LIFE GOES ON

CHAPTER THREE

CATCHING UP


. . .

"Oh, love, you're such a dupe…" she laughed softly "You're daydreaming again… and you didn't close the door… again…" She puffed, shaking her head, pretending annoyance. Then she blew out a kiss that reached him down there. "Someone's coming."

He blinked and straightened in his seat, then exhaled and breathed deeply several times as he arranged his clothes and quickly passed a hand through his hair, just before a soft knock failed to startle him.

He breathed deeply again and closed his eyes…

"Come in"

. . .


. . .

The door opened and James saw a beamish Anna, the housekeeper, stepping aside as she let someone else come into view: Andrea. He frowned.

"Andrea…?" he paused "I didn't know you were coming."

"Really? I sent you a message when I left the office…" she smirked, walking in and leaving her laptop case on a table, then taking it and a folder out and coming up to his desk.

James nodded. He shifted in his seat, uneasily. He wasn't in conditions to show manners right now but fortunately Andrea wasn't the kind of friend who needed them.

"I must confess I had a slight hope that you were taking your vacations seriously…" she added looking around and fixing her sight on the amount papers spread on his desk.

"And that's exactly why you came…" he retorted, sarcastic.

"No, I came because Pat told me you weren't" she ended, still looking at the papers.

"Bah, this is nothing, just private stuff." He replied, taking his documents aside and motioning for her to take the seat in front of him.

"Good, because there are some things I need you to see. You don't mind, right?" she asked as she placed her laptop on the desk and the file to her left. A buzz went off again in the corner of his room.

James shook his head, absentminded. Then looked up and smiled to her.

"No, not at all. Get yourself comfortable… just give me a minute to finish this."

He took the letter he had been writing and finished it. He just needed to remind his father he shouldn't let that his animadversion to one of the older members of the Board and a fellow shareholder clouded his mind. His father already knew it but it was not a waste of ink to write it down again.

He folded then the paper and put it in a personalized envelope, then leaned to open a lower drawer to get his seal and the sealing wax and then chuckled at Andrea's amused expression.

"What?"

"I just… I wonder about Helga reaction's the first time she saw your… mmm… old fashioned way to…"

"She loved it" he interrupted her, raising his brows "Of course she laughed at first, saying she didn't know Dumbledore remembered me in his will but then she got one for herself the very next day."

"Really?" Andrea chortled "And she uses it…?"

He nodded.

"Of course she uses it. With her stuff... you know… correspondence with her father and people in her firm…"

"Talking about people in her firm… How's Gerald doing? Is he married?"

"Nope. Still single…"

"Happily single…?"

"Happily single he looks…" he shrugged "He's still young"

"Yeah, too young…" Andrea nodded and then sighed. "How old is he, by the way?"

James shrugged again, picking up the rest of papers and walking up to his filing cabinet. Another buzz was heard. Where they spacing out or he was starting to ignore them?

"Thirty, I think. He's Helga's age. They went to school together"

"Thirty…' Andrea spoke with dreamy voice. "I remember when I was thirty. Seems to be another life…"

"Oh, come on." James smiled as he took his seat again. "You're not that old."

"I'm gonna turn fifty next year, James" She looked at him in the eye "Fifty"

"It's not the end of the world…"

"I was told the same when I turned forty"

"And the world didn't end, right?"

"Well, not but… I got divorced."

"Right …" James sighed. It was always painful to see she hadn't gotten over her divorce yet; and sometimes he didn't know how to help. Another buzz went off "Divorce has nothing to do with age. Unfortunately, that was a matter of…"

She interrupted him.

"Well, I didn't come here to talk about my divorce. We have more important business to attend."

"Andrea, I want you to know…"

"Oh, I know, James. I know you care…" she sighed "And you know I'm not the kind of person who brings this kind of things out of the blue. I don't know what happened to me, but seeing Robbie in the yard brought to my mind…." she shook her head suddenly and turned to the papers "Well, I came here bearing both, good and bad news…"

James sighed; deciding that the matter would be left aside for a while.

"Bad news?" he asked, raising his brows and looking at her pointedly "I have been absent only for two days."

