"Mar, my schedule isn't too bad today. I'll pick you up at work at 6::15 and we can go home and have a special dinner. You can consider going up the stairs then we can go back to the residence."
"Sam, this sucks! My cast is only going to come off at the end of the month. I'm throwing this amazing Canada Day bash and I'm probably going to be on crutches for it."
"I guarantee you are going to be on crutches. Mara, if you don't let your ankle heal properly you won't be able to wear your beloved heels again. Just remember that when you are tempted to not use your crutches."
"Like you used your cane?" Mara replied.
"Do as I say, not as I do." Sam retorted.
"Just get out of the car and go get my pain pills."
Sam returned five minutes later with Mara's morphine and tossed a bag of Good and Plenty on her lap.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Sam was dropped off at the White House before Mara was brought to the Embassy. Toby filled him in on what he missed in senior staff and told him he changed about twenty words, added some punctuation and handed Sam's 4th of July speech to the President.
"I asked for ideas Sam and you give me a full speech that I wish I'd penned. It was good Sam and I'm sure the President will love it."
"Thanks Toby, I started with an idea and the words just continued to flow. I was done in an hour."
"Try to replicate that feat on this." Toby tossed a file on Sam's desk and left.
Sam had just started reading the file when Toby summoned him with the bounce of a pink ball. Sam ignored it until he read the same sentence three times. He pushed his chair back and stalked out the door.
"What, do you want?" Sam asked exasperated.
"How did that thing go the other day?"
"What thing are you referring to?"
"The thing with Nancy."
"Oh, I strong armed North Korea and got them to stand down. Nancy gave me an 84."
"She was grading you?"
"Yeah, I have another situation test in less than a month."
"You really like this foreign policy stuff?" Toby asked more as a statement.
"I really do, I'm quickly developing a passion for it."
"Interesting, now get back to work."
Sam managed to get hold of Anna before she left the mansion and asked her to help him plan a special evening for Mara. She agreed to run to the market for him and promised she'd be back in time to accept dinner when it was delivered. Sam tossed the first draft of the speech Toby wanted on his desk and left promptly at 6pm. The car was waiting for him and they were at the Embassy ten minutes later. Sam decided to go up to collect Mara, nodded at the security guard at the desk and took the elevator for the sixth floor.
Leslie was waiting for the elevator to go home and stopped when Sam got off it.
"She's on the patio, blowing bubbles and muttering about ice cream Sam."
"Hi Leslie, her morphine must be wearing off. Dr. Cohen lowered the dosage by 10 mg and she's due for a pill at seven."
"That would explain why she's been distracted the last little while. I guess it's hard to think straight when you are in pain."
"Yes it is. Have a good night Leslie."
"You too Sam."
Sam picked up Leslie's phone and called Anna to make sure they had ice cream in the freezer. Anna let him know that dinner had just been delivered and that she was going to plate it and leave it in the oven set on low.
Sam opened the door to Mara's office and found her on the patio staring off towards the Capital furiously blowing bubbles. He looked at her desk and found her bottle of pills sitting in the middle of it.
He opened the glass door to the patio and called out to her. "Come take your pill Beautiful and we'll go home."
Mara blew the last of her bubbles, dropped the wand inside and capped the bottle. She turned and gave Sam a half smile.
"I can't take my pill until seven."
"Are you in pain?"
"Yes."
"Then take the bloody pill as you would say. Fifty minutes isn't going to kill you and maybe if you are asleep you won't notice when it wears off later."
"Fat chance, it will wake me up."
Mara hobbled back in to her office with her crutches, took a pill out and swallowed it with the flat, remnants of her diet Dr. Pepper. She checked Tuesday's schedule and decided she didn't have to be in before eleven. Sam, slid her computer into her briefcase, slung her purse over his shoulder and held her office door open for her. Mara flipped the old fashioned slate that served as her name plate and hastily scribbled an 11 on it so Leslie would know what time she'd be in.
Mara got in to the limo and propped both feet on the facing seat. Sam amused himself by reading what people had scrawled on her cast since Mara closed her eyes and didn't say another word.
Sam quickly dropped everything just inside the front door then went back downstairs to help Mara get out of the car. He looked around and since no one was in sight, swept her into his arms and carried her inside.
