"Josh! Are you almost ready to go? We told Sam we'd met them at the restaurant at 7:30!"

I'm sitting in a chair in the living room with my coat on. I'm ready to go. She's in the bathroom touching up her make-up. If she hadn't wanted to change her clothes, we could have left straight from the White House and we wouldn't be having this issue at all. I roll my eyes to myself.

"Ready when you are, honey."

"Did you just roll your eyes at me?" She hollers from the bathroom. How does she do that? I know better than to actually answer the question. Instead, I check my blackberry and try to wait patiently. She already looks amazing. It's not like she can improve perfection.

I still don't get why we needed to come home at all. At work earlier, she was wearing grey dress pants with a fuzzy pink sweater. It's a cute outfit. I've always liked it on her. But when I told her that Sam had asked us to join him for dinner so that we could meet his fiancée, she reluctantly agreed as long as we could stop at home so she could change her clothes first. I told her she looked great but she had insisted saying, "Josh. Look at me, I can't meet an attorney looking like this!"

Finally, she comes out of the bedroom.

"Whoa! You look good!" She's wearing all black, some sort of wrap dress that has a tie around the waist.

"Well, you don't need to act so surprised!"

Danger Will Robinson! Something is not quite right here. That was a little more snark than banter. I get up and meet her in the middle of the room. I've got her coat in my hands. I hold it out so she can slip her arms into it.

"Hey." I say softly in her ear. "You know I'm not surprised. You always look great. What's wrong?" I'm asking but if I had to, I bet I could guess. Her earlier comment about meeting an attorney is the clue. This is about insecurities. Every once in a while they still rear their ugly head.

She's not answering so I turn her around so that I'm looking in her eyes. "You are an amazing, powerful, smart woman. I am a lucky, lucky, lucky man."

She smiles softly at me. "Thanks for the reminder. Love you."

Okay, let see if we can bring the banter back. A fiesty Donna can match wits with anyone.

"Ya know, the reason I said 'Whoa!' Was to stop myself from getting up and untying that dress to see what you've got on underneath."

She smiles slyly. "What makes you think I'm wearing anything underneath?"

Great. Donna's back and now I'm going to be a wreck for the rest of the night. I tell you what, Sam's fiancée better be a great conversationalist or I'm making an excuse to get out of there before dessert, best friend or not.

On the way over to the restaurant, Donna's on a roll- "you know I can't believe you didn't even find out her name! We could have done all sorts of opposition research before dinner, and been more prepared."

We arrive at the restaurant at 7:25. As the valet pulls away, Donna turns to me and says "See. Right on time. I don't know what you were worried about." The sass is back. That's my girl.

I give the Maitre D' Sam's name and he leads us toward the back of the restaurant. As we are following him, Donna nudges me.

"Look, there's Ainsley Hayes. I want to say hello." Ainsley is sitting by herself at table up ahead over by a window.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. She accepted the President-Elect's offer today. She's going to be Deputy White House Counsel."

"That's great! We should invite her out to celebrate later. I've always like Ainsley."

"Me too."

"No, you didn't, Josh! She annoyed you at first. You only gave her a chance because she kicked Sam's ass on TV."

"Well, that's true."

"Hey. Do you think that Ainsley and I look alike?" What do I look stupid?

"No. Absolutely not. You are way prettier."

"Just a second." Donna touchs the Maitre D's arm. "I want to go say hello to my friend." She leaves him standing there and cuts through the middle of the restaurant to go up to Ainsley's table. I shrug at him and follow her.

The Maitre D' gives me an inscrutable look and turns on his heel and walks away. Oh well. I guess we'll just have to find Sam on our own.

When we get to the table, Ainsley stands up and gives Donna a hug.

"Josh! Donna! It's so good to see you! Sam will be back from the restroom in just a minute."