The Realtor took me all over Buckhead, Virginia Highlands, Old Fourth Ward, Midtown, and nothing quite clicked until she showed me this two bedroom Craftsman home in Inman Park I now call mine. It’s the first property I've purchased. Until this I’ve lived solely in apartments, even while growing up with my mother.

Even if I choose not to stay in Atlanta, I can rent this place. The Inman Park neighborhood is very hot and it’s a good investment, which I need since I’ve risen to a higher tax bracket this year.

I'm moving slowly on furnishing it. Amazon delivered my mattress and box spring yesterday. I still need to get a bed frame. I know I'll have it forever, so I want to choose wisely. But is that what’s stopping me?

No…it’s that I feel like I’m cheating on Boston.

My phone’s vibration rattles on the tiled kitchen counter and I rush over to answer it. "Kate! How are you? God, I miss you."

"I know! I had to go and see a movie by myself last night. Come back!"

Smiling and feeling loved right when I need it, I unwrap some new glasses, plates, and silverware, while we continue to talk. "I'm setting up my new house. You have to come to Atlanta to see it."

"I'd love to, but it'll be hard for me to get away from work for a long weekend, and two days really isn't enough is it?"

"Well, when you can. I've only been here a couple weeks. I still need to get acclimated so I can have something to show you. If you flew down now I would have no idea where to take you in this city. The streets are crazy, kind of reminds me of Boston. There's no rhyme or reason to how they twist and turn."

“That must feel like home, then,” she laughs. Her voice takes on a mischievous quality as she says, "I saw your boyfriend on the news.”

Justin's nomination was announced yesterday. My father, it turns out, wasn't surprised. Apparently he had been notified via the grapevine that Michael Cocker’s son was aiming for his seat.

Rolling my eyes on a wide smile, I remind her again, ”He's not my boyfriend. And not only have I not seen him since that plane trip, if he heard anyone call him that title he would have a heart attack. He did look good on TV though, didn't he?”

"He's gorgeous! I still can't believe you had sex with him on a plane. I want to touch you and see if that luck rubs off on me!”

My smile fades at the memory of how Justin and I left things. There have been nights when the memory of what happened between us was all I could think about, and it kept me from being able to sleep. I had to wait until last night, when I slept here for the first time, to touch myself and release some of that sexual tension. Couldn't do it at my dad’s. So not hot.

"It was a one time thing, Kate."

"Once is better than never! Just to be looking at a face like his, and kissing it, and seeing it make that sexy expression guys make when they get all hot and bothered."

Smiling I tell her, "He's more than just a pretty face. I hate to say this, because it sounds disloyal, but my father is going to have to step it up. I’ve been reading up on Justin. Even though he’s running as an Independent I think Justin is a strong contender, and from the short debate we had on the plane he has very strong opinions and stands behind them. He's not weak in any way. He will fight hard for this. Also, and I’m sure you can guess this, but he can be very charming when he wants to be.” Kate and I share a knowing laugh before I say, “If he only gets the female vote by women crushing on him alone, he could beat my father.”

Kate is silent for a beat. "Why are you there? You're an event planner not a campaign manager.”

"I'm here because he asked me to be."

"But won’t your being around Justin during this campaign trail get you in trouble? I know you're there to get closer to your dad. What happens when the months pass and he realizes that you have a thing for his opponent?"

"I don't have a thing for Justin,” I lie.

She snorts loudly, “Yeah right.”

My hand flies up to argue, “Believe it or not, women can have sex and not get attached. We just had a crazy little moment. That's it. Nothing else will come of it." Stacking shiny plates in the cabinet I add in a quieter volume, "I didn't come here to get closer to my dad. I came because he asked me for help."

"Sweetie, I know how much you miss your mom. And I know you wish you and your dad had a closer relationship. It's okay to admit it."

"Admitting it makes it more real.”

Her voice is soft as she asks, "And what's wrong with that?"

"Listen, love, I see the U.P.S. guy coming up. I've missed his delivery once already, so I have to let you go. I love you."

"I love you too! Congratulations on the new house. I can't wait to see it."

"Then get your butt down here right now.”

She laughs and hangs up while I stare at the unopened cardboard boxes that were already delivered successfully.

I didn't miss that delivery.

Turning my iPad on I Google Justin's name some more, and add a filter of thirty days.

I need ideas. Good ones. No, fantastic ones that will blow my father’s mind.

When Dad asked me to come and help plan his events it confused me, too. I understand why Kate doesn’t think I’m qualified. I’m not that politically savvy, but I do know how to throw a grand party, and that’s what impresses people.

Dad is completely ignorant of my capabilities. I’m great at my job, but he would never know that. So while I don’t know why he invited me to take on this important position, I do know I’m going to savor impressing the hell out of him.

Upcoming speaking events at Civic Centers and college auditoriums across Georgia start popping up in the search as I scroll. While clicking through their various websites I see these are all places mapped out for Justin’s campaign.

An idea gets my blood pumping with excitement and I reach for my phone.

“I was just about to call you,” he answers.

"Dad, I've got an idea." I pause for effect. "I've just discovered when Justin is speaking and where. We could kill two birds with one stone if I contact these facilities and piggyback his speeches. It will save them work having to create a new event for you on a separate day, drawing a whole new audience which everyone knows is a pain in the ass to duplicate. And we’ll still pay them the same for the event as we would have. They’ll be getting twice the money for half the work.”

With the sound of discovery behind his tone, he excitedly adds, "It will give me a chance to hear what he's saying and refute it as if we were in a debate. Except I'll have the floor for the entire time afterward and he'll have no opportunity to get a rebuttal in.”

"Exactly.”

"I love it." On a deep chuckle he adds, "Good work, Jaimie! I have someone here, so let’s talk later tonight. Set it up for me."

The line goes dead and I smile to myself, basking in his voiced appreciation while I write the schedule from each website’s event page so that I can organize a calendar. The conversation we just had is subconsciously replaying and it occurs to me for the first time that Justin is going to hate this.

My pen freezes after I scrawl Macon, Georgia, and stare at the ink.

This is where I’ll see him in person for the first time since the airport. He believes he doesn't know my name, when he does.

Oh my God.