"Well, I didn't come bearing bad news actually but I just hung up with Bill. He says he's been calling you but seems that you're not answering your phone." She informed "He realized he failed to include the Rose's file expenses in next trimester budget and…" she stopped suddenly and turned to see him with a frown. "Why you're not answering your phone?"

"Next trimester budget is still on Paula's desk. I thought Bill knew that" He said, looking at the papers she placed in front of him.

"James?"

"What?" He exhaled, calmly, raising his sight "It's nothing special. I'm on vacation. I'm supposed taking care of the kids and I also need time to myself…"

"Mr. President is still calling you?"

"Yeah" he nodded "… but that's not the reason. I've said all I have to say about the actual situation. I don't know why people need advisers when they don't follow their indications; they go and make things their way…. They thought it'd be easy, a piece of cake, to follow their old and obsolete precepts. Now, look what is happening. There is only one possible solution and they still don't give. Negotiation."

He stopped to exhale. The actual situation had him drained. But then he remembered that it wasn't his problem after all. He wasn't a congressman or a senator. And campaigns weren't his problem anymore.

"I know how you feel" Andrea exhaled, leaning back in her chair "Next elections will be a pain in the ass. I'm glad we worked in your new contract on time and fortunately we'll be settled here in DC. You're a senior consultant now and you're not traveling anymore. You advise the Counsel and it's the Counsel who marks the guidelines. If someone needs your individual advice all they need to do is contact you through the Party, and that's it."

"Yeah, that's it. Apparently simple but it seems that is hard to follow in the practice…"

"How hard is to fix an appointment?"

"Some people still don't take it" he exhaled, not wanting to talk more about that.

"Then they are wrong. They got to take it, like it or not"

"I know. Andrea, don't get angry. We both are in the same team, aren't we?" he asked "That's why I'm not attending the phone. For starters, I'm on vacations…"

"… and?"

"Well, and Pat's on charge of the office…"

"And what about Mr. President…"

"He already knows. But let's be honest here, you know I'm a strategist and …"

"… and since Mr. President is going to leave the White House in eight months…"

James nodded. "Exactly, my help is not that required anymore"

Andrea looked at him with a frown.

"But James, have you thought that he's used to having you around"

"Yes, I know. But he also knows that he needs to stop looking back to hear my opinion. We've already worked on that. The rest of his period is already planned out, and as I said before, if he ever needs me, I'll be at a call distance, but as long as us both got used to this new arrangement, my phone will be left aside"

She nodded "When do you end officially your vacations?"

"In two weeks…" he saw the frown perched in her forehead "Pat knows how to reach me. Besides, I'm not going out, so I'll be around."

"Please, excuse my intromission, but what about Helga? She's not here half of the time. How does she manage to reach you?"

"She calls to the house whenever she needs. It was her idea, after all."

Andrea nodded

"Seems that you two have everything well planned…" she mumbled to herself with a hint of sarcasm as she adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose "Well, we need to start with this…"

Yeah, they needed to start with this. And 'this' was the update to the initial diagnosis of their position in the country. He found weird that people still wanted to hear the old discourse from the republican candidates. How the same people who were free spirited and proclaimed love and peace decades ago became conservative in their old age. The public opinion seemed to be more divided than ever and candidates still were willing to promise whatever that get them votes, even if it was impossible to get… bah, what was the point?

He started listing objectives and actions as Andrea took note. Why the update arrived this early he didn't know. Probably he should thank Andrea and her contacts.

James sighed, blessing that she chose to come today. It was work that needed to be done. The fact that they were working in his house meant that they could concentrate without interruptions. The office was insufferably crowded with all the temporarily hired staff and the bunch of new interns.

"By the way, I heard of the success in the negotiations with the Canadians. Congratulations! Helga must be exultant."

"Did they make it public already?" James frowned, stopping mid-sentence.

She nodded, rearranging her glasses

"I heard it in the noon news"

James scoffed, seemed that Price had urgency for gloating about it.

"How long did they take?" Andrea looked at him. "I mean the negotiations. How long has Helga been absent this time?"