Mara looked around and saw the dinning room table set for a romantic dinner, fresh Gardenia's floating in a glass bowl and space cleared so she could rest her right leg on a chair. Sam gently placed her on the couch and went in the kitchen to turn the oven off.
"What's for dinner Sam?"
"You'll see in a minute. Do you want ginger ale or sparkling grape juice?"
"I want anything alcoholic but I'll settle for ginger ale."
Mara still couldn't tell what was on the plates Sam placed on the table and decided to investigate since her pill had started to take effect. She found her favourite Thai chicken satay with glass noodles, sticky rice and fresh spring rolls. She bite into a spring roll and grinned.
"Thanks Sam, did you get an extra order of spring rolls for my lunch tomorrow?"
"I got myself shrimp rolls, you want one?"
Sam placed a champagne flute of ginger ale beside both of their plates. "I got an extra order of chicken and noodles that we can split and I got you two orders of spring rolls."
"Thanks for lunch and I'll stick to my own spring rolls."
"Until I met you I didn't know the difference between a fresh spring roll and a day old one but now I've become a spring roll snob."
"They are better fresh but I still love having left overs for lunch. I should give your Mom a call tomorrow and confirm her stay for Canada Day."
"Yeah that would be a good idea."
Sam helped Mara to the couch and brought back a large bowl filled with blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Mara was too busy devouring the berries to say much and Sam quickly discovered that he better eat some berries now because Mara would finish them all in one sitting.
Mara popped the last blueberry in her mouth and smiled at Sam.
"I want ice cream, bring me a pint of Cherry Garcia, a spoon and just so you know, I'm not sharing."
"Mar, you never share your ice cream. In fact, you rarely share anything other than your opinion are you sure you weren't an only child?"
"Ha, ha, go get the ice cream pretty boy!"
Mara had just finished polishing off her pint of ice cream when the phone started to ring.
"I'll get it."
"Good, since I had no intention of picking it up." Mara replied with a grin.
"Hello?"
"Unca Sam!"
"Hey Jenna, how are you?"
"Bored, how was the beach?"
"Anguilla was very beautiful, I wish I was still there."
"Did you go swimming?"
"Everyday and I went sailing too. How can you be bored? Did you finish all those books I gave you?"
"I finished the last one this morning."
"You should ask your mom to take you to the library."
"I can't keep the books if I get them from the library. Daddy will take me to Coles this week if I bug him enough. So who is your favourite author?"
"Charles Dickens."
"He wrote Scrooge right?"
"Yeah. It's called a Christmas Carol."
"No, I'm talking to Sam. You are wrong if you think I'm eating that for dinner. I am not being rude Mommy, you are the one talking to me when I'm on a long distance phone call. Sam, Mom wants to talk to Aunty Mara. Tell her radishes are cruel and unusual punishment would ya."
"I will Jenna, Oh hi Sue."
"Hi Sam, that child is going to be the death of me yet. Is Mara around?"
"Yeah, I'll bring the phone over to her." Sam covered the receiver with his hand. "It's Sue."
Mara took the phone. "Hi Sue, what's up?"
"How was the honeymoon?"
"Wonderful, I didn't want to come home, but when do I ever want to come home when I've been at the beach house?"
"True, did you get your pictures back? I put a set of all the ones we took into the mail this afternoon."
"Thanks and yeah they are back. I'm going to do the order sometime in the next few days."
"Cool. Jenna is bored out of her mind and driving me crazy. She's finished school next Friday and I'm going to send her down for the summer."
"Not good. Sorry Sue, but you are going to have to deal with your daughter for a change. In case you've forgotten, I'm a newlywed and hold down an Ambassadorship. You brought her in to this world, so you've got to take care of her all summer long. Not that you care, but I've broken my foot and I'm in no mood what so ever for company. Sam's Mom and sister are suppose to be coming down for Canada Day and I'm going to be hobbling around on crutches so the answer is no."
"You broke your foot?"
"Yes, I'm in lots of pain and my script for morphine runs out in 9 days."
"Ouch, sorry. What do I tell Jenna?"
"Tell her that you are going to figure out a way to amuse her since I'm unable to take her."
"You should be feeling better by August though."
"Sue, give it up! If I have the time and the inclination I'll call you and let you know that she can spend a week here. Don't count on it though."
"Okay, well I hope you feel better and let me know when the pictures arrive."
