Chapter Sixty - Ownership
As the evening drew in, the McCord family home in DC descended into chaos. A swarm of emotions bounced around as the news of their fathers new girlfriend filtered through the media platform. Each of the children added their own opinion with attached emotions into the mix whilst Elizabeth attempted to remain as detached as possible, at least on the outside.
Elizabeth sat in the kitchen wrapped in her white fluffy robe as Alison worked on her makeup, getting her ready for the evening Military Ball. Her mind drifts constantly to thoughts of Henry and Charlotte, unsure what to think about it.
'This literally sucks' Jason moaned as he threw himself down at the table. Elizabeth opened her eyes and softly looked at him. She didn't need to ask what he was referring to, she knew, the sadness on his face said it all.
'I can't even believe him. Mom, he really didn't tell you?' Stevie asked, Elizabeth gently shook her head and exhaled deeply.
'Keep still mom' Alison whispered with a softness as she continued to apply base layers of makeup to her face, forcing Elizabeth to speak up rather than respond with actions.
'No he didn't, look guys I know this is difficult and whilst I don't really know what to think about all of this, I know going over it constantly isn't going to help any of us' she tried to reason but the kids all scoffed in response
'Mom he literally has a new girlfriend, this is not ok!' Stevie exclaimed
'I've been saying this for weeks' Jason sighed. Elizabeth held her hand up and stopped Alison from applying anything else as she turned to face her son, her features falling and looking crushed as she listened to what he said. Weeks.
'Weeks?' She asked cautiously
'Yeah' he dipped his head. 'Sorry Mom, I caught him with her one evening so he was kind of forced to tell me, I Told him exactly what I thought of him, and her for that matter. She is a bi-'
'Stop.' Elizabeth warned him. 'Did you know?' She turned to Alison who silently nodded. 'That explains why you've been quiet since you arrived.' Elizabeth sighed, standing up from her chair and walking towards the cupboards.
'Did you know?' She asked Stevie as she walked past.
'No, I found out from the news' she shook her head.
'Did either of you, or your father know she was coming tonight?' Elizabeth tried to piece the information together.
'No Mom, dad said she wasn't and when I spoke to Charlotte she said she was surprising him so I really don't think he knew.' Alison bit her lip nervously as she spoke.
'I suppose dad is with her now?' Stevie asked. Elizabeth reached into the cupboard for a glass and headed into the pantry in search of a bottle of wine whilst her kids continued to unveil the truth.
'Yeah he's staying at the hotel she booked, I assume he will be staying there until we go home tomorrow evening' Alison shrugged
'He will.' Elizabeth cut across, a firm command escaping her lips as she poured herself a drink. All the kids watched her, silence filling the room as the tension came in thick and fast.
'I can't believe him. This isn't dad' Stevie sighed
'I think she makes him happy. In some ways, she is nice when you get to know her. I went with her shopping last week and-'
'You took her shopping?' Elizabeth couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice as she looked over to Alison. This wasn't her family as she knew it and the heartache which rattled her bones proved that things had changed.
'Yeah, Mom please don't be mad, she asked for my help and I couldn't say no' Alison tried to rationalize but Elizabeth stood in silence, her teeth nibbling at her lip as she felt the sadness cover her eyes. 'She wanted to make a good impression for you tonight and I-'
'Tonight? So you lied to me moments ago, You knew before you came here that she was coming?' Elizabeth asked firmly, Alison silently nodded as tears filled her eyes.
'Alison!' Stevie snapped. Elizabeth slowly reached out, placing a soothing arm on Stevie's back, a silent gesture for her eldest daughter to stop before she started.
'You're a real jerk!' Jason threw at Alison
'Why because I helped her pick out a dress so she didn't look like a total idiot tonight?' Alison scoffed
'Yes!' Stevie replied
'No because you've just blind sided mom and dad and made them argue even more!' Jason stood up as he bit at his sister
'IT'S NOT MY FAULT THEY'RE GETTING A DIVORCE!'
'IT'S YOUR FAULT DAD ISN'T STAYING HERE AND IS WITH HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND'
'YOU'VE MADE THIS SO AWKWARD ALISON'
'ME? HOW! DAD IS MOVING ON WHY CAN'T WE' Alison shrieks
'I ALWAYS THOUGHT SHE WAS THE SELFISH ONE' Jason pointed towards stevie as his anger took over
'ME! WHAT? HOW AM I SELFISH'
'OH YOU ARE' Alison scoffed, her arms folding in the process
'YOU BOTH ARE! DO YOU EVEN CARE ABOUT MOM OR DAD?'
'COMING FROM YOU! YOU DID NOTHING BUT MAKE LIFE HARDER FOR MOM WHEN YOU LIVED HERE' Stevie snapped.
