Out Giving Thanks
Donna
"Donna!"
"Shouting is not the answer Josh."
"It is if the question is 'how to treat a traitor'."
"Josh, we are going. Get over it. I'll call you in the morning."
"Donna."
"Josh, if you call me one more time to try and get out of Thanksgiving dinner with the President of the United States I'll show up an hour earlier." I hung up. It was eleven and that was the second call. I smiled to myself, Josh is a trip. When he doesn't get his way he is a complete baby and tries to use all his powers of persuasion but he knows they don't work on me and he hates that.
"What's that smell?"
"Shut up Josh." It was nine forty-five and we were getting into Josh's car to head up to Manchester.
"No seriously what is that smell?"
"Josh, you know damn well that there is no smell you just want to make fun of my cheese soup and dip."
"Well, you insisted on bringing it. It's not like you didn't know what I would say."
"Drive."
Josh
"So, uh, what's the deal with Pierce?" Donna and I had stopped for some coffee.
"Oh, he just got on my nerves." She said flippantly.
"Yeah? Okay."
"Just got to me after a while. His arrogance."
"Well that's good. For a minute I thought there was something goin' on there." She gave me a weird look and laughed as we got in the car.
"There was nothing ever there."
"Good to know."
"You know, the two of you have more in common than you think." She laughed nervously.
"Yeah, right." I rolled my eyes. Even now she was trying to defend the kid.
"Well, you both think that I'm into the other." She said exasperated and then turned to look out the window. She seemed instantly agitated. In my head I thought about it for a second.
"Wait. He thinks that you are in to me?" I ask her. She nods staring straight ahead and crossing her arms. "That's crazy." I muttered and stared ahead too. We were silent for a while. It's not like this hasn't come up before. Amy had asked if I was dating Donna a long time ago and I had heard others thought we had too.
"I straightened him out right away." Donna said after a while.
"Good." Silence again.
"Why do you think that question keeps coming up?" She asked.
"It's a sexy question, it causes gossip." I dismissed her inquiry.
"Yeah, you're probably right." She agreed.
"People see friends and coworkers and try to make something more of it than it is." I tried to explain it more and she just nodded.
"People need lives." She smiled nervously. This was a weird subject.
"Yeah, well, high profile people get talked about."
"Well, I'm sure there is less to say now that I work in a different office."
"Is that why you took the transfer?" I was suddenly curious as to how much she had thought about the rumors about us.
"No, you know why I took it." She looked at me irritated.
"No, Donna, I really don't." There I admitted it, I don't know why she left me.
"The President asked." She sighed.
"Donna."
"Josh."
"Donna, you never told me why. Why did you choose him over me?"
"Do you hear yourself Josh? You were my boss, I got a chance to transfer to a higher position and I took it. That's it. It was a career move Josh, not a personal dis on you! And I wish you'd stop taking it so personally, it's been months!" She shouted at me in frustration. This just agitated me more.
"Donna!"
"Why do you even care?"
"What do you mean why do I care?"
"You got a new assistant and she's good."
"But . . . ." I couldn't think of what to say.
"What!" She pressed.
"I feel like you like him more than me!" I pulled the car to the side of the road and gripped the steering wheel in frustration.
Donna
"Are you twelve?" I shouted at Josh, barely noticing that we had pulled over. Fine, if he wants to have this discussion then we will have it.
"What?"
"How can I like him better than you? How can I feel about him the way I feel about you? What do you want me to say here Josh? That I like you better? Fine. I like you better, I left because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not because I didn't like you. For God's sake Josh I love you!" I turned and faced the front and stared at the open road that we weren't on. There was a moment of silence and Josh turned the car back on. Before he put it in drive I put my hand on his arm and looked at me with a face of confusion and satisfaction.
"No, you wanted to talk about this, so let's talk."
"We need to get to the dinner. That you signed us up for." He reminded me.
"Josh don't you dare pull back onto that road!" I yelled and surprised he turned the car off.
"Donna, I don't know what to say."
"We've been through a lot together Josh and I love you. I don't want you to misunderstand me on this."
