"Donna?" CJ knocked on the glass door to the pool house. "Let's go. I want to get there early. My avocados were bruised last weekend."
Donna swung the door open and rolled her eyes at CJ. "You and your bruised avocados."
"Well, when we get there at 10:30 all the good ones are gone. It's either bruised or under ripened."
"You lead a life full of challenges, Ceej," Donna poked at her.
"Hey," CJ shook her finger playfully at Donna as they walked towards the driveway. "You can heckle me all you want, but when it's time for me to share my world famous guacamole, I'll remember you said this."
Donna stuck her lip out in a pout.
"Yeah, that's what I thought, Miss Pouty. Don't try that move on me, it doesn't work."
"Well you didn't hate it last week when it convinced the cable guy to kill that snake on the back deck for us before he left."
"You're a wise and powerful woman, Donna Moss," CJ volleyed to her friend with an all knowing smirk on her face as she opened the door to her vintage Mustang. "And I'd like to think you learned it from me."
Donna grinned back as she climbed inside. Saturday mornings tended to be one of Danny's busiest times so she had a standing date with CJ for a trip to the Farmer's Market and lunch. One of the standing agreements between CJ, Danny and Donna regarded their meal schedule. They each prepared one dinner per week and on Thursdays Sam joined the rotation. The other nights they all tended to do their own thing.
"What are you making this week," CJ asked, idling along in some Saturday traffic.
"I'll check out the vegetable selection when we get there. But I think I'll go with grilled chicken salads for Wednesday. It sounds nice and light."
"Sam's in charge of family dinner this week?"
"Yeah," Donna nodded.
"Ugh," CJ groaned. "I just hope he doesn't try to bring that-"
"He is," Donna answered before she could even finish the sentence.
"Nooo," CJ whined, slumping her shoulders. "With the kale and the lentils and the quinoa?"
"Yup."
"Why can't we have a guy friend who just brings beer and wings?"
Donna snickered a bit at the thought of Sam's dish and his new found hobby of healthy cooking.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Cause I don't have to eat it," Donna chuckled, making CJ laugh too.
"Oh, That's right. Look at you, Spring Breaker."
"Yeah, something like that." Donna made a face.
"What?"
"I don't know, CJ. Why did I agree to this trip? I mean, I know it's spring break but still. It's not like I'm some 19 year old co-ed."
"Ancient," CJ deadpanned. "Ancient, I tell you. You're practically an antique."
"You know what I mean," Donna continued. "It was so nice of them to invite me but they don't really want me tagging along."
"And why not? They invited you! You've never been on spring break and this is your last opportunity before graduation. Plus, you're just going to Cabo. If you hate it, just lay on the beach and read or hop an early flight home and I'll get you from the airport." CJ was trying her best to encourage Donna. They'd become even closer than they ever had been over the past two years, and CJ wanted Donna to have every opportunity and to enjoy life to the fullest.
"Thanks, Mom," Donna teased. "You'll come and pick me up from the party if I don't make any friends?"
"Oh, Shut up," CJ smacked her arm, pulling into a parking spot. "Go and have fun. Lay on the beach, drink something with a little umbrella in it and relax. Come on, we'll find you a new bikini at that little boutique across the street from the market."
The two strolled down the sidewalk towards a few of their favorite shops, glancing in the windows as they walked by. Making their way to the swimsuit rack they both flipped through the options, CJ pulling out a small, ice blue bikini.
"How about this one?" She held it up to Donna.
Donna raised her eyebrows at CJ's suggestion. "It's kind of… small."
"It'll look great on you."
"I dont know…"
"You're getting it."
"Fine," Donna sighed. She knew it would be easier just to relent than fight CJ about it and end up losing the argument anyway.
She paid for the garment and they turned to loop the block, back towards the farmer's market. They began to chat about a variety of issues, Donna's voice faltering as she came to a sudden stop. She stared at the window of the local bookstore, a window size poster displayed for the upcoming release of Hellhound.
CJ placed her arm around Donna and moved her down the street, away from the window. "Come on," she told her. "Maybe we should just get home."