"The conditions of the negotiation have kept them busy for months..." He exhaled "But this excursion took almost two weeks"

Two long weeks.

Andrea whistled

"That's a lot of time…"

"You tell me!"

He took the document with the numbers in Florida to analyze it when she interrupted him again.

"James, I know it's not my business but…" James raised his sight when she didn't go on "Two weeks it's indeed a lot of time." She exhaled "How do you manage?"

He shrugged

"We keep going. We always do."

"Keep going doesn't sound the best way to deal with it."

"I know" he puffed "But I guess it is the way we got used from the beginning"

"But Helga shouldn't leave you for so long."

"It's her work, Andrea"

"I know it's her work, but I still think she shouldn't leave you for that long. Just my opinion, but I think you should ask her..."

James chortled. "Had your husband asked you to quit your job, have you…?"

"I'd have listened to him."

James scoffed. "Oh, come on. You'd have listened to him. Really?"

"I mean. Now I think I should've listened to him even when back then I know I didn't want to hear a single word about him trying to control me or my job"

James shrugged.

"Well, maybe the difference here is that I don't ask Helga to quit it" he explained "I know it's her work and I'm aware of the big responsibility she has on her shoulders. I also know very well she's passionate about everything, let alone about something as big as her job. From the beginning we know this negotiation could become problematic."

"Well, you're right about that. I don't want to think what would happen if they failed…"

James held his breath. He didn't want to think what'd happen if they failed either. Andrea didn't have to know that they left the negotiations' table a couple of times due to deep disagreements. The negotiation had been a challenge. His attention came back to the present at her next words.

"…but mainly knowing she's with him. I don't know, fuck… I just… I don't know why I hate that guy so much …"

James grunted inwardly, as he tried to control the anger that was starting to run through his veins.

"What guy?" he asked, feigning nonchalance, knowing very well who she meant.

"That guy, Helga's boss… Daniel Price"

"Really?" he barely raised his brows. "Why?"

"I don't know… Come on; don't tell me you don't hate him..." James hoped sincerely that his real feelings for the guy weren't obvious. "I mean, he's so cocky, so proud, he thinks he's the best damn thing around…." He puffed "Oh, I don't know why, I just hate the guy guts"

"You know that a lot of people think exactly the same about me" James flashed a bright smile.

"But you're nothing like him!" Andrea responded to his smile with other of her own. "You're not cocky… you are nice and gentle…"

James' smile turned a smirk.

"Oh, come on. I remember when we started to work together you told me you never thought I'd be cool. You told me that you thought I was cocky and proud and that your husband considered me a bastard and that he hated that you worked with me" he looked at her with a brow raised.

"Well, we didn't know you back then…" Andrea rushed, trying to make up for something said long ago and that she probably didn't even remember.

"Well, maybe you don't know Daniel Price the same way you didn't know me back then"

"Well, maybe… but people never talk badly about you the way I've heard they talk about him"

"Really?" James raised his brows again, interested. "What do people have to say about Daniel?"

"Is he your friend?" she asked, cautiously.

He shook his head "No" he uttered. 'Not at all' he thought

She seemed to think twice before go on.

"Well, people say he's mean, unpleasant…" she paused "he has one of the worst reputations I've heard." She turned up "You know he was this close to divorce last year…"

James bored a hole with his sight in his friend's eyes. There was something she didn't dare to tell him.

"And…?"

She blinked "I don't know. It's just that… it's just that I don't like him and that's all"

"You sure that's all?" she nodded. He drew in deeply. "Andrea, have you heard something about him and Helga?"

Andrea blinked nervously then exhaled slowly.

"No…" she paused to take air "I've heard about him and a few girls. But I've never heard something about him and Helga, to be true. But they work together and being aware of his reputation…"

"Do you think Helga is the kind of girl who might fall in his clutches?"

"No, of course not." She exhaled; James didn't know if it was because she felt relieved of remorseful for bringing up the subject. "I know how much Helga loves you; I've seen it, but that man is dangerous. I think you should be careful"

"Why?" he asked her "Have you heard something? … if you know anything Andrea, I'd like you to be honest…"

"No…" she vacillated, but then she seemed resolute "…but you know… I… my friend, Elsa works in Independence Avenue too, and she says… she says he doesn't hide he's interested in her…. And given the kind of man he is, I think you should do something."

