Sunday February 14, 2021

Mara noticed the annoyed look on her husband's face as they left church after the noon mass. She wondered what was vexing him. She slipped her arm through his down the few steps to the waiting limo.

"Mommy, can we go to Alfredo's for lunch?"

"Matty, we are having French toast at home. You'll be having pasta tonight. Samuel what's wrong with you?"

"I don't appreciate Fr. Dennis using his homily to tell me how to govern."

"Dad, it was a good homily."

"And it wasn't aimed at you ." Mara added.

"Please! He said that cities often bulldoze away the negative to show their nation's best side to visitors. That as a child he imaged what it would be like to make a mountain low or fill in a valley, as he took descriptions literally. Then he said that the way of the Lord includes less literal vision: affordable housing, accessible health care, fair distribution of planetary resources and guaranteed human rights."

"Exactly, those are the things we should all be concentrating on improving not just a glossy image."

"I still think..."

"You're wrong so get over it."

Matty laughed which earned him a swat from his father which earned Sam a swat from Mara in return.

"What are we eating tonight?"

"Sweetie, are we sure he's not Ainsley's? His food obsession is very suspect." Sam asked with a smirk.

Mara laughed, "You were there when he popped out of me, you geek."

"The food, what are we eating?"

"This is the twentieth anniversary Valentine's Gala so I'm recreating every aspect of the first one. The same menu, the same decor, the same party favours."

"I'll finally get to see it." Sam remarked.

"You missed your first Valentine's Day together?" Matty asked.

"We were together but your Dad had lost his sight."

"Dad was blind?"

"Yes, we've told you that."

"No, I would have remembered that for sure. What happened?"

"It was all your Aunt Dani's fault. She refused to take no for an answer and not only ruined my chance to announce our engagement but almost killed your Dad. She just..."

Sam still couldn't believe that twenty years later, Mara was still bitter and blamed Dani. He knew she'd never forget it, but despite telling Dani she forgave her, Sam knew she never did. So he stepped in and told the story of why they went back to the house and what he had been told happened to him.

"They rushed me to GW and..."

Mara took over, " He had several badly bruised ribs and lost so much blood they had to do a few transfusions. His ankle was badly broken and that caused internal bleeding in his leg. They were worried about him going into shock and needed to do the ankle surgery right away. They needed surgical pins to reset the bones. The worst was the swelling of the brain and a scull fracture. After surgery, he didn't wake up even when the swelling went down. Your Dad was in a coma for over a week. When he woke up he couldn't see."

"Whoa! I knew about the pins in your ankle, you told me it was broken. You also get aches in it when it gets damp. Jenna mentioned having pins in her wrist like your ankle and that's when you told me a snippet of the story. How long were you blind?"

"Four months, I was able to see shadows in low lightening after awhile. There was no change until the day Ginger hit me in the head with my office door. I opened my eyes and while it was blurry I could see Ginger's hair, eyes and the colour of her sweater."

"Holy cow, how did you work?"

"I was off until Valentine's Day actually. While I was off, my office was refitted with voice activated typing programs, typing decoding programs for when I typed, seats were assigned in meetings, Ginger read me all memo's and briefings."

"It must have been frustrating."

"Incredibly frustrating."

"What did you miss seeing the most?"

"Your Mom, Ginger rolling her eyes at me, Donna's sympathetic smile and the look of pride on Leo's face when I did something right."

"Hey Mom you still didn't tell me what we were eating!"

"Well Mr. One Track, we are starting with lobster tails, mini quiches, smoked salmon and bacon wrapped water chestnuts. Salad is a spinach mix with red peppers and a savory dressing. Dinner is heart shaped ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta with a wild mushroom sauce. Dessert is a large heart shaped chocolate brownie sitting on raspberry coulis and topped with a cherry sorbet."

"Oh yum, my mouth is already watering. What about drinks?"

"I want to surprise you with the drinks."

"Cool, I know you are using some of my mixes if you want to surprise me."

"You'll see."

"Don't look at me buddy, you know your Mother never tells me anything." Sam teased.