'Ok I think we need some order in here' Blake sighed as he walked into the kitchen. Elizabeth turned to look at him, jumping slightly as he spoke as she didn't hear him enter the home.
'STOP' Nadine shouted above them all, commanding the silence in the room. Elizabeth gazed at her chief of staff.
'Thank you' she mouthed before Turning to face her kids, her eyes falling to each of them as she tried to muster up the courage to speak.
'Mom I am so sorry' Alison spoke tearfully
'For which part? Not thinking about her or helping dad's new girlfriend?' Jason mocked and Alison burst into tears. Stevie stood glancing at Blake awkwardly.
'Well, I guess dad had to get under someone to get over you mom' Jason quipped.
'Gross' Stevie screwed up her face.
'All of you need to stop' Elizabeth whispered, 'I don't think any of you have considered me in any of this at any one point. Stevie, you cannot attack Alison when you yourself have not even been around and you live under the same roof as me, supposedly. Jason, getting into fights at school and all of your sarcastic comments haven't exactly been easy to manage and co-parent when your father and I are trying to separate. And yes Alison, I am mad at you, whilst I applaud you as a woman for helping another and I know it would have come from a good place in your heart, I cannot believe you would blind side me like that.' She ranted, her emotions finally spilling. She reached for her drink and took a large gulp before inhaling deeply, her hands shaking as she tried to remain in control.
'Right, Stevie, I believe Jareth is waiting for you, Alison and Jason. Your ride is here, go and enjoy your time with your friends and don't forget the DS agents are collecting you at midnight. Ma'am you need to get upstairs and get dressed and I'll find you something stronger to drink' Blake took over, he smiled softly at Elizabeth and winked at her to lighten the tension just a little.
The kids began to walk over to Elizabeth, awkwardly hugging her and kissing her as they left the house one by one. Alison paused as she stood by her mother.
'I am so sorry Mom' she whispered, Elizabeth chewed her lips and nodded softly, her silence hitting harder than any words could. 'I love you' Alison's voice cracked as she looked to her mother for reassurance.
``Love you too, noodle, but it doesn't take anything away,' she reminded her daughter who nodded as she slipped out of the kitchen and out for the night.
'Ma'am-'
'Give me ten minutes and we can go' she sighed, cutting across Nadine as she took herself upstairs to get dressed for the evening, digging deep to pull herself together, determined to get through the evening without a glitch.
Time was ticking on and both Blake and Nadine were starting to glance at the clock frequently as they silently willed Elizabeth to hurry up. Blake began to twitch nervously as he realised they were going to be late.
'Should one of us go up and check, we should have left by now?' Blake asked and Nadine softly chuckled
'Go on, I'll go and wait in the motorcade and let them know we are on our way' She explained and softly patted his shoulder as she walked behind him and out the front door. Blake watched her leave and cautiously began to reach for the banister, stopping as he heard the soft sound of heels clicking down the hallway.
He glanced up and smiled genuinely as the glimmer of Elizabeth walking downstairs caught in his eye.
'Madam Secretary, wow' he gasped, the vision of her flawing him.
'Oh Blake no, not wow, I don't know about this.' She replied nervously, her inner turmoil surfacing.
'You look amazing' he reassured her
'Thanks, but that wasn't what I meant. This dress is a little out of my comfort zone but my emotions and the fact Henry has a new girlfriend are also out of my comfort zone' she rambled as she stopped on the step before him.
'You're a professional Ma'am, you'll get through the night' He reassured her. She smiled softly at his attempt.
'I took my wedding ring off' she blurted out, her chest rising and falling anxiously as her eyes danced across Blakes face, desperately seeking reassurance, the kind that Henry used to offer.
'Oh, ok' His slow pronunciation of his words drenched in uncertainty
'Should I put it on? Am I supposed to wait until the divorce is finalised? I don't know the protocol for all of this' She sighed
'I think protocol went out the window when Charlotte turned up' he offered a small smile and a sadness in his expression as he hit her with the truth. Elizabeth pressed her lips together and reverted back to her silent smile as she took a moment to be with her thoughts.
'It's just not like Henry at all, I don't understand the way he is behaving, it makes me wonder if he is ok, what if he is really struggling and this is a distress response? Should I do something about it?' She worried
'Let's not worry about that tonight, we can always revisit that idea in the morning' He offered.
'That's just you politely saying that we are late and need to go before Nadine shouts at us both' she chuckled and inhaled deeply, straightening herself up as she lifted her head, holding it high. 'Lets go' she inhaled, smiling anxiously.
'You've got this Ma'am' he winked, holding out his arm for her to take, giggling at his gesture she slipped her arm around his and walked the short journey from her lounge to her motorcade.
'I've got this,' she reminded herself as she slipped inside her motorcade and they began to make their way to the Military ball…