"Do what? Asking her to quit her job?"

"No… of course no…" she exhaled "I don't know... I don't know even why I'm telling this… it's just l wouldn't like to see you two having problems"

"Helga and I don't have problems. We are fine."

"Maybe you're fine as you say, but you two spent a lot of time far away from each other"

"Not anymore. I don't travel that much."

"But she does…a lot"

"That's just an impression. She doesn't travel as much as you people think. She'd been in town for almost three weeks before this last trip to Canada…" he started, seeing that she vacillated, he added "…which I admit has been long, but I'm aware of the kind of work she's doing and I understand…"

"And the kids also understand?" she asked, skeptic.

"Are you questioning her choice, Andrea?

"No… well… maybe I am. If I was married to you and had those two beautiful kids I'm sure as hell I'd change something."

James scoffed again

"Really?" he shook his head. "Andrea, I remember the first years we worked together. It seemed that you didn't want to be in your house at all. You were first to arrive to the office and the last that went home at night. The one who always accompanied me to every trip…"

"Well, that was when? Thirteen, fourteen years ago?" he shrugged "If I could go back I'd do it different"

"I'm sure you would" he admitted, knowing how much she regretted now leaving her husband aside back then "But you think that way now. Back then working hard and gaining experience and reputation was very important to you… I think we should let Helga reach that understanding on her own. We… I'm not going to force her to quit what she loves to do. Negotiation tables are a very important part of her life. I can't be so selfish to ask her to leave everything aside to be with us 24/7. I was also there. I remember when working all around the clock was my reason for living. Then, a given day, I changed my priorities, but Helga is just thirty. Her job means a lot to her. Fortunately, I understand her and when it's possible, like now, I'm here to look after the kids in her absence. Besides, the kids are alright, we have the best team in the world to take care of them and the house."

"Yeah, I've seen... Where did you get that nanny, by the way?" James didn't bother to answer because she went on immediately "How are the kids taking this absence?"

James sighed.

"Well, I think. Of course they miss her. Robbie had been resenting but fortunately Sophie is here now and she keeps him busy."

"And little Lydia, how's she taking it?"

"She's…" James sighed again, and then closed his eyes. "Look, Andrea, I'm not going to lie. Of course it's hard for the kids too and…" he paused, feeling a knot compressing his throat.

"Hey!" Andrea smiled extending her hand to touch his "I'm not bringing this up to make you feel bad, okay? That's my point exactly. You don't need to tell me anything. I know how you feel. That's what I mean. This is a good moment to foresee things. Job is important and temptations are out there, but you two need to work in yourselves and in your family. Time comes and goes and then, when you realize it's already late. Look that's me who's talking. Learn from my experience. I was also there and I regret it now"

James nodded slowly.

"Why are we talking about this? … I mean, don't get me wrong, I know your intentions are the best…"

"Of course they are… you're like my brother, James, I love you and I love that hell girl that is your wife, but I see you making the same mistakes I did and I'd hate not saying a word and then seeing you troubled. Life is hard, world out there is full of heartless people who won't hesitate to hurt you." she paused "Heck, our office is full of girls trying to steal your attention every single day and I see you putting up with that pretty well but …. Shit! Sometimes I wonder if Helga is aware…"

"Of course she's aware" he smiled to himself. 'That's why she goes to the office so often.' he thought.

"Oh, come on, don't start" she chortled, waving her hand in front of her face "We all guess what happens in your office when she's over and you lock the door…" she shook her head. "And let me say that I admire your… shamelessness, but maybe your acting give room then to all those interns who step in the office thinking they could follow in Helga's footsteps, like that stupid girl who was found in your office, naked."

"Oh, please, don't make me think of that…" he grunted. There was indeed a girl who was waiting for him in his office with no clothes on. Fortunately, when he stepped into the room he was accompanied by Pat and Lucy, his secretary.

"Gross! … By the way, what did Helga say when she knew… because she knew, right?"

