"Welcome back Sam, we understand you needed some help?"
"I just hoped a car could be waiting for us on the tarmac. While she isn't that heavy, the shorter the length of time I have to carry Mara, the less likely I am to trip and drop her."
"A car is waiting and while the First Lady understands you might just want to head home, she has none the less extended an early dinner invitation to you. Can I bring your bags to the car?"
"Sure, that's nice of you. If you could take her crutches too."
Sam opened the luggage compartment and unloaded his suitcase and Mara's carryon bag. Jack flung both bags over his shoulder and carried a crutch in each hand. Sam gently woke Mara, who was fast asleep with both her legs propped up.
"We're home sweetie. How do you feel?"
"Fine, the pain pills are still working."
"Abbey wants us to go have an early dinner with her. She won't mind if we skip it though."
"Nah, let's go so you don't have to cook and I know she will want to check my leg out herself. She may even have better pain pills for me."
"At least you hurt yourself with only 3 days left."
"Sam, I've got millions and millions of dollars, neither of us really needs to work, let's go back for good in the morning."
"I wish we could Mara, but it's back to the real world in the morning. What are you complaining about? You are off all this week."
"Yeah, and I'm going to be in pain all week long. Some vacation, I want a recount!"
"Give me your pillow and Tedzy for a second and carefully swing your legs down so I can pick you up." Sam said ignoring her.
Mara took back her pillow and Tedzy and clutched them tightly in her arms as Sam carried her out of the plane and into the waiting car. Sam was paying so much attention to her right leg that her head barely missed connecting with the door frame. Mara didn't seem to notice and Sam ignored the look Jack gave him. Twenty minutes later the car was pulling into the South Entrance.
Mara saw Abbey waiting with Killer hung over her shoulder. Mara smiled, she'd missed Killer while they were away and was glad to see her favourite fuzzy little guy. Sam got out of the car and gave Abbey a hug and scratched the top of Killer's head before opening the door for Mara. She managed to swing both her legs out the car door and planted her left leg on the ground. She used Sam's waist to hoist herself up and he swiped her up into his arms. Jack left everything in the car for the trip home and just brought Mara's crutches.
"My child, what on earth did you do to yourself?" Abbey asked surveying Mara's right leg.
Abbey gave Mara a kiss and Killer leapt off her shoulder landing on Mara's stomach. She picked the cat up and gave him a few kisses before settling him in her arms.
"I'll tell you my tale of woe once I'm on a comfortable couch."
"You both have beautiful tans."
"I was feeling well rested until Thursday evening." Sam said giving Mara a look.
"Mara. What on earth did you do?" Jed asked as Sam carried her into the living room.
"All of this is due to one evil piece of metal not more than an inch high. I'd sue for pain and suffering if it wasn't my own house."
"She's a klutz, she tripped and since Mara never does anything simply, she had to cause the most damage possible." Sam provided.
"What did you trip on Sweetie?" Abbey asked trying to hide her amusement.
"The stupid, bloody rail for the sliding door to the patio."
"A little trip did all this damage?" Jed chuckled.
"Mara what is the damage?"
"I broke my pinky toe which is why it's taped to the next one. I tore ligaments and a tendon in my ankle, sprained my knee, scraped my leg and bruised my hip."
"Oy vey." Abbey muttered.
"I missed clearing the rail and rammed my pinky into it. I thought. I just stubbed my toe and after doing a hop or two, I stepped down on my right foot. It hurt so much that I swiped my foot up, knocking myself off balance and I crashed to the patio with my right ankle under my left leg. When I fell, I knocked the outside of my knee and bruised my hip. The scratches and scrapes are from the patio."
"I got her to the hospital and the doctor did x-rays, taped her toes together, gave her pain pills, ordered her to stay completely off her feet for two days and gave her crutches for today."
"Crutches, Sam hasn't let me use yet." She added.
"What did the doctor give you?"
"Blue morphine pills."
"Blue? It must be MOS and it's either 30 or 40 mg."
Sam fished the vial of pills out of his pocket and tossed them to Abbey.
"40 mg. You shouldn't be feeling anything on these Mara. Did you exaggerate when asked how much pain you were in?"
"No, I thought my toe killed until I screwed up my ankle. I can't put any weight on it at all. It really hurts Abbey. Do you have anything better?"
