"You are right,” replied Taylor. "Here's how it all went down."
Carrington House
Searcy, Arkansas
July 2012
Taylor and Bennett landed in Searcy late that afternoon. Since they kept their small-engine plane in a private hangar, there were no reporters when they landed. They could deplane and load their gear into Bennett's SUV without being seen.
Once in the car, Bennett tried Poppy's number again. He also had Joules trying to locate her, but so far, she had had no luck.
"Still no answer?" asked Taylor. She could tell Bennett was extremely concerned.
Shaking his head, he said, "No, it went straight to voicemail. I stopped leaving those a dozen messages ago. What is it with you women? Why do you never answer the damn phone?"
Giving him a sympathetic smile, she said, "Well, I was trying to run away from my problems."
"I am worried that is exactly what she is trying to do. But it won't work this time. She has run away from me for the last time. I mean it. She will absolutely never run away from me again."
Taylor wasn't sure she even liked Poppy, but she cared about Bennett, so she said, "I understand. You need to go and find her, but we still have to face those reporters first."
"Yes, we do." Taking her hand, he said, "Thank you for doing this for me. I will never forget it."
"You are welcome." Hugging him, Taylor smiled.
"Joules said there will be security waiting to help us through the gates at the house. It's going to be much worse than it was in Miami. She says about six news crews are set up outside our house. She is there waiting for us. Remember not to look at them or react in any way to anything they say. Can you do that?"
"I've got it," replied Taylor.
"Okay, let's go, and remember I am right beside you the whole way."
It only took less than ten minutes from the airport to their driveway. Just as Joules had predicted, the place was crawling with reporters and camera crews. It only took a few minutes for them to get inside the gate and safely inside the house. Security was there as promised. But it was the longest two minutes of Taylor's life. The moment the black SUV pulled up to the gates of the Carrington estate, reporters rushed forward with microphones in hand and cameras rolling.
"Senator Carrington, is it true?”
“Are you and Mrs. Carrington separated?"
"Are you getting divorced?"
"How do you know Poppy Thompson, and what is the nature of your relationship with her?"
"Are you still on the shortlist for a possible cabinet position?”
Questions flew at the car's passengers from every direction. The lack of response from the couple inside the car did nothing to deter the horde of journalists who continued their verbal assault. Rapidly firing question after question at the couple in the car, the various new crews jockeyed for the best camera angle.
The two security guards finally forced the crowd back long enough for Bennett to pull through the gates and drive up the winding drive to the house. Bennett and Taylor did not say a word until they were inside the garage, with the large wooden door closed firmly behind them. It had only taken a few moments to clear the gates and drive up the drive, but it felt like an eternity.
Turning off the car, Bennett looked over at Taylor and, with his voice full of anguish and shame, said, "I'm sorry for all of it. I never meant for any of this to happen. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you."
Nodding her head in agreement, Taylor, feeling overwhelmed and stunned, looked over at Bennett and answered, "I know. Me either. But what the hell are we going to do now?"
Giving Taylor a shocked look at her use of profanity before burying his face in his hands, he said, "I have no idea." For a man who always had an answer for everything, this time, Bennett had nothing.
Taylor sighed deeply and said, "Me either, but one thing I do know, it will get a lot worse before it gets better." She had never felt so violated or attacked in her life. It seemed like a lifetime ago that she and Bennett had been the darlings of the news. Now, they were being treated like they were criminals.
As soon as Bennett and Taylor got out of the car, Joules ran into the garage and engulfed Taylor in a huge hug. "Lord, it is good to see you."
While hugging Taylor, Bennett caught Joules's eye and asked, "Any word from Poppy?"