"Yeah, she knew… at first she began to gibe at me but then she got angry saying I'm a stupid geek-bait who never pays attention to that kind of things, and telling me what she was going to do to the next bitch who dared to mess with Her Property, meaning 'me'. Then she became suspicious for a while."

Andrea smiled apparently pleased with his wife reaction. James then asked himself why he was telling her all these things. Maybe he knew they actually needed some kind of help. And Andrea was the only one of his friends who was close to him, close this kind. They had had years to bond. Maybe were only her and Pat whom he considered his real friends in the office.

"… I think you also should do something. It's the same story year after year. It's was fun at the beginning but now I find it plainly annoying…"

"We really need to talk about this?" he asked again, uncomfortable

"Yes, because even when it's weird it's still admirable. Most of the guys think you're an idiot for letting them go…"

"And some of them think that I actually go to bed with them…"

"Well, yeah, but who think that way is the temporary personnel who don't know you at all, and no one really care about what they think…"

"Still, it's not nice to hear them saying every…. Bah!" he exhaled, wearied "Look, there is no point in talking about this…"

"Good, but I really wanted to say that I respect you; you made your point clear from the beginning and stop their advances. I really hope you'll keep that approach forever. I've seen that those girls try really hard. Of course Monica was the stupidest of them!"

"Was her name actually Monica?"

She shrugged

"Everybody called her Monica…" she shook her head "I always wondered how you do to resist the temptation"

James sneered

"You talk about it as if it were something impossible to achieve…"

"Because it is. I always thought my husband wouldn't fall and look! I was oh-so wrong; he fell flat. Then you have Pat, for God's sake, Pat, of all people!

James shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Hey! It's not just a guy thing. We've seen also girls failing"

"Well, yeah, and sometimes with terrible outcomes."

"Yep"

"That's why I warn you about Helga…"

"Look, I trust Helga"

"I know you trust her and I know she trust you, but fidelity is a veil so fragile..."

"Look, Andrea. I think trust…and / or fidelity is a two ways road. And of course is a road full of danger and temptations but losing the way it's as easy for her as it is for me. I trust her because I know she honors what we have, I know she values it; and I am…"

"Why are you faithful, James?" she leaned forward to ask him "Why a man decides to be faithful?"

"Why do you ask me that?" he frowned

"Because… I don't know how we got to this point but I'd really, really like to hear what you have to say. Maybe there would never be another chance to ask you again…" she paused. He looked at her with curiosity "Why are you faithful? I assure you I'm never going to repeat it but... why?"

James observed her as he thought.

What to answer? … Was there even an answer? A simple answer? … Finally he exhaled, deciding to be sincere.

"I don't know if this is the answer you were looking for… heck… I don't even know if this is an answer at all, but… I think…"

"Just please don't tell me that it is because you love Helga…" she cut him off

"Well, I do love Helga. That's true. But I know about people who claim to love their couples and still have affairs so it mustn't be taken as a truthful principle per se."

"You tell me! Jerry loved me to death…" James smiled sadly. She leaned forward again. "Have you had affairs, James?"

Why he felt as if was being interrogated? James inhaled deeply. He really felt he had no problem talking about his intimacy with Andrea; she was a rightful friend after all but still…

"No" he answered with simplicity "No since I'm with Helga"

"When did you realize she was the one?" he smirked seeing that she seemed to be enjoying herself being in the inquisitor's position.

"You want me to answer that or that I answer why I'm faithful to her?" he raised his brow, amused.

"Both" she laughed "Why you are not unfaithful… first…" she clicked her tongue.

James laughed. This was the Andrea he knew; smart and clever and a fast thinker. He replayed her question in his mind.

"Right… I think it's because I know what all those other girls have to offer…" he started "…and I'm not interested."

"That's it? You are not interested?"

"That what I feel"

"I'm not sure if I understand…"

"Well, I'm not sure if I can explain it better. It's just that…" he creased his forehead "I think I went out too much. Well, I didn't go out that much, but maybe… I guess I was tired of all that dating. It had been years that it meant nothing. It was always the same; with a few variations, girls were like a pattern, always the same … they may think they are interesting but they are not…. There was not spark, there was no challenge; there was nothing new…" he shrugged again.

