Page 127 of Power
“I can’t make that decision for you. You have to do what’s best for you and Emily. But can I say, that didn’t sound like a speech written by anyone else. I think he spoke from the heart, not from a political point of view.”
“He had the speech and he turned it over, he didn’t use whatever speech his team gave him. I feel like I’m a bad person if I say I want this.”
“What? You’re cray-cray if you think you don’t deserve to be happy. If anyone should be loved and happy, it should be you, Reece.”
“Fuck...” I close my eyes to hold the tears back. “Do I though, do I deserve him?”
“Girl, I will get in my—your—car, and drive to where you are and slap the shit out of you! He’s damned lucky to have you, just like you’re damned lucky to have him.” Tash intakes a sharp breath. “Do you love him?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to love anyone, so, I don’t know. Maybe I do love him, but I can tell you right now, it hurt like hell when he said he couldn’t be seen with me. It shredded my soul into so many pieces that I never thought I’d feel whole again. I miss him like crazy too, but I’ve been strong and burying those feelings.”
“Sounds like love to me.”
Tash’s confirmation sends a tingle through me. “I’m scared,” I whisper into the phone. “Something I never thought I’d ever have available to me is here. Bennett is...”
“He’s being brave, and so should you.”
“I should be brave,” I affirm. “But I’m not sure I can be.”
“Reece, that’s all you’ve ever been. Let him in. See where this goes.”
I take in several deep breaths as I nod. “I love you,” I whisper.
“I know. It’s because I’m the best friend anyone could ever have.”
She brings a smile to my lips. “You are.”
“As much as I want to talk to you, I have work to do. Look, I think you should at the very least talk to Bennett and hear him out. I mean, that was a pretty kick-ass grovel. And in front of the nation, too.”
“Yeah, I guess. Alright, I guess, I’ll be seeing you soon.” I feel like a blubbering fool.
“Love you.”
“Love you.” I hang up and leave my phone on the kitchen counter. Heading back into the family room, I find May flicking through the channels. “Tash said I need to be brave.”
“I heard all of your side of the conversation because I was eavesdropping. Yeah, you do need to be brave, and yes, you do deserve love, and you love him too.” She turns the TV off and crosses her arms in front of her chest. “Look at your daughter. How fast have the last ten years gone?”
“In a blink of an eye,” I honestly admit.
“She’s going to be a young adult before you know it, going off to college and starting her own life. Don’t let this chance slip out of your fingers, Reece, because for all you know he may be the love of your life.” May’s eyes soften as she lowers her chin and stares off to the side. “We have one chance at this thing called life, don’t let fear stand in the way of reaching out for what you really want,” May’s tone is soft, as if she’s speaking from personal experience.
I’ve never asked her about her life, perhaps one day soon I should. “What if...”
She snaps her gaze back to me, the almost whimsical look she had has now been replaced by cold, hard eyes. “You deserve the chance to find out if it does work.” She huffs slightly and shuffles closer to the edge of her seat. She stands with a little difficulty and reaches for her cane. “Damn bladder. It’s an asshole when you get older.” She looks around her chair.
“What are you searching for?”
“My phone.”
“I wouldn’t take you for a person who has their phone in the bathroom.”
She sees it caught between the chair cushion and the chair and lifts it out. “First of all, I’ve been trying to beat this hard level on Candy Crush, and second of all if you have to know, I ate a lot of prunes last night.”
“Too much information, May.” I wave my hand at her as I shake my head trying to dislodge that mental picture.
“Let me tell you, prunes will be your best friend when you’re my age.” She scuttles toward the bathroom.
I sit back on the sofa and close my eyes. I wasn’t expecting Bennett to be so raw in his words. His speech wasn’t a political agenda; it wasn’t to win votes. It came from the heart.
