"You were right!" Donna informs me exuberantly as soon as I pick up the phone.
"Of course." I quip back, no idea what she's talking about. "Specifically?"
"Sullivan just announced Morgan Mitchell as his running mate."
"Outstanding."
Donna doesn't miss the sarcasm lacing every syllable. "I thought you expected this?" She asks slowly. "You predicted this in January."
"I know. But it doesn't mean I wasn't hoping for a different result. I'm not thrilled by the news."
"I'm really the first one to tell you? I'm surprised no one on your staff ran in the minute the news broke."
"When did the news break?"
"They're still covering it. I called you as soon as I saw the breaking news chyron and Mitchell's photo."
"Well, then . . ." I drawl, pausing to see if I can get a rise out of my wife.
"I'm not on your staff." She reminds me hautely. Even though I can't see her right now, I know exactly what the little blush on her cheeks looks like, and how her chest heaves with righteous indignation. It's a lovely sight that I'll enjoy until my last breath.
And even though she can't see me, she knows that I'm smirking to myself right now because she walked right into my trap.
"You're bad." She informs me with a light laugh.
"You can punish me after Lulu goes to bed."
"Count on it."
While I'm imagining it, I almost miss the next thing she says..
"So you good with that?"
"Oh, yeah." In fact, I'm wondering if we can get out of here early tonight.
"Josh?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you listening to me or are you imagining what I'm going to do to you tonight?"
"Ummmm. . ."
She laughs again, so I'm not in any real trouble. "Focus." She instructs me, firmly. Her tone is not really helping my current state of affairs. I've come to really like it when she takes charge in the bedroom.
"Josh. You with me?"
"Yeah. I'm still here." I force myself back to the moment.
"Helen and the kids are joining Matt on the Chicago Trip. I'm going with them. Becky and Carly are meeting us there. Do you want to come too?"
"I don't want to leave Lulu here without one of us."
"No, I didn't think you would. Becky is hoping we'll bring her along."
"I wasn't planning on going. But yeah, I can join in. It'll give me a chance to talk to Amy on the plane. We need to finalize our strategy now that it's definitely Mitchell."
"Great. I'll see if Nicole can join us."
"Donna . . ." I can't help but whine a little. It's the weekend, I don't want to bring the nanny.
"Josh. You know if we're with the First Family we're both going to be working."
"I know, but if Becky's going to be around, maybe she could help out."
"I don't want to presume. And Lulu doesn't really know Becky all that well. I think she'd be more comfortable with Nicole there. And I know that you would."
"What do you mean?"
She sighs loudly enough that I get the sense that she thinks that I'm being obtuse. But I'm really not.
"Nicole knows how we work. She knows when to take over and when to step back. And we never have to think twice before we hand Lulu off to her. Do you think it would be like that with Becky?"
"No." She has a point. Becky is technically family, but Nicole definitely is. And Donna is right, I can relax when I know she's got Lulu covered.
"So, I'll check with Nicole?"
"Yeah."
. . . . . .
When I'm done reading the polling data, I look back up. Matt is still studying it, his brow furrowed. I look to Amy and she meets my gaze steadily. One thing I'll say about her. She really is practically unflappable.
"This is bad."
"Yeah." She agrees flatly.
Of course I expected Sullivan to get a bump in the polls when he announced his pick for vice-president. And I know he'll get another from his convention. But this bump is a bigger than I expected. Pennsylvania within the margin of error?
"What are you thinking?"
"We need to do something bold. We can't let them have the news cycle to themselves for two full weeks." Amy answers, quickly.
"Like what?" Matt asks.
Amy's eyes shift my way for a split second, and instantly, I know what she's going to say.
"Manna from heaven." I breathe out. Her lips quirk up, confirming my suspicion. I start shaking my head immediately. No way.
"What?" Matt looks confused.
"No way. Amy. We aren't ceding the state. This is a terrible idea, it would totally bite us in the ass."
Amy focuses her attention on me. "We wouldn't be ceding the State. You won Pennsylvania without him last time. We can do it again."
