Whispered Promises

“Unfortunately, I am very familiar with the laws concerning the press, babygirl. They have the right to camp out on the public sidewalk in front of our house.” He glanced down at her. “We can do nothing unless they trespass on our property.”

Brie suddenly felt lightheaded and dizzy. “Sir…” she whispered.

He barely caught her before she hit the floor. Sweeping her into his arms, he carried Brie back to the bedroom. “You must rest. Stay in bed while I take care of this.”

Brie was surprised to hear her parents leave the house with Sir. Curiosity got the best of her and she snuck to the window, slowly pulling back the curtain to take a peek.

Sir was being unusually dramatic, giving both her mother and father each a long hug before watching them drive off. Then he nodded to the reporters before heading back into the house.

Hurrying back to bed, Brie slipped under the covers and waited. She was surprised when she heard clinking sounds as Sir moved about in the kitchen. When he left the house again, Brie crept back to the window and watched as he walked straight up to the reporters and started handing out the dished-up food her mother had brought.

He returned to the house several times to make sure everyone received something to eat, then he put his arms behind his back and spoke to them with a serious look on his face. The moment he turned to point back at the house, Brie let go of the curtain and stood still, holding her breath.

To her surprise, she soon heard one of the vans drive off. Curious, Brie risked another peek. Brie’s jaw dropped when she saw many of the reporters handing Sir something before gathering their equipment and walking away from the house.

She wondered what he could have possibly said to garner such a response.

Before Sir caught at the window, she slipped back into bed. It wasn’t long before she heard Sir return and shut the front door. She held her breath when she heard his footsteps heading to their bedroom.

Knowing she’d been caught, Brie sat up in bed to await her fate.

Sir walked into the room, holding a plate of her mom’s food. He smirked as he placed the plate on the nightstand beside her. “I saw you at the window.”

She blushed. “I’m sorry, Sir. But you had those reporters eating out of your hand. How did you get them all to go away?”

“Not all of them, but the majority are gone,” he replied. She looked at Sir in amazement as he explained, “I needed time to think, so I asked your parents to leave. Knowing the press would be watching our every move, I convinced your parents it was important we present a united front without speaking to them. To do that, we played out an emotional goodbye before they drove off.

“When I returned to the house and looked at all the food your mother had cooked, I was struck with an idea on how it could be put to good use. From my personal experience I know that fighting the press only causes problems, so I decided on a different approach. Since the reporters arrived here so early this morning, I assumed most of them hadn’t had time to grab breakfast before heading out.”

Sir walked to the window, pulling back the curtain to look at the few who remained. “After buttering them up with food, I appealed to them as a husband concerned about his wife’s mental health. I explained that you were unable to make any statements at this time, but if they gave me their business cards and left immediately, I would call to invite each of them into the house when you were ready to speak.”

Sir turned to her. “That means anyone who remains here will be left standing on the sidewalk should you ever decide to make a statement. Otherwise, they will be trespassing.”

She stared at him in awe. “You’re brilliant!”

He shrugged. “I’m glad the harassment I’ve suffered from the press could serve some purpose.” Sir walked back to the bed and leaned down, kissing Brie gently on the lips.

“Naturally, all this ruckus woke up the children. So, fill up on your mother’s food and try to get some sleep. Know this, babygirl. I will do everything in my power to protect your recovery.”

Tears of gratitude filled her eyes as she watched Sir leave. Brie gingerly picked up the fork and took a small bite of her mom’s casserole.

While she chewed it, Brie suddenly shivered when the far-off song start up again, its dark melody echoing in her mind.