As soon as the motorcade stops, I open the door and sprint to the nearest bathroom. I make it into the stall just in time to lose my lunch. Well, that's really just an expression. After I lost my breakfast on the plane, I decided to have ginger ale and saltines for lunch. I was feeling better until the limo ride over here, but about five minutes out I started feeling like I was going to vomit again. I guess it's going to be one of those days. The whole trip has been like this. In between the vomiting, I feel like I can conquer the world.
I wash my face and study myself in the bathroom mirror. I don't look great. My hair is a little dull and my face is a little pale. Throwing up every morning for the last 3 weeks has not been kind to me. And traveling with the First Lady for the last four days hasn't helped any. But Helen did a great job speaking to the NEA and traveling from school to school as part of the President's Education Reform Agenda was exhilarating, as well as exhausting. But I wouldn't have missed her first trip for anything.
Still, I am really glad to be home! Well, not home exactly, since we came straight to the White House, but I'm glad to be here. Josh is here. I'm exhausted and still not feeling a hundred percent, but I know that seeing Josh, even just sitting there behind his desk, will make me feel better.
I give myself a fake smile in the mirror. Just for practice. It doesn't look very convincing. I don't know if it will fool him. Josh didn't really wanted me to make this trip given last week's vomiting, but I convinced him that I was feeling better. Plus we didn't really have a choice. This is my job. I look in the mirror one last time. Ugh. Glowing, my ass.
Josh must be wrapping up a meeting with senior staff because when I get to his office, Margaret just waves me in. I stride into the room with a smile pasted on my face. Then I take one look at him and my smile becomes real.
It must have been an informal meeting. Josh is at his desk but everyone else is spread out around the room, occupying the chairs and couches. I give them each a smile, even though what I really want to do is just curl up on Josh's lap. Lou greets me from the couch across the room.
"Hey Donna! You feeling any better? Annabeth said that you were sick every day on the trip."
Shit. When I called each evening, I'd specifically avoided telling Josh that I was still vomiting. He asked how I was feeling and I'd said fine. I pivot on my heel and reach for the door. I don't really want to have this discussion in front of anyone else.
"DONNATELLA MOSS LYMAN!"
I freeze, as does the rest of the room. My husband really does have a set of lungs, and his no-nonsense voice is not to be trifled with.
"Can I have the room, please." He says firmly and I hear everyone stand up behind me. I take a chance and step toward the door. His loud sigh is immediately followed with "You stay, Donna." That voice again. He knows what that voice does to me!
I stay frozen while everyone files past me out of the room. Lou pats my shoulder on her way out the door and says, "Sorry, I didn't know that wasn't common knowledge."
"It's okay." I whisper to her.
I'm still facing the door when Josh growls-
"You lied to me. Give me one good reason I shouldn't turn you over my knee and give you a good spanking right now."
I perk up a bit at his empty threat. So we're going to play this game? It's one of my favorites. I turn around to face him. Let the banter begin.
"Oh I can think of more than one, Josh."
"Donna. . . " he warns.
"One-" I take a small step toward him. "You would never intentionally hurt me."
I smirk at him. I've got him there and he knows it. For all our banter about this topic, he's never so much as given me a love tap. So there's really no reason I shouldn't tease him a little.
"Two-" I take a full step forward. "We both know that when I'm turned over your knee like that your hand always does something more enjoyable to me than a spanking."
We've tested the theory a couple times and he knows I'm right. That Catholic School Girl Skirt he bought on our honeymoon has been a lot of fun.
"Donnnnna . . ." he groans.
This is his own fault. He started this. He's the one that issued the empty threat. Still, I do feel a little sorry for him. It has been 3 nights apart. And now he's going to have to think about this conversation all. day. long. I might have to get out the skirt tonight.
"Three-" I walk up to the side of his desk, "we're right next to the oval office."
Good thing too. If we weren't, I think I probably would end up over his knee at this point. Not that I'd mind. But it could be embarrassing.
I stop when I'm standing right before him.
"Four- It might hurt the baby."
I can't stop the smile on my face from getting even bigger as I say the word. My hand drifts protectively to my stomach as my eyes meet his. His face absolutely lights up. I didn't really have any doubt that he'd be thrilled. I wouldn't normally do this during business hours, but I can't resist sitting down on his lap so that we can cuddle.
"I didn't lie to you. I'm not sick. We're having a baby. I didn't want you to worry while I was gone, and I didn't want to tell you on the phone. I wanted to see your face when I told you- you're going to be a Dad!"
Josh throws his arms around me and holds me tight.
"A baby." He whispers. He can't stop smiling. I look at him quizzically
"You know, you're not nearly as shocked as I expected." I knew he'd be happy but I expected him to be a little surprised. "Why is that? We've been running non-stop the last 30 days. I didn't even realize I was late until I started packing for this trip."
"Donna, I notice everything about you. You should have started your period February 28th. You've been feeling sick for several weeks, and your breasts are bigger. By the way, that part I don't mind so much. We probably conceived on our anniversary. I knew those flowers were a good idea!"
"Josh! Our anniversary is in November." But he's right. Our 3 month anniversary was February 14. That probably is when I conceived.
He grins at me. "A Valentine's Baby. How cliché!"
I give him a glare.
"Donna, you can't be mad at me. I'm the father of your baby." He puts his hand gently on my stomach. "We're having a baby!" He says again, gently kissing my forehead.
"I love you so much. I love you both so much."
I lay my head on his shoulder and sigh. He strokes my hair and holds me tight. Then asks-
"So what have you had to eat today?" Inside I groan. I don't want to tell him about the ginger ale and saltines. But I don't really have an appetite. Knowing that you're just going to puke up whatever you eat really makes you want to just skip eating all together.
"Are you going to be over-protective, here Josh?"
I had expected to have more time before over-protective Josh showed up. I thought he would need some time to adjust to the idea of a baby before he got all neurotic. I'm sure I can kiss my days of raw cookie dough goodbye.
He gives me a gentle hug.
"Of course not. But the book says . . . . "
"What book?" I interrupt.
"I started to read 'What to expect when you're expecting' while you were gone."
I burst out in laughter. "You've got to be kidding me!" But even as I say it, I'm not really surprised. He's much more intuitive than he gets credit for. Of course he suspected. And of course he bought a book!
"It's very informative."
I'm sure it is. And I'm sure I'm going to hear all about it.