That's when it dawns on Matt what we are talking about.
"You want me to replace Baker on the ticket?" He asks in disbelief.
"No."
"Yes."
Amy and I answer him simultaneously.
"Carol Gelsey has done a fantastic job as Undersecretary for Interior. Floridians love her again. She can help us carry the State."
"She'll help us carry the State right from where she's at. Mr. President, taking Baker off the ticket wouldn't be bold, it would be suicidal. It would give everyone the idea that we were running scared from Morgan Mitchell, and it would invite scrutiny into why we fought so hard for him in the first place."
"It would shake things up. Give the Press something to write about other than Mitchell and the upcoming conventions."
"Are we really talking about this?" Matt asks, blandly.
"We talked about it in 2002. Our internal polling showed that Hoynes wasn't helping us in Texas. We had a day long meeting about who to replace him with."
"Who were you considering?" Matt looks interested. But I think it's just his general curiosity into the inner workings of the Bartlet Administration, not a real interest in the possibility. At least I hope.
"Ulysses S. Grant, Admiral Fitzwallace, . . . and Leo." I get the pang through my chest that I always get whenever I consider Leo and the vice-presidency. He would have been fantastic. I know it in my bones.
There is a moment of silence while we gather ourselves. It's fitting that four years later, Leo's memory still requires a measure of respect. Matt eventually breaks the mood.
"Well, obviously, you didn't replace Hoynes. Although in hindsight it seems like you could have found a legitimate reason if you'd made any sort of an effort."
His words sting a little. I still feel some level of personal responsibility for the damage wrought by John Hoynes. I helped him get to the second chair, knowing he was more politician than public servant. But I was unaware of the depth of his moral bankruptcy. It makes me want to vomit. Especially now that I have my own family.
"President Bartlet put a stop to it. It was a matter of loyalty. Although, if we had known what Hoynes was up to, I'm sure he'd have reacted differently. But President Bartlet was right. If we'd replaced Hoynes without a really good reason, the American public would have eviscerated us for it. And honestly, I think Hoynes might have mounted a third party challenge. He ended up carrying Texas for us, by the way."
Amy purses her lips together. I can tell she wants to say more, but she's holding back. That's something she's gotten a little better at. I think she knows that this was a long shot and I'm glad she isn't willing to die on this hill.
"We keep Baker." Matt declares. "He's going to need to spend a lot of time in Pennsylvania."
Matt cocks his head and looks at Amy to see if she has anything more to say on the subject, but she just gives a little sigh.
"If you'll look at page 8, the latest education initiative is polling well."
. . . . .
"Come on, let's go." Peter exclaims, unbuckling his seatbelt and standing up the minute the plane touches down.
Matt's face breaks out into a grin. He's delighted to see Peter excited about something. I'm less thrilled. If it were someone else's niece, I'd be giving him tips on how to woo her, because, let's face it, I've got game. But it's Carly. And she's only fourteen. And he's a boy!
And, thanks to Donna's wisdom, I know I'm being a little hypocritical and a whole lot patronizing, But I've got a daughter, so I think I'm entitled.
"Sit back down, please." Helen says calmly, but she shoots Matt a quick equally pleased look. I am alone in my concern.
Peter complies but fidgets until Matt finally stands up. The rest of us follow suit. The First Family doesn't really have to carry any of their own things. But I've got my backpack and Lulu's over one shoulder as I unbuckle her and pick her up.
It doesn't have diapers in it anymore, but it's got a change of clothes, sippy cup, snacks, and the books and toys that keep her occupied when we travel.
I could leave it, and either Nicole or an intern would make sure it got to the hotel, but I'm her Dad. It's my job to see that she has what she needs.
It doesn't take long to arrive at the hotel, where we are ushered through the kitchen to the service elevator. Lulu is leaning over my shoulder waving and blowing kisses to the kitchen staff as we make our way through.