"Well there is so much open to interpretation." He quipped.
"You are my best friend and I love you as a best friend and I want to stop fighting about this transfer and go back to fighting about other things." I smiled. He looked at me thoughtfully.
"What? You thought I was confessing my undying love like some kind of soap opera. Grow up Josh. Let's go."
"You know Donna, I know you wouldn't want me in your soap opera. I'm a Democrat." He turned the car back on.
Josh
The rest of the drive was uneventful. Once we got there we were greeted by the first family and most of the Senior staff. Apparently our detour had made us a little late. Donna quickly made me in charge of putting the cheese soup and dip, and whatever else she brought, in the kitchen.
"Hey Josh." Charlie greeted me with a smile.
"Charlie. Where do I put this stuff that Donna brought?"
"Give it to that cook over there." He pointed to a guy near the sink.
"So what's going on?" I asked casually.
"Well, CJ is a little quiet today, Mallory is making Sam uncomfortable, Leo is enjoying that, the President and the First Lady are annoying each other with what passage should be used for the Thanksgiving Homily at their parish, Zoey is avoiding me a little, and Donna was late with the cheese soup, but we blamed that one on you."
"Thanks for the update." I grabbed a beer from the fridge and followed him into the living room where Mallory was talking to the President, Leo, and Zoey. I scanned around for Donna and noticed her walking toward the kitchen with C.J. and the First Lady.
"Hey guys, let's go out to the barn." From nowhere Sam appeared and was happy as a little boy and trying to get Charlie and I to go outside.
"It's snowing." Charlie pointed out.
"Don't be a baby." He encouraged and we figured we might as well.
"Why are we out here Sam?" I asked once we stepped into the huge barn and I started to smell that barn smell.
"To hide from Mallory."
"Why do we need to hide from Mallory?" Charlied asked and gestured between him and me.
"Oh, you guys are just here to keep me company."
"The thing with you two happened years ago, why are you still hiding?" I pointed out.
"Because she insists on bringing it up and no one else thinks it's stupid or petty, they think it's funny."
"So we're hiding?"
"Yeah." He nodded.
"Okay." I replied.
Donna
"CJ pass me that bottle, I need a refill." Dr. Bartlett gestured to the bottle of wine on the counter by CJ. Dr. Bartlett also took it upon herself to refill CJ's and my glasses as well. I smiled, glad to finally be here after that nightmare of a road trip. Telling Josh that I loved him and then telling him that it was a friendly, platonic love wasn't exactly what I had in mind for my Holiday weekend.
"This reminds me of your birthday, Dr. Bartlett." CJ said and smiled mischievously. We all giggled a bit.
"Only better because Amy's not here." I said to myself and took a drink.
"What?" Dr. Bartlett shot me a quick look and CJ looked at me with her eyebrows raised. Apparently I had not said that just to myself.
"Uh, I mean, I didn't mean to offend you, I just . . ." I started bumbling. Dr. Bartlett's look softened.
"No, it's okay. I know what you meant. Tell the truth? I didn't much enjoy her either. She's a great lobbyist, but she never leaves the office, she's always thinking about work, and let me tell you, that's a real drag." She smiled.
"I never liked her. Pushy, tampering, whiny, and annoying." CJ started laughing. And the First Lady and I couldn't help but join in. We were still laughing when Charlie, Josh, and Sam came in the kitchen door from outside.
"What's so funny?" Josh asked and we looked over at him and giggled even more. Charlie suggested taking the wine into the living room and rejoining the president and Leo.
"Charlie, are you crazy? There are two fathers and their daughters in there! I don't know about you but I don't want to walk into that." Just then we could hear the President say in a loud voice 'Boyfriends are overrated and unnecessary when your fathers rule the free world!'. We all sort of smiled and decided not to go in just yet. But Mallory had a different idea, just then she peaked her head into the kitchen and pointed to Sam and Charlie.
"Guys, I'm gonna need you for just a moment." She smiled and they grudgingly followed her. Josh left in search of a restroom and the rest of us took seats up on the countertops.
