Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 213: Coming Home

Chapter 213: Coming Home

Marcella didn’t concentrate much on Tony’s campaign efforts. Tony was working hard and since the party was offering their full support, Marcella didn’t think she needed to worry. She believed Tony had a great chance to win.

But she forgot one thing. The promise was made by a politician, that too from someone who wanted her dead and the one who had a hand in her father’s death.

Harley went as far as to kill Don DeAngelo because he didn’t want some outsider in the political sphere. How will he allow someone like Tony to enter considering his connection with the DeAngelo family?

Marcella asked Tony if she needed to join the campaign tour. Tony insisted she should stay back home and take care of things there. Marcella knew that he was worried for her because of the pregnancy. He wanted her to have some rest even if she didn’t have any morning sickness.

It was almost a month since he left for the tour. She missed him terribly. Thankfully, she had Mary and others to help her out with the loneliness.

Tony called her that night. Although he tried to be cheerful, Marcella could sense the underlying stress in his tone.

"Is it not going well, Tony?" she asked.

Tony sighed and the exasperation in his tone told her everything she needed to know.

"In most places, the volunteers don’t even know that I am the candidate. They all are so unmotivated as it is the stronghold of the other party. They think working is useless. Everyone’s demotivated..." Tony let out a deep breath. "Maybe next time, Birdie...This time we can familiarize my face to the people and the next time we..."

There was silence at the other end for some time. Marcella figured that the volunteers were not the only ones who lacked motivation. Her dear husband had lost hope too.

"I miss you, Birdie..." Tony whispered. "I miss looking into your eyes and taking in your scent. I... miss your home-cooked meals, I miss Joey. I miss your warmth on those motel room beds. I want to touch you, to be touched by you. I want to...I can’t bear this. I am coming home to you..."

Marcella leaned on the wall. So, he was lacking focus and was demotivated.

How come? It was his ambition to run! How come when a chance presented itself, he was demotivated even without trying his best?

"Do not show your face to me, Tony. I did not fall in love with a quitter. If you are returning as a quitter, I am not going to be waiting at the door with a smile on my face. I would be pissed at you," she said.

"Birdie, I..." Tony couldn’t say anything. He was shocked as he didn’t expect her to speak this way.

"How many exams did you fail in school?" she asked.

"...none..."

"How many Bs did you get in university?" she asked.

"...none," Tony said, his mind occupied with thoughts.

"How many times did you try the bar exam, Tony?" she asked.

"...once," Tony said after a short pause. He almost got where she was going.

"How many losses did you face all through your career as a lawyer?" she asked.

"I wouldn’t call it a loss... My client only got probation when he should have faced prison, maybe...twice...?" Tony said.

"How many times did you try to have Congressman Feinstein elected?" she asked.

"Once," Tony scoffed. "Just once when there was no chance."

"Do you hear yourself, Tony?" Marcella raised her voice. "You were spectacular. You were unbeatable before marrying me. Just because you married me, you are letting yourself go and... I will never be the reason you~"

"No, stop. I get it," Tony said. There was a clarity in his voice. "Please, please, please... Do not come fine me. I will do my best around here. I will. I promise. We are winning this, Birdie. We are."

Marcella smiled. "That’s my man," she said.

"I am your man. I will make you proud. When our daughter is born, she will be born Congressman Crawford’s daughter. I promise." Tony said.

Marcella hummed. She was a little apologetic for being harsh on him but it was needed. It was good that he became a family man after marriage. She was grateful for his support but she would hate it if he gave up on his dreams for their family.

His family will be waiting for him with the same love as always, ready to welcome him when he returns a victor. When he’s out, he needs to focus his energy on conquering the world. She needed to let him know that.

"I love you, Tony. Don’t forget your promise. You’re going to take me to the White House," she told him.

"I will. I promise..." Tony let out a deep breath. "Thank you," he said after a short pause. "Thank you for being my perfect wife."

"I knew you needed motivation, Tony," she said.

"I did..." Tony chuckled. "Never in my life did I think that I would be this... pathetic..."

"You’re not pathetic, Tony," Marcella interrupted him. "I miss you too. It’s so lonely without you. I would rather have you in my bed now rather than be in the White House in the future, but..."

"We cannot be quitters," Tony finished for her.

"Yes. I have put on a lot of work. You’ve put on a lot of work. You have the talent to turn the tide for your benefit. We cannot focus on the "now" right now. Just a few more months and then we can be together as much as we want to... as winners," she said.

"As Congressman Crawford and his spouse... a step closer to my dream..."

"Yeah..." Marcella leaned on the wall and smiled.

"Thank you for being there for me when I lose sense, Birdie..." Tony said. His voice was low and soft. He was almost whispering. Marcella figured he was talking from a public phone booth. Maybe that was the only place he could find some quiet.

"Remember when you said that we should both give our 100% for our marriage? Encouraging you is also part of my job as your wife, just like you encourage me. I wouldn’t have bothered with you if I didn’t trust you," she said.

"I am capable, yes," Tony said.

"Yes," Marcella stressed it. "Yes, you are capable. If there is one person in the world who can pull through this and rub coal on putrid Harley’s face, it is you. He should get ashamed for setting you up for failure."

"Hmm..." Tony hummed.

Both of them stayed in line for some time talking about mundane things. It felt like a few minutes but Marcella was shocked to see that she had talked to him for almost an hour.

She went to bed with a smile on her face. She pondered how she could help her husband further.