AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh...” She scoffs and waves her hand in the air like my question is the most ridiculous thing she has heard all day.
“Well?” I ask, pushing her, because I want answers.
“Oh, Harrison, you cannot be serious. She is nothing, a nobody. Who the hell are her mother and father? They are not part of society. She is from the poor part of town. A Rothschild doesn’t socialize with those kinds of people. She is what? Eighteen, nineteen? She is a baby! Seriously, Harrison, you know better. If you are not careful, you will turn out just like your father.”
And there it is. The hate she has for my father seeping into my life.
And it stops now.
I walk slowly toward her and see her stare at me in shock. The look on my face obviously tells her exactly what my feelings are at the moment. My nostrils flare as I crack my neck and stand right in front of her. My face is right in hers.
“I love Beth. She is the woman for me. We have been dating privately for three months, our affair something she kept secretfor meso the campaign would not be affected and so that we could have some time together to work out if we fit before going public. I love every goddamn thing about her, including her name, where she lives, and her age,” I seethe to her quietly, punching my words so she understands the seriousness of them.
My mother stands shocked for a moment, her mouth agape.
“There is no one else for me. Beth is it. So I suggest you get your own feelings in order and stop comparing me to my fucking father!” I roar in her face, and she jumps. I never raise my voice. At her, my brothers, or my staff. No one. I never yell. I am the calm one, the charming one, the original Baltimore boy. But today, I am anything but.
“Harrison, I…” she stutters, but I raise my hand, not letting her finish. She needs to hear this.
“I know how he treated you. I know he was a philandering asshole, that had a woman in every city, and I am sorry he hurt you, but if you meddle in my life again, you will lose a son, because I don’t want your poisonous attitude anywhere near me or Beth again,” I state clearly, and I hear Lilly gasp at her side, but my eyes remain on my mother’s. Her face pales, and I watch her swallow.
“C’mon, Mom, let me get you and Lilly in the car and you can go home for a bit,” Eddie offers, taking her elbow and leading her away, no other words now able to fall from her lips.
“Having a family disagreement in a public setting is not exactly what I would advise, but… that needed to be done at some point,” Oscar says from beside me, the two of us waiting for Eddie to return so we can work out how to put out this fire. Twitter, no doubt, already has my name trending with gossip.
I grab my cell and try Beth again. She looked confused when she saw me down on one knee, but I wasn’t expecting her to run. I promised her last night she was it for me, she was the only one, and I hope she still believes that to be true. Max, her paparazzi friend, is still here, and my heart sinks knowing he has just witnessed the situation firsthand. He gives me a small smile as he tentatively walks over.
“Sorry, Mr. Rothschild. We got a tip off to come here today, but we didn’t know what for.”
“It’s fine, Max, you’re just doing your job,” I say, running my hand through my hair.
“Is Beth okay?” he asks me.
“I don’t know, she isn’t picking up,” I state honestly, not sure why I am sharing so much with a pap. Oscar clears his throat beside me in warning, but says nothing.
“Do you want me to try to find her for you? I know the taxi company she went with, so I can make a few calls?” he offers. It feels like spying, but I nod, not knowing what else to do. He makes the calls, speaks to a few people, and looks at me with a brief smile.
“She is at General Hospital. Apparently, there was an accident with her father. The taxi has just left her at the ER there,” Max states, and I feel a mix of relief that she didn’t run away because of my mother, and panic at what happened to her father.
“Thanks, Max. I appreciate it,” I state as I start walking to the cars, meeting Eddie halfway.
“You can’t stop fighting for what you believe in, Mr. Rothschild,” Max shouts as I make my way to the car. “I just hope to get the first photos when the two of you finally get what you deserve!” he adds with a broad smile, one I find myself returning.
“Deal!” I say, realizing that I just confirmed our love affair with a paparazzi three days before Election Day, and I don’t care. I just want Beth.
35
BETH
Iam walking a well-worn path into the already threadbare carpet in the waiting area that Nurse Mary has put us in. Marci is sitting in a chair with her head in her hands, her blue hair still vibrant, her smile now less so. Larry is next to her, remaining stoic, but I watch him as his thumbs roll around each other, something he only does when he is stressed. Jeff is walking like me, in the opposite direction, the two of us looking like soldiers at a palace. Neither of us are able to sit at this point, too nervous for news.
“What is taking them so long?” I whine again. We have been here for close to an hour without any update. My hands won’t stop shaking, my heart is almost decimated, and I have been trying to keep the tears at bay all afternoon.
“He’s in good hands, sugar,” Marci says her eyes are equally wet. I never asked Dad what was going on with the two of them, something I still need to get to the bottom of.
“I wish they would hurry up,” Larry mumbles as he rubs his head.
“Beth, what do you need?” Jeff asks, being kind and supportive. The weird vibe I always got from him is surprisingly absent today in this life-or-death situation.
