Sorry for the delay again!
Love to you all x
Chapter Seven - Questioning 'why?'
The following morning Henry woke with the phone still resting upon the pillow. As his eyes adjusted to the light in the room his arm slowly moved from his side, his fingers gliding over the screen of the phone, stroking it softly, almost as if Elizabeth would feel it through the phone. He closed his eyes and swallowed his emotions, he would never forgive himself for walking into her office and asking for a divorce, he lost everything through one simple sentence. Letting out a sad sigh he threw the covers back and climbed out of bed and headed downstairs.
'Oh good morning' He smiled and put on a brave face as Alison sat at the kitchen table eating breakfast. He walked over to her and softly kissed the top of her head,
'What are you doing up this early?' He questioned, his gaze also shifting towards the lounge area as he heard the television.
'I couldn't sleep, and I was sat in there' she paused and pointed in the direction Henry was looking 'But it seems SOMEONE is obsessed with the news' she shouted a little louder attracting the attention of Jason, who heard and came marching into the kitchen, flicking the tv on for them all to see.
'Look!' He hissed and slammed the remote into the kitchen counter. Henry jumped at the contact and sighed as he rubbed his forehead.
'Kids please' he paused and turned to the TV 'Turn it off, we do not need to hear what the media has to say about this family' Henry's tone was stern as he removed the remote from the side and switched it off. His glare sharply fixed on Jason.
'Fine, if you won't listen, then read it. Read it here' He threw the morning newspaper into his fathers hands and stormed towards the stairs,
'Jason!'
'What? Are you going to sit and tell us what really happened? Because the people in this family don't even know, so how are we to know what is true and what isn't?' He snapped.
'Jason it has nothing to do with us you idiot' Alison popped up
'Of course it does, how can you be so stupid? Mom doesn't even want us in DC, it has everything to do with us'
'Don't call me stupid!' She slammed her fist into the table and rose from her seat
'Enough! Stop it' Henry bellowed above them. 'Jason get dressed and get to school, Alison you too please' his tone sorted a little towards his daughter, something which didn't go unnoticed by Jason, and with a disappointing shake of his head he carried himself upstairs, away from everyone.
Henry grabbed himself a coffee and the newspaper and threw himself into the seat at the table where Alison was still standing. His mood instantly shifted from bad to worse as he came crashing down from last night's surreal moment with Elizabeth. He looked up and watched as Alison continued to Stand,
'Go and get ready for school please' he asked with firmness
'I don't want to go to school' she mumbled. Normally Alison loved school, she was desperate to go back to her old routine and now it was here she didn't want to go, something which irritated Henry further.
'Go now' he gritted through his teeth. Alison shook her head and stepped away from the table, pushing her chair back with force,
'Perhaps it's not just mum who doesn't have time for us anymore' she hissed and ran off upstairs.
'Noodle' he called after her instantly regretting being so harsh. He threw his head into his hands, shaking it as the disappointment in himself began to set in. He remained in this position for a few moments, a thousand thoughts racing through his head but unable to process any of them clearly as everything was clouded by confusion. Why were they getting a divorce if last night was so good for them both? Why are they throwing everything away? He shook his head vigorously as his emotions tormented him. Just last week when they moved back to the farm house he was sure it was the right thing to divorce, and now, after last night he missed his soulmate more than ever and he was just as confused and broken as he was eight months ago when this whole ordeal started.
Henry moved to reach for his coffee, as he drew the cup to his lips his free hand turned over the paper that his son threw at him moments ago. The headlines enticing him in…
Presidential Affair for the McCords
Henry inhaled deeply as he looked at an image of Conrad kissing Elizabeth's cheek at some event, he knew it was an innocent greeting but he couldn't help but get drawn into the story, so he found himself flicking to page five to read the full report. His eyes scanned across the comment, quotations from her speech plastered across a double spread page, images of her looking 'withdrawn' 'deflated' and 'unhappy' when she was 'in a relationship with Henry', all images compared to more pictures of her greeting or standing with Conrad, 'Happy' 'Glowing' 'Smitten'. He knew in his rational mind all images were taken out of context, all were taken on various days, times but all when they were together. However, like a small stone in your shoe, that annoying little thought demanded attention, demanded to be found, shook about and explored. That thought was the possibility that an affair between his soon to be ex-wife and her boss had taken place…
Henry flicked the paper towards the back, trying to get lost within the sports section of the paper, but it was no use. No matter how many times he read and re-read the information his mind fixated back on the thought of Elizabeth and Conrad, a stone not yet removed. He closed the paper and took himself and his coffee upstairs sipping it as he climbed the stairs and entered his bedroom. Everything hit him once again; the room no longer smelled like her, none of her clothes were here and the dressing table lay bare. He rummaged through the wardrobe, himself now taking his own anger out on his clothes, just like Elizabeth used to. Henry couldn't Catch a hold of himself, this morning's newspaper stories had thrown him off guard, it suddenly made sense as to why Jason was so temperamental at the moment. He paused for a moment to sit on the bed, his phone sliding down to his leg as the mattress dipped beneath him.
Feeling the weight of it against him he shuffled and picked it up, instantly scrolling to her name, his thumbs gliding over the screen desperately wanting to call her, he didn't believe the rumours of an affair but he needed to hear it from her. He began to type out a message and before he knew it, he'd already pressed send…
- - - - MS - - - -
Meanwhile over in Paris Elizabeth was already immersed in the chaos of the day. She had woken that morning with a smile across her face for the first time in months, having spent the evening on the phone to Henry made her feel a lot more settled within herself, and like she could face anything. In truth it was needed as the media coverage around their relationship descended into chaos, every other passing comment was about her material status but she continued to ignore it and get on with the job in hand. As she walked away from the NATO meeting room for yet another break she sighed heavily as her tiredness and slight annoyance from political talks began to creep in, something which didn't go unnoticed by Blake.