"So Donna, any particular reason you didn't like Amy?" CJ asked.
"She was annoying."
"Donna, come on. It's us now. Let's be honest for once." Dr. Bartlett looked at me skeptically.
"I didn't like how she treated Josh." I admitted.
"Yeah, I don't think anybody did." CJ added.
"Has there ever been a thing between you and Josh?" Dr. Bartlett asked carefully.
"Oh, no way. He's my boss."
"So? Danny was a White House Reporter and CJ the Press Secretary." Dr. Bartlett pointed out. CJ looked taken back.
"Dr. Bartlett . . ." CJ tried to say.
"CJ, it's not a big deal and I'm not saying it was a bad thing. I'm just pointing out that just because two people work together doesn't mean that there isn't chemistry. After all, Donna, haven't you met all your recent boyfriends through work? CJ, you too? That's just how it goes when you work like the two of you work. Your job is your life and how else are you going to meet intelligent, good-looking men?" She finished.
"I cannot believe you just said the Dr. Bartlett." I said and took a big swig of wine. CJ just sat there stunned.
"Okay, honesty time. Are you coming back to the White House?" CJ asked the First Lady. Whoa, it is getting intense in here. I just looked back and forth between the two like I was watching a tennis match.
"I don't know yet."
"When will you know?" CJ pressed.
"After the Holidays." CJ nodded okay. "Okay, Donna, honesty time." The First Lady looked at me. When did I get mixed up in this?
"Are you in love with Josh?"
"I don't know."
"When will you know?" Dr. Bartlett pressed.
"When I know how he feels. I'm not going to admit to feelings that I'm not sure I even have unless I know that he has deeper feelings for me."
"That is not the right way of looking at things Donna." CJ interjected. "Decide how you feel and then tell him and let him do what he wants, but at least you took that step." Getting defensive I hopped off the counter.
"Okay, honesty time CJ." She looked a bit surprised but coolly said fine. "Are you in love with Toby?" The First Lady gasped and put her hand over mouth and then smiled.
"Toby?" CJ said incredulously.
Donna
"Donna!"
"Shouting is not the answer Josh."
"It is if the question is 'how to treat a traitor'."
"Josh, we are going. Get over it. I'll call you in the morning."
"Donna."
"Josh, if you call me one more time to try and get out of Thanksgiving dinner with the President of the United States I'll show up an hour earlier." I hung up. It was eleven and that was the second call. I smiled to myself, Josh is a trip. When he doesn't get his way he is a complete baby and tries to use all his powers of persuasion but he knows they don't work on me and he hates that.
"What's that smell?"
"Shut up Josh." It was nine forty-five and we were getting into Josh's car to head up to Manchester.
"No seriously what is that smell?"
"Josh, you know damn well that there is no smell you just want to make fun of my cheese soup and dip."
"Well, you insisted on bringing it. It's not like you didn't know what I would say."
"Drive."
Josh
"So, uh, what's the deal with Pierce?" Donna and I had stopped for some coffee.
"Oh, he just got on my nerves." She said flippantly.
"Yeah? Okay."
"Just got to me after a while. His arrogance."
"Well that's good. For a minute I thought there was something goin' on there." She gave me a weird look and laughed as we got in the car.
"There was nothing ever there."
"Good to know."
"You know, the two of you have more in common than you think." She laughed nervously.
"Yeah, right." I rolled my eyes. Even now she was trying to defend the kid.
"Well, you both think that I'm into the other." She said exasperated and then turned to look out the window. She seemed instantly agitated. In my head I thought about it for a second.
"Wait. He thinks that you are in to me?" I ask her. She nods staring straight ahead and crossing her arms. "That's crazy." I muttered and stared ahead too. We were silent for a while. It's not like this hasn't come up before. Amy had asked if I was dating Donna a long time ago and I had heard others thought we had too.
"I straightened him out right away." Donna said after a while.
"Good." Silence again.
"Why do you think that question keeps coming up?" She asked.
"It's a sexy question, it causes gossip." I dismissed her inquiry.
"Yeah, you're probably right." She agreed.
