Another Notch in the Beltway

by L. A. Long

  “It’s okay. Thanks for getting in touch with Connor. I told him you might be the one to call him, depending on what was happening with MP.”

  They settled in for the long wait.

  Then, like déjà vu the surgeon came to see her three hours later.

  “We stopped the bleeding. It was in his stomach. He’s stable at the moment, but the same rules apply, forty-eight hours. You need to leave here and get some rest, Mrs. Finnegan. Someone will call you if anything develops.”

  “I’ve been resting. Doing nothing but—”

  “You need to go and sleep in a real bed and eat real food,” the surgeon cut her off. “Take her to get some rest,” the doctor said looking at Nate.

  “I need to see him,” Lenore said.

  “He’ll be back in his room shortly.”

  “Thank you, doctor.”

  When the man left, Nate said, “You’re going back to the apartment to sleep after you see him, Mom.”

  She started to speak.

  “No arguments. I’ll take you there, then come back to the hospital. Then I’ll come and get you in the morning. I promise I’ll call if there’s an emergency, but you’re going to sleep in a real bed and eat real food as the doctor said.”

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  And sleep she did, for almost twelve hours. Lenore panicked when she rolled over and saw that it was after eight o’clock in the morning. Then she calmed herself. No news was good news. Nothing had happened while she slumbered. Nate would have called.

  Lenore looked around the bedroom for the first time. It was done in earth tones like the rest of the apartment and was gender-neutral but expensively appointed with heavy oak furniture. The bed had been a cozy nest of down bedding in off-white and provided a welcome change from the hospital chair bed.

  After showering and dressing, she entered the kitchen to find Nate waiting.

  “MP’s fine,” he said immediately.

  “Thank God.”

  “Yes, and the surgeons who put him back together. Eat breakfast, and I’ll take you back. Hospital is swarming with press.”

  “Ugh. Did Connor make the statement?”

  “Yes, it’s on all the news outlets. You can bring it up on the Internet. No pictures of us yet, but I’d guess it’s only a matter of time. Your cover as LaSandra Lacy will probably be blown too. There have also been at least ten additional women who have come forward saying that they, too, had an affair with Maxwell while they were interns.”

  Lenore gave a nervous laugh and booted up the computer on the countertop. She didn’t have to search to find it. It was right there on CNN’s home page.

  Headline read: SILENCE BROKEN in big bold capital letters.

  Lenore hit play, and Connor Walker appeared on the screen. He looked professionally competent and attractive on screen. Funny she’d never given any thought to the way he looked before.

  He went through the basics of who he was and whom he represented, then gave a prepared statement.

  “Senator Byron Maxwell and Lenore Held had a personal relationship when she was his intern approximately twenty-two years ago…” He gave only the facts and concluded, “All parties have asked for privacy. No questions will be taken and no further comments will be made.” Walker left the stage as questions were fired at him.

  Lenore sighed, “I think he did a nice job. The facts and nothing but the facts.”

  “Yes. He was going to come and see you, but I told him no,” Nate said. “Figured someone might follow him to the apartment or hospital. Press knows someone was taken by ambulance to the hospital from Maxwell’s house. They don’t know who for certain. Speculation is you, me, an unknown male.” Nate shrugged.

  “Assuming all the main players close ranks and keep quiet, they can conjecture all they want, as long as they leave us alone. At some point, they will move on to another story.”

  “Agreed. But there’s always Corrine and Ms. Hyde.”

  “Corrine is a wild card, but I don’t think Kelly will say anything.”

  “She’s called several times trying to confirm it’s not me in ICU. I’ve not called her back. Let her think what she wants.”

  “Your call, sweetheart,” Lenore said softly as she ate toast and drank decaf tea.

  “I’m kind of like Nik and her ambivalence about Hubble. It doesn’t matter how I feel; if I can’t trust Kelly, what else is there? You don’t agree?”

  “Not getting involved with your love life or Nikko’s. I will say that trust is one important component of any long-term relationship.”

  “Along with mutual respect, love, and sexual compatibility,” Nate added.

  “Yes,” she replied and looked at him sideways. “You read my books.” It was a statement, not a question.

  “Guilty as charged. It was the easiest way to understand a smart chick’s mind.”

  Lenore threw back her head and laughed. “I’m flattered. But even brainy women make poor choices in men. IQ numbers have nothing to do with emotions of the heart.”

  “You’re a case in point. Look at my father.”

  “Yes.” She sobered, immediately in the present again.

  “Sorry,” her son said. He’d meant the comment as a tease, not a jab.

  She shook her head. “We need to get moving.”

  “Make sure you wear your sunglasses and the cape with the hood,” he instructed.

  “All right.”

  “MP will heal. We’ll all get through this. Maybe I should have disregarded Jack’s request to meet me, but—”

  “Nathan, stop.” Lenore put her hand on top of his. “You did the right thing. Don’t blame yourself. No one had any idea Jack was a murder-suicide candidate.”

  “Like the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished.”

  “You’re too young to be that cynical, honey.”

  “I’m not. But seeing MP in that hospital bed fighting for his life makes me angry.”