"No," Donna shook her head. "I'm fine." She wiped an eye and readjusted her sunglasses, squaring her shoulders with determination. They took a few more steps before Donna continued. "It's just- I don't understand why someone would do that to him. What are they getting out of it? Well, besides the most focused enemy they could even imagine. They're making it personal. I can only imagine what's in there, CJ. There were some damaging rumors floating around the beltway about him and oh, God, if you combine that with-"
"Donna." CJ gave her a warning tone. "We're in public. Not here. I know you're upset and believe me I've thought about all of those things too, but someone over hearing us all worked up over this isn't going to do him any favors either, okay?"
"You're right," she cleared his throat, pushing her sunglasses back up her nose a bit. "I don't know what I was thinking, CJ. I'm sorry."
They walked a few more steps. "He's going to be fine, you know," CJ offered. "He's strong. This is nothing that hasn't said about him before. I mean, it's all feeding right into the image that most of DC has of him. It's playing into his hands. He probably loves it." CJ tried to get Donna to smile. "Besides, I'm sure the communications department is all over it. They'll take care of it."
Donna nodded solemnly but said nothing. Though CJ was probably right, Donna knew that this would have to be eating him up inside. Josh hated it when the spotlight was off of the President and on him. And if the only thing that came out of all of this was that Josh Lyman could hold a grudge with the best of them, well, that's not so bad. But, fact or slander, there was no telling what the pages of the book would contain. And that's what scared Donna the most.
Neither CJ or Donna's moods were able to fully recover after they began to think about Josh. He was an important man to both of them, although in considerably different ways. They both gathered their groceries and made their way back to the car, riding mostly in silence and returning home considerably earlier than expected.
Donna made her way to the fridge with her shopping bag, placing her vegetables into the fridge as CJ tossed her keys onto the counter and pressed the play button on her machine, allowing the messages to play as she too began to put her purchases away and tidy up the kitchen.
After a call confirming a Tuesday haircut and a few minutes of hello's from Donna's eccentric Aunt Paula, the machine beeped once more, and the third message began.
"CJ!" The casual voice wasted no time. "Doug Poulsen, Miami Herald. It's been a while. Hey- I wanted to see if you'd be interested in an on the record comment about Josh Lyman and the new book. Get back to me."
Donna swallowed, but continued on with her task, pretending not to be bothered by the message, knowing CJ was watching her closely from the corner of her eye..
The machine beeped again.
"CJ- It's Wyatt Lewis." Both Donna and CJ slowly turned to look at each other. There was no mistaking the importance of the message when the executive producer of the biggest news talk show was leaving a message on your home phone. "I'm calling to see if we can get you on the show tomorrow night. We all know there's no bigger story than Hellhound right now and if anyone is qualified to talk about Josh Lyman on my show it's you… or Donna Moss, I suppose," he added with a chuckle. "I don't suppose you know how to get ahold of her, do you? Anyway, call us back, we'd love to get something set up."
The machine clicked off, leaving the kitchen cloaked in silence.
"Are you going to do it?" Donna asked, trying to sound stronger than she felt.
"No." CJ left no room for debate. "If he needs me, Donna, you know I'll be there for him. You know I'll defend him with everything I have… But at this point my presence in any kind of media doesn't do anything but give credence to this nonsense. Until I see a copy of the book, and until I talk to Josh, and for that matter get his blessing to discuss this with the world, I will do nothing. It's not going to be easy for any of us to sit idly by while this pans out, but it's what Josh would want. And I think we all agree that it's more important in this situation that we stand by him."
"Yeah." A sad smile creeped up on one side of her mouth. She, perhaps more than anyone, knew the kind of personal hell this must be for Josh, and Donna was willing to stop at nothing to defend him. But she'd agreed with CJ's assessment. "Whatever he needs. I'll do whatever is best for Josh."
CJ nodded solemnly at her friend's vow, thinking to herself that little had changed over the years. If Josh needed her, or rather when Josh needed her, somehow, some way, Donna would be there for him.