"I will, night." Mara hung up the phone and rolled her eyes at Sam. "Sue expected us to take care of Jenna for the entire summer."
"The entire summer?"
"Yeah. She's crazy."
"Uhuh, I love Jenna but she does have parents who should be parenting her not us."
"Exactly, I love Sue but she tends to only think about herself."
"Do you want to attempt the stairs first or just go back to the residence?"
"I think I can handle them with the cast if you want to go get our stuff from the residence."
"Really, make it up the stairs first and then I'll go."
"You doubt my abilities?"
"I doubt your body's ability to follow your commands."
"Oh yea have little faith Samuel." Mara muttered before using her crutches to help her stand up.
She used her crutches until she was at the foot of the stairs then carefully climbed the stairs Once she was at the top she stuck out her tongue and told Sam to go fetch their things. She hobbled in to the bedroom and got ready for bed. Mara had just powered up her computer when the phone rang.
"Hello"
"Mara, is Sam there?"
"Lily, you sound funny is everything all right?"
"I have to speak to Sam."
"He should be back in about half an hour. I'll have him call you the second he gets in."
"I'm not at home. I'll call back in forty minutes."
"Lily, can I stand in for Sam? You sound like you've been crying."
"Sweetie I have to talk to Sam first. I'll call back."
After Lily hung up the phone Mara sat in bed trying to figure out what was wrong. She didn't think it was a medical problem or a death in the family but not knowing was driving her crazy. She checked the time, decided she had just enough time to call Jenna and dialed.
"City morgue, you stab them, we slab them."
"Jenna, that sounds horrible! Stick with the: Your quater go ahead or Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood speaking, would ya?"
"Oh all right Aunty Mara. Where's a good place to hid radishes?"
"Right next to the brussel sprouts."
"Eww, I forgot there was something worse than radishes."
"Jenna, you must be tired since you forgot parsnips and turnips."
"Parsnips suck but you know turnips aren't great but they are edible."
"Your Mom has finally started the conversion. In three years Jenna, you'll be telling me how yummy they are with lots of butter and I'll totally ignore you like I do to her."
"I don't think so, but what do I know. I'm the kid who use to love liver."
"You'll grow back into it when you are older. That reminds me I haven't had a good liver and onions in a few years. That will be my side mission tomorrow, finding out who serves great liver here."
"Eww gross! Mommy said you broke your foot. How did you do it?"
"Well actually I'd be healing faster and be in less pain if I broke my foot. I broke my pinky toe and really did a number on my right ankle. I tore tendons and ligaments and twisted my knee. I tripped on the lip between the dinning room and patio at the beach house."
"Ouch, sounds painful, I hope you feel better soon. When did you do it."
"Three days before we were leaving and thanks, it is."
"Well at least it wasn't the third day of the honeymoon."
"Yeah I guess but it still sucks. You better be in bed young lady."
"I am. I'm reading Anne of Green Gables for like the twentieth time."
"Hey I've worn through four copies of it in my lifetime. You can't beat Anne."
"Gilbert sort of reminds me of Sam."
"I can see that, I think of Josh when I'm reading about Gilbert too. They way we use to fight, well we still do but it's more for fun now."
"I like Uncle Josh a lot, he's like a big kid and distracts easily. Donna was always telling Josh that I was more mature than him. Those two crack me up."
"They crack all of us up. Well Jenna, I better getting going, Sam should be home in a few minutes and it will take me that long to make my way to the bathroom. I just wanted to touch base with you since I didn't get to talk to you earlier."
"Yeah Mom hung up pretty fast. I'm going to pray every night that your ankle gets better soon and the pain goes away, because I won't make it through the summer without getting to visit for even a weekend."
"I can't promise you anything Sweetie, but hopefully you can spend a week down here towards the end of August. I love my job, but I don't really get a summer recess now. I can't put in an appearance at work for two hours anymore and then goof off with you. Well not for two or three consecutive weeks like before. Two days is about the most I can manage and that's giving Leslie two weeks notice."
"I know and I understand, it sucks but that's life right?"
"I'm afraid it is, with responsibility comes well responsibilities. Tell you what, I'll brain storm and come up with some ideas to keep you sane all summer long and Purolate them to you by your last day of school."
"Cool beans, I was thinking about using some of my Birthday money to get myself a real camera. Give me photo journalism assignments."
