Page 4 of Finally

Isifted through the stack of papers on my desk, skimming over them and adding my signature where necessary. I’d spent the entire night before reading up on the small town I planned on visiting that week. The area had been hit hard when a large shipping conglomerate located there had suddenly decided to shut down. The majority of the town’s residents had been employed by the business, most of whom had begun working there straight out of high school. They lacked the skills or the education to simply find another job as some people had suggested. Some even had two or more members of their household who’d been let go and they’d been completely devastated by the company’s actions. Having already lost their jobs and benefits, many of them now stood to lose their homes as well. They needed help and they needed it quickly. My team and I had come up with a plan that could bring them some immediate relief, and hopefully, put them on the path to building a stronger future. But I could only put our plan into action if I could get them to listen and convince them to put me in office. That was going to be the tricky part.

The phone rang beside me on the desk and I grabbed a sticky note to mark where I’d left off before answering. The sound of my father’s voice brought a smile to my face and I leaned back in my chair as we spoke.

“Hey, Dad! How are you?”

“I’m good. How’s the campaign going?” he asked.

“Busy as usual. I have a town meeting in New River at the end of the week. I’ll be gone a few days, but if I can get the folks there to agree to my proposals and gain their support, it’ll definitely help my numbers,” I told him.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Dad cautioned.

I frowned. “Believe me, I know. I’ve been up against worse though. New River is a small farming community and while the citizens may have some pretty conservative beliefs that don’t really mesh with my more liberal views, they’re scared, and they’ve been hurt. Their community is crumbling around them and they need the kind of lifeline I intend to offer.”

“I have no doubt in your ability, Son. You’re the right man for the job and before you say anything, I’d feel the same way whether you were my son or not.”

His words filled me with pride and my smile returned. “Thank you. Your opinion means a lot to me.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that because I need to speak with you about something.” I sat back up as his tone turned more serious.

“Is everything all right? Is Mom okay?” I asked nervously.

“Your mother’s fine. In fact, she’s right here next to me. I’ll put you on speaker.”

“Oh, hey, Mom!” I said, curious as to what they wanted to talk about.

“Hello, sweetie. How’s my favorite son?”

“I’m your only son,” I reminded her with a laugh.

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be my favorite.” Warmth bloomed in my chest at her familiar response.

My parents had met when they were both in medical school. They’d fallen in love quickly and became engaged during their third year of residency. They were strong, driven, hard-working individuals whose only goals were to become the most skilled surgeons they could possibly be. Having children had never been a part of their plans, but soon after they were married, they discovered that I was on the way. I remembered my mother telling me that I was a pleasant surprise, something the universe knew they’d want even before they did. They altered their dreams to include me and, while they still worked to become surgeons, my happiness became their primary goal. I was lucky in so many ways to have them as parents. I’d never wanted for anything, including their love and unwavering support.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

I heard my father clear his throat. “Your mother and I have been worried about you. Especially after the letters you received—”

“Those letters were nothing more than someone voicing their dislike. I’m sure people running for election get that kind of thing all the time,” I assured him.

“Yes, but they seemed rather pointed, wouldn’t you agree? They told you to back off. That sounds like a warning,” my mother said.

“Scare tactics. That’s all it is. I wouldn’t take it seriously,” I told them.

“We are though, and we think you should too. That’s why we felt it would be better if there was someone to watch over you. At least until you get through the election,” Dad insisted.

“What are you talking about? What did you do?”

“We hired someone to serve as your security detail.”

My head began to pound, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. You hired me a bodyguard? Are you guys serious right now?”

“Completely,” my father stated firmly.

“Christopher, just listen for a minute, please?” my mother cut in, most likely picking up on my agitation. “You’re our son and we will always love you no matter what, but some people are already starting to show that they have a problem with who you are and what you believe in. You have a very important job to do and we just want to keep you safe while you do it. Besides, it would help your poor mother sleep better at night if I knew there was someone watching over you.”

I slumped back in my chair and rubbed a hand over my face. I knew there was no use arguing. Neither my father nor I had ever been able to tell my mother no. “Okay, fine—”

“Oh! Thank you, honey,” Mom jumped in before I could even get the words out.

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