“You’re older than I am.”
“Biologically, maybe. Mentally, you’ve got twenty years on me, and that’s not an insult aimed at me either.”
“Love you too, bestie.”
They both laughed. Edward hoped Derek could get the details quickly. He didn’t want to wait too long before speaking to Milo again. If he really knew who he was, could they be something more? Edward didn’t want to hope forsomething he’d thought would never be a possibility for him.
“Hello, I’m Lexie,” said the stunning young woman, shaking his hand.
“Edward. Please have a seat.” He gestured in front of his desk.
Even though people knew who he was, he always introduced himself as Edward, so he wasn’t called Mr Chivington, or sir, or “Your Honour,” as some sweet old dear always called him.
“How can I help you?”
Lexie was the last person he was speaking to today. She’d been a late appointment request, and his assistant had made space for her. They were already over time, but he didn’t have anywhere to rush off to, not until Derek had done his due diligence.
“I’d like to tell you my story, if that’s okay?”
“Of course.”
His constituents often shared their personal stories with him. It was their way of explaining why they’d come to him, whether it be for help, advice, or just to share how a government policy was affecting them– the good and the bad.
“I’m a transgender woman, and don’t worry, I’m not about to kick off. I’ll start by saying I don’t believe everything I read in the press, or online for that matter. I like to hear things directly from the person.”
“I appreciate that,” he smiled.
He listened for the next half an hour as she spoke openly about her journey, transitioning at eighteen years old, the support of her family, and the community she was part of, as well as the challenges she faced day-to-day. There wasn’t a single moment when she brought up Edward’s comment from when he was younger, or even what Hargreaves haddone, and he knew that was deliberate. She wasn’t here to argue with him. She just wanted to share her story, and it was up to him what he did with that. By the time she’d finished, he was completely in awe of her. Not in admiring her bravery, which was a given, but just what an incredibly positive and inspiring young woman she was. Edward also shared the context of what had happened at university. She found it funny. Edward wasn’t ready to laugh about it yet.
“Thank you for listening to me, Edward.”
“Thank you for speaking so openly with me.”
“Pass it on to whoever needs to hear it, but I’d appreciate my name being kept out of it.”
“Of course, and thank you again.”
There was a slight hesitation as she went to shake his hand, but he opened his arms, and she hugged him. It wasn’t the first time he’d hugged a constituent, although sometimes he got little choice in the matter. She gave him one last smile before she left.
Her story had moved him, but it also made him even angrier about what Hargreaves had done. He considered calling Olivia, but her silence had pissed him off as well. Sometimes it was easier to ask for forgiveness than to beg for permission. Before he could overthink things, he decided to take Derek’s advice, and made the call.
“Edward. This is a surprise.”
“How are you, Sally?”
“Same crap, different day. Now that the formalities are out of the way, what have you got for me?”
He chuckled. Sally was his favourite journalist, and who he would ask to speak to if he had a choice in the matter. Unfortunately, as a member of the government, he couldn’t show favouritism. This was an exception.
“What’s your front page looking like tomorrow?”
“I’m sure I could make space for you, especially if it’s to fuck over that cunt, Hargreaves.”
He had to hold back his laughter. “You know I couldn’t possibly comment about my colleagues in such a way.”
She laughed. “Usual place, in an hour?”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
