CHAPTER NINETEEN
Nick
I kept talking, trying to explain, but Charley cut me off. “Stop talking, Nick.”
“Charley–”
“I said stop.” While most of our conversation had been happening in hushed tones, Charley no longer cared to keep her voice down. “I can’t talk about this right now.”
I sat back in my seat, tapping my fingers against my thigh to relieve frustration. I had a million things I wanted to say to her, but I decided to keep my mouth shut. Chances were good that anything I said would only anger her more, and I didn’t want us to have a fight in such a public place.
It wasn’t until we had landed and were about to step off the plane that I spoke again. “Cameras will be focused on us the minute we get off this plane.”
She understood my implied warning. Unless we wanted to create even more scandal, Charley needed to pretend like she wasn’t furious with me.
She let me take her hand as we left the airport and made our way to the waiting car. The media had heard about my escape to Danville, and everyone tried their best to get a reaction as they hurled personal questions at me.
“Don’t let them get to you,” I cautioned Charley as I steered her toward the car. “Just ignore them.”
“You’re saying I shouldn’t spill all of the details of my private life?” she responded, voice dripping sarcasm. “Thanks for the tip.”
After we got into the car and pulled into traffic, I turned to her.
“You can’t be mad at me for this, Charley.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Her eyes flashed angrily. “What if I told everyone about your mother, Nick?”
“This isn’t the same thing,” I said, swallowing hard. “I didn’t tell everyone. I told the people that are being paid to protect us.”
“Protect you,” she corrected me. “These people don’t give a shit about me. They have one job– make you look good until your nomination is official. Do you really think they won’t sell me out if it means protecting your image?”
I stared at her blankly, realizing that she was right.
“I won’t let them do that to you,” I said firmly. “If they won’t protect you, I will.”
“They’re not going to give you a choice, Nick. If you want to be Vice President, you’ll have to do whatever they tell you to do.”
“Charley, if I have to choose between you and this job, I choose you.”
She sighed. “Don’t say that. There’s no way you can turn this down, Nick.”
“Of course I can. I’m young. I have a long career ahead of me.” I flashed a smile that I hoped was charming. “The voters love me, Charley.”
“I’m sure they do.” She reluctantly returned my smile. “But there are no guarantees in politics. You might not get another chance like this. I won’t let you throw it away.”
I tilted my head, studying her as a thought passed through my head. “You’re trying to get me to break up with you.”
“What? No,” she scoffed. “That’s crazy.”
“No, it’s not. It’s so obvious.” I smiled again. “You are such a bad actress.”
“I’m not acting.” She was starting to get annoyed again.
My lips curled in a smirk as I looked at her. Even in her annoyance, she looked irresistible. “Then you won’t mind if I come inside with you?”
“I’m still mad at you,” she said, lacking conviction as she stared at my lips.
“Is this our first fight?”
“I think it is.” She slapped my arm softly. “Why are you grinning?”
“I’m just thinking about our first round of makeup sex that’s about to happen.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You sound pretty confident about that.”
“That’s only because I know you can’t resist me.” I got out of the car and circled it to open her door. The media was already snapping pictures. As I offered Charlie my hand, I said, “I’m not wrong, am I?”
“No, Senator Moore,” she said, taking my hand. “You’re not wrong.”
When she was standing in front of me, I put my arms around her. We both ignored the cameras that were flashing around us. “I’m never wrong, Charley. I’m not wrong about this, and I’m not wrong about us.”
“What about us?” She looked deep into my eyes.
“We’re meant to be. Nothing will ever change that.” I cupped her chin in my hand and added, “I promise.” Then I sealed my promise with a kiss.
Charley seemed less sure of that the next day when she was being grilled by the vetting committee.
“I’m not going to answer that,” she said with a glare at the men lined up across from her at the table.
“Charley, you have to answer our questions,” Ted Clark said. He was the President’s special assistant and was leading the vetting team.