'Everything ok Madam Secretary?'
'Hmm' she nodded and smiled softly.
'Madam Secretary we've just been informed that the NATO meetings will continue tomorrow now, it appears France needs some time to evaluate things' Nadine confirmed and Elizabeth couldn't help but roll her eyes before firmly nodding and acknowledging her chief of staff.
'Well, looks like you all have the afternoon off, go, go and explore' she smiled, shooing them away, secretly just wanting to be alone with her thoughts. Last night weighed heavily on her and she had missed him so much; she felt like a tiny spark within her was ignited within her, a small flame flickered inside as she began to question why they were getting a divorce.
'Blake? I said you can have the afternoon off' She looked confused as to why he was the only staff member still standing around her, aside from her security detail.
'Because, I am also your friend and I don't believe you should be alone'
'Blake I am fine, go and enjoy the sights of Paris, please' Blake raised an eyebrow at her, unsure about her motives. 'Honestly, go. I am going sight seeing myself anyway' she quipped
'You are?' He asked
'You are?' Matt her DS agent leant into the conversation with a concerned look across his face, something Elizabeth rolled her eyes at.
'Where are you going?' Blake asked, knowing she had no real intentions of sight seeing when they left DC, after all he plans her days. Elizabeth's mind drew a blank for a second and then…
'The Eiffel Tower' she grinned as a familiar voice echoed through her thoughts… 'Where would you visit first?' She asked, 'Probably the Eiffel Tower. I'd climb all the way to the top and then I'd be able to see the whole of Paris within my first stop'
'Urm, Madam Secretary that isn't somewhere we can just turn up, it's too open, and-'
'Matt, I am going to the Eiffel Tower, so either make it happen or don't come' she informed him and began to walk off towards her hotel room to change. 'I'll be back down in ten minutes' she smiled and continued to walk away. Blake and Matt exchanged knowing looks
'She kills me' Matt muttered
'Yep' Blake nodded and patted Matt on the shoulder before walking away himself.
Moments had passed and Elizabeth was changed into more comfortable clothes, and ready to head to the centre of Pairs. As Elizabeth grabbed her personal belongings she noticed that she had received a text from Henry nearly half an hour ago. Certainly it would be about last night. She decided to savour the text and read it when she was alone. She slid her phone into her back jeans pocket and hurried back to the main entrance of the hotel.
She couldn't help but giggled when she noticed Matt's stale look spread across his face.
'Oh come on Matt, it will be fun. It's not like I am going to make you climb all the way to the top. We can take the lift' she winked
'Madam Secretary I have to advise we really shouldn't be doing this'
'Understand, now let's go' she nodded, determined to go and do something whilst her flame was burning, a part of her hoping that these intricate moments would allow the flame between her and Henry to burn brighter once again.
As Elizabeth stepped out of the lift to the top floor of the Eiffel tower her breath was taken away, she was amazed by the view, her eyes widened as she took in the panoramic sites of Pairs from up high. Multiple members of the public continued to stop her and asked for a picture or a moment of her time, something which she never felt she could refuse. Matt and Fred continued to stay at her side, both unsettled by the swarm of people around her. She spent a few moments leaning against the mesh wire whilst looking down to the ground, her mind swarming with memories of Henry, her heart longing for him to be with her. Elizabeth captured a few photos before she felt Matt's hand on her shoulder gently pulling her back toward them, signalling it was too crowded and they had to move. Elizabeth didn't protest and agreed to head towards the lower levels of the tower.
Once on the first level she stopped on the glass floor and looked around; seeing this level was much quieter she decided to try and video call Henry, Determined to show him the sights of the Eiffel tower, just like he always dreamed. She didn't know why was driving this sudden urge to speak to him, or just why she no longer felt she had control over contacting him but she also didn't object. As the phone rang and tried to establish a connection Elizabeth remembered she had a text from him, quickly swiping the screen away she opened up her messages whilst still calling him.
Her heart sank and shattered within seconds, the reality that they were getting a divorce slapped her in the face as her eyes scanned his message.
To: Elizabeth
From: Henry
'Did you have an affair with Conrad?'
'Elizabeth?' Henry called, as the video connected. She pulled the screen up and her reality caught up with her. Her mind swarming with questions. What am I doing? If We getting divorced, People will see us on the call. Does he really think I'd have an affair?
'Elizabeth?' He repeated as he looked at her hurt expression on the screen. Hearing his voice again she swallowed hard and blinked away the tears. 'No I never had an affair Henry' she hissed and hung up immediately. She dropped her hand which held the phone to her side and dipped her head, her eyes fixating on the glass floor beneath her, and the marked area which she unknowingly stood upon. An area circled and marked 'A good place to Kiss'.
A small whimper escaped her as she quickly turned looking for Matt and Fred within an ever growing crowd. Thankfully they had both been watching her and as soon as they noticed the broken look on her face they hurried in and kept a close circle around her.
'Get me out of here' she whimpered as tears rolled down her face, unable to make the pain anymore. She pressed her lips together tightly as she held in her sobs, unwilling to fall apart in public. Her body ran cold once again as Henry's stone had damped out her flame once again.