"Mara, 40 mg of morphine is as good as you are going to get it. You were given enough pills to last you ten days which is a little on the generous side. If you were here you probably would have got a weeks worth. It's a good thing you are off all this week."
"I hate being sick on holidays it just sucks, you waste vacation time instead of work time."
"Mrs. Klutz, how do you intend to handle the stairs in your house?" Jed asked.
"Sam, we always forget about those stairs."
"Why don't you stay in your regular room until Tuesday and then you can come to Manchester with me Tuesday morning. You can have the downstairs bedroom."
"Can I let you know in the morning?"
"Sure Sweetie, are you thirsty?"
"A bit, can I have some lemonade?"
"Of course, Sam what about you?"
"I'll I have the same, thanks."
Abbey picked up the phone to order a pitcher of lemonade and to let the household staff know the Seaborn's would be using their usual suite for a few days. Abbey picked up a large envelope that had been sitting on the table and handed it to Mara. Inside Mara, found the wedding picture proofs that the official White House photographer had developed while they were gone. She smiled at the memories and handed them one by one over to Sam as she finished studying them. She started laughing and Abbey knew she was looking at the picture of CJ catching the bouquet.
"She looks like someone just killed her puppy in front of her." Mara chuckled.
"That picture is priceless. The press corps would love to see it." Jed replied.
Sam started laughing when he got the picture. "If this picture sees the light of day, CJ will strike us all dead."
"It's going in our wedding album." Mara proclaimed with a wicked grin.
"Jed and I made a list of the pictures we'd like copies of. Personally I think the best picture of you both is 42."
Sam flipped the picture back until he got to the picture Abbey was speaking of. They were dancing and Sam had spun Mara as the picture was taken. They both looked like they were having so much fun. Mara took the picture off Sam and examined it again.
"I really like this one but my favourite one is the very last picture."
The last picture was of Sam and Mara just after they had left the reception. The photographer asked them to turn towards him and framed the picture with the White House behind them. Sam had wrapped his arms around her and it looked like they were both holding her lily of the valley bouquet.
"The look on both of our faces is what they call the look of love. It's perfect."
"That one is my favourite too. Looks like we have the thank you card shot." Sam agreed.
After a casual dinner of turkey club sandwiches Mara and Sam headed up to the sky parlour to relax. .Sam refreshed her nail polish on her toes since both legs were resting on the couch. Mara had to wait an hour before taking her final morphine pill of the night. Sam remembered all too well, how it felt waiting to take a pain pill and did his best to keep her mind off her ankle. Sam's distractions helped but the second the hour was over Mara, had her palm open for a pill and held a glass of lemonade in the other hand. Killer wandered into the room and headed towards Mara until he noticed both her legs were on the couch and he jumped up on Sam's lap instead.
"He's so smart, he knew not to jump on your legs."
"That's my Killer, almost as smart as his mistress."
"Actually, I think he's smarter than us both. He's never hurt himself." Sam laughed.
"What do you think about me going to Manchester for the rest of the week?"
"I'll miss you but I think you should go. Abbey will take great care of you and it won't matter how long I stay at the office. Killer should probably stay here though, since I don't know when I'll be home to feed him."
"I'll take him with me. He's been to the farm house before. He naps on top of the kitchen cabinets."
Sam helped Mara to bed and joined her a few minutes later. He made sure her leg was on a pillow and kissed her goodnight.
****************
Sam found himself wishing he was in Anguilla Tuesday morning. He kissed Mara good-bye before she boarded Marine One with Abbey and Killer and went right back to work. As expected, Donna, kept PEI running smoothly and efficiently. It only took him an hour to read the updates she left for him. Sam had given Toby the president's Speech for the Fourth of July first thing in the morning, but hadn't heard any feedback yet. He had a meeting with Nancy in the Situation room at four and was currently trying to go over his notes of everything She had taught him thus far. He had a feeling she'd created an international incident for him to deal with.
"Sam, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Do you want the other half of my eclair?" Ginger asked, returning from lunch..
"Ginger, when have I ever said no to an eclair?" Sam asked with a grin.
Ginger retrieved it from her desk and handed it to Sam. Her stomach was actually feeling sick but she couldn't resist licking the chocolate icing off her fingers.
"You never answered me yesterday. Did you miss me?"
"Not until Thursday of week two. I was kind of hoping you'd call but I knew it was unlikely. By Wednesday of last week I wanted you back. I was getting tired of one sided conversations with myself. If it wasn't for Donna, spending half her day in your office, I would have gone nuts. Toby kept Bonnie on the go the entire time, so we actually talked less than normal. Sam will you make me a promise?"