"That's because you suck at keeping secrets Dad." Matty giggled.

"Actual my love, your Dad sucks at keeping low grade secrets. Real secrets will go to his grave with him."

Sam smiled at his wife and gave her knee a little squeeze. "Matty, bow ties will not be coming off tonight. Despite her actions at the inaugurals she loves a man in a full tux."

"There is no man on this planet who looks better in a tux than your Dad."

"Not even me?"

"Sorry baby but you're a close second." Mara replied with a grin. "Do you know why Michael isn't coming this year? He had fun last year."

"He has been acting really strange lately. Sam and I are watching him to see if we need to go to Aunty Ainsley."

"He probably has a crush on a girl at school who is silly enough not to give him the time of day. Has he been moody?" Sam asked.

"Oh yeah."

"That's probably it."

"Woman are trouble aren't they Dad?"

"The worst kind of trouble Son, but to quote the song: there is nothing like a dame, nothing in the world."

One of the agents chuckled and turned around to catch Mara's eye.

"Mara, I'm very proud of you. I thought you would have killed them both by now." Jack teased.

"Don't want to ruin my freshly painted nails, otherwise you'd be checking to see if they still had vital signs."

"So how long is this gala?" Matty asked.

"It starts at seven and is over at midnight. You can come and get my pass key if you get fed up. That first year your Dad ended up asleep on my couch once his ankle started hurting."

"Isn't that when Uncle Josh finally told Aunty Donna he loved her?"

"Yes, it was. They disappeared shortly after dinner to go for a walk."

"So when can we go to get a kitten?"

"How about we start looking next week?"

"Sounds good to me. I want a black cat."

"Yes, you already told me that. Have you read all your books?"

"Yes and I promise I'll clean the litter box."

After lunch Matty went upstairs to play on the computer and Sam and Mara cuddled up on the couch. While they were talking Mara shifted and turned into him, resting her head on his chest. Sam knew that she'd be falling asleep very soon and fifteen minutes later she was snoring softly and drooling on him. Matty came downstairs for some chips and laughed.

"You want me to go get Tedzy?"

"No, I'll let your Mom have her little nap. "

"You're going to fall asleep too."

"I seriously doubt it, I'm not tired."

"Do you want some chips?"

"No, to eat them I'd have to move your Mom. What are you doing?"

"Right now I'm playing pinball. I was IMing with Noah for a little while. Michael is going to watch him while Josh and Donna are at the gala."

"I bet Michael asked that girl he likes to go to the gala with him and she said no."

"That could explain why he's been in such a mood lately. I thought he was mad at me for some reason because he's been pretty abrupt with me."

"!7 can be a strange age Matty. You are on the brink of adulthood, you are done with childhood and you don't really fit in anywhere. I'm afraid playing video games with you probably seems childish to him."

"Maybe but Jacob is 30 and he still plays with me."

"I don't' know what to say. I think Michael has more of Tom than Ainsley in him."

"Maybe, because Aunty Ainsley loves having fun."

"Yes she does as long as there is food available to feed her tape worms."

"Gross Dad! On that note I'm leaving."

Twenty minutes later Sam was fast asleep too. Matty went from the computer to reading a book and after a short nap he woke up at 5:30 to a quiet house. After checking his parent's empty bedroom he went down to the living room. His Mom was the closest so he poked her awake.

"Matty, what a way to wake me up!"

"Sorry but I didn't think you wanted to wear your jeans tonight."

Mara looked at her watch, "Crap! Sam wake up!" She tweaked his nose and he woke up with a start.

"What?"

"It's 5:30 we've got to get dressed."

Mara sprung up and was taking the stairs two at a time. Sam rubbed his eyes, stretched and sighed before sitting up.

"I told you that you'd fall asleep."

"Do you want a medal or a chest to pin it on?" Sam asked glibly.

"You aren't funny Dad." Matty responded and went upstairs to get dressed.

When Sam walked into their bedroom Mara was sitting at her vanity with her sweater off applying her tinted sunscreen.

"Now that's a look I love jeans and a sheer bra."

