Authors Interviewing Characters: MORAL INFIDELITY by Rebecca Warner
Rebecca Warner interviews her character Caroline Romano from MORAL INFIDELITY
Pro-Life Florida Governor Michael Romano is determined to go toe-to-toe with Pro-Choice advocates to change Florida’s abortion laws by enacting stricter regulations. But when his extramarital affair results in an unintended pregnancy, choice takes on a whole new meaning for him.
It is the summer of 1989, and the Supreme Court has handed down a 5-4 decision in Missouri v Webster which, among other things, has opened the door for states to enact stricter abortion laws and regulations.
Florida Governor Michael Romano is thrilled by the Court’s decision. It represents the first crack in Roe v Wade—the 1973 Supreme Court ruling which, by a vote of 7-2, placed the government’s interest in protecting women’s lives and health care above the government’s interest in protecting the potential life of a fetus.
As an avid anti-abortion politician, Governor Romano believes he is destined to lead the country in enacting stricter abortion legislation by coaxing his Legislature to enact restrictive laws in Florida. He hopes this will encourage other governors to follow suit. His ultimate goal is to see Roe v Wade overturned.
Romano knows he owes much of his political success to his wife’s wealthy and politically-connected family; but to Michael, everything that has happened in his life is fate. And now fate has put him in the perfect position at a pivotal time in history to reverse a law that he feels is immoral. But one aspect of his fate that has been the most difficult for him to accept is that he and Caroline are unable to have children.
I could not get an interview with Governor Romano, but I’m happy that today I’m interviewing the First Lady of the State of Florida, Caroline Romano. I’m hoping to share with you readers a glimpse into their private lives, as well as her thoughts about her husband’s stance—and her own—on the issue of abortion.
RW: Good morning, Mrs. Romano. Thank you for agreeing to this interview.
CR: Good morning. You’re welcome.
RW: Your office is beautiful. Did you redecorate it when you moved into the Governor’s Mansion?
CR: Thank you, I did. I brought a bit of Palm Beach into it. You never forget your roots.
RW: Yes, I can see that. Mrs. Romano…
CR: Please call me Caroline.
RW: Thank you. Caroline, as the Governor’s wife, you must have some insights into why he is proposing calling a special session of the Legislature to enact stricter abortion regulations in our state. Can you share those insights?
CR: Well, the Legislature is not in session right now, so he would have to call a special session to address this very recent Missouri v Webster Supreme Court ruling.
RW: Of course, but legislators and political pundits are wondering why this can’t wait until the regular legislative session in the spring. After all, calling a special session will cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
CR: Yes, I know there’s some backlash because of the cost, but this ruling is the first to allow states to enact stricter abortion legislation, and Michael wants to strike while the iron is hot. There’s growing momentum now to enact laws that protect the rights of the unborn.
RW: It is 1989, and Roe v Wade has been the law of the land for 16 years. Polls show that women and men overwhelmingly support a woman’s right to choose. Why would the governor pursue such an unpopular agenda?
CR: The abortion issue has always been important to Michael. He believes in the sanctity of life, and he was appalled when the Supreme Court made legal the act of killing babies in the womb. He has built his political career on a moral platform, and he strongly believes the taking of a life is a moral failing.
RW: Do you agree with him?
CR: I do.
RW: But the governor is, on the other hand, a proponent of the death penalty here in Florida. How does he reconcile that dichotomy?
CR: Michael spoke about this recently in his meeting with some of our state’s female legislators. The way he sees it, one is an innocent baby in the womb, with its whole life ahead of it. The other is a convicted murderer who, as a condemned killer, has forfeited his right to live.
RW: Thank you for explaining his reasoning. Back to abortion. Does the governor believe there are exceptions in allowing a woman to have an abortion, such as in cases of rape or incest?
CR: Yes, though when I met him he did not believe there was any reason for a woman to have an abortion, except perhaps to save the mother’s life. But as a woman myself, I could imagine circumstances where it would be in a woman’s best interest, emotionally, physically and psychologically, to abort. Rape and incest are two of those reasons.
RW: Were you able to help your husband see that an abortion would be warranted in the cases of rape and incest?
CR: Michael is a compassionate man. He just had not considered how those vile acts could affect a woman’s future choices in life.
RW: Such as?
