Make No Mistake - Chapter 24
Turning The Tables
Make No Mistake is a novel about a women’s rights activist, a life-changing event she cannot remember, and an underground book club poised to take down the patriarchy. If you’re new to the story, you can find all the previously released chapters on the Home page: juliewise.substack.com
To stay up-to-date, click the Subscribe button below (free), and the next chapters will be sent directly to your Inbox the moment they are released.
In addition, Make No Mistake is now available as a podcast on Substack, Apple and Spotify. I am reading chapters on the podcast and will be adding more each week. Scroll to bottom of podcast page to find chapters as they are released.
Chapter 24 - Turning The Tables
The President stared at the woman in the doorway.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve coming here,” he said to his wife, taking off his tie and pushing up his shirtsleeves.
“Oh, don’t I though?” Magda laughed.
“Where are my daughters?” he asked. He stood up and came around to the other side of the desk.
“You already know the answer to that one, Andrew. Or should I say…Tommy?”
She watched his eyes. Fear flickered and was gone. He shifted his feet and assumed a wider stance.
“You don’t even know you’re doing it,” she said.
“What?”
“Sizing up the threat, checking the exits, preparing to fight to the death if needed. Still the Finger Lakes boxing champ.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Magda smiled and handed him a sheet of paper.
“These are your instructions, Mister President. I suggest you follow them to the letter.”
“Is that a threat?”
He stepped toward her. She held her spot and shrugged her shoulders.
“Just an observation. Think about it. If I know your real name is Tom, what else do I know?”
She paused and added, “Better question – who else knows?”
She sauntered toward the door and turned back.
“I understand that murder is an impeachable offense. I can see the headlines now. Can’t you? Your glory days are over. Oh, and your stepbrother is expecting your call.”
She gave him a one-finger salute as she left, her laughter bouncing off the walls.
Maggie stood in the shade of a large oak tree across from the DC Jail. She watched the women come out, one by one, and disappear in a sea of hugs from family and friends. As Jack pulled up on his motorcycle, she stepped back behind the tree so he wouldn’t see her.
He joined the group of people at the gate, standing beside a tall man with short dark hair and a beard speckled with white. The man turned and wrapped an arm around Jack.
A woman with curly brown hair walked out and paused in the center of the sidewalk. She looked around, searching. Jack ran forward.
“Mum!”
The older man followed, grinning widely.
As the three embraced, Maggie turned and walked briskly through the park. She swiped at a stray tear.
Madeline threw her arms around Lena as soon as she appeared.
“You’re squishing me,” Lena protested.
“I’m never letting go.”
Lena pulled her head back.
“Can we get something to eat? I’m starving.”
Madeline laughed.
“That’s my girl. Shelley and Brian are waiting for us. We can pick up food on the way.”
Brian and Shelley headed back across the lane after a celebration over beer and burgers. Madeline and Lena cleaned up the kitchen, giving each other hugs every few minutes. Lena hung up the dish towel and slumped into a chair by the window.
“I’m beat,” she said.
Madeline sat down across from her.
“How did they treat you in jail?”
Lena shrugged.
“There were so many of us that they had to group some of us together. It was a bit of a party, really. We knew they didn’t have anything on us, so we weren’t worried. But we had no idea what was going on. I figured it would just be a matter of time and you’d find a way to get me out.”
Madeline reached over to touch her knee.
“I’ve never been so worried in my life.”
“After all the things you’ve done, Mo…Auntie Max?”
“This was you. And that makes all the difference.”
She got up and turned on the radio. She leaned close to Lena and whispered in her ear.
Brian was surprised to see them packing up the car the next morning. Lena rushed through his front door looking for Shelley.
“Hey, girls,” he said, “leaving already? What’s the rush?”
Madeline smiled and reached out to give him a quick hug.
“Lena and I are going on a little road trip,” she said. “It would do us good to get away for a while.”
“Good plan,” said Brian. “Where are you heading?”
“Not sure yet. We’ll play it by ear.”
“Well, if there’s anything I can do…”
“Actually, there is something, Brian. Can you handle the book club next month? We might be back for the following one. I’ll let you know.”
“No problem. Happy to help. Safe trip!”
Lena and Shelley came out to the porch, arms around each other’s waists. They hugged and Lena got into the car.
“C’mon, Auntie Max. Time’s a wastin’!”
After driving for an hour, Madeline pulled into a roadside motel. They registered in the office and took their bags to an upstairs room.
Lena kicked off her shoes and collapsed face-down on the bed.
“I am exhausted,” she moaned, her voice muffled by the pillow.
“Have a nap, if you want,” Madeline said. She picked up her backpack and went into the bathroom.
Lena pulled her phone out of her back pocket and rolled over. She scrolled through social media sites and fell asleep.
Madeline emptied her bag and set a few things on the counter. She looked in the mirror.
“Goodbye, Max. It’s been real,” she said taking off the red-framed glasses and putting in her contacts.
Lena stretched and yawned. She opened her eyes and blinked rapidly.
“What did you do with my Auntie Max?” she whispered to the blonde woman sitting on the edge of the bed.
