Chapter 8: Music

Pretty soon the ladies found their way to restaurant where they were going to meet Sam, Josh and Toby. They were surprised to see that they were already there and the ladies made there way to the table.

"Hey, guys!" said CJ as she took off her coat and took a seat at the table.

"We brought Charlie along," said a proud Josh. It was almost impossible to get Charlie out of the White House and with other people.

"Hi, Charlie," said Ainsley as she made her way over to Sam and took the empty seat next to him.

Sam greeted Ainsley with a kiss. "How did dress shopping go?"

"We got a lot accomplished today," said Ainsley. "We picked out my dress."

"You got one dress and you think you accomplished a lot?" said Josh being funny. "Toby and I got five senators to vote for a new bill. I'll say we accomplished more than you."

Donna sighed. "Josh, you should learn to never joke about weddings."

The waitress arrived and took down their orders. After she left, CJ began a lively conversation.

"Have you guys picked out music yet?" asked CJ.

Sam answered her question. "Not yet, but would you like to volunteer to do 'The Jackal' for us at the reception?"

"Oh, oh!" Donna suddenly got every excited. "You have to play 'The Electric Slide'!"

CJ agreed with Donna. "And everyone here has to do it!"

The men shook their heads. Josh said, "Sorry, not happening."

Donna looked at Josh. "I bet you don't even know how to do 'The Electric Slide.'"

Charlie raised his hand. "I don't know how to do it." Sam and Toby admitted they didn't know how to do the dance either.

"I guess we'll have to teach you then," said CJ getting a mischievous look on her face.

"I have another song. 'I've Got Friends in Low Places,'" exclaimed Donna.

"Wait!" exclaimed Ainsley. "Let me write this stuff down." She took out some paper and a pen from her purse.

"Country? Really?" asked Sam.

"I like that song," Ainsley said to Donna. She turned to Sam. "Yes, Sam. We are going to play country."

Donna asked, "What songs do you men like?"

"Sorry, Donna," started Josh as he took a sip of his beer. "You aren't going to find any love songs in me."

"It doesn't have to be love songs," said Ainsley.

"I have a song," said Charlie. "'Can You Feel the Love Tonight.'"

Josh groaned, "Oh my God. Please tell me you two aren't really going to play a song from The Lion King."

"That is from one of my favorite movies!" squealed Ainsley as she wrote the song on the list. "Thanks, Charlie."

Toby took a sip beer. "Well if you guys are going with crazy love songs, put 'Seasons of Love' from Rent on the list."

Sam looked at one of his best friend. "Please don't encourage this, Toby. They are going crazy."

"Come on, Sam," said CJ. "You must have a song that you love."

"I have another one!" exclaimed Donna. "'Godspeed' by the Dixie Chicks."

Sam bashfully said, "I have a song."

"Yay! Sam has a song!" said CJ.

"The Beatles, 'In My Life.'"

"Aww… You romantic," teased Josh.

Toby then shouted out, "'What a Wonderful World' and 'It Had to Be You.'"

Ainsley wrote Toby's picks on her growing list.

"Okay, I give in," groaned Josh. "'With or Without You' from U2."

Sam then said, "Aerosmith 'Don't Want to Miss a Thing.'"

Charlie then said, "'Rainbow Connection.'"

"From The Muppets?" asked Toby with a strange look on his face.

"Yes, that 'Rainbow Connection.'"

"I have three," exclaimed CJ. "Lee Ann Womack's 'I Hope You Dance,' Bon Jovi's 'Thank You for Loving Me,' and Shania Twain's 'You're Still the One.'"

"Nice job CJ!" said a smiling Ainsley who was writing as fast as she can.

"'The Hand Jive,'" yelled out Donna.

Charlie asked, "How many songs do you have?"

Ainsley counted the list. "About seventeen. I also added 'Here, There and Everywhere' and 'Ice Cream.'"

"'Ice Cream?'" questioned Sam.

"It's a very nice love song, Sam. It's by Sarah McLaughlan. Trust me, Honey," said Ainsley.

"Make that nineteen songs," said Donna. "Add 'Lean on Me' and 'She's Got a Way.'"

"'A Whole New World,'" yelled out Charlie.

Toby questioned Charlie's choice of music. "Do you only listen to Disney music?"

Charlie shrugged off the comment. "My sister listens to all of that Disney stuff."

Donna raised her hands into the air. "I know another one!"

"Okay, Donna. It's not a contest," said Josh.

CJ looked at Josh. "You're just jealous that you can't think of as many songs as Donna and I can."

"What is it Donna?" asked Ainsley.

"'From this Moment' and I just thought of 'From a Distance,'" said Donna who was smiling proudly.

"How about Bryan Adams' 'Heaven?'" asked Charlie.

Toby looked at Charlie amazed. "You actually know songs that aren't in movies."

"Funny, Toby," said Charlie who knew that Toby was joking.

"I know one," said Josh. "Green Day's 'Good Radiance.'"

"You guys have to play 'Landslide'!" said CJ. "I love that song!"

Ainsley wrote down all the songs and then read the list over to herself. "We need some more country songs."

"Okay, let's see," said Donna who was pondering to herself. "'Could I have This Dance' and 'How do I Live.'"

Toby took a sip of his beer. "Jimmy Buffet's 'Margaritaville.'"

"I have another one," exclaimed Donna. "'My Heart Will Go On,'" said Donna in a dramatic way.

All the men groaned and shook their head 'no.'

"Ugh, Donna. I thought you were done with your 'Titanic' phase," said Josh with a miserable look on his face.

After a few more songs were discussed and added to the list, the waitress brought them their dinner.

"So Ainsley and I were wondering," began Sam as he got the table's attention, "would anyone like to speak the reception? We aren't going to have a maid or honor or a best man, so anyone can speak."

Charlie swallowed his food. "The President would probably like to speak."

"I'll speak," said Josh.

"Now wait," said Sam. "The speeches can't be any embarrassing stories and have anything our parents or grandparents wouldn't want to hear. Does everyone understand?"

"Yeah," replied the bride maids and groomsmen.

"Okay then. So The President and Josh will speak," said Sam.

"I guess I'll do it too," volunteered CJ.

"Will your sister speak?" asked Donna to Ainsley

"I don't think so. She gets shy around people she doesn't know very well. My dad said he would like to speak."

"Who's coming to the wedding- if you don't mind me asking," said Toby.

Ainsley began to think of people Sam and her wanted to invite. "Mostly close friends of ours are coming. My family and Sam's family will be there, the First Family, our co-workers, some people from college, friends from Congress and people we use to work with."

"It doesn't sound like a lot, but Ainsley's family takes up half of the list," teased Sam.

CJ looked up at Ainsley and Sam. "Don't forget to have the Secret Service look over the list before you invite anyone. I would like to look over the list too. I just want to make sure everyone invited are people that won't hurt our reputation. Do you know what I mean?"

"We understand, CJ," said Sam.

Ainsley looked over at Toby. "Andy is invited."

Toby nodded his head. "Thanks for the heads up."

The staff went over the guest list for the remainder of the dinner then decided to skip dessert and head home.

As Ainsley and Sam were walked home hand in hand, Ainsley said, "The music isn't that important to me. I just want to have fun on my wedding day."

"I want to have fun too. You know I'm probably looking forward to our first dance more than anything."

"Really?" asked a surprised Ainsley.

"Yeah. Remember how we danced in your office when we got engaged?" Ainsley nodded her head "yes." "Well, ever since then I couldn't wait to dance at our wedding together."

"Good. 'Cause I can't wait either."