Years ago I'd have lamented the waste of cuteness and wished that my candidate were the one carrying the cute kid through a throng of fans, hopefully with plenty of photographers nearby. But the times, they have changed. I just want to get our families up to our suites so that we can prepare for what comes next.
When we exit the elevator, Xavier, Matt's bodyman turns to the right, leading the way towards the First families' suite, as I steer my family to the left towards our suite at the opposite end of the hallway. Neither of us has reached our goal, when a door pops open.
"Peter!" Carly's sweet voice calls out.
His head whips around and the grin that breaks across his face in slow motion takes my breath away. The poor kid has it bad.
He starts toward her and she runs to him. He grabs her in a hug and twirls her around, while all the women let out audible sighs.
I guess Peter's already got moves. That doesn't give me any warm fuzzy feelings.
He ends the twirling by putting her back on her feet and giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek. Her eyes are shining brightly and she's all smiles.
And while the very thought of her dating makes my heart stutter and my gut turn, I suppose she could do a lot worse than Peter Santos, where every moment is going to be observed by a plethora of adults and an army of secret service agents.
Most of the staff have lost interest and are making their way into their rooms that line the hallway of the floor we've commandeered. But I stand there watching as Peter speaks softly to Carly, who looks back at her mother for permission, then after receiving a nod of approval, takes Peter's hand and walks with him to their suite.
I have an incredible urge to follow them, but Donna tugs on my arm lightly.
"Come on, Josh. You aren't their chaperone."
I see Nicole's quick grin before she enters her room, which as usual is right next to ours.
Once we are in our suite Lulu squirms to get down. "Potty, Daddy!" She tells me urgently. So I quickly set her down, and then take the foldable seat out of her backpack and follow her into the bathroom.
While I get it in place she gets her dress up and her undies down. I plop her on the seat just in time.
"Good job, Lulu. I'm so proud of you."
As Lulu and I take care of things in the bathroom I can hear Donna unpacking our bags. We don't have much, because we'll only be here two days, but Donna likes to hang our dress clothes in the closet. It does keep them much nicer.
"How's it going in here?" She asks as she bustles in with Lulu's step stool and the cushy seat that she prefers.
"Almost done, Mama."
"Good girl."
Donna put the shampoo and soap in the shower, and then a scented candle on the countertop. I've long since given up trying to convince her that we can just use the free hotel toiletries. Using her own makes her happy and making Donna happy makes me happy.
Once Lulu's hands are washed we join Donna in the living room, just as she takes a big bite of a Snickers bar from the mini-fridge.
"Me too, Mama!" Lulu cries rushing over to her.
"Busted!" I sing as she blushes, caught red-handed. God, she's sexy.
Lulu climbs into her lap and she and Donna giggle as they finish the chocolate. I want to sear the memory in my mind for all time, so I never forget how sweet they look together, how full my life is right now in this moment.
. . . . .
Donna was right, of course. I feel much better leaving Lulu in the suite with Nicole. Becky wants to come to the commencement anyway. She's actually excited about the opportunity to hear President Santos speak.
There may be hope for the world after all.
As we settle into our seats in the back,Carly is pouting next to me. I'm trying not to laugh. She looks so much like Donna sometimes. But then Peter leans back in his chair in the VIP section and makes heart eyes at her and she immediately perks up, all smiles.
Oh good grief! At this rate, I give this secret until the end of the day.
Matt's speech is fantastic. I recognize the "education is the silver bullet" rhetoric from Sam, not that he wrote the speech, when you get Matt and Sam in a room together, the education speeches just write themselves. That's probably why we can't find a speechwriter that either of them really likes.
Listening to Matt's voice resonate throughout the quad is exactly what I needed. It doesn't matter who we're facing. It doesn't matter what the polls say. I just have to let Santos be Santos and get him in front of a crowd. The rest will take care of itself.
When it's over Peter endures the family pictures that follow the graduation with the first genuine smiles I've seen from him in years, of course it's because he's flirting with my niece.
But right now she's happy, and he's happy, and happy family photos are worth their weight in gold for the campaign, so I'm going to let it be and hope for the best.