Rumor Has It by Cheris Hodges

pointed beyond her office door. “See all those people who believe in you and are working all these hours to get you elected?”
    â€œYour point?”
    â€œDon’t let the little head cost you what we’ve all been working for.”
    â€œThat won’t be a problem. I know what’s important.”
    Teresa nodded. “Good. We don’t have much time left. Now, I have a plan to get out the vote. We need to enlist some drivers to get people to the polls and let them know that the voter ID law is not in effect in this election.”
    â€œI’ve heard some people talking about that and there are a lot of folks who are afraid that their rights are being trampled on.”
    â€œThey are. I know you shouldn’t hate anything or anyone, but the GOP is close to making me hate them with the love of Jesus.”
    Jackson tilted his head to the side. “That’s pretty deep.”
    â€œI can’t stand the way this General Assembly and governor are disenfranchising a community of people.”
    â€œI know,” he said. “That’s why we need people in office who care about people and not the power.”
    â€œWhen you get a few years under your belt, I’m going to remind you of this conversation.”
    Jackson smiled, then looked down at his watch. “I have to go in to the clinic and check on one of my patients.”
    â€œI hate that you guys are going to have to shut down. I’ve called in every favor that I have and I can’t get what you all need.”
    Jackson rose to his feet and nodded. “See you tomorrow.”
    Heading to the clinic, Jackson felt a cold dread wash over him. If the clinic closed and he won the election, how would he be able to make a difference in the lives of soldiers returning home from war in need of help? Would all of this be in vain if VA centers were still shuttered?
    â€œSomething has to change,” he muttered as he turned into the clinic’s parking lot.

Chapter 10
    Liza knew this was going to be an uphill battle when she walked into Chante’s place and saw her friend sitting with one of Charlotte’s most expensive wedding planners, Jeanne St. Jean.
    â€œIt’s about time you got here,” Chante said when she spotted her friend. “Come on over and take a look at these samples.”
    Liza couldn’t force a smile, couldn’t pretend that she was happy to see her making plans for a wedding. A wedding to a man who was a low-down lying cheater.
    â€œChante, can we talk in the kitchen?” Liza asked. Chante took note of the look on her friend’s face. “What’s wrong?”
    Liza nodded toward the kitchen. Once the women were inside and out of the hearing range of the wedding planner, Liza grabbed Chante’s hand. “You can’t do this.”
    â€œDo what?”
    â€œMarry Robert.”
    Chante ran her hand across her forehead. “I don’t understand. We just had this conversation and you told me to follow my heart. Why the one-eighty?”
    Liza nodded. “That was before I . . .”
    â€œChante,” Robert boomed as he burst into the kitchen. “Don’t listen to her.”
    As Chante looked from Liza to her fiancé, her face was a knot of confusion. “What in the hell is going on?”
    â€œAre you going to tell her or should I?” Liza asked as she pulled her phone out of her purse.
    â€œI really wish it didn’t come to this, Liza. I thought you were my friend,” Robert said.
    â€œAnd you thought I was going to let what I walked in on just slide on the strength of our friendship?”
    Robert crossed over to Chante and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “You know I love you,” he said. “And I thought Liza was happy for us. I mean, she’s the one who introduced us. But tonight she crossed the line and told me—”
    â€œStop the lies!” Liza exclaimed. “I walked in on him