Part 24
"Josh Lyman, just the man I wanted to see. Come to my office." I follow CJ through the connecting door to her office from mine.
"How's it going? You and Donna came back earlier than expected." It's past noon on Saturday. Donna and CJ just finished looking at the fifth house.
"Boy, do I have some good news for you or what!" Good news? I'm always up for that.
"What it is?"
"She found the house. It's the one in Madlyn Avenue. I haven't seen anyone go bananas over a house like she did." That's amazing!
"Really? Are you sure? Don't you have more houses to go to?"
"Yeah, just two more. Trust me, this is her dream house. You should get the paperwork started."
"Well, maybe I'll wait till she sees the last two houses."
"Josh, she was imagining the bed with silk sheets, mink blankets and potpourri scented fluffy pillows! She can't stop thinking of anything else. I've never been more sure about anything else in my life…… Look, if she changes her mind, if I'm sure she won't, you'll be my first call. Just get the paperwork started so it wouldn't take too long."
I break into a smile. This is absolutely brilliant! My plan has worked. It's actually going to happen. I'm actually going to ask Donna to marry me. Of course, I have to get the ring first.
"Thank you so much, CJ. I'll call Tina right away. Tina's been really great with this whole facade."
"Yeah I know. She didn't make the tiniest stumble. Hey, so how's the ring shopping? Did you call Shawna?"
"Oh yeah, I did. She was really cool about it. She asked me a whole lot about Donna and her style. I could describe how Donna looks but I really didn't know how to explain what sort of clothes she wears. I mean she looks great in anything she wears, which is all I said to Shawna. Also, that she should call you so you can tell her about Donna's style." I give a pleading smile to CJ, hoping she wouldn't mind.
"Fine." She sighs.
"You're the best. CJ!"
It turned out that Donna didn't like the house they visited on Sunday. CJ said it was a perfectly beautiful house but Donna didn't have the slightest bit of reaction like when she saw the other one. The two of them have now gone to visit the last house. I'm getting increasingly excited about this. I myself haven't seen the house I'm going to buy. Tina said she'll take me there tomorrow lunch time. I'll have to think of a way to mislead Donna about my lunch plans.
"Josh, are you meeting the teacher's incentives people today or tomorrow?"
"Hey Sam. I'm not sure. Donna has my schedule. She's gone out to lunch. She'll be back around 2.30"
"Wow, you're giving her a two hour lunch break? Have you gone soft on her Josh?" Why does everyone think I work Donna too hard?
"She had to go somewhere with CJ. You wanna have lunch in my office? I see you holding your lunch."
"Sure…. Hey, we haven't done this awhile." Sam takes a seat opposite me while I grab the lunch Donna got for me.
"Done what?"
"Had lunch together. Or anything else for that matter." He's right. We haven't spent any time together since McCain got caught.
"I know. We should do something soon."
"Yeah, how about Friday night? We all could go grab a drink." Sam suggests.
We could, except that I was planning to propose to Donna either on Friday or Saturday depending on when I get the ring. Tina said the house should be ours by Thursday once I sign the papers. Shawna is bringing a selection of rings tomorrow to CJ's office. I was rather impressed that Shawna was willing to bring all that jewelry here. CJ says it's normal for stylists bring to clothes and accessories to potential buyers especially if their famous. CJ says this is one of the perks of being Press Secretary.
"Or not." Oh, I forgot Sam was here. He's going to feel like I'm ditching him again. He's helped us so much, I owe him more than that.
"Sam, I need to tell you something."
"What is it?" Sam's getting worried. I think that has become his first reaction to everything.
"Don't worry, it's something good……. I'm going to ask Donna to marry me."
"Oh, that's sooo great!!!" He drops his lunch and gives me a hug.
I go on explaining how I'm going to propose and what's been going on.
"Wow, who would have thought you could come up with something like this without my help. I'm really impressed Josh. So, they are out now looking at the last house?" I nod at him.
"Cool." The phone is ringing.
"Josh Lyman."
"Josh, it's Detective Riedel here."
"Oh, hello Detective. How are you?" I look at Sam nervously and he mirrors it.
"I'm got some news for you. McCain's sentencing date is set. It's this Friday 10am."
"This Friday? It's just been a month since he pleaded guilty." Sam's looking more and more nervous.
"Yeah, like I said before…we had some external pressures." Oh, right.
"Ah well, thanks for letting me know."
"You all could be there if you want."
"We'll think about it. See how things go first."
"Alright then, give me a call if you need any more information."
"Thank you." I put down the phone and tell Sam what the detective told me.
"So, do you want to go?"
"I don't know. I have to talk to Donna first. But I think it's a bad idea if any of us go there. We would get recognized. Plus with CJ finally settling things with that reporter, I don't want to stir things up again."
"I agree. You should talk to Donna first though." I nod.