"I swear Jenna you have to be the only seven year old who knows what a photo journalist is."
"I can spell it too, want to hear me?"
"No, I'll take your word for it and I really have to go to the bathroom now. Sweet dreams my sweet and go easy on your poor Mother."
"Yes Mara, good night."
Mara eased her way out of bed and hobbled in to the bathroom. She looked at her watch and wondered what was keeping Sam and hoped he hurried up or he'd miss his mom's call again. She had just made it back to bed when she heard the door close, then the phone started to ring.
"Sam, get that, It's your Mom, something has upset her."
"Kay, call Killer ."
"Killer! Come up here Fuzzy."
Killer waited to see if Sam was following him and when he didn't, the cat tore up the stairs and ran down the hallway jumping up on Sam's side of the bed.
"Meeeow."(You called)
"There's my favourite fuzzy guy, come here and I'll give you a good neck scratch."
Killer purred and got right beside Mara, rubbing his chin on her hand to dictate which way he was going to be scratched. He purred loudly when she started gently rubbing his temples and flopped down on the bed. Mara was giving Killer all her attention and wasn't even trying to see if she could hear Sam on the phone.
"Hi Mom, can you hold on for one second." Sam put the phone on hold and grabbed the portable in the kitchen.
"There, I'm back. Mara said you sounded upset. What's wrong?" Sam asked as he flipped the tab open on a diet Coke.
"Oh Sam, I don't...I can't believe he........all this time.......all those times.... I thought he was working himself too hard.........and now...28 years Sam, it's been going on for 28 years......"Lily dissolved into tears.
Sam had a sudden sick feeling in his stomach. "Mom you have to tell me what's wrong. What's been going on for 28 years?"
It took Lily a few moments to choke back her tears long enough to say, "He's been cheating on me with another woman."
"Oh my God, for 28 years?"
"Yes, apparently he set her up in an apartment in Santa Monica and has been fornicating with her for 28 years."
"Bastard" Sam muttered.
Lily seemed to have composed herself as well as could be expected."Thank heaven for small mercies there isn't a bastard child too."
"Mom when...how did you...Can I......."
"In hindsight, I've know something has been up this past year. Your Father was colder to me then ever before and spending almost every night supposedly working late. The number of nights he seemed to not even come home were adding up. It seemed like on the cruise over Christmas that he rather be anywhere else on earth. I guess he wanted to be with her. I demanded he spend some time with me and he had the audacity to tell me that he had to work to keep me in the lifestyle I'd been accustomed to. I was furious with him."
Lily paused to take a deep breathe before continuing, "Then we got back and heard about your accident. I wanted to rush right to your bedside, but your Father said that you were out of the hospital, there was nothing we could do for you and he was really swamped at work because I forced him to take 3 weeks off. I told him that giving you a hug and telling you in person that I loved you and was sorry I wasn't with you sooner, wasn't a waste of time. He told me that was why he paid long distance bills and that "He has Martha to mother him now."
"Martha?" Sam asked incredulously wishing he could strangle the life out of his Father.
"Yes, I told him that his future daughter in law's name was Mara and that it might be a good thing to remember. Sam, he seemed so disinterested in everything but getting back to work. Don't get me wrong, he was relieved that you were going to live and upset that you lost your vision...."
"Mom, don't defend him to me. How did you find out?"
"We ran out of milk around five yesterday. My car is in the shop so I called him at work. Beatrice told me that he had just left so I called his cell phone. She must have just called him because when he picked up he said Look Baby I just left work I'll be at the apartment in less than an hour get naked cause I'm horny as hell."
"Oh Mom, I'm so sorry. He's a complete jackass."
"Yeah, well I told him to get his ass home, we needed to talk immediately and that when I was finished with him he'd be anything but horny."
"So he's been keeping her on the side all these years, paying for an apartment for her and all those times he was never around for us he was f-ing her?"
"Pretty much, I asked him why he kept this affair going on for so long? He had the nerve to say that he had made a commitment to me. When he meet her, I was pregnant with Beth and busy taking care of you. He felt neglected and everything was just so easy with her, that she understood his every need and that it wouldn't be right to leave me with a toddler and an infant on the way."
"It wouldn't be the right thing? Hello this is the same man who got you pregnant both times and use to tell me that I was the best gift of love you ever gave him? So cheating on us, all the lies and deceptions, leaving you to almost be a single mother was THE RIGHT THING TO DO!"
