"Chantal stop running around like a whirling dervish!" Jeannette yelled.
Abbey chuckled, "She's just a tad over excited. You'd think she never saw a farm before."
"Her knee can't be hurting all that much if she's running around."
"Poor Toby must have been mortified."
"Yes, he thought he'd never be allowed near her again. Which would just be cruel because he adores her so much and I think Chantal has her first crush."
"It's interesting, I thought she'd get along with Josh the best, but she found the hidden Toby."
"I met Andi, I liked her. Do you know why their marriage failed?"
"No, I think they were just two very intelligent compassionate people who couldn't communicate with each other. Have you ever been married Jeannette?"
"Heavens no! I have enough trouble managing my career and Chantal. I had no time for a boyfriend let alone a husband."
Chantal came dashing down the stairs and ran into the kitchen. "I love my room, I can see the barn and the pond. Can I go jump in the hay now? Can I, can I..."
"Chantal! Calm down before your various wounds open up and start bleeding! Go upstairs and read a book until we call you down for lunch."
"Yes Mommy."
"Wow, my girls never listened to me that easily."
"I never had time for theatrics, so even though Sam thinks I'm harsh, she knows what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior and that failure to comply will mean a consequence. She has never thrown a tantrum."
"She is very well behaved so I'd just ignore what Sam says. I think more children today need a stricter upbringing."
"Thanks. I was thinking about your Gala performance and the only way I'm not going to have a nervous breakdown is if I direct it. Rhonda, my meddling agent, can clear the rights to songs for me but I need to control everything else."
"That's perfectly fine with me Jen but it will involve you making quite a few trips across the pond."
"Not if I stay here. Rhonda pretty much talked me into doing a Christmas CD and I'm sure there are recording studios in DC."
"Wow, where are you going to stay?"
"With Sam."
"Jen, I like you. I can't remember the last time I saw Sam smile so often, but I don't want to see him hurt. He is going to be heartbroken when you and Chantal leave."
"Sam's looking for a school, in DC, for Chantal this week. I didn't promise Sam, we'd never leave but we'll be here for the school year at the very least."
"Really."
"Umm hmm."
"Jeannette, this is none of my business but what exactly is the nature of your relationship with Sam?"
"You're right, it's none of your business but I like you too. I think it's safe to say that we are friends."
"And?"
"Just friends who really enjoy the frequent sex." Jeannette replied with a slight blush.
Abbey rolled her eyes and chuckled softly, "I really hope this doesn't backfire on you both."
"Why would it? We'll be fine but I appreciate the concern. So what are your performing?"
"I haven't decided yet. I was wondering if you'd be interested in doing a duet with me?"
"What song?"
"Have you ever seen White Christmas?"
"Of course, I like it but I like Holiday Inn even better."
"Care to be my Rosemary Clooney ?"
"Sisters?"
"That's the song I was thinking of."
"Sure, I actually know it well. I sing to it on DVD and when it comes on TV every year."
"Me too."
"Do you know what Jed is planning to do?"
"He's declared it a state secret. I just hope he doesn't decide to recite something forty pages long."
"I've heard he likes oratory."
"No, he loves it. He will go on and on until you want to cut your ears off."
"How did the two of you meet?"
"We met at Notre Dame. I was visiting a friend who knew Jed's friend. He was studying Economics and Theology and I was at Harvard in Pre-Med. Jed confided a few months later that he was thinking of becoming a priest until he met me."
"Aw, that's romantic."
"More sweet than romantic but whatever." Abbey replied with a smile.
Jeannette stopped smiling as her stomach lurched and she closed her eyes to will it away. Abbey looked over at her young friend and noticed she was starting to turn greenish. She sprung up and grabbed the waste paper basket in the hall. Jeannette opened her eyes when she realized that willing it away didn't work and she had to go hurl. Abbey smiled and handed her the waste paper basket.
"I think I can make..."
