Chapter Thirty-Three
Evie
If things were supposed to look brighter in the light of day, they didn’t. I had to text another absence into school today and tell my principal I couldn’t come to work. My text message didn’t come as a surprise. The whole city, heck probably the entire country, knew. I thought she’d be mad about me bringing the negative publicity onto the school, but she only had questions for me as to what Colton Mathis was like. Then she told me not to worry and that this would all blow over. I had been working with her for five years now, and I was relieved when she texted.
Evie, you are a kind young woman who possibly fell for the wrong man. He’s famous, so this is a big deal. It will blow over. Nothing stays top news forever, but please don’t run away from your students and this school. We are like your family here. You should come back soon.
I stare at the message a long while. Was she right? Would everyone at work just see this as a relationship gone wrong?” Or would I be the harlot the newspapers had made me out to be? Will they view me as the woman who stabbed the handsome and charming Colton Mathis in the back? I blow out a long breath and text back.
Just give me another day, and I will be back. I don’t want to leave the students before they have to write exams.
Smart woman.
She texts back, too bad I didn’t agree with her. I was feeling low. I had told myself from the start that Colton was all wrong for me yet I didn’t take my own usually sound advice.
Carter is still sleeping in the bed beside me. It is already after eight am. I slip the door open slightly and see Thatch sitting on a chair between mine and Jake’s door.
“Good morning, Ms. Harper,” he smiles.
“It’s Evie.” I give him a friendly smile back.
His eyes turn to the floor, and he says, “Hotel wanted to leave you this morning’s paper.” His lips twist apologetically, and I don’t know why until I look at the front page of the newspaper. Colton is standing on a balcony. It looks like an air shot. A beautiful woman with a long blonde braid embracing him with her head pressed to his shoulder. She looks slender, model perfect. The headline says, Rumors That Colton Mathis is Back Together With Socialite Cassandra Steel
My heart dips in my chest for a moment, but I plaster on a smile and look back up to Thatch as if I’m not affected. By the sad gleam in his eyes, I know I’m doing a poor job.
“Here is a suitcase of clothes for you and Carter. Hope I did a good job getting things together for you.” He stands from the chair and passes me the suitcase. I’m a little embarrassed that he had to rummage through my panty drawer, but he’s been very professional about everything, so I try not to blush too hard. Of course with my complexion, it’s a losing battle.
“Thank you. I’m sure it’s exactly what we need.” I pause. “If you’ll excuse me.” I turn and walk back to my room. Thankfully, Carter is asleep, and I take the newspaper and look at the shot of Colton and Cassandra. I remember seeing the name on his phone the first night we spent together. She had texted him a picture of her breasts. It seems he ran right back to her open arms. The shot taken of them is an intimate one. It shows me that if I ever had a tinge of hope for Colton and me I should stop because we are truly over.
With nothing to do, I lay back in bed and scroll through the articles on Colton and me. It seems like the Colton, Cassandra story is the interest of the reporters this morning. By the time I’ve had my fill of seeing Cassandra draped all over Colton. I place my phone on the nightstand and open the TV on mute. Maybe I can find a movie to distract me from my life. Only on the first channel, I flip through I see cool blue eyes staring back at me. Blue eyes that once used to gaze at me through warmth and love. Colton is holding a press conference. I quickly play with the buttons on the remote and set the television to English subtitles.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press. As you know, some information about my family has come to light in recent days. I was completely unaware of the facts that were brought forth to me but have since been updated. As many of you know, I was raised by my father who ran a single parent household. I know many of you have questions and there is a lot of speculation circulating certain issues in my private life, but I am here to speak to the people of Illinois. As your governor, I believe you have the right to know certain things about my personal life when they pertain to our great state and how it is run. From the start, I have advocated for transparency in the judicial process, and I expect to offer you the same transparency with my life since I am an elected official.
“The Mathis family has never been a part of or contributed to my political career. I have hired a private team which I am financing personally to review all my election campaigns to ensure that no money was given by any member of the Mathis family, and to ensure that all elections were run legitimately, both at the state attorney level and pertaining to the governorship.
Secondly, and this is a personal matter but one I have decided to share with you out of my own good will. I did not know my mother growing up. I was unaware I had a brother since they both left when I was young. I will not focus on the reasons they left. That is water under the bridge. Many families face turmoil, many marriages fail, and my parents had a failed marriage. Could they have done things a little differently?” he pauses and smiles softly to the crowd. “Yes. I believe they made poor decisions they wish they could take back upon deeper reflection. However, now we are in the present, and I would like to get to know my mother and brother. They are not villains in this story. We are simply an all-American family. We are not perfect, but now it is time for us to reunite. I know I would like to take the time to get to know them.” He pauses, and I can see him swallow hard.
“The last matter I wish to discuss is Evie Harper.” He pauses again and looks to the camera. Shit now I’ve become a matter. I sit at the edge of the bed my legs crossed over each other feeling like I can crawl out of my skin as I wait for Colton’s next words. “I want to confirm that I am the one who pursued Ms. Harper. She is also not the villain here. I did not know she had ties to my estranged mother and brother when I pursued her. She was not hired by any of my political adversaries as has been reported. She is simply a woman I dated for a short length of time.” He stops talking and looks down to some papers he has in front of him on the pedestal. “That is all I will say about Ms. Harper other than she is, I repeat, in no way involved in a scandal to try and bring me down. As your governor, I assure you that my own very reliable sources have confirmed that Ms. Harper’s relationship with my estranged mother and brother was a complete coincidence. A tough pill to swallow. Nonetheless, we met by chance, and it simply didn’t work out.” He smiles to the camera - that panty melting sexy smile that made me first accept his dance, invite him into my apartment and inevitably fall in love with him.
