ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟝𝟠 #4
Cameron continued. "I know a lot of people were scared. My family was scared, but we also learned something during those days."
He looked toward the crowd. "People care."
"Sometimes we forget how connected we are. We go through our routines. We go to work. We take our kids to school. We complain about traffic."
A few people laughed.
Cameron smiled. "And we assume we're doing all of this alone, but we aren't."
His eyes moved across the room. "So thank you."
"Thank you for showing up." He looked toward the firefighters seated near the front.
Then the police officers. "Thank you for continuing to look."
His eyes darted to the volunteers. "Thank you for caring about a little girl you didn't even know."
He paused.
"And thank you for bringing my sister home."
The applause began before he had even finished. Cameron stepped back slightly from the microphone.
I clapped along with everyone else.
He looked at me and smiled. I smiled back.
Then the applause finally began to fade.
Cameron stepped away from the podium. He had barely taken two steps before a reporter near the front raised his hand.
"Mr. West!"
Cameron stopped.
The reporter stood. "Can I ask you a question?"
Who the hell said anything about reporters asking questions?
I tug at Cameron's sleeve, whispering. "I didn't know they were going to ask questions."
Cameron gave me a reassuring look before turning back towards the crowd.
"Sure." He nodded.
"How are you and your family doing now that Molly West is home?"
Cameron took a breath. "We're doing better. Everyone's adjusting- Molly especially. We're giving her time and space, and we're just trying to make sure she knows she's loved."
The reporter nodded.
Another hand went up. "Mr. West, were you involved personally in the search?"
"Yes." Cameron nodded.
"Did you ever lose hope?"
He was quiet for a moment. "Yes. Anyone who tells you they never lost hope during something like that is probably stronger than I am."
A few people laughed softly.
"But hope and fear can exist at the same time."
That answer made me look at him. Sounded quite familiar.
He continued. "We were scared, exhausted, we were angry. But we kept looking."
Another reporter stood. "Do you know where Molly was?"
"We know where she was found, yes." Cameron hesitated.
"Can you tell us why she left?"
Cameron's posture straightened. "That's something Molly deserves to explain if she ever wants to. It's not my story to tell."
I felt something warm settle in my chest. It was sweet how Cameron talked about his little sister.
The reporter nodded. "Understood."
Another question came.
"What do you think made the biggest difference in finding her?"
Cameron looked toward the audience. "Definitely people talking. One person noticed something. Someone else recognized it. Another person passed that information along."
More questions followed, and Cameron answered every one respectfully.
I admired that. I admired him, especially.
A reporter toward the front raised his hand.
Cameron nodded, and the man stood.
"Mr. West, I have a question about you and your wife."
My stomach dropped slightly. I glanced at Cameron, and he looked at me.
For Pete's sake, this was a program for Molly, not about Cameron and I's relationship.
The reporter continued. "How is your marriage doing?"
Everyone in the room nodded along, like that was an appropriate question to ask as of the moment.
My face immediately felt warm. I stared at the floor for half a second.
The post. That stupid post.
I had completely forgotten that someone had apparently posted about me refusing to discuss my marriage when reporters had approached me that day I won the Justin Deye's case.
My stomach twisted in knots.
The reporter continued.
"There was a recent post circulating where Mrs. West was asked about your marriage and appeared unwilling to discuss your personal life. Can you clarify whether there are problems between you and Mrs. West?"
I wanted the floor to open, preferably underneath my heels. I could feel the heat climbing up my neck.
Did they know any other question- like seriously?
Cameron glanced at me.
His expression softened for a fraction of a second, then he looked back toward the reporter.
"Our marriage is private." His answer was calm.
The reporter nodded. "But are you two okay?"
"We're working through some things."
My eyes widened slightly.
Why would he ever say that?
"We're married," he continued. "We love each other. And like any married couple, we have difficult periods."
My face became even warmer and I looked down.
Cameras immediately flashed at Cameron's statement.
The reporter asked another question. "So you are still together?"
Cameron looked at him. "Yes, Dixie and I are still together."
My heart gave one uncomfortable little thump. I kept staring toward the audience.
The reporter smiled.
I groan internally. When would the questions be done?
"Is it true that you and Mrs. West have been spending more time together recently?"
I swallowed. Why did they know that?
Why did reporters know anything?
Cameron gave a small smile. "Yes."
I glanced at him. He looked down at me. There was amusement in his eyes now.
He could tell I was dying inside. I gave him the smallest warning look I could manage.
Do not make this worse!
He grinned at me, then looked back up.
The reporter continued. "Are you planning to discuss your marriage publicly in the future?"
"No," Cameron shook his head. "I think some things should stay between two people."
His hand tightened gently at my waist.
Despite the embarrassment burning through my face, I couldn't help smiling.
The cameras caught that too.
Tonight I had been photographed smiling, standing, sitting, breathing, and existing beside my own husband.
Cameron looked back toward the reporters. "Any other questions about Molly?"
Several hands immediately went up.
I stared at the audience.
Apparently, the words Any other questions about Molly? translated to Please ask Cameron about his marriage again.
I looked at Cameron, and he looked back at me.
I leaned slightly toward him, and he bent down to hear me. "Can I steal the microphone?"
"Steal it?" His eyebrows lifted.
"Yes."
He glanced at the microphone on the podium hand.
"You mean borrow it?"
"I mean steal it."
A tiny smile appeared on his face. "You've gotten feisty."
"I've gotten tired and fed up."
That made him laugh under his breath.
I looked toward the reporters again. Every camera seemed to be pointed directly at us.
I was done!
I had spent enough time answering questions that weren't anybody's business.
Enough time smiling politely while complete strangers tried to dissect my marriage.
I had absolutely no intention of standing there while somebody turned Molly's story into an excuse to ask whether my husband and I were sleeping in separate bedrooms.
I looked at Cameron again. "Can I?"
"Yeah, honey." He nodded immediately.
Honey.
In front of all these people. Not that they could hear us from all the way up here, but still.
I ignored the tiny warmth that immediately spread through my face.
I took a breath, then stepped forward. Cameron stepped to the side.
The room quieted almost instantly.
I wasn't sure if it was because I had moved toward the microphone or because everyone wanted to know what I was about to say.
Probably both.