"What?"
"Promise me that if you leave before the President's term is over that I can go with you. Promise me that if we all don't self-destruct after 8 years that I'll have a job with you."
"What if I don't have a job Ginger Ale?"
"Then you'll need me to send out your resumes. Trust me Sam, you'll have several job offers to choose from."
Sam smiled, "Ginger, where ever I go, you go or I won't accept the job."
"Thanks Sam. I will relocate to Canada if it's necessary. Maybe I can find myself a nice polite, funny, gorgeous Canadian guy."
"Maybe. Can you get Mara at the farmhouse for me?"
"Sure."
"You rang?"
"Hey Sweetie, how's the leg?"
"The morphine is still doing it's job so I'm happy. Do you just miss me or did you need something."
"Of course I miss you, but I did need to ask you something."
"Shoot."
"Remember when we were talking about the levels of response during a conflict."
"Yeah."
"Well is there a rule about what level your response is?"
"Sure, it depends on the situation, you don't skip all the steps and declare war for example."
"Obviously, but can I go straight to four?"
"If you think the situation warrants it. Remember you always have to leave some wiggle room. You can't give a country no possible chance to save face as an opening move."
"Got it, thanks."
"Anytime. What are you working on?"
"Nothing yet, I think Nancy is testing me today."
"What time?"
"Four."
"Well I'll send you good vibes then. You can do it Sam, remember to see the whole board. See it then check it off in your mind."
"I will, love ya."
"Love ya too. Call me tonight and let me know how it went."
"Kay. Talk to you later."
Sam hung up the phone and went back to reading his notes. At five to four Ginger popped her head in to tell Sam that Nancy was waiting for him in the Situation Room. Sam was surprised to see Leo and Admiral Fitzwallace in the room. The President's chair stayed empty at the head of the table but Sam sat to the right of the chair facing Leo. In the mock situation there had been troop build up along the North and South Korean border. Sam listened to all the status reports and followed Mara's advice to go over each piece of information and then file it in his head. He didn't think twice about ordering an increased US military presence in the area and convinced a skeptical Leo that it wasn't a risky move. Ten minutes later, Nancy informed Sam that the elapsed time was twenty six hours later and gave Sam another briefing. When Admiral Fitzwallace looked at Sam for a decision, Sam decided to talk through all the options as he saw them. He tried to read Leo's expression but Leo was using his best poker face and was giving Sam nothing. Sam made his decision.
"Sorry Sam, what was your order, I didn't hear you." Fitz replied.
"Sorry."
"Sam, don't be sorry, you are in charge, take charge. Now, Sir what are your orders?"
Sam repeated his orders with more confidence and breathed a quite sigh of relief when Nancy quickly winked at him and nodded her head. She punched in his orders and elapsed the time another 15 hours. Sam increased military presence again and asked to see what happened in a few hours time. Nancy gave Sam a response after two hours and Sam decided to give it another hour and placed a fictious call to the North Korean leader. After another elapsed two hours, Nancy reported that the troops had stood down and were leaving the South Korean border.
Everyone at the table had constructive criticism for Sam and Nancy presented him with a report card with an overall grade of eighty four percent. He was informed that there would be another test in less than a month before he was dismissed. He returned to his office and started to work on the speech Toby left for him.
"Sam, it's ten, you haven't had dinner, nor have I, so we are leaving. You are going to take me to dinner and drive me home."
"Give me ten minutes Ginger Ale and you've got a date."
"Did you call Mara?"
"Nah, I'll do that once I get home. She'll be up every night until midnight talking with Abbey."
"So what's for dinner?"
"Thai?"
"No, how about Italian."
"No, how about French?"
"Matisse?"
"I was thinking of Citronelle."
"Sam, we don't even have reservations!"
"So call them up and get us in."
"It's too late Sam, I think they have only two seatings a night and I can tell you right now, quarter past ten isn't one of them."
"Fine, then get us in for the second seating tomorrow. How about Kinkeads?"
"Sam, you're one of this countries great minds, can't you come up with something more original than Kinkeads?"
"Hey! You eat there more than I do."
"I'm not one of this countries great minds, I have an excuse."
"Tell me something I don't know." Sam teased back.
"How about that onion place? Bonnie said it was good."
"Onion place? Ceeg still here?"