“Bullshit. You’ve crossed the line.” I leaned forward from my seat behind her, in a seclude corner of the room. After a long debate, I had finally been allowed to stay in the room as long as I kept my mouth shut. So far, I had been holding up my end of the deal, but they had pushed too far. Their questions had grown increasingly personal and accusatory.
Charley continued to glare at Ted as she said, “Nick, stay out of it.”
I bit hard on the inside of my cheek and sat back with my arms crossed over my chest. Even during the worst questioning I’d received, none of it had bothered me as much as watching Charley be on the receiving end of it.
“Answer the question. Have you ever had an abortion?”
“Have you?” she snapped back. “I believe I’ve already told you that my sex-life is off the table.”
“Charley, you need to understand something. We’re on your side here. We need to know if there’s anything in your past that could be used against Nick in the nomination process.” Ted’s eyes flashed to me for a brief second. “If you’re hiding anything, it’s going to come out.”
She folded her hands on the table and spoke slowly when she said, “There’s something you need to understand, too, Teddy. I’m not playing games here. If there is something I think you need to know, I will tell you. When you’re been an ass, I’ll tell you that, too.”
“Charley.” I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer. “He’s just doing his job.”
There was a long pause and I worried that I had said the wrong thing. It looked like she was thinking about storming out of the room. Instead, she turned to me with a smile. “I’ve got a new plan, Nick. If the concern is that people will want to know more about me, let’s go to the people.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Ted said, looking back and forth between us.
I knew exactly what Charley meant. “You know, that’s not a bad idea.”
It took two days to arrange everything. I reached out to some connections I had in the media and we were able to get an interview scheduled with Nora Langley, host of the top-rated cable news show. Ted put up a good fight to keep us from doing it, but I agreed with Charley that it would be the best thing in the long run.
The reason the press had been freaking out was because they needed material. I hadn’t been on the political scene that long and they were desperate for things to write about me. Until they had those things, they would stick with what they did know about me– I was young, a notorious bachelor, and I had a new girlfriend with an interesting past. Nora would hit us with all the tough questions at once and then it would be over.
“Is it too late to back out?” Charley asked as we stood in front of the cameras. She reached over and straightened my tie with shaking hands.
“It’s not, but I don’t think you really want to do that.” I smiled reassuringly. “It will all be over in an hour.”
“I’ll try not to mess things up for you too bad,” she said, now smoothing her hands over non-existent wrinkles in my shirt.
I caught her hands in mine and kissed her gently. “Just be yourself. America will fall in love with you just like I did.”
“We’re ready!” Nora called to us from the plush couch that had been staged for the interview.
Charley and I settled next to each other while Nora took a seat in a chair across from me. Most of the interview would be focused on me and my political background, but there would also be personal questions directed at both of us.
Nora smiled at both of us, but she directed her question to Charley. “Is this your first prime time interview?”
“This is my first any time interview,” Charley said, sounding nervous.
“You’ll do just fine. Take your time answering questions, we aren’t in a rush. Look at me when you answer and not the camera.” Nora smiled reassuringly. “It will be over before you know it.”
Charley nodded and I reached over and took her hand. Our advisors had encouraged us to refrain from public displays of affection, but I chose to ignore that advice. I was fairly sure our audience could handle a little hand-holding.
Nora started with a friendly introduction. She quickly ran through my biography and I nodded politely while trying not to look too arrogant. The camera focused on just me and Nora and it wasn’t until she turned to personal questions that Charley was pulled into the view.
“If your nomination is accepted, you will be one of the youngest Vice Presidents to take the office. It’s understandable then that there is a certain amount of fascination with you, including your personal life.” Nora smiled sympathetically. “A few months ago, you had a public split from your fiancé that drew a lot of attention. More recently, you’ve been seen with this young woman sitting next to you, Charlotte Tanner. What are you willing to share with us about your personal life, Senator?”
I squeezed Charley’s hand and flashed a smile at her before turning back to Nora. “To be honest, not much. While I agree that the Vice Presidency is a position that requires a certain amount of scrutiny around political matters. I do believe that even politicians are entitled to some privacy in their personal lives.”
