Time Sensitive by Elyse Douglas

Author:Elyse Douglas [Douglas, Elyse]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Broadback
Published: 2019-01-22T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

My younger self was thin, much thinner than I recalled, and she stood proudly erect, her chin lifted in confidence. Had I really been that confident? I saw lush lashes, a swirl of bronze on her cheeks, and soft pink lipstick. Her skin was flawless, nose a little sharp. The hair was styled in a pale-blonde asymmetrical bob with inward-facing ends. She wore a royal blue shapeless shift with a dropped waist and white cuffs and collar, with matching medium heels. I recalled that dress. I had felt it was stylish but still conservative enough for the NSA.

It was bizarre how the image of my younger self that I’d held in memory was so dissimilar from the woman before me. I wasn’t as pretty as I’d believed; not unattractive for sure, but my cheekbones weren’t as high, my lips were thin and my legs skinny. The hairstyle looked hideous and was all wrong for the narrow shape of my face.

She had entered with Angie, a shorter girl with good hips, a broad face and a serious manner. Angie had worked as a secretary for Ed Kazenas, a dour, intelligent man in his fifties, who often met with President Nixon or his National Security staff, briefing them on the latest intelligence regarding Vietnam.

As I watched them sit, lost in quiet conversation, I grew dizzy and disoriented. It was too much to take in, and I was so electrically charged that I began to shiver. I was on the edge of fainting when I felt Jay’s hand seize my arm. His concerned voice brought me back.

“Charlotte… you’re as white as a ghost. Should we leave?”

I huffed out the anxiety, my eyes blinking rapidly. I struggled to return to full consciousness, but I couldn’t stop trembling. Cyrano had been right. I needed to rest. I had to rest. Every cell in my body was fighting to stay awake.

After that, I don’t remember much of what happened. I was in the lobby of the Willard Hotel when I was able to shake the mist of confusion and exhaustion.

Jay and I were standing by the bank of golden elevators.

“I really think you should see a doctor, Charlotte. You don’t look well.”

I looked into his earnest face and saw a gentle sorrow. “I’m sorry I ruined your dinner, Jay.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m very concerned about you, Charlotte.”

I smiled, grateful. “How nice a man you are, Jay. Thank you for saying that.”

“Do you want me to go up with you?”

“No, I’ll be fine now. I’m going straight to bed and get a good night’s sleep. In the morning, everything will be fine. I’ll be right as rain.”

Jay nodded, lingering, hands thrust in his pants pockets. “Do you still want me to drive you around? I’m happy to, you know.”

“Yes, I do.”

He smiled his pleasure. “Well, then, you just call me when you’re ready and old Jay will shoot right over.”

I held his gaze for a moment. “Thank you, Jay. I’m greatly in your debt.”

That pleased him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.