"Not as much as the view you're going to get in a few minutes. Can you go grab my dress."

Sam went quickly, knowing that if he hesitated she'd go and give the agents a view reserved only for him. He watched her apply lipstick and play with her hair while he got dressed. When she was finished she stood up and removed her jeans. She walked over to her husband and pulled on the ties of her thong letting it fall to the floor. Mara released the hook on her bra and it fell to the floor.

"That is my favourite look in the world. You are still the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth Madam Ambassador."

"Thank you, you still put James Bond to shame in a tux Mr. President."

"Do I have time to ravish you?"

Mara looked at her watch. You've got fifteen minutes."

"Just enough time to kiss every inch of your body."

Far too soon for Sam's liking, Mara left his embrace and slid into her dress. Sam pulled up the zipper and spun her around for an inspection. She put in the platinum ruby bezel set earrings that Sam had given her their first Valentine's Day. She asked Sam to clasp her necklace.

"Sorry, no can do. I thought you might want to wear this instead."

Sam handed her a blue velvet box that contained a one carat bezel set ruby with two half carat rubies beside it on a platinum chain.

"Sam, it's gorgeous, how did you find such an amazing match?"

"Jenna stole your earrings a few months ago and I brought them to a jeweler to copy. A week later your earrings were returned and you were none the wiser. I wanted to go back to the beginning and then you told me a month ago that that's what you were doing for the gala and I thought it was kismet."

"You know, twenty years ago today, I didn't think it was possible to love you anymore. Yet as the years past, I find whole new reasons to love you. You are my everything Samuel and I wouldn't want to live in a world without you."

"I love you too darling. So where's my gift?"

Mara laughed, "You sound like me. It wasn't easy to find you a gift. You already have all the material things I could buy you. I thought long and hard and realized that the best gift I could give you came from my heart." She turned around and opened the drawer of her vanity and handed him a red legal size envelope.

Sam could hardly believe his eyes when he flipped through the most unique booklet of gift certificates he'd ever seen. There were certificates for winning an argument, for getting his way, for chocolate caramel brownies on demand and for interrupting a withholding.

"I don't believe this."

"I guess the world wouldn't explode if I let you win one argument." Mara replied with a smirk.

"Wow, you've given me power, not a lot of it but yowza. I notice there is only one get out of withholding free certificate."

"Of course, do you think I'm daft enough to give away my ultimate power willy nilly?"

"A guy could hope." Sam chuckled.

"I don't love you that much." Mara teased.

Sam wrapped her in his arms and gave her a long kiss. "You lie." He whispered and then put her necklace on. Mara stopped in Matty's room to fix his bow tie and then they were gone with a dozen agents following behind.

The rotunda of the Canadian Embassy had been transformed with thousands of miniature white lights, draped trellises and intimate tables of eight. In lieu of flowers on the tables, Mara had a deep dish filled with cinnamon hearts and a smaller bowl filled with water and two floating heart candles.

They arrived at 6:40 and Mara immediately downed two glasses of champagne to calm her nerves before bringing Matty over to the bar. He was delighted to find raspberry, pomegranate cranberry spritzers and his pink grapefruit sparkle on the bar list.

"Thanks Mommy, they are two of my favourite drinks to make."

"You're welcome, I love having several non alcoholic choices available and you are the best mixoligst I know."

"I like the fact that we can eat here. When are the starters coming out?"

"A little after seven since dinner is at 7:30. You Dad has the key to my office."

"I figured, since you don't have a purse and your body barely fits in that dress."

"Get yourself a drink smart butt then you can go sit down with your Dad. I have to greet my guests."

Mara's annual Valentine's Day Gala was the hottest invite in Washington. There was rampant speculation that the guest list would be expanded to curry political favour for the new President. Those in the know, knew that it was nothing more than wishful thinking. To be invited Mara had to like you and since she personally closed every invitation one could not beg, borrow or steal an invitation. Unlike many parties, you could not gain admittance as a date, if your name wasn't on the invitation you were finding something else to do.

Samantha was disappointed that only Mara was greeting guests. She told her God daughter that she looked utterly stunning.

