The Kingmaker

“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 last 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 alright.”

“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.”