  “Me, too. Let’s go. I’m eager to see him. We’ve spent almost every day together since we started working on the book, even before we were involved.”

  “Best friends and lovers.”

  “Yes.”

  Chapter Fifty

  Lenore entered the hospital room and found MP resting, his color better than the day before. All machines seemed to be doing what they needed to do. But as it had yesterday, she knew everything could change in a split second.

  She kissed his forehead and took his hand, gratified to feel its warmth in hers.

  “I love you,” she said softly in his ear, and he smiled. Not his full dimpled one but a smile nonetheless.

  “I’ve kept up your diary to the baby,” she continued. “You have such a tender heart, Michael Patrick, and I expect to share many wonderful years and events with you.”

  He stroked a thumb over her fingers, seeming much stronger and more alert today. She said a silent prayer of thanks.

  “I’m going to sit and work on the laptop. You sleep.”

  He squeezed her hand once before he let it go and drifted off.

  Getting comfortable in the chair bed, Lenore brought up their manuscript. The ending still wasn’t quite right, and she figured she’d work on it some more. MP might feel left out, but they had time to revamp it together once he was better. They were well ahead of deadline, and based on present circumstances, that was a good thing.

  After several hours of edits and re-edits, she thought she might have it.

  Cass was eager to get back to Amanda. Because she refused a CT scan, the doctors insisted she stay in the hospital overnight for observation.

  When he entered her room, Cass saw she was asleep with the bed slightly raised. She looked tiny and helpless with the large bandage covering most of her head. The ER doctor told him it had taken thirty stitches to close the head wound. Her eyes and face were more black and blue than her normal creamy complexion.

  Amanda’s eyes fluttered as he neared the bed. They were slits really. She reached out her hand to h
im.

  Pleased, Cass took it and sat next to the bed.

  “Hey,” she croaked, doing her best to smile.

  “Hey yourself. How are you feeling?”

  “Like a beam hit me in the head,” she teased wryly, her voice hoarse.

  Cass held a glass of water with a straw for her to sip.

  “Thanks. That’s better.” She cleared her throat and ran a hand down the side of his face and studied him intently. “I’ll heal, Cass. That hard head I’ve been accused of having came in handy. More important, the baby, our baby, is fine.” She placed his hand on her stomach.

  “Amanda, you were almost killed. You warned me about Bart and I didn’t listen.”

  “No one knew he was trying to murder me. Plus, you tried to keep me off the set, and I refused to stay away. You didn’t even know I was there until after the collapse. Then you took care of me, us.” She smiled and put her hand on top of his. “This is not your fault.”

  “I should have listened…”

  “I should have too. If you insist on playing this blame game, then it’s a fifty-fifty thing. Let go of the guilt, Cass, please.” Her blue eyes—what he could see of them—were watery. “Please,” she said again. “I love you.”

  Cass looked at her, really looked at her, and a slow grin crossed his face. “You love me?”

  “Is that so hard to believe?”

  “Yes, no.” He ran a hand through his hair, trying to regain his bearing. He got up and sat on the edge of the bed facing her and took both of her hands in his. “I love you, too, sweetheart. I want a life with you and our child. I love you, Amanda. Marry me.”

  “I’ll marry you.”

  Tears of joy in his eyes, he gently leaned in to kiss her, sealing the bargain.

  “Lenore,” MP said, his voice no more than a whisper.

  Quickly, she set the computer aside and went to him. “What is it? Do you need something? Should I get someone?”

  “No. You,” he managed.

  “Shh,” she put a finger to his lips. “You have me; rest.” Lenore gently kissed his lips. She felt unexpected tears welling. Closing her eyes tightly to keep them away, she ran a hand down his face, feeling several days of stubble rough under her fingertips.

  “I did some work on the ending of our book.”

  “Read it, please.”

  She got the laptop and did as he requested. When she finished what she’d completed so far, he said, “Brilliant. Your Amanda assumed blame when neither one was at fault. It made him see sense—”

  She cut him off, not wanting to tire him. “We can polish it when you’re better. Rest now.”

  “Mo chuisle, I’m not going anywhere. Read to me.”

  “From our manuscript?”

  “Yes, from the beginning.”

  “For a little while.”

  As she began to read, the short history of their time together spilled forth as well. So much of them was there in the book. The story was rich, the characters flawed but redeemable. Like her and MP. Decisions, not always the best, dealt with head-on.

  Love had grown from their work together, from their mutual respect for one another’s talents and differences, all the pieces coming together to make them a family, not only her, MP, and the new life that grew inside of her but Nate, too. Finally, she stopped reading. MP needed to rest, and she needed juice and crackers.

  She heard him shift. “I’m not leaving. I needed a snack.”

  “You’ve been taking care of yourself?”

  “I promise, I am. Nate made sure of it. I slept twelve hours last night.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now you rest. I miss falling asleep and waking up with you. I want you well and back in my bed.”

  A dreamy smile crossed his face as he fell back asleep.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Days passed, and MP got stronger. From the ICU, he went to a step-down unit and was hoping to be discharged soon.

