Chapter 24. Lennix
LENNIX
“That went well.” A grimace skims Jim Nighthorse’s distinguished features. “Or as well as something like this can go.”
“No, it did go well,” I agree, glancing around the table at the team he has assembled for his campaign. “There were TV cameras everywhere. This community definitely knows Tammara’s missing.”
“Her family,” Mena says, brushing at her tears. “My heart breaks for them.”
They wept openly, begged for any information that might lead to finding their daughter. The helplessness I saw in their faces was so familiar. I know that pain and that plea.
“You were brilliant, Lennix,” Jim says.
“It never seems to get any easier,” I say with a sad smile. “Talking about my mother. It just reminds me I’ll never see her again.”
Jim grips my shoulder, firm but gentle. “Thank you for doing it. I know you helped Tammara’s cause today.”
“I just pray we find her,” I whisper.
My phone rings, and I glance at the screen.
“Excuse me,” I tell Jim and Mena. “I need to take this.”
I step outside, closing the door of Jim’s campaign headquarters behind me.
“Hey, Viv,” I say with one of the few smiles I’ve managed over the past two days. “What’s up?”
“Just checking on you,” she says. “I know you got tossed into the campaign all ‘sink or swim.’”
“Yeah, but I’m swimming. At least, so far. It’ll be hard to come back to campus next week and finish the semester.”
“I know, but you’ll be done and back on the trail in just a few months. Did you, uh, talk with Maxim?”
I stiffen and draw a quick breath. “He left a voice mail and said we’d talk when he comes home after Antarctica.”
“He seemed pretty desperate when he came back and you were gone.”
My heart lifts the slightest bit, but I caution myself.
“His voice mail was sweet, but not a commitment or anything. I don’t expect to hear from him until he’s back in the States,” I say, not giving away the signs of heartbreak I know Vivienne is looking for.
“You don’t have to check on me, Viv. I’m all right. ”
“I know. I just love you.”
“I love you, too, Lennix!” a guy screams from the background.
“Oh, my God.” I laugh and lean against the wall. “Is that Wallace?”
“Yes, you know he has the biggest crush on you ever.”
“Is he still a brainiac?”
“Total dweeb patrol.”
“Shut up, Viv!” Vivienne’s older brother, Wallace, says. “And give me the phone.”
There’s a scuffle as they apparently wrestle. Brain must win over brawn because Wallace’s is the next voice I hear.
“My darling,” he purrs. “How I’ve missed thee. Run away with me.”
“Oh, my God, Wall.” I giggle as only he can make me. “I don’t have time to run away with you. Didn’t they tell you? I’m that rare entity, someone who has a job all lined up before I’ve even graduated from college.”
“Not so rare, Lenny,” he says, pride and amusement mixing in his voice. “I just got a job at the CDC.”
“That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you.”
“Yeah. You know what that means, right?”
“Tell me, please.”
“It means I’ll have just enough money to keep you in the lifestyle to which you’ve become accustomed.”
“Oh, you mean cup noodles and thrift stores? So glad that MIT education didn’t go to waste.”
“MIT was two degrees ago,” he says with false haughtiness. “Duke, my darling. Duke.”
“Well, excuse me, Mr. Microbiologist.”
“I promise it’s not as fun as it sounds.”
“It actually doesn’t sound fun at all.”
“Seriously? How many men could recite the periodic table to you while making love?”
“Not enough.”
The door opens behind me, and Mena points over her shoulder. “Team meeting in two minutes.”
I nod and turn my attention back to Wallace and Vivienne. “Hey, Wall, tell Viv we’ll talk later. I have to get into this meeting.”
“Okay. Just save me a corner of your heart, okay?”
I laugh, but the heart in question flinches. After only a week with Maxim, I’m not sure there’s anything left.