him and moved off in another direction, taking the elbow of another older woman and guiding her aside.
“Sorry about that, Kerrison.” Cynthia sighed. “I really don't know what's gotten into people these days. Goodness knows there have always been feelings like this, but in public you were expected to act polite about it.”
“Has been getting more blatant.” Dar noted. “Whole country's gotten more conservative – leadership is. So they think it's all right to say stuff like that. We're the socially acceptable to bash minority people of this age.”
Cynthia's face twisted into an expression of distaste. “Surely not.”
“Surely yes.” Dar replied. “Seen the Westboro jackasses on television?”
“Tch.” Cynthia made a sound of irritation. “Those people are insane.”
“Insane, yes. But they get air time.”
“Yeah, Dar's right.” Kerry murmured. “But you just reminded me that we've got to go out and get health insurance before we cut loose from ILS, Dar.” She motioned towards the grand hall. “Should we go sit down?”
“Yes.” Cynthia joined them as they walked. “Does your company take care of that now?” She asked, diffidently. “I mean, do you have the same issue as Mildred's firm?”
“Nah.” Dar shook her head. “We offer domestic partner benefits. Even if Kerry didn't work for us, I could put her on my health insurance. But she's right, we have to go get private policies now, and it won't work that way. We'll need to get individual ones.” She paused. “Fortunately we already had the legal work done to give us both medical authority over each other.”
“I see.” The Senator frowned. “Hm.”
“We're lucky. We can afford it.” Dar commented. “A lot of people can't.”
They entered the hall and paused, drawing to one side to find their way in the dim light.
In the rear, the fireplace had been restored, and held a brightly burning wood fire. The room had been liberally lit with candles, and there were at least four candles on each table, providing a warm, and almost medieval air. “Come sit at my table.” Cynthia pointed to the one closest to the fireplace. “They're using the gas stoves and warmers to keep everything. I hope it turns out all right.”
“I'm sure it'll be fine, mother.” Kerry murmured. “The sliders were great.”