"Until you bumped into Helga?"

"Until I bumped into Helga…" he repeated, nodding, and remembering that he had actually bumped into her a long time ago. Of course back then he never thought she'd be the one.

"What's special about her?"

'What's special about me?' the blonde girl with the smeared lips asked from her comfortable seat in the corner of the room, as she winked at him.

"Everything…" he took a breath so deep that tickled his lungs "You don't want to hear the whole story, right?" he laughed seeing Andrea's dreamy expression "I think you've already heard it…"

"Yeah, I heard it once. What surprised me when I first met her was her youth… her spirit… I guess I understood why you fell so hard for her, so fast… she's so different…"

James' mind got lost. It hadn't been that fast, but it was definitively hard. He didn't want to go over his confused feelings back then when she was absent from his life. But he remembered very well when he found her again. He remembered he couldn't believe she wasn't taken. She was beautiful and sparkling and so busy constructing her life, trying here and there to find her place. Dividing her time between poetry sessions, the headquarters of her father company, overcoming a professional tennis player in a Country Club court, or just being a friend… she was a diamond in the rough…

And she wasn't taken…

"…I mean, you two are successful, have a beautiful marriage, two kids and you say she's only thirty…"

"Yep" he nodded, feeling proud "Her birthday was two weeks ago. We celebrate her on Sunday before she left"

"You mean she just turned thirty?" he nodded "What did you buy to her?"

"A set of… you know…" he started, pointing his neck "…necklace and earrings…"

"Diamonds?" she asked, raising a brow.

He shook his head.

"Rubies, actually"

"Rubies…?" she repeated, opening her eyes. Then added "I don't know why I thought Helga wasn't the kind of girl who fancied jewels"

"Then you know her pretty well… but she's a smart girl after all and she needed some red gems. They are beautiful, she loved them."

"So she needed red?"

"Oh, yes" James laughed loudly "She calls it her Red Period. She loves red"

"And you went right to buy her some red stones…"

"Nop" he smirked now "I bought her the stones only because I knew that her actual present… well… our actual present, wouldn't arrive on time"

"Our present?" Andrea raised her sight, curious, then seemed to understand "Oh, your birthday is coming up, right?"

"Yep, next week"

"And what did you buy as shared present, if I may know?"

"We bought a 458."

"Oh, my gosh! I've forgotten you bought a Lamborghini!"

"Huh, no…" James chuckled again "…the 458 it's not a Lamborghini, it's a Ferrari"

"But you said you wanted a yellow Lamborghini…"

"…No," James corrected her again not knowing why women always confused those kinds of things. Well, Helga was the exception. She knew everything about cars "Helga wanted a red Ferrari, I wanted a yellow one"

"And you let her win…" Andrea said sarcastically "… such a gentleman"

"Well, not precisely…"

"What that means?" Andrea frowned

"We took it to the poker table…"

"You bet? You wanted yellow, she wanted red and you took your differences to the poker table?" she almost shouted "That's not gentlemanly at all"

"Hey! It is!" he chortled, amused "Deep down I also wanted red, and deep down she didn't disliked yellow that much, but we just couldn't decide. So I let her chose red"

"And she won!" Andrea shook her head feigning incredulity "What if she hadn't won?"

"She always wins!" James puffed. "Andrea, one thing you should know about Helga is that she always wins. I don't know if she has a pact with the devil or it's something that she learned from her father but she always wins"

"Really? I didn't know that."

"Well, you know it now. Don't go then telling you weren't warned"

"And where is it now, I mean, the Ferrari?"

"The 458? In the garage."

"And how is it? I guess you couldn't wait to take it out."

"Well, when it finally arrived we went out for a roll. I mean the guys, Robbie and me."

"And the poor thing has been parked since then?"

"The poor thing?" He scoffed "…Nice way to call it. Well, I'll tell you … days ago George took it out to go and get some burritos"

"You took it out to buy some burritos?!" She couldn't believe her ears. He smirked.

"Well, George did, not me"

"Boys and their toys. I can't believe you, guys. You are all grown men…"

A buzz went off in the table corner. James blinked because at the same time a there was a knock in the door.