"Thanks, is Jenna here yet?"

"Actually she is running late and may not be here until the dinner service starts. I didn't think you'd want to be stuck with your parents so I put you at table two. Matty can show you the table. He's in my seat beside his Dad."

Sam was on the way back from the bar when he saw his God daughter coming towards him and he did a double take. He couldn't believe how old she looked and that Ginger let her and her fake rack out of the house.

"Yowza, Sam you look twice your age!"

"Thanks Uncle Sam. I feel twice my age. Is that my drink?" She asked with a grin.

"In your dreams, my pretty."

"Can't blame a girl for trying."

"You are incorrigible, I don't know if letting my son hang with you is such a good idea."

"Ha, very funny. I've heard the stories about your one track mind. If Matty has an incorrigible cell in his body he inherited it from you."

"Your Mother and or my wife are dead meat."

"President issues death treats. Where is the press when you need them?" Sam teased.

"Young lady if you aren't careful I'm going to deport you!"

"You can't I'm an American. "

"A minor detail that I can easily take care of."

"I'd tell Aunty Mara and then she'd deport you!" Samantha laughed.

"Did Mara send you over here to drive me crazy?"

"No, she sent me over to find Matty who apparently knows where table two is."

"Ah, well follow me to the only table that matters, mine."

"Yes Uncle Ego."

"You are a smart ass!"

"No kidding."

Matty looked up and saw his Dad and Sam approaching. He thought Sam looked great but there was something different about her. He wondered if she cut her hair. Or maybe it was that she was wearing makeup or had diamonds dripping down her ears. Matty stopped thinking about it and smiled at her.

"Hi Sam, you look pretty."

"Thank you, you look handsome too."

"Mom put us at table two with Jenna and Jacob if they every show up."

"So who are the other four people sitting with us?"

"Zoey, Charlie and I forget."

"Oh the forgets, such a lovely couple."

"I'm hungry, want to go raid the kitchen?"

"Sure."

Samantha sighed, while she was happy Matty told her she looked pretty, she was hoping for more of a reaction. She started to realize what Jenna had told her was right, the thing that crossed Matty's mind the most was eating or finding food to eat. With two agents trailing behind they entered the catering area and Matty picked up a tray of bacon wrapped water chestnuts. He'd popped two in his mouth before an agent grabbed the tray from him.

"Matthew you can't just pick up a tray and starting eating. What if the food had been poisoned?"

"The cater had no way of knowing I'd walk in here, let alone what tray I'd go for. Also during the prep agents were all over the kitchen and all over the rotunda while everything was set up. Now give me my food back before I go tell my Mom on you."

Sam tired but couldn't hold in her chuckle when the agent handed her the tray. She hadn't met many people who weren't scared of Mara. Threatening to sick Mara on someone was usually a very effective way to get what one wanted. The only person she knew who didn't care was Abbey. Matty had told her once, that Abbey, was the only person who could actually get away with ordering Mara to do something.

Matty took the tray off Samantha and brought it out to the party. He headed straight for his Mom who took two and sent him to feed his Dad. When the tray was empty Matty brought her over to the bar. She smiled as she recognized a few of the options and went for a pink grapefruit sparkle. They were circulating among the tables when they heard an argument between Ginger, Donna and Margaret.

"You may be able to fool Dad but trust me, my Mom can tell in five seconds or less if my Dad really signed something or not. She's also incredibly good at cracking passwords. I've asked her more than once if she was ever a spy. She refuses to answer so I'm taking that as a yes."

"Matty as your Dad's assistant for what seems like a lifetime, I'm perfectly able to forge his fast, neat and official signature." Ginger replied.

"And I'm sure, Aunty Ginger, that most people in the world would think it was real but my Mom will know."

"Mom are you trying to sell off something or get us in a war?" Samantha asked with a smirk.

"No dear, this is just one of the many ways I mess with Samuel's head."

"Now I know why he's always firing you." Matty laughed.

"He forgets that we know better so we are impervious." Donna chuckled.

