Breathless Secrets by Elizabeth Lennox
Chapter 11
Molly slipped into the back, smoothing the black, sheath dress down over her hips self-consciously as she took her seat. There was a low hum of conversation as the crowd waited for the speech to begin, but there wasn’t really much energy in the room.
There should be energy, right? Molly didn’t like the fact that everyone seemed to be a bit humdrum. There was no anticipation, no excitement, at the prospect of seeing James speak about his political platform. Granted, Molly still had no idea about the issues on which James was running for office. But she still wanted him to do well. She wanted people to be excited about him, about what he could do for them.
Okay, so she didn’t know exactly what James hoped to accomplish in office. And she was probably excited because she was eager to see James. After this morning’s craziness with the reporters, she’d gone into her office so that she could finish some paperwork, but her concentration was shot.
So, why was she lurking in the back of this auditorium? Why wasn’t she down in front, ready to cheer him on? Was she playing hard to get? Or hiding from him? No, not with James. She didn’t like games. She preferred honesty and open communication.
So, what was the issue? Why didn’t she just move to the front row where he could see her?
Because he still made her nervous. And she wasn’t ready to share their relationship with the world.
And yes, there was also that niggling fear that he might say something that she actively disagreed with. Over dinner several weeks ago, they’d discussed some of the issues facing the country, but she still wasn’t sure about his specific plans for office or his priorities.
Before Molly could continue that thought, an excited buzz alerted the crowd that the event was about to begin. Everyone found a seat and Molly was excited to realize that the auditorium was filled to capacity, with a few people standing along the walls because there weren’t enough seats.
A man that Molly recognized, but couldn’t name, stepped onto the stage and walked to the podium as the crowd went silent.
“Thank you all for coming,” the man began with a welcoming grin. “I’m Bryan and I’m the campaign manager for James Morgan. I know that you have deep pockets, although you know nothing about the man you’re about to hear. But I guarantee, in less than forty-five minutes, you’ll be on board with his campaign.” The crowd shifted, obviously uncomfortable. Molly’s heart quivered with fear. The crowd didn’t seem to be on board with Bryan’s message and she feared he was setting James up for failure. There was a reason that comedians and bands started out with a lesser-known act. The warm-up was essential to get the crowd on board, so that the main event was more effective.
Bryan definitely was not a good “warm-up band”.
“I know that you are skeptical, but please, keep an open mind and hear him out. I guarantee that, by the end of your time here, you’ll be on board with his vision.” There was another awkward silence and Bryan turned to glance at the sidelines. He grinned and nodded. “So without further ado, I present the future senator for Virginia, James Morgan!”
The crowd clapped politely, but as soon as James stepped into view, a burst of energy pulsed through the room. The crowd seemed to sit up a bit straighter. Perhaps it was James’ obvious physical health. He looked incredibly handsome in a charcoal suit that showed off the breadth of his shoulders and tapered waist. Or maybe it was the way James looked out at the crowds, as if he expected, and was given, the accolades that he deserved.
Whatever it was, the crowd was definitely paying attention as James stepped up to the podium and turned to smile at the crowd.
“Thank you all for coming out on a Saturday afternoon. I know a political speech isn’t what most of us want to do with our weekends, especially on such a prime golfing day.”
Molly smiled as the crowd chuckled at James’ humor.
“I’m not going to talk about immigration or abortion today. Nor about my foreign policy ideas. I have a number of solutions that I believe could ease the tensions for these hot topic issues, but today, I’m going to offer my goals for my term in office.” Molly loved the fact that he was speaking as if he were already in office. Instantly, she felt electricity light up the room. Interest? She wasn’t sure, but Molly was waiting, almost breathless, and James had barely gotten started!
