“Well, why don’t I get dressed and then I can take you home so you can change and grab some clothes for the week and then we will go. Sounds good?” her eyes brighten, and she slays me with the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. I will lay the world at her feet just to be warmed by that happiness.
“The week?” she squeaks out, looking like she is going to bolt.
“Yes. I need you here with me, Lilah. Far away from me is going to make me crazy. As it is when my hands or mouth is on your skin, I want to pull my hair out. Please.”
“Yes. Ok. Are you...are you really going with me to the aquarium?” unable to stop myself, I pull her into my arms and kiss her before looking her in her eyes.
“Try to stop me. Give me ten minutes, ok?”
“Of course.” she says, before practically skipping off into the kitchen.
My phone rings as I am walking up the stairs. “William.”
“Governor.” If I wasn’t in such a good mood, I would curse him. He knows I hate being called that outside of my office, especially by him, my best friend.
“What’s up Will?” he has his official voice on, so I know something is up.
“Did you forget about the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new industrial museum and you have the Charity benefit for the Children’s Hospital tonight.” Shit. I did forget.
“Cancel everything. Write them both a check and send my apologies.”
“Sir?” he wants to ask me why when he is in his official capacity, he curtails everything.
“Yes?”
“I can’t do that. You RSVP’d and have been scheduled for a speech for both.”
“I know my friend, but things have changed.”
“Overnight?” his pitch gets more frustrated and if I didn’t have Lilah downstairs waiting, I would play with him.
“Yes.'' He doesn’t say anything at first and I put it on speaker phone as I get dressed.
“With all due respect sir, what is going on?” I do not have time to go into all of this right now, but, as my best friend, I do owe him an explanation. So, I tell him the one thing I know will give the answer.
“All I can tell you right now is to remove my name from the next election and invoke my anti-paparazzi clause, effective immediately.”
“Holy shit! It happened?'' Now this is my friend talking.
“Yes, it did.”
“Well fuck. First of all, congratulations. Second when the hell did this happen and lastly holy shit, your mother is going to bust her Botox.” I laugh at this because he is right.
“In due time my friend. Right now, she is downstairs waiting for me to go with her to the aquarium and I am not going to keep her waiting. You have my directives.”
“Yes, Sir. I will take care of all of it.”
“Thank you, friend.” I hang up and head downstairs to find her on the phone. I don’t enter at first, not wanting to intrude but also wanting to know if she is talking to him.
“Lily, stop it.” hearing her sister's name I relax and walk into the room. “Oh, I have to go. Shut up. I promise.” She hangs up quickly and looks up at me.
“Everything alright, baby?”
“Yes. I was just talking to my twin sister. She called to find out why I didn’t come home.”
“Ah and what did you tell her? That the big bad Governor kidnapped you?” I smirk, winking at her.
“Something like that.” she giggles and covers her mouth.
“So, fucking beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She ducks her head, and it frustrates me. I want her eyes on me all the time.
“Just the truth, my little flower. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.”
The drive is short and uneventful, and I find I am looking forward to a normal outing, not involving cameras and suits.
“Lilah. Oh my gosh. It has been so long. When did you get back?” her friend hugs her and squeals.
“Just got back last week. My mom is sick, so we all came home. I got your letter last month about the new family of Dolphins that were coming, and I was wondering if…”
“Of course, you can…Oh my. Governor Cochran, I am so sorry I didn’t notice you sooner. What does the Mammalian Aquarium owe to the pleasure of your visit?” I find it humorous that she didn’t notice me immediately, but I am trying to be obscure.
“No worries. I am here with Lilah. Please, act like I am not here.” She gives me a weird look.
“As you wish. Lilah let’s go. They are amazing. The babies are allowed into the adult pool for the first time since they got here, and they are a barrel of fun.”
“I can’t wait.”
For the next three hours I sit and watch as she splashes, swims, and talks to the Dolphins. She looks up at me occasionally and each time she does, my chest begins to heart. See, I know she is nineteen years old, young, and impressionable, but right here, watching her interact with so much innocence and such an untarnished heart, it is really hitting me that I am going to have to protect her more than I realized. The world I live in right now is unforgiving, judgmental, and cruel. I can handle it, but my flower, my Lilah, it could destroy her pure spirit and that I cannot allow.