CR: Well, her choice to have children who are wanted, when they’re wanted. He came to see that bearing the child of a rapist, or a family member, could have a negative impact on the rest of the woman’s life.
RW: And you helped him realize that?
CR: I did. I gave him some pointed examples that hit home. I made it personal: Suppose his sister were violently raped? Would he expect her to carry her rapist’s baby to term and raise that baby, who would always be a reminder of the violent act? And how would that affect her future and her chances of finding a loving husband who would understand?
RW: That was a very good way to present it to him. An unintended pregnancy that could severely limit a woman’s future and change the course of her life, and not in a good way.
CR: Exactly.
RW: Do you know if there are any particular circumstances in the governor’s life that shaped his strong views regarding abortion?
CR: His Catholic upbringing has much to do with it. And although he converted to Episcopalian when he married me, his moral underpinnings originated in the Catholic Church, which has always condemned abortion because it is immoral.
RW: I see. So as far as you know, there are no personal reasons for him to feel so strongly about the sanctity of life?
CR: Personal reasons? No. His belief in the sanctity of life is just a part of his strong moral fiber.
RJW: Of course. Caroline, if I may, I would like to get a bit personal here, but please feel free to tell me if my questions make you uncomfortable.
CR: Well if we’re going to get personal, how would you like a glass of champagne? I’m going to have one.
RJW: That would be lovely.
CR: Here you go. So, what is this personal thing you want to ask me?
RW: Tallahassee is a small town, and when that’s the case certain things are talked about even if they aren’t published anywhere. But there has been talk about your having more than one miscarriage.
CR: Yes, that is the sad truth.
RW: Does that sad truth have any bearing on the governor’s pro-life stance?
CR: Michael was pro-life before the miscarriages, so I don’t see any connection.
RW: Do you still hope to conceive and carry a baby to term?
CR: Well, that is a personal question! But let me just say that getting pregnant again could be dangerous to my health, so we’ve taken precautions to make sure that doesn’t happen. And now please, that’s all I want to say about that.
RW: I understand. And I am sorry for your losses.
CR: Thank you. More champagne?
RW: I’m fine for now, thank you. You and the governor are photographed often and your photos appear in so many periodicals, including last year’s holiday issue of Vogue. You seem to be so much in love and very happily married. You must both feel so fortunate.
CR: Yes, we do feel quite fortunate to have each other—even if we can’t have children. And after 17 years of marriage, our love and respect for each other has deepened.
RW: That’s wonderful. You always present a strong, united front to the media. Can we assume you’ll be campaigning along with your husband to promote his agenda to call a special session?
CR: Yes, of course I will. If it’s important to Michael, it’s important to me. I trust him implicitly and will always have his back.
RW: Spoken like a strong woman in love!
CR: That I am!
RW: Thank you for your time today, Caroline. It has been a pleasure.
CR: It has been a pleasure for me also. More champagne before you go?
It is the summer of 1989, and a controversial Supreme Court ruling has opened the door for states to enact stricter abortion laws. Pro-Life Florida Governor Michael Romano, who has built his political platform on morality, is determined to lead the nation in exploiting this first crack in Roe v Wade.
But when his extramarital affair results in an unintended pregnancy, Romano is faced with the frightening prospect of losing all that defines his life-a beautiful, loving wife, a brilliant political career, and enormous wealth.
Choice takes on a whole new meaning for the governor as he plumbs the depths of his conscience and weighs his ever-narrowing options. The choice he must make will test the strength of his moral fiber to its limits… but will it lead to his salvation, or his ruin?
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Following a successful career in banking, Rebecca Warner pursued her lifelong dream of writing. Her first novel, Moral Infidelity, won the Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medal in Thrillers. Moral Infidelity is being republished on January 11, 2022 by Black Rose Writing.
Rebecca’s second novel, Doubling Back To Love, was included in Goodreads’ third most popular romantic anthology of all time, Peace, Love & Romance. Her most recent book, My Dad My Dog, has been an Amazon #1 bestselling book in all three of its categories.
When she’s not writing, Rebecca enjoys reading and exploring the great outdoors around Asheville, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and their feisty Blue Heeler. Please visit her website at http://www.rebeccajwarner.com to learn more about her books and to read her blogs.
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Category: On Writing
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