Abbey got up and poured Jeannette a glass of water and grabbed some Kleenex. When Jen finally stopped emptying the contents of her stomach, she took a few sips of water and blushed.
"Are you OK Jen?" Abbey asked.
"I think so. Let me go clean this up and..."
"Nonsense, it's not like you threw up all over the couch and even if you did, it's not like you planned it."
"I'm still mortified."
"Don't worry about it. I'm more concerned over why you are sick."
"I thought I was over this. I always react strangely to flying across the Atlantic but it normally settles down after about a week. I've been fine for several days."
"Did you eat anything odd yesterday evening or this morning?"
"No. I must have been the plane."
"Do you have motion sickness?"
"Not generally, but flying to DC I was sick afterwards and now I'm sick after flying today."
"I guess it's possible. I think we should prepare you something different for lunch. A grilled chicken Caesar sandwich may not be a good idea."
"Yum sounds great, I'm sure I'll be fine. I'll just go upstairs and check on Chantal."
"Lunch should be ready in about ten minutes."
Jeannette went upstairs, tossed some water on her face and brushed her teeth to get the taste out of her mouth. She looked in on Chantal who was staring out the window.
"What are you doing Sweetie?"
"I'm planning my week here. Is it time for lunch?"
"In about ten minutes. Did you bring your art set with you?'
"Yes, why? Do you want to colour with me?"
"Maybe later, I thought it would be nice if you worked on a Thank You card for Abbey for inviting you."
"That's a good idea. I'll think of what I want to say and then you can help me if I need spelling help."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Can I play in the hay after lunch?"
"Yes but I want you to be careful. You've hurt yourself enough to last you the next several months."
"I was so happy that you weren't mad at Toby."
"It wasn't his fault. You shouldn't have been running around like a maniac."
"I know, I learned a painful lesson."
"Learnt, you learnt a painful lesson."
"Oh Abbey is calling us."
The girls went downstairs and sat down at the kitchen table. As soon as the sandwich was placed infront of Jeannette, the smell made her stomach lurch and she ran to the bathroom."
"Oh no, it's back."
"What's back Chantal?" Abbey asked.
"A couple of weeks ago Mommy kept throwing up and the smell of food alone was enough to send her to the loo. Sam ordered us pizza and as soon as she opened the box she got sick."
The idea of food aversion popped into Abbey's head and she decided to probe Chantal to see if her hunch could possibly be true. "Chantal was your Mom only sick after flying here?"
"She only started throwing up when we arrived. Her stomach was sick back home though. She stayed home a few times when Sam and I went to dinner or to play in the park and get an ice cream."
"Was she sick before Sam arrived?"
"No, only a few weeks after. May I be excused to go check on Mommy?"
"Yes you may Chantal." Abbey answered and went over to the fridge to see what Jeannette could eat that wouldn't upset her stomach again.
By the time Chantal reached her mother she was sitting on the toilet drinking a glass of water and taking deep breaths.
"Mommy are you OK?"
"I'm feeling better now. Abbey warned me I should have something simpler for lunch but the sandwich sounded so good. I'll be fine, go back downstairs and eat. Once you are done I'll come down to eat something. I'm sure Abbey has crackers."
"I'll ask her." Chantal went back to the kitchen. "Do you have any crackers or ginger ale?"
"I'm sure I have crackers and I can make your Mom a cup of ginger tea instead. Sit down and eat before lunch gets cold."
"Mommy won't come down until we are done so she doesn't have to smell the Caesar dressing."
Chantal tried to eat as quickly as she could but Abbey was done before her. She got up and started boiling some water for the tea. Chantal ate her cucumber spears and carrot sticks and then ate the last quarter of her sandwich. The tea had just brewed so Abbey poured a cup for Jeannette and took out a piece of plain chicken that she had cooked for chicken salad the next day. She found some whole wheat soda crackers and put some cucumber spears on a plate with the piece of chicken. Chantal put her plate in the sink and ran up to get her mom.