“I hope I have laid all your questions on this matter to rest. Finally, I would like to say in light of recent circumstances I will be withdrawing my intent to run for the presidency of our great country. I will also be stepping down from my role as governor.” Colton ends his speech, and you can see many flashes going off on the TV screen. A woman steps in beside him and says that the governor has agreed to answer a few questions.
“What will you do after you leave the post of the governor?” one reporter asks.
“Spend time with my new family. Get to know them,” he says with a crooked grin.
“You were running as an independent candidate. Do you see someone else stepping into that position?” another reporter asks.
“I don’t know. It’s not for me to say.” He smiles and looks sideways. The camera lands on Al. Then returns to Colton. I notice that his father isn’t there like he was in the first press conference I watched when Colton announced his intention to run for the presidency.
“Mr. Governor, do you think you and Ms. Harper will reconcile? I mean, your story is a little like a fairy tale. You met not knowing who she was and because of her you were reunited with a family you didn’t know you had?” the reporter asks and it doesn’t seem like a question.
“I am thankful for meeting Ms. Harper. I don’t see any chance of reconciliation. Sorry to disappoint.” He gives a wry smile.
Someone shouts. “The women of Illinois will be happy you are a bachelor again.” Colton smiles bashfully. I can see why the people are so enthralled with him. He has such a friendly likable personality, and his looks just give him that movie star quality of being bigger than life.
“Thank you to the members of the media for coming out today on such short notice. I truly do appreciate every one of you.” With his last words he smiles and waves. I continue to watch as he is ushered off stage. I blow out a breath. I am simply a woman he dated for a short length of time. I repeat his words in my head, only my heart cracks in two. He was so much more than that for me.
Carter shuffles in the bed beside me and opens his clear blue eyes. “Hi Mommy,” he signs. I wonder if his eyes will ever stop reminding me of Colton and if the pain will remain in my heart forever.
“Good morning, baby.” I smile and kiss my son on the forehead. I need to look on the bright side. At least Colton knows I didn’t try to hurt him on purpose. Maybe the media will back away now. That seemed to be the intention of his press conference. He wants to step away from the public eye. Carter shoots out of bed and runs to the door. I’m sure someone must have knocked.
“Carter no, we need to ask who it is first.” I hope I’m shouting when I say it but my words are too late. Our hotel room door flies open. I sigh with relief when I see that it’s only Jake and Veronica. They are all dressed in new clothes and wearing smiles on their faces. It also seems like the stress of this ordeal has been lifted for them. I wish I could say the same for me.
“Good morning,” Jake signs and Carter gives him a big hug.
I look down to my robe. “I should get dressed,” I sign. I walk over to my suitcase. Veronica walks into the room and takes a seat on a chair beside a little kitchen table. Carter is busy chatting with her.
She asks him to pause for a minute and signs, “We should eat some breakfast, yeah?”
I nod, and so does Jake. I walk off to the washroom and Jake takes me gently by the arm to stop me. “You okay?” His brown eyes look sincere. Gosh! When I think about everything that happened these last few weeks, my head spins. Jake told me he was in love with me while he knew I was in love with his brother. Now Jake, Veronica, Colton and probably Carter will want to spend time together. To get to know each other and where will that leave me?
“I’m fine,” I lie in response to Jake’s question. I’m far from fine.
“Okay.” He gently releases my hand and doesn’t move, but I can see he has more on his mind. He waits a moment looking me over. “He wants to see us, today…” he signs then pauses, running his hand over his freshly washed light brown hair. “It’s weird, isn’t it? I mean I saw him as a man you were dating. I was jealous of him,” he admits with a sorrowful look. “I don’t know what to feel for him now. I thought I was an only child. It’s always just been Mom and me.” He shrugs.
I place a hand on Jake’s shoulder to console him then sign, “You don’t have to feel like you owe me an explanation about meeting with him today or ever. He’s your family. He wants to get to know you guys. He’s lead a lonely life I’m truly happy for all of you.” I force a smile because deep down I want to be part of their family.
“Maybe it’s too soon for you to see him today but maybe in the future, you two can at least be friends.” Jake leans in and hugs me. I know he means well but the thought of only being friends with Colton makes me feel ill. I wanted much more than friendship from him.
I pull away from Jake. “Thank you,” I smirk. It’s the best I can do right now. “I’m going to get changed.”
Jake nods. He knows me too well. He can read the hurt in my eyes. “Is it okay if Carter comes with us?” He winces when he asks.
The question causes a pang of pain in the center of my chest. My brows draw together, “Yes, of course. Carter likes Colton,” I answer and turn away quickly because I feel like I will break down crying and I prefer to do it in the privacy of the bathroom, and I don’t want to ruin the reunion party Veronica and Jake are about to have. When I close the bathroom door, I allow myself to break down and cry.