"I know Sam, I know. He told me he was glad it was out, that now he didn't have to lie anymore and that he never stopped loving me. I told him that was nice, because I stopped loving him a few hours ago and that he was to leave my house immediately. Everything Sam, all these years has been a lie. My life has been nothing more than a bad soap opera plot. He has......"Lily began to cry once more.
"Mom, I don't know what to say, I wish I could come through this phone and hold you in my arms. I could speak to Leo in the morning and be there by ......."
Hearing her son's offer quickly stopped Lily's tears." Son, I love you so much but, I really need sometime time to myself. I need to digest all of this, break a few things and decide how I'm going to proceed. You know as well as I do, that you've just had three weeks off and that the Federal Government doesn't stop running because my life has come to a screeching halt. I'm going to go up the coast for a few weeks. I went out and bought myself a new cell phone this morning the number is 555-1489. If I need anything I'll give you a call O.K.?"
"Are you sure Mom? Right now I could care less about my job. Mara can support me if worst comes to worse."
Lily chuckled for the first time, "Oh Sam, you'd drive Mara nuts if you were unemployed for more than a few weeks. I don't feel fine right now, but I will be fine. What will make me happy right now, is for you to go tell your wife that you love her and that I'd like a rain check for Canada Day. Now go on, it's getting late for you and you need your sleep. I 'll call you in a few days once I'm settled. I love you Sammy, good night."
"I love you too Mom, good night."
Sam hung up the phone and swatted the untouched can of diet Coke into the sink. Mara heard the clang and called down to Sam who didn't respond. He stood motionless at the patio door, staring off into the darkness, trying in vain to organize his thoughts and emotions. Mara just knew something was very wrong with Sam and made her way downstairs to find him. She stood at the threshold to the kitchen trying to read his face from the reflection in the glass but she couldn't.
"Sam?" She asked softly then louder until he turned around to face her.
He had the saddest look on his face that she'd ever seen and yet his eyes were full of rage.
"Sweetie, did someone die?"
"More like murder, my father murdered his marriage. He's been cheating on us for 28 years and is relived that my Mom found out."
"Oh Sam, I'm so sorry." Mara said softy and walked closer to wrap him in her arms.
She lost track of how long they stood there not saying a word. Mara felt helpless, all she could do was hold him, gently rubbing his back.. She wished he'd cry or yell or do something but if there was one thing she'd learned from the accident, it was that Sam's automatic response to grief was to bottle it up inside while she blew up like Mount St. Helen's.
"Sam, my leg is going to give out any second, we need to move this to the couch."
"Sorry Mara, I forgot, you must be in pain."
"No need to apologize as long as we move. Come on let's take this upstairs."
"Want me to carry you?"
"No, just don't make any cracks about me being as slow as molasses going uphill in January."
Sam smiled, "Is that some Canadian saying?"
"My Grandma use to say it and I've heard Abbey say it, so no smart ass."
"So you are only going in at 11 tomorrow?"
"Yeah but there is this cocktail party I'm suppose to be going to at 6 so I won't be home before 8. You better order us dinner."
"Mar, I have a feeling that I'm going to be really late tomorrow. I think it's going to be safer to fend for ourselves."
"Sam, if you are going to be stuck there late, I'll bring your dinner and you can take a break for an hour or so. So assume, unless you are going to make it home, you'll see me around 8:30 with food."
"O.K."
Mara was near the top of the stairs and waited until she was safely on the second floor to say anything.
"Sam, what did your Mom tell you?"
"Mar......"
"Sam, I really want to know exactly how you are feeling and what you are thinking, but for tonight I'll settle for the facts as you know them. You have to understand that I will be playing shrink in the very near future. Bottling it all up inside is not only horrible for you but it drives me stark raving mad which is also very bad for you."
"Kay, let me get ready for bed and I'll tell you."
"You've got yourself a deal Handsome."
Mara waited for Sam to crawl into bed, took a sip of water and looked at him. Sam still didn't feel like talking. He knew Mara would never let up on him until he told her something. He basically gave her his mother's part of the conversation word by word, including the part about his mom wanting a rain check and kissed her good night. Mara wasn't happy when Sam rolled over to face the window but rather than complain that he wasn't holding her, she snuggled up to his back and rested her arm over him. She left a soft kiss behind his ear.
