The Push
She squatted down in front of them in the hospital hallway, not caring about the stress this position put on her knees because right now this, their relationship, was more important.
She'd been backstage waiting with Daisy and Jay when they'd heard the first shot. And it wasn't until the three of them had been safely escorted to the White House that she'd received the news that Henry had died en route to the hospital.
After two hours of interrogation, they'd been informed that Elizabeth's husband had taken a bullet meant for Blake.
Her eyes jumped from one grim face to another.
She could see the disconnect— the anger in Elizabeth's eyes, and the guilt in Blake's.
She took Blake's right hand, giving it a squeeze before she grabbed Elizabeth's left, and brought their hands together.
"You'll get through this."
Both pairs of eyes were trained on the linoleum floor.
"You'll get through this," she repeated. "But you'll have to do it together."
Her right hand covered where theirs were joined and then she squeezed.
She would talk to them separately later… First to Elizabeth about her wrongly placed blame, and then she'd explain to Blake why he shouldn't feel responsible. But while she could lecture them all she wanted she knew they wouldn't move past this until they spoke to one another.
"Look at me," she said.
Eyes lifted, both pairs glazed over with unshed tears.
She pulled her hand back from theirs and motioned for them to turn. "Now look at each other."
And they did.
And when they did, those unshed tears spilled over.
"I'm sorry," Blake cried.
She saw anger flash across Elizabeth's face, but it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.
"It's not your fault," Elizabeth told him as her bottom lip began to quiver.
She was fighting it hard, but…
But when the first sob had rung through her chest Blake pulled her in, hands still clasped together.
Nadine sighed as she sat back on her knees.
…She wouldn't realize until months later that she'd been who'd ultimately pushed them together.