"Yeah."
Sam picked up the phone and dialed CJ's office.
"It's me, Ginger and I are going out for dinner, if you can name the restaurant Ginger is thinking of you can join us."
"Sam...?"
"Ginger calls it the onion place."
"Onion .....Vidalia, are you buying?"
"Sort of."
"I'm putting my shoes back on. See you in five."
"You like the limo privileges don't you mi amour?" CJ asked on the way to the restaurant.
"Yes, it's the best perk of my wife's job."
"His wife, our little boy has grown up Ceeg."
"Yes, our little Sammy has grown up and become a big boy."
"Keep it up and I'll stiff you with the check."
"Mara got you a companion credit card?"
"Cards, she doesn't want me using mine for anything other than gifts or business expenses. Toby calls me a kept man but I don't mind."
"Remember Sam, Mara loves gifts and she has never met an expensive piece of jewelry she didn't like."
"Mara doesn't like pretentious jewels or gaudy jewels, no matter how expensive they are. She's all about the gem stone's quality. She knows the 4 C's better than some jewelers."
"She took her jewels out of the safe one night for me and I swear Harry Winston would have been jealous." Ginger added.
"That explains the basket pin." Sam said with a grin.
"What do you mean?" Ginger asked curiously.
"The week before we got married, Mara was updating her will and there was a Polaroid of the pin with your name written on it."
"Oh wow, I can't believe that, she's so sweet. I guess she could really tell how much I loved it."
"What pin?" CJ demanded.
"It's a gold basket with twenty flowers made out of tiny gemstones. The petals are emeralds, rubies, opals, pearls, citrines and sapphires. The pin is about an inch tall and wide."
"Oh, I've seen that, she wears it with a green linen shift dress. I told her I'd provide a good home for what I call her Caribbean ocean set."
"Platinum setting right, that was beautiful. Mara said she didn't wear it often."
"She had this killer body hugging dress that had all those blue/green colours in it but she spilled something on it and it never came out. I told her she should wear it with an all white dress."
"That would look great."
"Mara isn't even here and I'm in the middle of girl talk." Sam muttered.
"You may as well call her now Sam." CJ chuckled before returning to her conversation with Ginger.
Sam found the number in his cell phone list and hit dial. An operator picked up and Sam identified himself and asked for Mara. After two rings a laughing Abbey picked up the phone.
"Samuel, have we declared war?"
"No Ma'am, I strong armed North Korea though."
"What did you score?"
"84."
"That's a great first effort, I hope you are pleased."
"I'll take it, I'm aiming for above 90 next time."
"Over-achiever, I'll pass you to your wife."
"Hey Baby, how did it go?"
"I got an 84."
"Pretty good Sam."
"It's OK, you would have got a 100."
"Yes, but I'm brilliant."
"You are oh so humble too." Sam replied sarcastically.
"I'm impressed you are actually home."
"I'm not, I'm on my way to dinner with Ginger and Ceeg. We are now in front of Vidalia."
"Yum, go for the filet of sole with sautéed spinach and green beans instead of the potatoes, they aren't cooked very well. Tell Ceeg the Beef Wellington is superb and don't let Ginger order the stuffed wild mushroom chicken. It was dry as a bone and Leslie still complains about it. Tell her to have the sole."
"So what are you doing?"
"We are sitting out on the verandah drinking wine and talking."
"With your pills, are you insane?"
"I'm nursing a glass, one glass won't kill me. Damn Abbey just realized what I was doing and now I don't have a glass. Thanks Sam."
"Anytime. Well I'm starving, sweet dreams and I'll call you in the morning."
"Kill joy." Mara muttered.
"That's me, I love you."
"Yeah, yeah, they all love me. Night."
"Night Brat." Sam chuckled and hung up.
**********************
Sam flopped down on the couch, kicked off his shoes and curled up for a nap. It was well after one and he'd have to be up in less than five hours. He hadn't been sleeping well during Mara's absence and CJ had booked him on Nightline that night. It had been difficult to keep his left hand out of view but the last thing he wanted was anyone to notice his wedding band. The phone rang and Sam wanted to kill whoever it was and refused to answer it. A few moments later his cell phone started ringing, forcing him to dig it out of his pocket.
"Hello" Sam snarled into the phone.
"I saw you on TV tonight, you are so damn sexy when you are all puffed up."
"Mar, can we have phone sex in about ten hours, I really need some sleep and I'm grumpy as hell."