CJ managed to make a real deal with the reporter. Actually Jane was the one who made it happen. The guy was an investigative reporter and Jane gave him one of her big stories in exchange for him to let go of this one. Jane said she knows of him and he should be trustworthy enough to not go back from his word.
"Hi Josh we're back. Oh, hey Sam." Donna walks into my office with CJ behind her. CJ gives me a thumbs up sign. Excellent, I can sign those papers now!
Sam and I told them about the call from Detective Riedel. We all decided it would be a bad move to any of us to show up there. Donna said she didn't want to face the guy anymore anyway.
"I'll make sure we'll be informed as soon as he gets sentenced." CJ mentions as they all leave my office.
I stop Donna and close the door behind us.
"Are you alright?" I place my hand on her arm.
"Yes, it's sooner than expected but I'm fine. It's better this way, it'll be over and done with."
"I had assumed you would have wanted to be there. See it all end."
"I did see it Josh. When we caught him, it ended there. I'll be fine, I promise. Now get back to work."
She amazes me with her strength. Her positive optimistic attitude is back on full force.
CJ managed to get Shawna to bring the rings on Wednesday. Sam is taking Donna out to lunch to prevent her from getting a clue about any of this.
"Josh, Donna gone to lunch?"
"Yeah, CJ. She and Sam just left a couple of minutes ago."
"Great. Shawna's in my office." I follow CJ into her office.
"Shawna, this is Josh Lyman."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Lyman." Shawna is an attractive Latino woman probably in her mid-thirties.
"Call me Josh."
"Alright Josh, we better get to business. We don't that have as much time as it is." Well, if she says so.
"Here are the selection I've picked. There are about seven here that I think would fit perfectly with your bride." Sure, why not? You've never met my bride yet you know what would fit her perfectly.
"I brought an extra five rings which I don't particular love but you might." Oh, now she knows what I would like.
She displays the first few rings explaining the cuts and design of them. I have no clue what she's talking so I just nod pretending to listen. However I do inspect the rings carefully. I have no idea what I'm looking for particularly though.
"Okay, here are the rest of the three rings that I think are just splendid." Shawna displays three rings in front of me.
The first one looks really pretty. Maybe I should ask CJ her opinion. I have no clue which looks better than the other.
I continue looking at the next two. Wow! The middle one just screams out at me.
"Tell me more about this ring."
"Oh, this has two pear-shaped sapphires, set in platinum. The heart shaped diamond centre just makes the whole ring look so captivating yet contemporary. However, my favorite feature is the jewelry box which is as you can see, not at all like regular ones."
That's the one! I can so see myself placing that ring on Donna's finger and her wearing it for the rest of her life.
"Let me see….Oh wow, Donna would love this. She loves royal blue. She would go gaga over this sapphire. And the heart, it's so sweet. So Donna."
"I think this is the one, CJ. No, I know this is the one."
"Do you still want to look at the rest? You seem completely taken by this ring, which I think is an excellent choice." Of course you would say that.
"No, I definitely am picking this."
I can't wait to place this ring on her……assuming she says yes.
I signed a check and gave it to Shawna. I continued to stare at the ring after Shawna left.
"It's perfect Josh. Donna would be ecstatic. So, you using your inheritance for this ring as well?"
"No, CJ. I have to buy her engagement ring with my own money. It wouldn't feel right otherwise. It's so worth it though, isn't it?"
"She's so worth it, Josh. So, when are you going to ask her?"
"Well, I planned to on Friday, but the sentencing is that morning. I don't know what's going to happen or how Donna would be after that. So, I'm going to do it on Saturday. The paper work for the house will go through by Thursday."
"So, this is it huh? I can't begin to tell you how excited I am. I don't think I can be patient enough to wait. Let me know exactly what time you're going to propose. I'm going to call you right after that."
"Well, it probably wouldn't be a good idea if she says no."
"She's not going to say no." CJ switches her voice to complete seriousness.
"Let's not be too sure of that."
"Well, I'm sure of it. I'll give you an extra twenty minutes after you propose and then I will definitely call." No point in arguing with her.
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I meant what I said to Josh. I do feel that it all ended that day we caught him. I didn't quiet feel it right then, but I do now.
I'm not the slightest bit nervous about the sentencing which is about to happen in about twenty minutes. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a tiny bit. I do have a slight apprehensive feeling which is causing my stomach to churn.
Josh keeps checking up on me even though he's got a whole load of work to attend to. Work in the White House never waits for anyone. He's been really sweet this whole week. A little to sweet if you ask me. I can't wait for all of this to be over so he would go back to his ego-centric self.
"Donna, get Josh and come into my office, quick." CJ calls for me. This is it.
"Josh, it's time." I bring Josh to CJ's office. He holds my hand tight even though we are technically not supposed to show affection in the office. A rule which we have broken several number of times.