"There is an easy way to end this ridiculous debate. Sam get a few pieces of paper then ask your God Father to sign one. Bring the same pen over here and Donna and Ginger will sign. Then Matty can bring Mara over here." Margaret suggested.

Five minutes later Matty was escorting his Mom over to a still empty table.

"So what's this urgent business you need me for?"

"It should be illegal for a woman your age to look that good Mar." Margaret answered.

"Thanks Margaret. So what's up ladies?"

"Donna and Ginger were fitting over who forged Dad's signature better and suggested that they could fool even you. I told them that was impossible. We have six signatures for you to look at."

"Hand them over so I can prove that my son is correct."

Mara looked at each piece of paper for about four seconds and then shuffled them. "The first two are Sam's, the second two are Ginger's, the fifth is Donna's and the last one isn't Sam's but I don't know who did it.".

Matty looked at the numbers on the back of each paper and laughed. "I told you, she picked out my Dad's, she identified Aunty Ginger's and Aunty Donna's and the last one was Uncle Josh."

"The closest was your second one Ginger, but I know Sam's handwriting like I know my own."

"Your husband is fooled often enough."

"Yeah I know, I'm working on that. No if you'll all excuse me, I've got more guests to greet. Matty come with me."

Jenna and Jacob entered just as the salad started to be served. She noticed that Samantha and Matty chatted all through dinner and dessert. As the last dessert plates were collected the music shifted from dinner music to dancing music. Sam and Mara stood and danced to Nat King Cole's, 'When I Fall in Love' When the next piece of music was played Matty asked Sam to dance and she happily joined him on the dance floor. After watching her brother and little sister for a minute, Jenna gave Jacob a look and he was quickly escorting her to the dance floor.

Just before eleven, Samantha got a headache and sat down at the table. She looked miserable so Matty suggested they go up to Mara's office where it would be quite. He got the key off his Dad and two agents followed them upstairs before Matty closed the office door on them. He poured her a glass of water and opened his Mom's top drawer.

"Do you want two Advils or two Tylenols?"

"I'll take both."

"Nice try, pick before I choose for you."

"Whatever will do."

Sam sat down on the couch, picked up a pillow and leaned her head against the arm rest. Matty chastised her for not following his instructions to get comfortable. She gave him a look, kicked off her heels and told him to get off her couch. Matty laughed, grabbed the pillow and sat down on the end of the couch. He placed the pillow on his lap and told her to lay down. Sam smiled and stretched out. Matty had watched his Dad do this for his Mom for years and he knew his Mom always felt better afterwards. He started gently stroking her hair, which he knew his Dad did every night to help Mara sleep and within a few minutes he felt her body relax completely and he knew she was asleep.

At 12:30 when all the guests had left and only friends remained Mara brought out the left over dessert and everyone had a second or third serving. Josh was half way through his fourth serving when Donna took the plate off him.

"You are so cut off Mister."

"Do you remember what happened twenty years ago tonight?"

"Yes, you finally grew a spine and admitted your undying love for me. " Donna looked at her watch and smiled, "Twenty years ago this minute, you were cursing how tight the clasp was on my bra."

"Yes, I seem to remember that I gave up and cut it off you."

"Which reminds me you never did replace that bra!"

"Oh but I made it up to you that night and many a night since."

"No, you owe me a La Perla bra."

"Hello, I didn't destroy a La Perla bra."

"Interest Josh, the interest is what hurts."

"If I knew then, what trouble you'd be ..."

"You would have still followed me to the ends of the earth Bubba. Now say goodnight to the people and thank Mara."

It was after one when Ginger put her coat on and headed to the door. Ryan rolled his eyes at Sam and caught his wife's arm.

"Dear are you forgetting something?"

"No, I thanked Mara and I'll return the jewels to her tomorrow."

"We came with a daughter or did you forge my signature too and sell her to someone?"

"Oh crap, I forgot. I'm not use to her going to parities with us. Where on earth is she?"

"I thought you knew."

"No, Mara do you know where Sam is?"

"I'm right behind you Ginger Ale." Sam replied with a chuckle.

