Traveling commerical isn't so bad with a secret service detail. We by-passed security screening and were escorted to a private lounge, then once the plane was fully boarded we were shown to our seats in the front row of first class. In addition to Jackie and Phil, there is an air marshall in economy.
If it weren't for the vomiting I'd enjoy it even more. I don't know why I thought air travel would make me any less likely to throw up than riding in the car but boy was I wrong. Once in the car, once after take-off, and again as soon as we landed. This is feeling a lot like the first lady's trip all over again. Josh is looking really worried, but I can't comfort him right now. I'm sucking desperately on the drops that Helen gave me hoping to make it to my parents' house.
As soon as the car pulls in the drive way, I throw open the door. I know I'm supposed to wait for an agent, but I just can't. I sprint into the house and into the powder room. When I come out Jackie and my Mother are both standing looking at me with their arms crossed.
"Are you okay?" They say together. I start to laugh. I can't help myself.
"I could use some water."
I follow my Mother into the kitchen, and Jackie follows me. I'm a little surprised at that. The protocol doesn't require her to follow me from room to room here. I sit down at the table and my Mother sets a glass of water in front of me. As I sip it slowly she asks-
"How many weeks are you?" Well, I'm off the hook for making some sort of special announcement at the family dinner. I told Josh it wouldn't be necessary. This is grandchild #8 for my Mom. Still, I am a little surprised that she figured it out less than 5 minutes into the visit.
"Almost 10 weeks. How did you know?"
"Oh Honey! I had 4 babies. I know what morning sickness looks like!"
"Mom- it's 8:30 at night."
"Well, I'm afraid you take after me. I was pretty much sick through the whole pregnancy."
And here, I'd been hoping things might get better in a few more weeks. I look over at Jackie. "Where's Josh?"
"He's meeting the rest of the detail Mrs. Lyman."
"About that Donna," my Mom starts "what exactly do they think is going to happen here? You didn't have these people at Christmas."
"President Santos hadn't taken office yet at Christmas, Mom." I really don't think my Parents fully appreciate how important of a man Josh is.
"Do you know they plan to be here the whole time?! And they will leave the cars running?!"
"Yes, Mom."
"And they did a security check at the CHURCH and they vetted the Pastor!"
"Yes, Mom. You want us to go to church, right?"
"He's the Pastor, Donna!"
"They probably vetted the choir, too." I tell her giggling.
"Well, I'm glad you find this funny."
She really doesn't have a clue. I have to find the funny. Otherwise having security 24/7 would get old fast. But you know, having a stalker made me really appreciate them. Of course, we didn't tell our parents about the stalker. No need to make them worry.
"I'm sorry, Mom. This is part of the job. If having our detail here is too inconvenient, Josh and I can stay in a hotel. And if you think it will disrupt the service, we can stay home."
"No, no, it's fine." Mom grumbles a bit, but I knew she wouldn't want us to skip church.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Josh comes into the kitchen with Scott.
"I'm okay." I tell him. He looks at the glass of water and I take another sip. I know it will make him happy.
"Hey Scott." I greet the agent. We haven't seen him this week because he's been coordinating this visit with the field office.
"Mrs. Lyman. It's good to see you. By the way, Congratulations."
Josh looks panicked for a moment, thinking Scott just blew it for my Mom.
"It's okay Josh, she guessed it already."
He looks relieved, but Mom narrows her eyes. She just realized that she's not the first to know. Aw, hell.
Scott saves us from explaining by launching into some security details.
"Mrs. Lyman, Jackie and Phil will be heading back to the hotel. Kathy and I will be here through the night along with agents from the field office. We will do a shift change at 5am. Do you remember the code word?"
"Yes."
"Okay good."
"I'm going to take our suitcases up to the room." Josh says, leaving me alone in the kitchen with Mom. I take another small sip of water.
"A code word?"
"Since we don't know the agents from the field office, we need a way to verify them. If we need to leave with anyone other than the four agents we know, they'll have to give us a code word for us to know they are legit."
"What's the code word?"
"I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you." I start to giggle again, but Mom still isn't laughing.
I cross my arms on top of the table and put my head down. I'm so tired.
"Is she asleep?" I hear Josh's voice.
"Maybe." Mom my says "she hasn't moved for the last ten minutes. Is she eating?"
"Not enough."
I lift my head intending to glare at them both for talking about me like I'm not here, but I end up ruining the glare by yawning in the middle of it.
"How about some Chamomile tea and toast?" Mom offers.