"I'm getting tired of all that buzzing!" Andrea said getting up and walking to the corner.

"Come in" James spoke to the person behind the door.

Anna entered into the chamber.

"Excuse me James…" she started, turning to the corner to look at Andrea "I just wanted to ask if Mrs. Wilson is staying for dinner…"

"I don't know. I guess we'll ask her? Andrea…?" James also turned and found her with a frown in her forehead.

"Huh? No… oh, no… thank you. I have a dinner at my sister's. Her husband's birthday. April's son too." She turned to Anna "Thank you, Anna" her sight went back to the phone.

Anna nodded and turned to him then.

"Right. Dinner's at eight. Everyone's informed. Helga said she'll be on time"

"Alright…" he breathed deeply; feeling finally happy that she'd confirmed "Who else will be here?"

"Only the four of us…, Shawn, George, without girlfriend, and Sophie… oh… and we still don't know if the kids will be with us…" she looked at him hopeful.

"Robbie can join us."

"Right" Anna nodded. "What about little Lydia?"

"Isn't too late for her?" James raised his sight "You know what I think, but you also know her nanny. I wouldn't like to start a war…"

"That's what we thought, but then she makes plans and Helga comes and changes everything"

What harm could be done if the little girl stay awake for an hour or two after her bed time. James exhaled.

"I don't know. That's between you two and Helga." He finally said.

"Again, that's what we thought…" she said and then turned around muttering something about that he was never helpful in those cases.

James shrugged her off and turned to see Andrea who was very silent considering that people used to find amusing his domestic affairs.

"What is it?" he asked, standing up. "Something that needs my immediate attention?"

"Well, five lost calls… a couple of messages from Mr. President, the first one saying you should take it easy and that as same as you, he didn't control the party. The second one is to thank and congratulate Helga…. Hmm… then, as expected, several people asking for appointments or advices… then it's mine… Bill's… Paula's… your mom asking how you are doing… and… three SMS from some DFP…" she paused. Looking at him cautiously "Who's DFP, James?"

James took a deep intake, and fought to control his reactions. Still he couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"Did you read them?" he inquired, showing a serenity that was far from real. She nodded, turning her sight to the screen again. "It's nothing, just ignore them." He extended his hand to take the phone.

"Who's DFP, James?" she repeated, refusing to give it "You just can't ignore him. He's saying…"

"Do you believe what he says?" he asked with an angry tone, something he didn't intend to let out, not this easily.

"Who's him?"

"Daniel Fucking Price. That's him"

"Helga's boss? … Why does he write this way to you?" she asked, frowning. "I mean… I don't understand… I know you haven't read them so - how did you know what he says?" she looked at him perplexed "It's not the first time, right?" he tightened his jaw "James… I don't know what's happening here but I think this is serious…"

"Give it to me!" he insisted and she finally handed him his phone. The messages were in a gray bubble each, one under the other, and flashing in the screen.

. . .

"I don't need her anymore so finally let her go. No more waiting, mate. She'll be at your side within minutes."

.

"Have you realized that your wife spends more time with me than she does with you?"

. .

"At this pace, your next kid would be mine.

Enjoy your weekend."

. . .


. . .

I don't own Hey Arnold!

Dumbledore, Ferrari and Lamborghini are all TM and of course I don't own any of them.

I own the plot and the O C.

It won't be a full of action story where a hero saves a damsel in distress and will not include physical feats, extended fight scenes, violence or frantic chases, nobody will suffer life-threatening experiences nor will it end with the public humiliation of an alleged villain.

This is just a story that shows a couple dealing with everyday life after several years of marriage. It also has a lot of OC, but we still see some things about the old PS 118 gang.

I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for being here. Double thanks to Jose Ramiro and to those who follow favorite this or any other of my stories.

Oct 14, 2013. Back to this time, US were suffering a political debacle related to Republicans paralyzing the Federal Resources due to complicated negotiations debating the debt ceiling. I don't know if you remember it. It was what had James and Andrea worrying in this scene.

Re posted. September 26, 2015.