"Not you, the Sam I love." Ginger quipped.

"Just for that I won't tell you where my God daughter is."

"Samuel Norman Seaborn, tell me where my daughter is now or else! "Ginger threatened.

Sam was going to engage her until he noticed the wicked glint in her eyes and decided it would be safer to just provide the requested information.

"Matty came to get Mara's office key because Sam had a headache. He figured she could use some peace and quiet."

"I'll go up and get them both." Jenna offered.

Jenna and two agents headed up to the sixth floor. Jenna smiled at Matty's two agents and suggested the agents compare notes while she went inside the office. She found all the lights off except the desk lamp. She flicked on the main light and smiled. Sam was fast asleep, her head in Matty's lap. Matty was also asleep, but he was going to wake up with a very stiff neck. She gently nudged her brother and promised to give him a neck massage on the way home. She tweaked Samantha's nose and she woke up.

"Time to go home Cinderella. Ryan and Ginger are waiting for you downstairs. How's your head?"

"It's gone thanks to Matty."

"Then get off my brother's lap and get downstairs before your Mom sends out the National Guard to find you."

Sam sat up slowly and smiled softly at Matty. "Thank you for a lovely evening."

"Thanks for keeping me from dying of boredom. See ya tomorrow at skating."

Jenna sat down beside her brother in the limo and worked the kinks out of his neck. Mara was snuggled up against Sam who was whispering what he wanted to do to Mara in her ear. As the limo pulled in front of Jacob's condo, Jenna smiled at her Dad.

"Oh by the way, I'm not going to be in tomorrow. I think I'll be hung over."

"Fine, but I suggest you turn your cell phone, pager and everything else off when Toby realizes you aren't in."

"Night."

"Mommy, do I have to go to school tomorrow?" Matty asked as the limo pulled away.

"Do you have any tests?"

"No."

"Then you can sleep in. I have a meeting at 2:30 so you'll have to come to the Embassy with me."

"Cool, boy am I ever tired."

"Your Dad seems to have all the energy in the world."

"Daddy probably only has energy because of Bambi." Matty muttered and made a face.

Sam turned red and Mara chuckled all the way home. Once they arrived home, Matty went straight up to bed and was asleep the second his head hit the pillow. Sam told the agents to spend the night in the kitchen and pulled Mara away from the fridge with a bottle of orange juice.

Mara sat down on the edge of the bed and popped the lid on her juice and started drinking it.

"You know, you let him skip school too often Mara."

She didn't like his tone or the look he gave her. "First of all, he's bored to tears. Secondly, there is no attendance issue in elementary schools. Thirdly, he gets straight A+'s in everything and most importantly, I'll do as I damn well please!"

"I'm not in the mood to argue with you tonight. Now are you going to take that excuse for a dress off or shall I?"

"You're not in the mood to argue with me? There is nothing to argue about. I'm not in the mood to have sex with you. In fact, I'm no longer in the mood to have you sleep in my bed. I'm going to change. By the time I get back, you need to be changed and have your clothes for the morning because I'm turning off the lights."

Sam stood there for a minute in disbelief. He thought about using his end to withholding coupon but he knew she'd say she wasn't withholding, just not in the mood. He sighed and wondered for about the millionth time in twenty years why he had to fall for such a headstrong, controlling woman. He had just pulled his clothes for the next morning when she walked into the room naked, turned off the light and crawled into bed.

"Goodnight Samuel."

"Goodnight."

Sam tossed and turned in Jenna's bed until he finally fell asleep. He woke up frustrated and in a bad mood. He didn't even say hello to the agents in the morning. He got his coffee and left. Ginger was eating her breakfast at her desk when he walked in and didn't say a word to her either. She waited until she finished eating, checked his schedule and figured she'd give him ten minutes for the caffeine to start flowing before walking into the lion's den. She handed him his schedule.

"Briefing is after Staff today. You are stewing so I assume it's Mara. Because I love you here is your warning: be civil to me today or I'm going home to get some rest. Do you want me to order breakfast for you?"

"Yes please."

