After Adam left, Tamara headed to the Senator’s office and knocked on the door, her nerves all over the place.

What the hell was she doing?

What made her think it was a good idea to propose a cross-state road trip with an ex who still made her gooey inside? Who she still had feelings for, despite the awful mess that was their past. She was an optimist, that’s why. A stupid optimist who genuinely thought it would be a wonderful idea to teach her stubborn, diplomat of an ex the truth about Western and Central New York in person. Trapped in a car. Together.

She was going to throw up.

“Come in.”

Saved by the sound of her boss’s voice, Tam turned the doorknob and entered his office. The nerves threatened to overwhelm her, even as she desperately attempted to remember this was Enrique’s office. That he’d been her Political Science TA, who’d also been an advisor for Model UN, the county legislator who’d fought for the small community where he was raised. The Senator who’d added her to his staff when he’d needed her research and wanted her perspective.

“Tamara,” he said, grinning. “Sit down.”

“Thank you, Senator.”

He laughed, his brown eyes sparkling back at her. “Enrique,” he scolded. “I expect you’re going to want to talk to Enrique. I think the ‘Senator’ needs to not be in the room to hear what you’re going to tell me.”

“Okay, Enrique.” She nodded, stressing the name on her tongue. “Yes, I think the Senator is going to balk at what I have to say.”

“I’m listening because I trust your instincts, Tam.”

She focused on the blue plastic phone booth sitting on the corner of his bookshelf. And as that wasn’t going to give her any strength, she sighed and went for honesty. “I’m not sure how to explain.”

“Say it instead.”

“You were right. They’re using the Dairy Bill as a way to set the tone for a bilateral council.”

“Set the tone?”

This was going to be interesting, she thought as she settled into the chair. “The way they’re framing it is that those who sign on to the Dairy Bill will have priority in terms of what the council might discuss.”

“Oh that’s….” He wrinkled his nose as if he’d suddenly started to smell rotting meat. Which had pretty much been her view of the presentation. Good, they were on the same page.

“Lovely. So, what are you going to do? Or at least what do you think can be done?”

She smoothed the lines of her skirt. “It’s going to sound strange. I mean…it’s weird. And it’s a leap, but I think it’s the only thing that can be done.”

“Considering what’s been coming out of DC since Crosby got into office, whatever you’re going to say is miles less irrational than any of that. I’m listening.”

A nervous laugh from pushed its way out. “So,” she managed. “I think Ottawa and Toronto are serious about the bilateral council. I definitely think the PM is pushing for it. That said, because they’re incentivizing voting against the subsidies to Central and Western New York, they don’t realize what they’re walking into.”

“Yeah, and what’s your solution? How do you fix years of focusing on New York as a general thing and turn it to the specific, diverse thing it is?”

Here was the hard part. “I take Mr. Klein on a road trip. He’ll see Western and Central New York, learn Upstate isn’t a monolith in the same way those of us from Westchester and the rest of downstate did. We tell it like it is, and we show him. So—”

The Senator considered. “You have three days before you’re off for Rosh Hashanah, right?”

She nodded, remembered she’d requested the days off to celebrate the Jewish New Year with her family, in conjunction with a week of working in the district office before Yom Kippur. “I do,” she replied cautiously.

“I’ve got a suggestion for you.”

“I’m listening.”

“Stop at the Roscoe, maybe then head to Wegmans in Rochester, stop in Syracuse, and then make your way to downtown Buffalo. It would require a pretty good bit of driving. Then spend the night in Buffalo, maybe get him on the ice at the Harbor Center before you head to the district office and he heads wherever he’s heading. Obviously, all expenses you incur should go through JL.”

She blew out a breath, suddenly less stressed about the situation. “Why are you so calm about this?”

He shrugged. “You’re right. If we’re going to pursue closer relations with Canada through a bilateral council, then the Canadian Government needs to understand upstate New York. And if anybody is going to get them there, it’ll be you.”

She nodded. It was true. She was good at her job. But she wondered how the rest of her would survive a road trip with Adam.

* * *

“You’re proposing to take a road trip with the woman you embarrassed on television?”

The sound of PM Kathy Lee’s laugh was unexpected but welcome. Adam sat on the bed in his hotel room, taking a break from the pacing that was going to destroy the carpet. Once he’d stopped laughing, he managed to speak. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Adam Klein, stop ma’aming me. You are way too experienced in life to be calling me ma’am. If you’re getting the Democratic leader in the State senate to send you across the state with one of his specialists, then we’re working bigger picture here. And as this legislative council is something that I’m very interested in having happen in an era where we can’t count on Washington, this is good to hear.”

Adam stood and began to pace again. “I think he’ll sign on to the legislative council. He’s not going to sign the legislative package.”

“From what Carter is telling me, the Governor is going to force the issue on the legislative package. Focus on the council. I’ll notify Toronto, let them know someone in Albany might bite first.”

“Right. But we won’t know for sure until we hear it from the Senator’s mouth.”

“He’s not the first, Adam. But he’s the closest to power. Anyway, you have a few days before you’re expected back with your family for the holiday?”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“Take the trip, and go see your family. When your leave time is over, bring your findings to Ottawa, and we’ll figure out next steps, eh?”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

She laughed. “This is where I say good luck, stick to business, stay impartial, keep your eyes open and enjoy.”

“Yes, ma…Prime Minister.” As he hung up the phone, Adam wondered what he was getting into, and whether his heart would help, or hurt, his chances with Tam.