“She needed to go back home,” Madeline replied with a wink. “You get to travel with your Mom now.”
Lena sat up and gave her a big hug.
“So, can I call you Mom again?” she asked quietly.
Madeline laughed.
“Yep, and you can stop whispering.”
Lena reached up and touched the shaved side of Madeline’s hair.
“I seem to remember my Mom wore her hair in a ponytail. But, you know, this is a good look. You might want to keep it.”
“We’ll see how my sister feels about that,” Madeline said.
The story hit global media as a triumph for women’s rights. Talk show hosts wanted to interview the women who had been arrested but they all refused. Reporters approached Joanna and Magda for their perspective, but they were reticent. Social media blazed with comments and opinions.
Victory, like chocolate, can be addicting. As soon as word of the case dismissal hit the streets, millions of protestors thronged into city parks, spilled across roads, and engulfed legislative buildings. The police were outnumbered. The crowds anticipated the President would call in the army. Their mood grew jubilant as hours passed and nothing happened.
Music blared from apartment buildings; impromptu street parties sprang up; neighbors danced, cheered, and hugged. By the next morning, media drones transmitted images of a massive sit-in across the country – roads closed, businesses shut down. It was as if the nation was in a holding pattern.
No one could get in or out of the legislative buildings. The President and Daniel had spent the night at the White House, trapped by the groundswell of activity in the streets. Ryan and the President’s other aides had been on phones and computers, trying to monitor movements and anticipate the protestors’ next steps.
Ryan set up an emergency teleconference with as many members of Congress as he could reach.
“Some aren’t answering,” he told the President. “A few are stuck in their cars on the highway. Nothing’s moving. If they don’t have good network coverage where they are, they won’t be on the call. All they’ve said is that you have to do something. And fast.”
The President looked at Daniel.
“Get Frank here,” the President said.
“But how?” Ryan said. “Everything’s closed.
“He’ll find a way,” Daniel said. “Tell him it’s urgent.”
When Frank arrived, he was wearing sunglasses, a ballcap and faded jeans with a black t-shirt.
“Quite the disguise,” the President said. “Glad you could make it.”
“It’s a mob scene out there,” Frank said. “Like a big block party. Wasn’t sure I’d get through but your assistant said it was urgent. What’s up?”
The President glanced at Daniel, who cleared his throat, refusing to look at Frank.
“We’ve run out of options,” he said.
“What do you mean?” Frank said.
“Our wives have got us by the balls,” the President said.
“How?”
“Madeline found the photos,” Daniel said.
“Why you goddamn son of a bitch,” Frank yelled, lunging for Daniel. He grabbed him by the throat, held him against the wall and landed several punches before the President intervened.
“Back off, Frank,” he ordered. “This gets us nowhere. We have to move into damage control now and that’s why you’re here.”
“No,” Frank said.
“What do you mean, no? We’re a team, remember. To the end.”
“No,” he repeated. “After all I’ve done for you. You had one job, Daniel. Destroy the photos, remember?”
He shook his head. “You two are on your own now. I’m outta here.”
The door slammed behind him.
Daniel looked at the President.
“I don’t think we have a choice. Where’s the list?”
Ryan came in just as the President was wrapping up his teleconference with Congress members.
“Look, I don’t like it any more than you do,” the President said. “But this is the only way we can restore order. We appear to give in, give them what they want, and in a few months, we try again. Deal?”
He scribbled a few notes on a piece of paper and handed it to Ryan.
Ryan skimmed the notes and headed to his office.
Jack read the media release in disbelief.
The government was committed to repealing all anti-abortion and anti-contraceptive legislation in the coming weeks. The President announced an immediate increase in daycare spaces and related funding. New legislation equalized salaries regardless of gender. The borders reopened to immigration and a family reunification program was established. The only explanation was a vague quote from the President.
“Congress recognizes that we may have moved too quickly toward the future. Therefore, we plan to give Americans time to learn more about our vision. Change is hard to accept but we believe citizens will ultimately support the direction we are heading.”
Joanna was delighted when funding was restored to all human rights organizations across the country. It was also increased for social programs such as low-income housing and food banks.
“I guess you can head back to the newspaper office now, Jack,” she said. “The tide has turned.”
Daniel Power announced his retirement. When pressed by Jack in a phone interview, he said it was time for a change and ended the call.
The President submitted his letter of resignation to the Secretary of State and refused to speak with the press. The Speaker of the House agreed to become Acting President for the remainder of the term since the vice-president was still in a coma.
Jack couldn’t understand the sudden change. He called Maggie.
“I’m coming over. Put the coffee on. Oh, and tell Hannah to pack her bag. We’re going home.”
“I keep waiting for the ball to drop,” Jack said when he met with Maggie. “There’s a piece of the puzzle missing. I can’t figure it out.”
Maggie sat back in her chair and watched him like a cat toying with a mouse.
“Do you need to know?”
“I suppose not, but I feel like something happened right under my nose and I missed it.”
“Let it go, Jack.”
“You know what it is, don’t you?”
Maggie shrugged and sipped her coffee.
I feel I can breathe easily at last…just hoping my optimism isn’t misguided!🤞