"Sam, I love you and know without a doubt that you'd never cheat on me."
"My Mom thought she knew my Dad too Mara, what if...."
"Samuel Norman Seaborn, you are nothing like your Father. You share a legal degree and dark hair and that's about it. You are your Mother's son, as I am my Father's daughter. Does that mean I'm going to not make time for our daughter's wedding? I think not. Get that thought out of your mind right now or I swear I'll beat it out of you."
Sam smiled, "Violence is your answer to everything isn't it?"
"No, the threat of violence is my answer to everything, you dope."
"Good night Gengsis, I mean Mara."
"Shut up and go to sleep Sam."
When pain woke Mara up a little after two, she reached over to grab the pill and bottle of water sitting on her bed side table and quickly swallowed. She noticed that Sam wasn't in bed and sighed. She'd have to wait until her pill kicked in to go find him. He returned before she needed to move.
"Sam?"
"I got hungry and went down for a spring roll."
"Sam, you look tired, forget the food and get into bed." (Just went down for a spring roll my ass.)
Mara snuggled up to him locking his arm in a near death grip. He could lay awake all night, as long as he was in bed, where she knew there was a remote possibility he'd maybe drift off. There was so much she wanted to say but she knew Sam wasn't in the mood to listen .
Sam ran his hand over hers, clasping on to her arm that was wrapped around him. He knew she didn't buy the spring roll story and wondered how she could read his mind so easily. He could only count on the predictability of her actions because her mind remained unchartered territory. He only got a headache trying to figure out what she was thinking.
Sleep was impossible, since his mind was still racing. He couldn't help thinking about all the times his Dad disappointed him because he had to work. Every time he promised to be at an event important to Sam, he never showed up or arrived when it was almost over. By his sophomore year of high school, Sam just stopped asking. When he graduated, his Father showed up two minutes into his valedictorian speech. Sam was hurt, but he always quickly forgave his Father because he admired his dedication to his clients. Now he knew that it had all been a lie. Sex was more important to his Father than his family. He started counting off the events he missed and eventually fell asleep when the count was around 400.
After a little more than an hours sleep, the alarm sounded and Sam quickly turned it off. It took him several minutes to pry Mara off him and he took a long shower which didn't make him feel any better. He downed two cups of coffee and poured a third for the car ride.
"Morning Sam." Ginger called as he slunk into his office.
When Sam failed to answer, she poked her head in to the office.
"Boss, you look like hell."
"Whatever, any messages?"
"No. Senior Staff is in fifteen."
Sam, didn't acknowledge Ginger, which lead her to believe he was in a bad mood. When she heard him swearing that someone stole his pen, she figured he had a huge fight with Mara and left him alone.
Sam, spent most of the day avoiding everyone, drinking massive amounts of caffeine and dodging phone calls from his Father. The sixth time Ginger told him that his Dad called again Sam blew up at her.
"For God's sake Ginger, use your brain! I obviously have nothing to say to the man. Next time he calls tell him I've left the country."
Ginger was startled and figured Sam's mood had nothing to do with Mara. She asked Donna, if Josh, knew what was bugging him. Donna, didn't have a clue but promised she'd send Josh over to find out.. Josh, knew something was wrong, when Sam's office door was closed. He knocked and opened the door.
"Ginger, what part of leave me the hell alone do you not get?" Sam snapped not even looking up.
"Whoa, no wonder Ginger is hiding out in my office. Sam what the hell has got into you today? Mara bitch slap you?"
"No, drop it Josh, I've got work to do."
"Fine I'll call Mara and ask her then."
"Go to hell Josh."
"Yo Pretty Boy, I'll go ten rounds with you today. What the F is your problem?"
"You want to know what my problem is? You really want to KNOW WHAT MY PROBLEM IS? MY BASTARD FATHER, HAS BEEN F-ING SOME WHORE FOR THE LAST 28 YEARS. SO EXCUSE ME IF I'M IN A MOOD."
"Oh geez, I'm sorry Sam. How did you...."
"My Mom called me in tears last night."
"Sorry."
"Yeah well sorry is just a board game." (Funny I never liked that game)
"Sam?"
(Lighten the mood before Josh ask if you want to talk about it.) "I really scared Ginger away?"