"Missing me, I see."
"Yeah, now can I please hang up and try to get four hours of sleep."
"Kay, I can tell you my news later."
"Now I'm going to be wondering what it is, tell me quickly and I promise to be more enthusiastic later in the day."
The building across the street from the Embassy went on the market this morning and I bought it."
"Why?"
"I'm going to turn it in to Canada Place, a retail space filled with just Canadian products. I have three words for you:Beavertails in Washington."
"Yum, now good night Mara." Sam turned the phone off and was asleep in minutes.
***************************
Sam watched Mara hobble off Marine One with Abbey from the Oval Office. Practicality kept him from running out to her and sweeping her up in his arms. He noticed her grimace when she stepped up to the walkway of the Portico. He went over and poured her a glass of water and was holding it when Leo opened the door from the porch and Killer came dashing into the Oval Office.
"Well hello Killer, did you miss me?" Sam asked in his speaking to Killer tone.
Killer responded with a meow and rubbed against Sam's leg then flopped down for a foot petting. Sam still thought Killer was the strangest cat for liking to be petted with people's shoe clad feet. Sam watched Mara bustle her way in on crutches, she was very adapt at using them. Sam wondered if he would have been faster on them if he could have actually seen.
Sam smiled and brought her a glass of water. Mara took the glass and motioned to an agent carrying her purse and carry on bag. Sam retrieved her purse, took the second last pill out of the vial and quickly handed it to her. Mara downed it.
"Thanks, how could you tell?"
"I can recognize that grimace of pain at a thousand feet."
"Yes, you know all too well about ankle injuries. Now kiss me."
Sam happily obliged his wife until the President walked in with the First Lady and jokingly told Sam to rent a room after putting in a full days work. The President's attention was diverted from Sam and Mara as Killer jumped up on the desk and mowed loudly at him.
"That's scandalous Killer, Abbey and Mara wouldn't give you any treats today? Well, I'll deal
with them later but I think I can rectify that situation for you right now. "
Jed pulled a packet of treats out of his coat pocket and put a few on the desk for Killer to inhale. He looked up at Jed again and got four more treats before Abbey snatched the packet out of Jed's hand.
"Killer, you are officially cut off, you'll make yourself sick. Don't give me that look Mister, I know exactly how many treats you've had today. Hello Sam."
"Hello Ma'am, how was your trip?"
"Relaxing, Mara I'm going to call Dr. Cohen now and get you an appointment for the morning. I'll see you in the residence. Jethro, join me."
Jed sighed, picked up Killer and followed his wife back out the portico doors to the residence.
"If I didn't already know, I certainly know who really wears the pants in that family." Sam said just loud enough for Mara to hear him.
Mara chuckled, told Sam that was the way it should be and leaned herself against the desk for support. Sam was only slightly surprised when an agent picked up Mara's carryon bag and left the room with it.
"Mara, sit down properly and raise your leg." Leo ordered.
"If I sit, I won't want to move again and I need to make it down the portico to the elevator. I'm just taking a rest."
Leo ducked into his office and came back with his chair. He ordered Mara to sit. Mara obliged since he had on his don't mess with me face.
"Sam can roll you right upstairs then return my chair. So how are you feeling?"
"Brilliant idea Leo, that's why they pay you the big bucks."
"What big bucks?" Leo laughed.
"I think my toe is better, I haven't messed with it at all, just in case. My knee is pretty good just a little tender and the bruises are all but gone. My ankle on the other hand is almost as painful as it was a week ago. Abbey's been monitoring me all week long and on Friday we tried to replace the morphine with 3 Advils. Let me tell you that was not one of Abbey's better ideas. Killer barely brushed my foot and I was in tears. My last pill wore off just after we took off from Andrews on Marine One and I couldn't get at my purse and I didn't have any water. The only reason I'm not in tears right now is that I know in fifteen minutes the pill will take effect."
"Sorry to hear that kiddo, I hope the pill kicks in quickly. Sam I'm going to read your report at Home. Your work day is over, just don't cause your wife anymore pain."
"Thanks Leo, enjoy the rest of your Sunday."
Leo kissed Mara on the cheek, reminded Sam he wanted his chair put back as soon as Mara was upstairs and went into his office to pack up for the day.
"You ready to go up?" Sam asked.
"Can we wait until I feel no pain?"
"Sure, sorry I feel asleep on you last night."