“You don’t think that matters in your personal life can have an effect on your policy decisions?” Nora prompted. “For instance, Miss Tanner works for a non-profit that has been lobbying for the passage of Bill 132, a bill which you have recently come out in favor of. I would have to believe that your personal relationship in this case has helped guide your decision.”
“While I respect Charlotte’s opinions and ideals, I’m a man that is quite capable of forming my own opinions on matters, particularly ones that have dramatic consequences for my constituents.” I had been anticipating this question, but it still irked me. “However, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t value her insight into that matter in particular, given her own personal experience with the issue.”
“You are referring to the school shooting in Danville, yes?” Nora turned to Charley. “For our viewers at home that aren’t aware, you were a student at Danville High School ten years ago when there was a shooting that took the lives of 25 teenagers, including your brother. In fact, you were the only one that made it out alive.”
“That’s correct,” Charley said in a strong voice that surprised even me. “The shooter was later found to have severe mental illness and was known to have violent outbursts. He had been suspended from school twice previously for fighting, yet he was also able to legally purchase an assault weapon that was used to kill his classmates, including my brother.”
Nora let those words hang in the air for a few seconds. “It’s safe to say that you have strong opinions on gun control, but do you expect those opinions to be supported by a man that you have relationship with, even when he happens to be a Senator and future Vice President?”
“I expect Nicholas to do what he has always done– listen to experts, study the facts, and make an informed decision. One of things that I appreciate most about him is his heart and his desire to do the right thing, even if it isn’t the most popular decision.” Charley stared straight at Nora, even as I stared at her. She sounded incredibly composed and agreeable. In fact, she sounded like someone running for office.
“Fair enough.” Nora sat up straight. “I’m going to ask another personal question that you may not be willing to answer, but I think people would be angry if I ended the interview before asking it.”
We both sat up straighter as we braced for what was likely to be a difficult question.
“Will the country be celebrating a wedding in the White House anytime soon?” Nora said, grinning.
I froze, completely taken by surprise. I had been sure that she was going to dig more into Charley’s past. It had never occurred to me that she might ask if I was planning to marry Charley.
Charley recovered quicker than me and laughed. “I think Nicholas will be busy in his new role helping the President to formulate policy and lead the country. A wedding isn’t at the top of the priority list.”
“Surely, he could make some time, though,” Nora prodded.
Recovering quickly, I said, “When Charlotte agrees to marry me, you will be the first to know, Nora.” I paused and smiled. “Well, after our families.”
“Fair enough, Senator. I plan to hold you to that.”
We wrapped up with a few less serious questions that would be used to plug the interview throughout the day. The show would air later that night. When it was over, I felt Charley let out a long breath.
“You did great,” I told her, feeling an overwhelming surge of affection for the woman that had just put up with an incredibly personal interview just to support me.
“Let’s just hope it worked,” she said, looking uncertain.
We watched the interview together at my place when it aired and Charley looked nervous the entire time. She kept twisting her hair around her fingers and biting at her lip. I spent more time watching the Charley sitting next to me than the one on the television. During the last commercial break, Ted called.
“I have to admit, you were right. This interview is going better than I thought it would. The country is going to eat it up.” Ted sounded almost disappointed. “Tell Charley she nailed it. I’ve got my feelers out and you’re going to get the votes, Senator. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” I hung up and gave her a long look.
“What?” She looked even more nervous.
“That was Ted.” I had to take a couple of quick breaths as the enormity of what he had said sank in. I took Charley’s hand and looked into her green eyes as I said, “I’m going to be the Vice President.”
She stared blankly at me for several seconds, and then smiled brightly before throwing her arms around me. “I knew it!”
“I’m glad one of us did,” I said as I buried my face in her neck. There was no one I would rather celebrate that moment with than her. “Everything is going to change now, Charley.”
“We’ll be fine,” she said confidently. “As long as we have each other, we can face anything.”