"Mommy the coast is clear."
"How was lunch?"
"Yummy. There was no ginger ale so Abbey made you a cup of ginger tea. "
"Great, while I sip on my tea you can ask about playing in the hay."
"Why don't we go on the porch, we'll sort of be able to see Chantal jumping around." Abbey suggested as she picked up a plate and ushered Jeannette outside. "Chantal, Ray has piled some hay up for you. Please listen to him. He's waiting for you just inside the barn."
"I will Abbey thank you." Chantal ran full speed to get to the barn quickly as possible.
"She'll be fine Jen, Ray will take good care of her."
"I'm sure he will, I just hope she doesn't open up a wound."
"Have something to eat and keep sipping on your tea. Did your Mother ever tell you that you wouldn't remember it on your wedding day?"
"You mean cuts, scabs, bruises and the like?"
"Yes."
"No, she never did but I like it. Did you say that to your girls?"
"Yes and when Liz got married she stopped me just before I went down the church aisle to point out the scar on her arm from a burn when she was ten."
"I take it Liz was your most difficult child?"
"Yes, I love her to pieces but she resented Ellie and Zoey being born and..."
"She blamed you since you wouldn't let her take it out on her sisters."
"Exactly. Now that you have Chantal do you want more children?"
"Sometimes I do, most of the time I don't. Everything is a routine now and adding another child would bring chaos into my life and I hate chaos. I'm also starting to get old."
Abbey laughed," Please you aren't even 35 yet. I'm old you aren't."
"I'm starting to feel old. I haven't danced in nearly two months. One of the first things I have to do when I get back is find a dance studio and get back to dancing. I happened to step on the scale while I was upstairs. I've gained 6 pounds! It's all because I haven't been dancing for several hours a day."
Abbey was starting to put the puzzle pieces together but she didn't know how she could broach the subject with her new friend. "Jen, ninety percent of the time the east room is empty."
"What about tours?"
"Once we set a schedule all I have to do is close the room off during those times. When it is in use the tours can't go in."
"I'll happily take you up on that offer."
"Great I'll arrange it before you get back. I think maybe you should see a doctor about your stomach while you're here. Dr. Maverick was our GP for years."
"It will go away in a day or so."
"That would be good Jeannette but it sounds like it keeps coming back. You really should go see a doctor."
"No offense Abbey, but I'm not exactly fond of Doctors."
"Jeannette, Chantal told me you were sick at home and then after you arrived here, you admitted you were sick. The sight and smell of certain foods sends your stomach reeling. If you don't go see the doctor before you start dancing again I suggest you go to the pharmacy and pick up a pregnancy test."
Jeannette's jaw dropped, "I can't be pregnant!"
"Birth control pills are only 98 effective."
"I know but Sam used protection too."
"Both are still not 100 effective."
"Oh my God."
"When was your last period?"
"Umm...I've never been regular, all the stress and the physical activity have left me with very erratic periods. I'm light, I'm heavy, I skip a month, I have two light period in the span of three weeks. I never keep track."
"I'll make a deal with you. Go get a test, if it's negative you need to go see a doctor."
"How is that a deal? If it's positive I need to see a doctor too."
"I didn't say it was a good deal." Abbey chuckled.
Jen took another bite of chicken and smiled, "I've never noticed how tasteless cooked chicken is."
"It's amazing what dressing, sauce or mayo will do."
Jeannette stopped listening, she was going through her numerous sexual liaisons with Sam, checking off protection with each one of them until she arrived at the night they met again. She remembered her head aching, flipping out over peppermint tea and then Sam kissing her. She remembered how hard the kiss was as his hands slid down her body and he removed her dress. She remembered him picking her up placing her on the bed and shedding his clothes. She remembered how hungrily she kissed him back and as the moment came back to her she realized that they were attacking each other so much that there was no time to even ask about protection let alone to use it.