I see Sam and Toby already standing there nervously while CJ reaches for her phone which was kept on hold.
"I'm back….Yeah, they are all here…uh huh…uh huh…" This is nerve-wrecking. CJ has a intense expression on her face. I grip on to Josh's hand even more tightly.
"Oh?" I think I let out a huge sigh when CJ breaks into a grin.
"Thank you so much for calling Jane. You made my day…yeah I'll tell them. See you."
"What is it? I'm standing at the edge of my toe here." I have a feeling Josh means that literally.
"He's sentenced to life in prison with no parole."
"Oh." That's all I can manage to get out. My prayers have been answered. All those women who have suffered as I did are going to sleep a whole lot more peacefully from now on.
They all turn towards me.
"That's all you can say? This is absolute fantastic!" Sam walks over to me and gives me big hug.
"That's enough Sam." I giggle as Josh pulls Sam away from me and hugs me instead. We share a quick kiss before I hug CJ and Toby.
"It's over Donna." Toby whispers in my ear before he pulls away. He's truly right this time. It is over. Finito.
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Donna has been smiling as of 10.30am yesterday. I think she hadn't had such a peaceful night's sleep like last night in ages. I, on the other hand couldn't sleep a wink. I've been obsessing about how tonight is going to turn out. I mean, this is the sole most important thing I'm ever going to do in my life.
Sam and I dropped by at the house earlier today and added a few more surprises for Donna. The both of us were very stunned to see the house. I didn't have time to visit the house earlier this week so this was my first time laying eyes at this house that I'm going to live in for the rest of my life. I absolutely adored it. Donna has fantastic taste. I was certain I would love it if Donna did and I was right. However, I think Sam was more smitten by the house than I was. I had to drag him out of it. He knows a whole lot about furniture and walls and stuff. Where does this man get the time to learn all this?
I should probably tell Donna I'm going to take her someplace special tonight. I'm nervous already and I should calm down my nerves so Donna wouldn't try to read into it.
"Donnatella, could I see you for a moment." I actually get up from my seat and call her from the door. I'm guessing bellowing wouldn't be the best option if I'm planning to ask her to marry me in a few hours.
"Ah, Josh…how ever so polite of you not to bellow. See, isn't this more pleasant for everybody?" Donna enters my office.
"Well, don't get used to it. What do you say if I let you get off a little early today?"
"What's the catch?"
"Oh I'm wounded." I place my hand on my chest and pretend to be in pain.
"Oh, save the drama. What do you need?"
"Donna, I want to take you out tonight, that's all. I thought you could go home a while and I don't know…do what you girls do before you go out." She smiles a little bit. I think she's not assuming I have an ulterior motive anymore.
"Where are we going?" She sounds perky and all excited.
"Oh, it's a surprise."
"Well, I wouldn't know what to wear so you might as well tell me." Like hell!
"You can wear anything you want."
"That's not useful Josh. A girl needs to know more than that."
"Wear something you're comfortable in. You'll look beautiful in anything you wear Donna, it really doesn't matter."
She gives me a pouty smile, the kind she gives when she thinks I'm being sweet.
"Ok, if you say so. But I don't have my car."
"Oh, I'm coming home with you as well."
"Oh, fabulous!"
Donna and I go home and we both took showers and got ready. We had a light dinner at my place. I haven't had dinner this early in ages.
"So, where are we going?" Donna asks as we approach my car.
"Nice try missy."
"Oh, come one…just a tiny clue." I have to stay strong. I could break just looking at her face.
"No way. In fact, I've got something else here for you." I take a blindfold from my dashboard.
"What? You are going to blindfold me? What if you kidnap me or something? How am I going to give descriptions to the police?" Funny, Donna. Real funny.
"Oh, just suck it up." I tie the blindfold around her eyes and she surprisingly didn't flinch.
"This better me good Joshua." Oh, trust me…it can't get any better.
We finally reach the house and I park my car. I think my heart could explode right about now.
I help Donna get out of the car. "Josh, you're hands are freezing. You're shaking. Are there extra gloves in your car?" Look at her, she is blindfolded and she's worrying about my cold hands. I don't need gloves. My shaky hands are not due to the cold, it's because I'm kind of freaking out.
"I'm alright Donna. Come one." I guide her slowly to the front door.
"You're making me rather nervous you know?" She's nervous? Ha! I bet it's incomparable to what I'm feeling.
"Don't worry. We're here now." I slowly open the door with the keys trying my best not to make the slightest sound. I am successful.
"Careful, there's a step here." Donna steps in still holding on to me really tight.
I slowly shut the door and turn on the twinkle lights which are one of the things Sam and I put up today.
TBC……Wanna see the ring Josh chose? Go to:
It's in the "more pics" folder. E-mail me if you have any trouble with it.