“In fact, if I’m successful in accomplishing these three goals, I’ll probably be voted out of office.” There was a ring of startled laughter that Molly didn’t understand. “I know that I’m going to lose some of you on these items, so just bear with me. Number one – I want to change the US Supreme Court justice’s terms from lifetime appointments to eighteen year terms. With that change, every president would have two Supreme Court appointments, one during his,” he paused and looked right at Molly, “or her first year in office and a second during his or her third year in office.” There was a smattering of comments, but after a moment, the crowd seemed to nod. Yeah, that made sense. “When the lifetime appointments were set, over two hundred years ago, a ‘lifetime’ didn’t last as long as it does today.” More laughter. “Whenever a justice is appointed, they influence the course of the Court for potentially a generation. But generations change, the world changes. And I believe that the Supreme Court of the United States should change with it. The Constitution is a living document. It evolves with the needs of each generation. The Supreme Court Justices should also change and evolve.” He paused again, allowing everyone to ponder that.
“The next goal would be to shift the Electoral College, so electoral votes for each state to go to the winner of the national popular vote.”
Molly smiled, nodding her head. She completely agreed with that.
“The reason the Electoral College was originally established was because the founding fathers didn’t believe that the US population would have enough information to vote intelligently. The population was more rural, their lives focused on getting their crops harvested and to the market. Often, the only way someone heard about various candidates was during their visits to the markets. And most of that information was gossip, not accurate information on a candidate’s positions, such as what we’re doing here today.”
That was news to Molly, but it made sense.
“I propose to change that rule. The population has more than enough ways to find accurate information now.” He grinned. “Of course, there’s still gossip and misinformation.” The crowd laughed and Molly beamed, feeling so proud of him!
“The third, and this is the one that’s potentially going to limit me to a single term in office, but I also think this is the worst rule.” The crowd waited, anticipation hanging in the air. “We need to get rid of political gerrymandering.” There was a rustle of protest. James lifted a hand. “Hear me out.” The crowd quieted as he stepped out from behind the podium, walking along the stage, making eye contact as he moved. “The manipulation of political districts is egregious on both sides of the political spectrum. This would be a bipartisan effort to eliminate gerrymandering so the districts are created based on population. Right now, the districts are created in order to ensure one political party gains the upper hand. It isn’t fair and more importantly, it isn’t right.” He paused. “If we eliminate political gerrymandering, the voters would have the powerful voice they need and deserve. Politicians would have to be reactive to their needs, as they should be.”
Molly listened intently as James continued with his speech. She was transfixed. Awed! The man had some innovative ideas that some might call crazy. But the more he spoke, the more he explained, the more she realized that he was right. None of those points were partisan; they wouldn’t help or hinder either party. But they felt…right.
Was she being naïve? Yes, there were plenty of inflammatory issues that might come up. There would be arguments for and against each proposal. But…well, she had to give James major kudos. He was willing to start the debate. He was willing to sacrifice a long and potentially lucrative career in office by proposing issues that, on the surface at least, were right.
As James’ speech came to a conclusion, the crowd leapt to their feet, applauding wildly and Molly was right there with them, her hands stinging with the effort to show her approval. Not necessarily for his goals, but for the man.
Right then and there, she felt herself falling. Her heart shuddered in her chest and that falling sensation went right along with her enthusiastic applause.
She wanted to cry, because she knew that her love for him was pointless. He was charming and sophisticated. He was ambitious and had plans for a better world. Better than anything she could do in her community center. He was going places and…Molly looked around, noticing that several other women in the room seemed to be struggling with similar emotions.
But they didn’t know James the way she did.
At least, she hoped they didn’t! Goodness, the searing fury that hit her at the possibility that James had touched any other woman the way he’d touched her last night made her knees go weak.
Shaking that sensation off, because Molly knew she didn’t have the right, she didn’t have any claim to James other than the bittersweet memories of their nights together.
Then he looked at her! Those wonderful blue eyes looked directly at her and she felt the earth shift under her feet. The applause died out, the people in the auditorium vanished. It was just her and James, standing there, looking at each other. Two people, alone in the world.