Abbey noticed Jeannette's jaw drop for a moment and she knew that they must have had unprotected sex once. She watched as Jeannette covered her face with her hands and turned pale.
"Jen, don't faint on me now! Take another sip of tea."
Jeannette got up and ran inside but only made it to the kitchen before she leaned over to use the sink. Abbey gently rubbed her back until she was finished and handed her a paper towel.
"That is what pure terror does to me."
"Sorry but ..."
"You are only concerned about me right?"
"Yes."
"Fine, when I stop freaking out I'll go to the pharmacy."
"I'll go with you."
"Thanks but I think your presence will make it a note worthy event and if anyone figures out who I am, my life is going to be torn apart by the scandal sheets. Also, I don't want Sam hearing about this before I can tell him in person."
"May I suggest getting more than one test?"
"I was thinking of buying one of each. I just hope the fine people of New Hampshire happen to have never seen live theater."
"I think there is a student there during the day so sadly I think you are in no danger of being recognized."
"That makes me feel a little better, I'm also going to make my accent disappear."
"Is it hard?"
"No, I just have to concentrate and think for an extra few milliseconds before speaking."
"You are a woman of many talents."
"Thanks, do you happen to have any cheddar cheese?"
"Mild, medium or old?"
"Usually, I'd go for the old but maybe mild would be the better choice."
"A few slices?"
"Or chunks, I've just got a hankering for cheese."
"Hankering or craving? Abbey asked with a grin.
"You never give up do you?"
"No, I don't. Come on let's go get you some cheese."
While Jeanette was snacking on cheese, Sam was finishing a call to the Secretary of Education. He told her that a friend of his was moving to the DC area with a child starting in grade one and grade five. He was hoping she could give him a ranking list of elementary schools. When he heard that she didn't have such a list he sighed.
"I guess you don't know a thing about schools do you Sam?" Anne asked.
"No and I promised my friend I'd help."
"I'm afraid I can't help you but I know someone who can. Send me an e-mail and I'll forward it to Don Darwin. When he joined us last year his daughter was about to start kindergarten and his son was starting high school. He figured out what the best elementary schools were in the DC area. If I recall he went for a private Catholic school."
"That would be perfect, thanks. I'll send you an e-mail in a few minutes. Thank you again."
"You are welcome Sam. I owed you one anyway."
"You did?"
"Sam you really need to keep better track of favours owed."
Sam chuckled, "If I ever have a spare ten minutes I'll do that Anne."
"Enjoy the rest of the day Sam."
"You too Anne and thanks again."
Sam poured himself another cup of coffee and sent the e-mail straight to Anne. He glanced at his watch and wondered what Jen and Chantal were up to. He was about to give them a call when his phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey Sam, you doing anything?" Donna asked.
"Trying to find a talent."
"Ah, do you want to have dinner with Ginger and I? We're thinking Old Ebbitt."
"Sure, what time?"
"Five."
"I'll see you there."
Sam hung up the phone and dialed the number Jeannette had left. After three rings a Secret Service agent picked up the phone and forwarded the call. Sam recognized Abbey's voice as soon as she picked up.
"Hi Dr. Bartlet."
"Sam?"
"Yes."
"You just missed Jeannette, she went for a walk."
"Oh, what's my girl up to?"
"Jumping around in the hay. She's been at it for over an hour and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon."
"I wish I could have half her energy."
"Me too. I'll have Jeannette call you when she comes back. Are you home?"
"Yes, I'm going out around 4:30 to have dinner with Ginger and Donna."
"I'll have her call before then. Bye."
"Bye."
Sam wondered why Abbey was so abrupt but figured she was the one watching Chantal if Jen was out for a walk. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was happening but since he had no idea what it was, he let it drop until he could speak to Jeannette. He pulled out the memo's from Toby and started to work on the speech until Jen called him or it was time to go for dinner. When the phone rang half an hour later he assumed it was Jen.