  The press was brutal, painting Lenore as a shameless, home-wrecking slut and Byron Maxwell as a serial womanizer. The latter was true. Most likely the press hoped Lenore would speak on her own behalf if they persisted long enough and made the stories ugly enough. The core group, however, stuck to its promise of no comment.

  Funny thing was, it didn’t hurt their books sales, which were up a whopping twelve percent combined. Scandal sells, as Nikko always maintained.

  Lenore’s cell vibrated. It was Nathan.

  “Mom, turn on the TV in MP’s room. Kelly Hyde gave a statement, and it should be playing again soon.”

  Her heart plummeted. She wasn’t sure what to say. “Nate, I’m—”

  “It’s okay. I think the statement might turn the tables on Corrine. I don’t agree with what Kelly did, but it’s not damaging to you or Maxwell.”

  Lenore turned on the news and explained Nate’s call to Michael Patrick.

  “Should be interesting,” he offered, raising an eyebrow, then motioning for her to join him on the bed.

  Kelly’s statement had already begun, but it didn’t appear they missed much.

  “I had promised not to say anything about this matter, but I find it difficult to remain silent as two people are vilified in the press for something they did twenty-two years ago. I know all the players in this saga and must say that Ms. Held was younger than I am now when she made the decision to have and raise her child on her own.

  “I know the child she raised grew up to be a warm, compassionate man, who possesses a keen intellect and wonderful sense of humor. She did not set out to destroy the senator’s marriage but was rather led to believe the marriage was already over. I will say nothing further on that matter, except that things aren’t always, as they appear to be.

  “As for Senator Maxwell, I have no personal knowledge of his behavior with women outside the bonds of marriage. I can only say he that he has been kind and generous to me.

  “Regardless of how one views the behavior of his parents, Senator Maxwell’s son is an innocent bystander of events and should be left out of the sordid speculation of the press. The circumstances of his conception were beyond his control.

  “I have no further comment. I, like the other players here, will be silent from this point forward.”

  Kelly walked off the stage, head held high and shoulders back.

  MP ran a hand through Lenore’s hair. “Do you think Maxwell put her up to that?”

  “No, I think she’s desperately in love with Nathan. But I’m concerned she put herself out there.”

  “Let it go, a chuisle. You can’t do anything about it.”

  “You’re right. But I can’t believe that an event that happened so many years ago is still causing ripples.”

  “Ripples? Since when are you one for understatement?”

  They both laughed.

  “I can’t wait to get out of here,” MP grumbled, changing the subject. “I want to be home.”

  “Soon. Everyone is amazed at how quickly you’re progressing. You’re a medical miracle.”

  “Love is a terrific healer.” He touched her face.

  “Oh, MP, when I thought I’d lost you—”

  “Hush. You didn’t. I’m not going anywhere for a long while.”

  “Good. You promised to help me raise this baby.”

  “I always keep my promises.”

  He kissed her lightly and pulled her back against his chest.

  “Isn’t that against hospital regulations?” an amused voice asked.

  Both MP and Lenore started.

  “Nik, oh my goodness look at you,” Lenore said, getting off the bed to embrace her friend.

  “Yes, look at me,” Nik laughed. “I’m getting round.”

  “You look great,” MP said from the bed.

  “And you look like shit. This is better? How bad did you look before?”

  Lenore looked at her and made a back off face.

  “Sorry, I’ve been hanging with Nolan too much,” Nik said. />
  “Not to worry. It’s just that for a few days, it was truly dire,” Lenore said softly.

  Nik hugged her friend. “Must have been hell.”

  “Yes. Did Hubble let you come alone?” Lenore asked quickly, not wanting to relive those first days again.

  “No. He’s parking, dropped me right at the door. I wanted to come sooner, but Nate didn’t want me to.”

  “He’s been very protective, and he was right. Things were crazy for a while.”

  Nik nodded. “What can I do?”

  “Nothing. Make sure the new book gets marketed heavily.”

  “The media have taken care of that. One thing you might want to think about, since the pictures of you, MP, and Nate are out, is using your wedding pictures. If not on the book jacket, then on your websites and/or Facebook pages.”

  Lenore and MP exchanged a glance. “We’ll think about it,” Michael Patrick said.

  “Do. Now that all your secrets are out, you may as well capitalize on them. Pre-orders have put the new book on the best-seller list before it even hits the presses,” their agent persisted.

  “We’ll think about it, Nik,” MP said again.

  This time Lenore flashed her agent a please don’t agitate glance, and Nik moved on.

  “When do you get out?” Nik asked.

  “Not a much better topic, Nikko, but we hope soon,” Lenore answered.

  “I’m getting antsy here,” MP added.

  “Sit,” Lenore said and motioned her friend to an extra chair.

  She did.

  “How are you feeling? You look great,” Lenore said.

  “I’m wonderful and feel terrific actually—”

  “Doctor says she’s perfect. Baby is right on target for an October 31st debut.” Nolan Hubble beamed as he walked into the room and sat on the arm of Nik’s chair.

  Whatever Nolan Hubble was or wasn’t, he was definitely excited about the baby he and Nikko had created.

  “That’s wonderful,” Lenore offered, settling back on MP’s bed.