AN; Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Year 28 just got off to a great start with a Bday tweet from Tea *insert emotionally unstable emoji*
I love that you are all enjoying this, or should I say enduring this... ha! I can confirm that the next few chapters are rough, but from 66 onwards you might just see a slight change in the waters! I can also offically confirm that I have written a chapter in 'the future' which contains a H and E kiss...
Your patience is noted and paying off.
Thanks everyone!
Chapter Sixty Two - Elizabeth Adams McCord
Before Elizabeth knew it the morning had arrived, her tired, aching body was dressed in her running gear and she was heading out the door to greet Mike B. She clasped a hand over her mouth as she let out a yawn, her back arching as it stretched off her tiredness. Elizabeth blinked a few times as she adjusted to the morning sunlight and began to jog towards the meeting point.
It didn't take her too long before she was at the park and jogging towards Mike B who was stretching out on a bench. Elizabeth slowed herself down and screwed up her face at the sight of him lunging.
'Really? it's not even five-thirty in the morning and you're just going to do that?' She teased as she took a sip of water.
'Morning to you too' he quipped and she chuckled softly
'Come on, let's run and you can put me out of my misery and tell me what all this is about' she sighed, her mind had been stirring up endless possibilities last night, now she needed the real reasons as to why Mike was on the scene.
'Nothing like getting straight to the point, although I don't think it's going to put you out of sed misery' Mike moaned
'Spill' she asserted herself with a firm gaze as she began to jog on the spot, slowly running into the park with Mike B at her side.
'Russell called me, he felt that you may have needed someone a little tougher in your team, given recent events' he started to explain. Elizabeth glanced at him for a second with a questioning gaze.
'It was not his call' she highlighted
'I know that, but I can't help but think he is right. Elizabeth I have known you for some years now, Henry too. This is a shambles' his outburst came though staggered breaths as they ran up hill.
'And by shambles I presume that is my marriage you're referring too' she spoke through gritted teeth
'Hate to tell you but it's the truth, I never saw you nor Henry in the papers as much as you have been the last few weeks, months even' he pointed out and she inhaled deeply, focusing on her breathing as she pushed herself harder up the hill.
'Look Elizabeth, they want your marriage out of the papers, Conrad has an election to win, and I don't suppose you want to be in every single news article going either'
'Well, no-'
'Exactly so I am here to have those difficult conversations with you'
'Like what?' She panted, coming to a stop and placing her hands on her thighs as she bent over sucking air into her lungs. Mike too stopped and reached for their water from the DS agents, handing Elizabeth a bottle.
'Thanks' she panted
'Like the fact you need to distance yourself from Henry. Elizabeth there are pictures in the papers of you two at the Military fate meeting his girlfriend and then a more intimate one of the night, you're giving them a story, if you want them to leave you and your family alone you need to break that contact with him' Mike sighed
'I can't just break contact with him Mike, He is the father of my children, and right now he is still my Husband' she clutched onto every reason she could find.
'I don't mean break all contact, but you can't be seen in public with him, it's too personal for papers' he shrugged
'And what do you suggest I do? There are press outside my office, outside my house, they are everywhere. What so I just meet him in the back of my motorcade if I want to speak to him?' She shook her head in annoyance
'Great you found a solution, now onto my next request' he smiled awkwardly as she rolled her eyes at him.
'What?' She hissed
'Your Name' he paused
'What about my name?' She raised her eyebrow at him, her mouth twisting as the anger set In
'We need to know if you're staying as McCord, or will you go back to being an Adams?' He spoke cautiously. Elizabeth let out a slow breath, her eyes falling from Mike's face to the floor as his words sunk in.
'I, I don't know, I haven't thought about it I guess' her words stumbling as she tried to string a sentence together.
'I am sorry for having to be the one to ask you, believe me I am but, we don't want Daisy or anyone being blindsided, Nor do I want her coming and attacking you over It when it's already difficult enough. I think it's best they know before the press gets that information, soften the blow a little' he spoke in a softer tone, his caring nature coming through.
'Thank you. I'll think about it and let you know' she spoke quietly, her hand resting on her stomach as an uncomfortable feeling rose. 'Is that it?' She asked hopefully
'Yeah'
'I'm heading back to shower' her words rushed as her body mind filled with anxiety, she turned on the spot and began to jog past Mike, her legs carrying her a little faster than normal all the way back to her home, refusing to stand still and let her reality consume her once again.
Within the safety of her ensuite Elizabeth took a seat on the step on the floor, her head dipping into her hand as they rested on her knees. How has she not thought of this, she felt as though she had left her defence wide open and had been tackled right to the ground. Her breath shook a little as she tried to stop the panic within, her mind chasing thought after thought as she started to lose sight of her own identity; Who was she?
She closed her eyes and lifted her head, slowly counting as she inhaled and exhaled, utilising the quiet space to soothe herself. Once she peeled her eyes open her eyes fell on the skins before her, his and hers, except it was no longer his, nothing within the house was his anymore as he had taken everything which held importance or belonged to him. Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder if he held the same values around a name.
Pulling her phone from her pocket Elizabeth chewed her lip and held her breath as she scrolled down her recent contacts trying to find his name, which now sat at the bottom of her list, only just making it. She allowed the message box to open and frantically tapped at her screen before pressing send, not a single moment of hesitation crept in but an unwavering amount of doubt.
To: Henry
From: Elizabeth
Hey, can I see you before you head back to the farm? I need to talk to you. It's important. Let me know. After work?
To: Elizabeth
From: Henry
Morning, of course. I think we need to talk. Where shall we meet? The house?'
To: Henry
From: Elizabeth
Meet me outside State, my motorcade will be there. I'll tell Matt to let you in, we can just drive for a bit. see you then.
To: Elizabeth
From: Henry
Sounds formal…? See you there.
Elizabeth slipped her phone back in her pocket, a refusal to reply and entertain his question set in, she allowed her anger with him to take over, a sense of rejection and humiliation filtering in as she thought about their recent encounter. Her shoulders tensed and her teeth pushed down on one another as she toyed with the vivid memory of Henry and Charlotte. At that moment she was thankful for the fact Mike B had requested no more public meetings, because she knew she had a few things to say…