"Yeah, I don't know what was worse, you falling asleep or me going on and on for ten minutes not even realizing you were asleep. So where did you tune out."
"Maybe I should answer that when you aren't feeling any pain."
"Sam!"
"Mar, I'm sorry but I haven't been sleeping well, I've been here to at least ten every night and if it wasn't for Ginger literally dragging me to eat I might have had one meal a day. I've drank more coffee this week than a co-ed during exam week and when I crash, I crash. I was listening to you but my brain had stop processing information. You were telling me about who you were going to approach to be in Canada Place."
"Well Beavertails and Laura Secord are a given. I was thinking Roots and Club Monaco would be great for clothing. I want to open up a Tim Horton's and a Licks for food and I was thinking of calling the general store Oh Canada."
"Tim Horton's, the Starbucks just up the street from you isn't going to be too happy."
"Do I look like I care? They sure didn't when they set up in Canada across from Tim's and Second Cup's. I'd actually like to have a Second Cup too, they make the best hot chocolate but I don't know how they'd feel about it. Two coffee places in one building seems extreme."
"Maybe you could find a franchisee who would want to run it as both. They make money no matter who's cup of coffee it is. Second Cup doesn't have donuts or cakes, Tim's doesn't have Italian soda or a wide variety of teas, plus as you claim no one except you makes a better mug of hot chocolate."
"Good idea Sam, I could put a picture of you up saying I use to drink other coffees until I tasted my first Tim Horton's now It's Tim's or nothing."
"Very funny, except I will still drink the coffee Ginger brings me every morning. Tim's doesn't have my Caramel Mac. If it's a normal cup of coffee, I agree Tim's is the best, it's got to be that extra caffeine they put in that makes it so damn satisfying."
"I was thinking of introducing a loyalty card program for Canada Place but Jed will bankrupt Laura Secord buying French Mint bars."
Sam laughed, "Oh and like you wouldn't be trouble to the Beavertail guy? I swear Mara, if I hear you offering no rental fee just all the Beavertails you want free, I'm going to warn the guy or girl that it's a horrible deal. "
Mara made a face at Sam. "Actually I'm going to buy the Beavertail License myself. It will be run as part of Licks but I'll pay all the initial running costs until it's self sustaining. My profits from anything in Canada Place will go to Charities here and back home."
"Yeah it's not like you need the extra income. Licks will get a lot of business from Toby and I. There really isn't any thing like Licks in DC."
"Licks is original and I've never been able to make a homeburger as good as theirs, I hate my hamburgers."
"So that's why we've never had them."
"Yeah I don't mind BBQ ones so much but soon we can just go to Licks."
"So how fast can you get this together?"
"I placed personal phone calls to the head of Licks and the head of Tim Horton's on Thursday. The owner and soul shareholder of Licks, sort of knows me from the praise I'd heap on Licks and my choice in using them as caters whenever I could. I only had to use my name not my Ambassador tag with her and she sounded really enthusiastic and was thrilled that I wanted Licks to be the main food vendor. She thought making it a corporate restaurant would probably be the best idea and that as long as the rent wasn't out of this world she'd commit as soon as I sent a property contract to her. Tim's thinks a corporate store might be the way to go also. They'll get back to me in the next week if they have a franchisee who would be interested in owning it, given the conditions I set."
"Ah your whole living wage not minimum wage pay scheme right?"
"That and hiring Canadians when ever possible, using Canadian suppliers when one exists, environmentally friendly etc."
"So it should be open by Christmas time."
"I hope sooner than that. Too bad this couldn't be ready in time for my Canada Day spectacular."
"Even you couldn't pull that off I'm afraid."
"I know, I tried to see if I could but there is no way. I'm going to leave my permanent mark on this city in more ways than one."
"Should I pen the ballad of Mara Whitford?"
"Give it a few years to let my legend grow first." Mara laughed. "Kay you can wheel me upstairs now."
"I assume we are spending a few more nights in the Seaborn Sky Parlour."
"Yes, I can't do our stairs yet, Abbey keeps telling me she's going to officially change the name of it to the Seaborn's Suite."
"I'm sure she will, let's go Hopalong."
Mara shot Sam a look and pointed towards the portico. Sam decided that it would be prudent not to antagonize Mara further, now that she wasn't in pain and had two crutches to hurt him with.
Sam made the wise choice since Mara, was contemplating her plan of attack.