"People see friends and coworkers and try to make something more of it than it is." I tried to explain it more and she just nodded.
"People need lives." She smiled nervously. This was a weird subject.
"Yeah, well, high profile people get talked about."
"Well, I'm sure there is less to say now that I work in a different office."
"Is that why you took the transfer?" I was suddenly curious as to how much she had thought about the rumors about us.
"No, you know why I took it." She looked at me irritated.
"No, Donna, I really don't." There I admitted it, I don't know why she left me.
"The President asked." She sighed.
"Donna."
"Josh."
"Donna, you never told me why. Why did you choose him over me?"
"Do you hear yourself Josh? You were my boss, I got a chance to transfer to a higher position and I took it. That's it. It was a career move Josh, not a personal dis on you! And I wish you'd stop taking it so personally, it's been months!" She shouted at me in frustration. This just agitated me more.
"Donna!"
"Why do you even care?"
"What do you mean why do I care?"
"You got a new assistant and she's good."
"But . . . ." I couldn't think of what to say.
"What!" She pressed.
"I feel like you like him more than me!" I pulled the car to the side of the road and gripped the steering wheel in frustration.
Donna
"Are you twelve?" I shouted at Josh, barely noticing that we had pulled over. Fine, if he wants to have this discussion then we will have it.
"What?"
"How can I like him better than you? How can I feel about him the way I feel about you? What do you want me to say here Josh? That I like you better? Fine. I like you better, I left because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not because I didn't like you. For God's sake Josh I love you!" I turned and faced the front and stared at the open road that we weren't on. There was a moment of silence and Josh turned the car back on. Before he put it in drive I put my hand on his arm and looked at me with a face of confusion and satisfaction.
"No, you wanted to talk about this, so let's talk."
"We need to get to the dinner. That you signed us up for." He reminded me.
"Josh don't you dare pull back onto that road!" I yelled and surprised he turned the car off.
"Donna, I don't know what to say."
"We've been through a lot together Josh and I love you. I don't want you to misunderstand me on this."
"Well there is so much open to interpretation." He quipped.
"You are my best friend and I love you as a best friend and I want to stop fighting about this transfer and go back to fighting about other things." I smiled. He looked at me thoughtfully.
"What? You thought I was confessing my undying love like some kind of soap opera. Grow up Josh. Let's go."
"You know Donna, I know you wouldn't want me in your soap opera. I'm a Democrat." He turned the car back on.
Josh
The rest of the drive was uneventful. Once we got there we were greeted by the first family and most of the Senior staff. Apparently our detour had made us a little late. Donna quickly made me in charge of putting the cheese soup and dip, and whatever else she brought, in the kitchen.
"Hey Josh." Charlie greeted me with a smile.
"Charlie. Where do I put this stuff that Donna brought?"
"Give it to that cook over there." He pointed to a guy near the sink.
"So what's going on?" I asked casually.
"Well, CJ is a little quiet today, Mallory is making Sam uncomfortable, Leo is enjoying that, the President and the First Lady are annoying each other with what passage should be used for the Thanksgiving Homily at their parish, Zoey is avoiding me a little, and Donna was late with the cheese soup, but we blamed that one on you."
"Thanks for the update." I grabbed a beer from the fridge and followed him into the living room where Mallory was talking to the President, Leo, and Zoey. I scanned around for Donna and noticed her walking toward the kitchen with C.J. and the First Lady.
"Hey guys, let's go out to the barn." From nowhere Sam appeared and was happy as a little boy and trying to get Charlie and I to go outside.
"It's snowing." Charlie pointed out.
"Don't be a baby." He encouraged and we figured we might as well.
"Why are we out here Sam?" I asked once we stepped into the huge barn and I started to smell that barn smell.
"To hide from Mallory."
"Why do we need to hide from Mallory?" Charlied asked and gestured between him and me.
"Oh, you guys are just here to keep me company."
"The thing with you two happened years ago, why are you still hiding?" I pointed out.
"Because she insists on bringing it up and no one else thinks it's stupid or petty, they think it's funny."