Ginger walked out of the Oval office and ordered him some eggs, toast and fruit salad to go with the mornings standing order of 3 dozen danishes.

"Ginger have you seen Jenna?"

"Good morning Toby."

"Yeah have you seen Jenna?"

"Hey Ginger, Sam looked incredible last night. She also looked about twenty." Carol stated as she entered the outer office.

"I know but she looked like herself when I kissed her good bye this morning. She's probably still asleep."

"Ginger I'm not in the mood to be ignored. Where the hell is Jenna?"

"Morning Ginger Ale. Amanda is going to call and ask for his schedule this afternoon. Will you..."

"Morning Josh, yes I'll tell her she has to come down to look at it."

"Thanks, if I tell her again she'll think I'm just being..."

"You?" Carol stated with a grin.

"Kay what the hell is going on?" Toby demanded.

Ginger gave him a look, stood up and opened the door. "Are you ready for them?"

"Yes, send them in Ginger."

"There may be a request to change your afternoon from Josh's office."

"Thanks I'll ask him about it."

"You might want to notify Toby that he's seconds away from a bitch slap."

"No one messes with my Ginger Ale. What did he do this time?"

"No greeting, he's looking for Jenna. I said hello and he said yeah and repeated his question louder. Now he wants to know what the hell since I'm ignoring him."

"I'll take care of him."

"Thank you."

Sam opened his bottom drawer and fished around for a second until he located the items he was looking for. His staff came filing in the room and took their normal seats.

"Josh my schedule?"

"Yeah when we are done."

"Carol?"

"I'm starting to get lots of questions about the Matty proviso You need to get him in here sooner rather than later. Can I announce Ottawa today?"

"Sure and I still need more from Ed and Larry before I bribe Matty to do a press conference. Bug them."

"My pleasure."

"Charlie I want you to stay focussed."

"If I was any more focused you could replace the Hubbell with me."

Sam smiled, dipped in to his desk, picked up a Styrofoam ball and tossed it straight at Toby's head. "That is for being rude to Ginger. Jenna isn't here."

"Yeah I noticed that. Where the heck is she?"

"She wasn't feeling great last night, I gave her the day off."

"She's not answering her phone or blackberry."

"She's a smart girl. It's pretty hard to sleep when you are getting a call every twenty minutes."

"Great now I have to do her work today too."

"Yup I guess you do." Sam replied with a grin.

"That is all folks. Toby apologize and why is my schedule being screwed with Josh?"

"We have to talk about your funeral." Josh answered once everyone had left.

"Josh, Mara kicked me out of bed, she's not planning my demise."

"She kicked you out of the bed? On Valentine's Day? I warned you about her but would you listen?"

"Wipe that smirk off your face Mister or I'll have a little conversation with your wife."

"You're evil but seriously a Lt. Colonel from the Military District of Washington needs to come in to do your Dead President's File."

"I'll be dead what do I care?"

"They need to have your plans and wishes down so that when the time comes they can pull everything together in less than 24 hours. Obviously, no one is expecting you to die anytime soon but the first plan is death in office. If you ever want to make changes you can. Once you are out of office you'll get a yearly call to see what, if anything may need to change. So I need to clear at least an hour for this."

"Josh I'm not the one who needs to be consulted, I'm dead I don't care. It's Mara who has to bury me. Even if I had wishes, Mara would be so pissed at me for dying on her she'd refuse them out of spite."

"You've got a point, I never thought about how mad she'd be."

"Tell Amanda to call Leslie directly and get my wife over here by the end of the week. She's mad at me so whenever she's free, will be made to work for me."

"Kay, so what did you do this time?"

"I told her she lets Matty skip school too easily. She didn't take it too well."

"Sam, you should know better than to question her over Matty. Oh great you'll get me kicked out of bed tonight too."

"For what?"

"Donna is going to kick my ass when she finds out I told Amanda to go straight to Leslie."

"You think?"

"I know."

"Oh well misery loves company. We can camp out in the Residence if need be."

"Yeah, no more couches for the next 8 years."

"Josh get back to work." Sam hit the intercom. "Ginger what's next?"