Forsaken by James David Jordan Page A

debacle. He smiled my way a number of times, presumably to assure me that he was not being critical.
    Simon picked up his butter knife and twirled it between his fingers. “I understand you stepped into a difficult situation tonight. I think my problem was that we hadn’t had any time to talk things over. I didn’t knowwhat to expect. If we could sit down and go through a sort of cost-benefit analysis on some of the security steps you would like for us to take—Elise is big on cost-benefit analysis—we can probably get to a point we both can live with. Are you willing to give that a try?”
    I was pleasantly surprised. “Sure. I understand that you don’t have an unlimited budget for this. Nobody does, except the president.”
    “Actually, I’m not as worried about the dollar cost as I am about the effect on my ability to reach people. I’m no PR genius, but I understand that much of my appeal is that ordinary people view me as one of them. Anything that would make me appear aloof or as if I were acting like a big shot . . . well, that’s what I couldn’t afford. Here’s an example. We tell the car services never to send those big, long limousines to pick us up. We ride in regular town cars, even if it means taking two or three cars instead of one. Riding around looking like rock stars is not our thing.”
    “That makes perfect sense. I can work within your requirements. I’m all about compromise.”
    The waiter walked into the room and placed salads on the table. I must have glanced lovingly at my upside-down wine glass because Simon said, “You really wanted a glass of wine, didn’t you?”
    I considered how I had lied to him about the bathtub during our first telephone conversation. I resolved not to lie to him again—at least not unnecessarily. “Yes, I would have liked a glass. Or two.”
    “You could have had it. I wouldn’t have minded.”He looked at his watch, which must have been as old as he was, judging by the wear on its leather strap. “I’ve always told Kacey that most of the bad things in life happen after midnight and involve alcohol or drugs. It’s five minutes after twelve.”
    I gave him a weak smile. “That late? Boy, time has really gotten away from me tonight.”
    “I don’t have any problem with people who like to have a glass of wine now and then, so you don’t need to worry. Even the apostle Paul said we should take a bit of wine for the stomach’s sake.”
    “He really said that?” I rapped my fingers on the edge of the table. “Now, there’s a portion of the Bible that’s grossly underreported.”
    He laughed as he opened his menu. “We had them bring the same salad for everyone because we’re usually starving by the time we get to dinner after a show. You can order your entrée off the menu.”
    After a few moments he closed the menu and set it on the table. “I don’t drink because there are always those in the press out to snap a picture that will prove that people like me are nothing but fakes. Though it’s still difficult for me to believe, millions of people look up to me. One photo with a goofy look on my face and a wine glass in my hand could do a lot of damage. I’m determined not to let that happen.”
    The waiter came around to take our orders. As I watched Simon pick up his menu and point to something, I couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for him. Because of my stint in the Secret Service, I knew the fishbowlin which politicians swim. Until that moment, though, I never considered that people like Simon were in the same sort of situation.
    Actually worse, if they took their responsibility seriously.
    The public expected politicians to have vices. They did not cut preachers the same slack. One public slipup would not only irreparably injure his career but could damage the whole point of it. People looked to him for guidance on how to live their lives. That was quite a burden to carry around every day. I thanked my lucky stars I was far too socially