AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Security men block the entrance to the room. I see them both standing there, solid and strong, in black suits and slick hair. Harrison’s men, who I also know will now follow me everywhere from now on. There is a media pack waiting outside, the TV in the room has quietly been on all night, and we have been watching the rolling coverage in between lightly napping from exhaustion. All of Harrison’s brothers have already checked in on us, and now they’ve all gone home for a sleep of their own after the police finished with them all. My interview with the police will be today sometime, but they have a lot of evidence already.
The room Max held me in was his bedroom and the wall of photos was explained to me as a shrine. He held a two-decade long vendetta against me. Wanting to get revenge for his parents’ accidental death in the car crash my mother caused. I didn’t see the photos. Not all of them. I didn’t want to. But Harrison did. His team will go through each and every one of them, plastering Max with not only kidnapping and assault, but also stalking, harassment, and even down to driving without a license, drug possession, breaking and entering, and the list goes on.
I look at the drip in my arm, the clean saline solution pumping through my body, pushing out any remaining drugs from my system, and aside from my wrist and ankles that are now bandaged, I am relatively unscathed physically. Mentally and emotionally, I think it will take me some time.
Harrison and Ben, along with their team of lawyers, will continue to work with the police to obtain all records of the accident and build a timeline. They want to throw the book at him and will stop at nothing to ensure he stays locked up for a long time.
But guilt still sits heavy in my chest. Guilt from the accident all those years ago. Guilt at ruining Max’s life back then, and maybe being a contributor to his mental state now. I watch the new governor, as he sits next to me, lifting my hand and kissing each knuckle. Something he has done periodically all night. He is completely lost in his thoughts, no doubt reliving the evening, the events leading up to it, and thinking of a plan forward, past all of this. His new position starts immediately. He will have to walk out and face the media today at some point. Even though his hair is a mess and his suit is crumpled, the show must go on.
The small wrinkle between his brow hasn’t disappeared all night, so I reach out with my other hand and rub it. He looks up, his eyes catching mine, and I give him a smile.
“I was so worried…” he starts, before dropping his head.
“I know. Me too,” I whisper, feeling my heart breaking all over again. I thought I was as good as dead last night. I managed to loosen my wrist ropes, but it took a long time, and when Max left to answer the knock at the door, I rushed to escape the ankle ropes, but couldn’t. The panic I felt at being tied up and not able to get out of it still runs through my body every time I think about it.
There is a small knock at the door, and we look up.
“I don’t want to intrude…” Oscar whispers as his head pops through the ajar door, his eyes flicking to my snoring father before a small smile graces his lips.
“Harrison, I need you to make a statement this morning. The crowd is insane at the front, almost blocking hospital access, and the hospital security are struggling,” Oscar says, and I see Harrison hesitate.
“You should. Go. Give them your time, show them you are a strong and capable leader. They want to hear from you,” I encourage, squeezing his hand, knowing that he needs to leave me at some point and start his term in office.
The wrinkle between his brow returns, and I plaster on a big bright smile. “I will watch,” I state, pointing to the small TV flickering in the background.
“Fine, then I am coming straight back here,” he says to Oscar, offering no room for alternatives.
“No problem, I have cleared everything from your calendar today, just tomorrow is a little hectic,” he says, and we both know it won’t just be tomorrow. Our lives are about to become very busy.
“Alright,” Harrison says, standing. “Rest, baby, I will be back soon.” Kissing my forehead, he walks to the door. He stops as he reaches it and looks back.
“Do I need to invest in one of those sleep apnea machines, because your father...” he starts, and I giggle.
“Go!” I say, pointing to the door, and I see a small sheen of glee in his eyes, meanwhile I am horrified my father will wake to hear us making fun of him.
“Fine. Just asking,” he says, his smile now wide, putting his hands up in mock surrender, and I watch him as the door closes and I can’t see him any longer.
I sit up in the bed, feeling better and more together. Life goes on. It always does. I grab the TV remote and turn up the volume, not wanting to miss seeing him. I missed so much last night. The night of his dreams was obliterated, but this morning will go a long way to cementing his position.
“What’s going on?” my father grumbles from across the room.
“Harrison is making a speech this morning,” I tell him, and I notice he sits up as well. My father is now very fond of the boy from Baltimore, it seems.
“Good morning, everyone,” Harrison’s voice starts, his posture straight, solid, dependable. I see cameras flash and microphones move closer to his chin. Oscar is right; the media pack looks even bigger than normal today.
“Thank you to all of you for your kind support in the past twenty-four hours, it has certainly been an unprecedented way to start a governorship, the first of its kind,” he says, smiling, and a few chuckles are heard in the crowd. I clench my sweaty palms together, my father silent, taking it all in. He is aware our lives are about to change, neither of us sure what to expect other than we know it will be impactful for us. But we are ready.
“Firstly, I want to thank the voting public. You have put your trust in me to run the state on your behalf, to look after not only Maryland across all areas, but to also look after you. The people. Each and every one of you have placed your trust in me to deliver a prosperous and safe state, one that thrives in the face of adversity, one that delivers on goals and promises and one that will continue to be successful in this great country we call home. You are important to me. Your families are important to me. Your schools, hospitals, safety, and health are important to me. As is business, commercial success, and climate responsibilities. There is a lot to manage, there is a lot to deliver. But as I stand before you today, I promise to deliver on each and every one of my commitments. I promise to lead this state forward, to ensure that Maryland is seen as a leader in this country, and together, with Beth who is your first lady, and my team, we will make you proud.” He pauses then, looking over the crowd, and for the first time ever, the media pack claps. It is slow to start, but as Harrison stands solid in front of the camera, a small smile comes to his face, and the media start cheering.
The camera pans out to the crowd, and I still. It is huge. Not only is it the full media pack, which we were expecting, but there are people. Masses of people standing outside this very hospital. Some holding signs, many with hearts, some withI love youwritten on it. It looks like my entire city has come out to hear his message today.
I see Oscar and Eddie standing next to Harrison. Both smiling, no doubt happy with what we have all achieved. Even though I know Eddie is leaving us next week to start managing the family real estate portfolio, he looks at his brother proudly.
“Looks like the two of you have a big job to do,” my dad grumbles from his bed. I look at him, still in awe, shocked almost at what I am seeing.
“I have no words,” I say quietly.
“Well, you need to find them, Beth, because they,” he says, pointing to the crowd on the TV, “need you. The people see Harrison today, but it is clear they want you as well. I know you will be a fine first lady. The best. Now you just need to show them all.” His face is awash with pride.
