I had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before we looked back to these days as the simpler times…
It was a bittersweet feeling indeed.
I retreated farther backstage, where various people from my father’s political team smiled and offered me warm greetings. I politely said hello back, and made my way to the television room, where I could watch the live broadcast of my father’s speech and see how he worked the crowd. I’d heard him practice this speech before, he had recited it in the car, so I would know when he was nearing the end of it. When he got toward the end, I would meet him out on the stage, and we would
wave at the crowd and shake as many hands as possible before leaving.
Settling onto the couch before the television, I couldn’t help smiling as I watched my dad pace the stage, speaking to his riveted audience. He was a natural, and his charisma just leapt off the screen. I knew he had to look even more impressive to those actually out in the audience.
As I sat there watching my father’s speech though, I began to wish I had gone out to watch from the crowd when my mind began to wander in ways I didn’t want it to.
If I’d been out in the big crowd, it would have been easier to keep thoughts of Colt at bay…
But as usual, whenever I sat idly for too long, he popped into my mind, particularly the last time I had seen him.
Every night, I’d been tossing and turning, thinking about him and convinced that he hadn’t truly meant those hurtful words he’d said to me. But I didn’t want to be in denial; I refused to be one of those girls who couldn’t accept what was right in front of their faces.
Colt had openly resisted me that night. He hadn’t even wanted to be in my presence. And most of all, he hadn’t been able to say that he loved me back. After all we’d been through, he just didn’t feel the same.
In his words—it didn’t matter.
My heart broke a little more each time I thought about it, but I knew the only thing I could do was move on and wait until time mended my heart back together again.
I just wished it wouldn’t take so damned long.
“Natalie…”
I jumped at the sound of someone calling my name in a sing-song voice. Turning around to the sound of clicking high-heels, a smile spread across my face. “Eden!” I cried out.
She skipped toward me, her arms outstretched and ready for a hug that I gladly returned.
“Girl, it feels like it’s been forever!”
“I know!” I said. “What are you doing here?”
“My dad and I flew over in support of your dad, of course!”
“Well, I’m so glad you’re here. I haven’t seen you since Turkey!”
“Well, you’ve understandably been busy—future…what would you be called? Second-daughter?”
I laughed. “Let’s not count our chickens before they’re hatched.”
“Your dad has this in a bag,” Eden said confidently, taking my hand as we both sat on the couch and turned to the television to continue watching the rally. Dad was now taking questions from the audience, explaining the ideas and policies he would like to someday see implemented in our government.
“So…” Eden said, a grin on her face, “the last time I saw you, you were in the company of a very handsome stranger. Anything ever become of that?”
I hung my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Yeah—a headache.”
Eden’s brow furrowed as if she hadn’t been expecting that response. “What do you mean?”
“Things didn’t work out.”
She pouted. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I said. “Would you believe he ended up on my dad’s security team?”
“Hmmm…” she said, and then grew quiet, clearly waiting for elaboration.