"Okay." I'm not really hungry but it makes Josh less worried when I eat something. "You should make something for Josh too, he just had some peanuts on the plane." If she can transfer some of her Italian mothering to Josh, I'd be okay with that.
"Why don't you go say hello to your father and then put on your pajamas while I heat some up for you. Josh and I will have a little chat." I think this is the part where Josh and my Mother will start conspiring about how to take care of me. Maybe I'll end up getting to have the tea and toast in bed.
"Okay, Mama."
I make my way down to the den, trying to figure out how to tell my father I'm pregnant. It's kind of silly to be nervous. I'm a married woman. It's not like I'm sixteen or something. But still, it just feels awkward.
"Hey Daddy."
"Hi Pumpkin." My Dad gets out of his chair and gives me a big hug. As soon as he does he frowns a little. "You feel thin. Are you eating enough?"'
I give him a little glare. I swear if one more person tells me I'm too skinny, I might lose it. My body has a mind of its own right now and I'm just holding on for dear life.
"You know, if that husband of yours isn't taking care of you, your brothers and I can rough him up."
I start to giggle. I know he's just joking but the thought is pretty funny.
"Daddy. Did you happen to notice his guards?"
"Kind of hard not to." My Dad grumbles, then he looks worried again. "About that . . . are all those guards necessary? Have there been threats? Are you safe?"
I'm safer with Josh than with any other man I've ever dated. But this is not a discussion I'm going to have with my father after all these years.
"Daddy. Josh is the second most powerful man in the White House. He knows a lot of secrets. Security is necessary. But we are safe. Josh keeps the full detail because he's not going to take any chances with his family. . . . Speaking of which,"
Just as I start to tell him the news, we hear a commotion in the hall. "Good grief! Security screening to visit the folks! My super-important baby sister must be here." Finn's teasing voice carries from the door. Oooh, I can't wait to see baby Kate.
Dad and I both head toward the front of the house. I'll just tell him my news later. Well... I probably won't have to tell him at all. I'm sure Mom will. I'm good with that.
The baby is fussing while Julie hurries to get her out of the car seat. "Sorry, guys, she's ready to eat, like, right now."
Marco is half asleep on Finn's shoulder, but he smiles at my Dad. "Hi Grampa."
"Hey Buddy. Want me to take him while you unload the car?" Dad asks Finn. Marco goes willingly to Grandpa, who carries him down to the den, while Julie ducks into the living room to find a chair to nurse in.
"Want a hand unloading?" Josh offers.
"Yes, you wouldn't believe the amount of stuff you have to travel with when you have a newborn."
"Well then, this will be a good learning experience."
Finn's head shoots up and he looks over at me, not wanting to make an assumption without confirmation. I smile and nod, while my hand drifts to my stomach.
"Oh man! That's great!" He wraps me in a hug. "Go tell Julie. She'll be so excited."
Finn grabs Josh in a hug too. "Congratulations. Come on, I'll teach you how to set up a pack-n-play."
I slip in to the living room and settle on the couch.
"What was Finn so excited about?" Julie asks.
"Josh just told him we're expecting."
"I was hoping that was it! Congratulations. When are you due?"
"November 7."
"So the baby and Kate will be about 8 months apart. I hope you have a girl. What about you? Any gut feeling?
"Not really. I'm still just trying to wrap my mind around the fact that something the size of a strawberry is making me this sick."
"Oh. A lot of morning sickness?"
"And evening sickness. The afternoon sickness has let up a little. But pretty much a guarantee if I ride in a car, I'm going to throw up. And the smell of cooking food!"
"This house might not be a very fun place for you to be this weekend."
"I know but I really wanted to meet Kate. And to see all of you." I pause for a minute. "How did you know what to do when Marco was born?"
"I didn't really. I mean I read some books while I was pregnant, but I still felt completely unprepared. But then they put him in my arms, and I just knew that we'd figure it out. I knew Finn was going to be a great Dad. So I knew it would be okay."
"Are you having doubts about Josh? From what I saw at Christmas he's great with kids!"
"No, no doubts about Josh. He really is good with kids. I'm just not sure how I feel. I'm happy to be having his baby. He's so excited about it. But my biological clock wasn't really ringing, it would have been okay with me if it had taken longer to get pregnant. Does that make me a bad Mom?"
"Aww, Donna. Believe me when I tell you it's completely normal to have doubts about yourself. I think all good Moms do. But you have to trust the people around you- we know you'll be great at this! Kate's done eating. Do you want to hold her?"
"Yes, please." Julie stands up, walks over to me and puts the baby in my arms.
"I'm going to get a glass of water and check on Marco. You okay?"
"Yes."