"So we're hiding?"
"Yeah." He nodded.
"Okay." I replied.
Donna
"CJ pass me that bottle, I need a refill." Dr. Bartlett gestured to the bottle of wine on the counter by CJ. Dr. Bartlett also took it upon herself to refill CJ's and my glasses as well. I smiled, glad to finally be here after that nightmare of a road trip. Telling Josh that I loved him and then telling him that it was a friendly, platonic love wasn't exactly what I had in mind for my Holiday weekend.
"This reminds me of your birthday, Dr. Bartlett." CJ said and smiled mischievously. We all giggled a bit.
"Only better because Amy's not here." I said to myself and took a drink.
"What?" Dr. Bartlett shot me a quick look and CJ looked at me with her eyebrows raised. Apparently I had not said that just to myself.
"Uh, I mean, I didn't mean to offend you, I just . . ." I started bumbling. Dr. Bartlett's look softened.
"No, it's okay. I know what you meant. Tell the truth? I didn't much enjoy her either. She's a great lobbyist, but she never leaves the office, she's always thinking about work, and let me tell you, that's a real drag." She smiled.
"I never liked her. Pushy, tampering, whiny, and annoying." CJ started laughing. And the First Lady and I couldn't help but join in. We were still laughing when Charlie, Josh, and Sam came in the kitchen door from outside.
"What's so funny?" Josh asked and we looked over at him and giggled even more. Charlie suggested taking the wine into the living room and rejoining the president and Leo.
"Charlie, are you crazy? There are two fathers and their daughters in there! I don't know about you but I don't want to walk into that." Just then we could hear the President say in a loud voice 'Boyfriends are overrated and unnecessary when your fathers rule the free world!'. We all sort of smiled and decided not to go in just yet. But Mallory had a different idea, just then she peaked her head into the kitchen and pointed to Sam and Charlie.
"Guys, I'm gonna need you for just a moment." She smiled and they grudgingly followed her. Josh left in search of a restroom and the rest of us took seats up on the countertops.
"So Donna, any particular reason you didn't like Amy?" CJ asked.
"She was annoying."
"Donna, come on. It's us now. Let's be honest for once." Dr. Bartlett looked at me skeptically.
"I didn't like how she treated Josh." I admitted.
"Yeah, I don't think anybody did." CJ added.
"Has there ever been a thing between you and Josh?" Dr. Bartlett asked carefully.
"Oh, no way. He's my boss."
"So? Danny was a White House Reporter and CJ the Press Secretary." Dr. Bartlett pointed out. CJ looked taken back.
"Dr. Bartlett . . ." CJ tried to say.
"CJ, it's not a big deal and I'm not saying it was a bad thing. I'm just pointing out that just because two people work together doesn't mean that there isn't chemistry. After all, Donna, haven't you met all your recent boyfriends through work? CJ, you too? That's just how it goes when you work like the two of you work. Your job is your life and how else are you going to meet intelligent, good-looking men?" She finished.
"I cannot believe you just said the Dr. Bartlett." I said and took a big swig of wine. CJ just sat there stunned.
"Okay, honesty time. Are you coming back to the White House?" CJ asked the First Lady. Whoa, it is getting intense in here. I just looked back and forth between the two like I was watching a tennis match.
"I don't know yet."
"When will you know?" CJ pressed.
"After the Holidays." CJ nodded okay. "Okay, Donna, honesty time." The First Lady looked at me. When did I get mixed up in this?
"Are you in love with Josh?"
"I don't know."
"When will you know?" Dr. Bartlett pressed.
"When I know how he feels. I'm not going to admit to feelings that I'm not sure I even have unless I know that he has deeper feelings for me."
"That is not the right way of looking at things Donna." CJ interjected. "Decide how you feel and then tell him and let him do what he wants, but at least you took that step." Getting defensive I hopped off the counter.
"Okay, honesty time CJ." She looked a bit surprised but coolly said fine. "Are you in love with Toby?" The First Lady gasped and put her hand over mouth and then smiled.
"Toby?" CJ said incredulously.