Was it just her imagination, or did his eyes convey that her opinion mattered to him?
Yes, it was only her imagination, she told herself, and lifted her hands, clapping harder. He grinned and tilted his head slightly. Towards her?
Her heart pounded harder. Were her ribs strong enough to protect her heart? She wasn’t sure, and at this moment, she didn’t care. Her heart wasn’t hers any more. It belonged to James now.
Bryan whispered in his ear and James nodded. A moment later, the stage was flooded with people from the audience who wanted a comment, to shake his hand, or to have their picture taken with him. He went through the motions, smiled and memorized each person’s name. For the people he knew, he asked about their families, their children and, in some cases, he was even able to remember their pets’ names. It was a trick he’d learned in high school with his teachers. Learn about the person, know them and realize that they were individuals, and they’d remember him as well.
And yet, all he wanted to do was to go to Molly, to find her in the crowd and ask her what she thought. Did she approve? Did she think he was completely off the mark? Some of his ideas were pretty radical and people either completely agreed with him or hated him. At this moment, Molly’s approval was all he needed.
He paused for a moment, stunned by that realization. How was that possible? How had Molly’s approval become so important? He’d been with plenty of women over the years. Many of them strikingly beautiful. But none were as lovely, as caring and sweet as Molly. She had touched his heart, he thought. And he wanted to touch hers too.
The whole speech, he’d been talking to her, hoping and willing her to approve. The crowd mattered, but not nearly as much as Molly. She was his world now. He’d been hoping and praying that she’d show up today, but until he’d walked out on that stage and found her in the back, he hadn’t realized how important it was that she be here. The controversial goals he’d discussed meant nothing without Molly’s approval.
She mattered. She grounded him. And suddenly, in that moment, as yet another person asked for a picture with him, he realized that it was all about Molly.
He loved her! Damn, how had that happened? He’d never felt this stunning sensation with any other woman before. He’d cared about some of his lovers from his past. He’d even thought one or two might have been “the one”. But no one he’d dated in the past made him feel the intensity and connection that Molly made him feel.
He loved her. After less than a month with her, he knew without a doubt that she was “the one”. Her opinion was tantamount to everything he wanted to accomplish and her presence lit up his world. She was it.
Several reporters closed in and he forced his thoughts back to the present as he smiled into the cameras, answering the questions from the reporters. The questions were softball questions. Later, once the mud-slinging started, the questions would become more difficult, more in-depth. Right now, the reporters and voters didn’t know much about him. They hadn’t taken him seriously as a candidate until this moment.
But Molly did. At least, she did now.
From the look in her eyes, she believed in him. She believed in his vision.
Damn, he loved her!
When the crowd finally cleared out, James looked around, but Molly was gone. He understood, especially after this morning’s chaotic and impromptu press conference. She’d been inundated with reporters. So, it made sense that she’d leave as quickly as possible.
Still, he’d love to talk to her, hear her take on all this.
Then he remembered that he would be picking her up for dinner in…he checked his watch…two hours! Just one hundred and twenty minutes until he could see her again.
“We need to go over the–”
“Not now, Bryan,” James interrupted. “I have something important to do.”
Bryan sputtered for a moment. “You just gave a resoundingly successful speech and raised about a million dollars for your campaign. What the hell is more important than following up on that?” he demanded.
James slapped his campaign manager on the shoulder. “I need to go grocery shopping.”
Bryan’s mouth fell open. “Now?”
James chuckled. “You’re the one who keeps telling me I need to get married.”
Bryan’s stunned and confused expression slowly morphed into a huge grin. “Molly?” he asked, nodding with approval.
James smiled. “Molly.” There was nothing more to say.
“Go!” Bryan said, waving his hands into the air dismissively. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
“Make that tomorrow afternoon,” James called back over his shoulder, mentally listing groceries he’d need for tonight’s dinner. With Molly!