"Yeah but only because she is worried about you and she got Donna worried about you."
"Which is when they called you in as a reinforcement."
"Yeah, they obviously didn't care if you yelled at me."
"Guess not."
"Ha, Sam go home, you don't look so good."
"I'm fine, just tired, I have too much work to do. Tell everyone to ignore me and let me work."
"Okay, you know it might help to take this out on your Dad instead of us."
"I'm not ready to talk to him. I may say something I won't regret."
"Put it in a letter, then send it, don't send it, but get it out of your system before it starts to eat you alive. I'm going back to work."
"Josh"
"Yeah?"
"Close my door please."
*******************
"Dinner is served." Mara announced when Sam hadn't bothered to look up after she opened the door.
"Hey, you look hot. How was the shindig?"
"Boring as....Sweetie, you look awful."
"I'm fine, nothing a little food won't cure."
"Try sleep Sam, you are coming home with me."
"Mar, I've got so much work to do. Somewhere in here are all the pardons I have to review and have finished by Friday. I got two done before I had to do a speech."
"Isn't that Ainsley's job?"
"No, the President personally asked me to do this. The Consul's office looks it over once more when the President signs off on my recommendations then his signature actually goes on the pardon."
"You know Sam, there has to be 200 lawyers in the White House. Why is it that you are the only one, anyone runs to for help?"
"Well would you want legal advice from Josh?" Sam quipped smiling for the first time.
Mara chuckled. "True, but still...."
"It's an honour Mara and I'm happy to do it. So what's for dinner?"
"I picked up a Garlic sauce pizza with cashews, chicken and feta cheese."
"Yum, hey how come a piece is missing?" Sam asked as he opened the box.
"Ginger was leaving as I was coming in and she said a slice of pizza was the least you owed her."
"I'm going to have to hand over my wallet to her for lunch tomorrow."
"Sam, abusing staff is Toby's job not yours. The assistants all hold you to a higher standard. You can't go ballistic on them. I'm sure your foul mood is blamed on me. I cause enough trouble on my own, I don't need to be blamed for things I don't do."
"That is certainly true." Sam replied before stuffing a piece of pizza into his mouth.
Sam engaged Mara in an inane conversation during dinner and moved on to asking about the party. Mara knew she'd never get Sam to talk about his feelings at work and was not in the mood to talk about a boring party. She knew there was only one way to shut Sam up for a bit and get him to relax. She got up from the visitor's chair, pushed Sam's chair back from the desk and straddled his lap. She smiled, removed his tie and undid the top two buttons on his shirt.
"Mar, my door and the blinds are open."
"Sam, there is no chance of you getting sex tonight so chill."
"I didn't think so, but you do tend to get carried away."
"Wipe that smirk off your face Mister. This cramped office with no couch? I may tease you Sam but trust me, you will never get any sex in here. Now do you want to debate or make out?"
"My wife is sitting on my lap, in a short, sexy summer dress that doesn't leave much to the imagination and I can either kiss you senseless or debate increased military funding. Can I have a minute?" Sam teased.
Mara answered by jerking his head closer and engaging him in a long sultry kiss. Sam continued kissing Mara until they both needed to catch their breath.
"So you want the pro or the con?" Sam asked as he continued drawing tiny circles on her knee cap.
"I only debate in bed Samuel. I'll take the con if you come home with me."
"I can't."
"Then I suggest you get back to work so you can get home before your alarm goes off."
"One more kiss then I need you to leave."
"Then you better make it a good one."
Mara stood up five minutes later, grabbed her purse and the empty pizza box and paused at the door.
"Come on Sam, I'll get naked for you. You know you wanna! "
Sam shook his head and smiled, "Go home Mara, I need to work."
"Sam, don't stay here all night. I'll see you at home, If I don't run into someone who wants to take me up on my naked debating offer."
"You are a juvenile delinquent, bye."
"Bye, I love you, my over achieving geek boy."
"I love you, now good bye." Sam said with a grin then went searching his desk for the pardon recommendations.
Mara had no idea that Sam didn't make it home. She fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow and only woke for a few minutes to swallow her pill. The next morning, she lingered in bed too long and had to rush out of the house without even stopping to pour herself a bottle of orange juice for the car ride. She never saw a untouched full pot of brewed coffee in the kitchen.