"Hey how was the walk?"
"Sam?"
"This is he. Who's calling?"
"You don't recognize my voice? I'm insulted."
"Mallory, how are you?"
"I'm fine, I was wondering if you were free for dinner, I was suppose to eat with Dad but he's stuck in the Situation room."
"I wonder what's going on. I actually have plans tonight with Donna and Ginger but you are welcome to join us. Old Ebbitt at five."
"Sure I'll see you there. So how have you been?"
"Busy as usual but I'm doing good. See any Chinese opera lately?"
"No, you?"
"No. Mal my cell is ringing, I'll see you later."
Sam grabbed his cell phone and smiled. "Hello."
"Hi Sam, we made it here in one piece. I had so much fun playing in the hay. I'm going to go riding with Abbey once Mommy gets back."
"She's not back yet Sweetie?"
"No she went to the Chemist to get something for her stomach." Chantal replied.
"Oh no, is she feeling sick again?"
"Yes the smell of lunch made her throw up."
"Tell her I hope she feels better and have her call me."
"I will. What are you doing?"
"I'm doing some work for Toby."
"Oh, I wish you could have come up to the farm with us."
"Me too Sweetie but I don't really have any vacation time left."
"What are you going to do for Mommy's show?"
"I don't know since an evil little girl wouldn't let me join her theater company. A company I might add that I paid for."
Chantal started laughing, "Producers have no say or any creative control."
"Your Mom thought you were being mean too."
"Well I run a tight ship, I don't do Neapolitan."
"Neapolitan?"
"Yes when you hire relatives."
Sam started to laugh, "It's actually called nepotism."
"Oh, well I don't do that either."
"You left Winston in my room."
"I know, I didn't want you to be lonely while we were gone."
Sam's heart melted, "That was very sweet of you."
"I know."
"My you have quite the high opinion of yourself."
"Mommy always says you have to love yourself first."
"Well I'll let you go play. Have mommy call me and don't give Abbey any trouble."
"I will and I won't. Bye Daddy."
A single tear fell down Sam's cheek, "Bye Sweetheart, I love you."
"Me too, bye." Chantal hung up the phone and smiled at Abbey. "Sam said he loved me."
"He loves you so much Chantal, don't ever forget it."
"I won't. May I have some ice cream?"
"Certainly, I think I have some triple chocolate in the freezer."
Sam put his cell phone away and called Donna.
"Hey Sam, don't try to weasel out of dinner."
"I won't, I just wanted to tell you that Chantal called and said bye Daddy."
"Aw, that is so sweet. You are going to have to reminder her that she has to be careful about when and where she calls you Daddy."
"That sucks and it's not fair."
"I know Sam but do you want your life splashed across the tabloids?"
"No. Did I tell you Jen and Chantal are staying until the end of June?"
"No! What about Chantal going to school and Jeannette's career?"
"I'm looking for a school in DC and Jen is not going back to the stage for a very long time, if ever. She's going to do a Christmas album and Abbey talked her into doing a benefit at the Kennedy center."
"Wow, I'm so happy for you. You'll be able to be there on her first day of school, celebrate Christmas and our birthday."
"Yes, Jen didn't say she was staying forever but I'll gladly take a year. Oh yeah, Mal called me."
"When?"
"Just before Chantal. I'm not going to tell her about Jen and Chantal so please don't say anything."
"My lips are sealed. I wonder why she called. I bet she finally wants to offer you more than Chinese Opera." Donna chuckled.
"Donna you really need to get laid." Sam teased.
"Tell me something I don't know! I still think you owe me some of that friends with benefits sex."
"Not going to happen Donna." Sam laughed.
"You are so mean!"
"I know, it's all part of my charm. I better get back to work ."
"Fine, I'll let Ginger know that Mal is joining us and not to mention the British invasion."
"Thanks Donna, see you later."