Fifteen: When Bitches Feel (deeper)
"You've changed!", Susan whispers to her playfully right after the press conference. Elaine's eyes squint into two playfully threatening slits, "How long do you think you're going to tease me?", she replies promptly, forcing her to clench her jaws to keep from bursting out laughing.
"Well, and I was going to buy you that famous ice cream for lunch, I guess I changed my mind…", Barrish states, crossing her arms in amusement.
"Okay!", the reporter replies, "In an hour! At your elephants", she announces confidently as she looks up at the clear sky and walks away. Elaine can't help but huff out a laugh, she spreads her arms, "Hey! Look, I said I changed my mind!", she reminds her, Susan turns around nodding, "Yeah, I heard you! See you later!", she confirms winking at her and continuing to walk away.
That exchange of banter was strange, unusual, but pleasant. Very pleasant. She's glad that despite both of their busy schedules, they manage to find time to see each other often. Most of the time they prefer to stay at Susan's house, where they can talk quietly, perhaps over something they've cooked together, or share a movie. And she doesn't mind the idea that Elaine might make a habit of stopping by her place once in a while. Maybe she should actually get her pajamas in the event.
—
The new puppy has slumped uncomfortably right in front of the pond and plunges its snout almost completely into the water, its mother protectively watching over it, waving her trunk and splashing water in his direction. Elaine turns to Susan, who is watching the scene in fascination and amusement, realizing that one of the things she likes most about her is the curiosity and wonder with which she experiences new things.
She knows she's about to ask the question and decides to anticipate it, "Did you know that puppies drink this way?", she turns around surprised, her eyes still lit up from the tender scene. "He doesn't know how to use his trunk yet, it will take him months, before he learns", she explains smilingly. "I didn't know that", the journalist confesses, continuing to look at her smiling, caught by a sudden slight embarrassment.
"So…", she recovers shortly, pushing away the strange feeling, "How are the preparations going at the bistro?", she asks referring to the place TJ and Doug have decided to take over and relaunch together. Elaine smiles, wishing her children would finally find their place in the world. "Slowly, but Doug is a perfectionist, and I think it's only fair anyway. TJ needs time to fully recover, thank goodness he's really trying, I think it's thanks to psychotherapy, you know, he has to learn to deal with defeat and loss. The preparations are challenging for both of us", she tells her, undecided whether to joke with the next question.
"You're going to write it in your book?", "Of course!", the young woman confirms enthusiastically, "It will be a detailed chronicle concerning the working and private life of Secretary of State Elaine Barrish!", she explains excitedly, her gaze suddenly becoming more serious as she catches her breath, "When I used the story of TJ's suicide to snatch that interview from you, what you told me when the news got out of control, the near nomination to the Supreme Court, your role in the emergencies of the journalists in Iran and the submarine off the coast of San Diego, your decision to run for president again, your alliance with Garcetti, Biarritz, all that can be said", she explains to her, "If that's okay with you", she adds.
"So you're going to write down what kind of person you used to be?", the politician jokes slightly embarrassed, "Yes, it's to explain what kind of person I've become by getting to know you better, it explains what kind of person you really are, in spite of how many I've told you behind", she justifies herself by watching her nod thoughtfully. She sees her sit down better on the bench they both sit on. "And what will the title be?", Barrish asks curiously. Susan smiles and twists her mouth, unsure if she's revealing what she's been thinking about more and more.
"Um... 'When Bitches Collide'?", she tells her, widening a fake smile for her benefit. Surprisingly Elaine doesn't seem bothered, in fact a soft smile spreads across her lips as she nods slowly, "I think it's the perfect title to tell the story of how we ended up from that very first day to... this", she concedes as she spreads her arms toward the bench.
As she recomposes herself, one hand, almost in an instinctive gesture, affectionately clasps her friend's. "I feel very lucky to have you in my life, Sue", she says to her in a gentle tone, as her heart seems to skip a beat. "And I feel very lucky to have you in mine, Elaine", she smiles back at her, as her hand turns inside his, until their palms match and their fingers tighten their grip, as if to give even more meaning to those last words.
—
As she sits next to Clark, who escorts her back to the President, Elaine still feels the warmth of Susan's hand in hers, it is a warmth that expands within her and gives her a feeling of well-being and tranquility. She feels truly blessed; she feels that his company makes her life better. She clenches her fist, as if to keep the feeling on her skin as much as possible, and lets a deep sigh escape as her friend's lovely laugh echoes in her mind.
She thinks back to the night before, to the naturalness with which she let her take care of her, as if it was their habit, she thinks back to when she woke up with her nostrils flooded with the scent of freshly brewed coffee, and opening her eyes she found her caring gaze and her beautiful smile. Think back to when she absent-mindedly placed her new, barely used toothbrush back in the glass, along with her toothpaste and hers. Maybe the world wouldn't fall apart after all, if every now and then, maybe when they were running late, she would stop and sleep.