Title: Apartment 7/8 Daylight Series 9/?
By: chipmunk
See disclaimers in Part one
Archived at:
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After lunch they climb back into the car and head to the capital area to view Potomac Place.
"Leo." Josh's sitting beside Leo in the front seat again, "Margaret said that Potomac Place was south of the capital. What's the address?"
Leo answers after hesitating to see if Margaret will answer, but the girls in the back are busy with something else. "It's 800 4th Street, just a couple block south off RT 295," letting Josh know how he's getting them there.
"Just how close to the White House is it?" Josh is trying to visualize 4th street and see if he remembers Potomac Place. "I think 4th street wouldn't be too far from work and Margaret said that she wanted close."
"It's not too bad of a drive." Leo tries to picture the map that rent.com showed with the listing. "About 3 miles and she should be able to drive it just under her 10 min limit."
Margaret explains from the back seat, "The 10 min limit is so that if I need to run home and get something, its just a 20 minute round trip of driving and if you add another 10 to park and get up to the apartment, I'm at a full half hour trip." Margaret wants to give them the full picture of what it is like, to race home and back, before she is needed again. Hinting to the back of Leo's head in the front seat. She now continues to explain it more to Donna, since she knows that the guys will either overhear her or will just tune her out anyway. "I've had a terrible time with the location that I'm at now. You can guess yourself how many times; I've not even tried to make the trip, since I would be almost 45 min to an hour if I hurried."
"Good Grief, Margaret, when would either of us have a full hour during the day," Donna remarked in amazement.
"It definitely was not worth it." Margaret agreed with her and then lowered her voice to add, "That is why I changed a lot of times at work."
Leo can hear the lowered voices and knows that's a sign that the guys are being talked about, "OK, Margaret, give us the highlights again on Potomac."
She gives him a glance, knowing he's redirecting the conversation away from boss bashing, "Checking with my wish list, it says the building has controlled access and covered parking. Good idea, so you don't have to clean snow off the car in the winter, plus a/c for summer and some apartments have laundry rooms. For Leo's benefit it has an elevator for packing in his groceries." She gives a quick glance to the rear view mirror to catch Leo glance back as he understands her comment. "He'd also have in the kitchen a dishwasher and garbage disposal. For me in the bedrooms, walk- in closets." She smiles at Donna. "It also lists a balcony or deck, but I don't care much for either of those." She scrunches her face up not really able to explain why. "Josh being in charge of the entertainment center can note that all the apartments have a ceiling fan, cable and Internet. Plus, there's general access to a fitness room."
"Like you're going to have time to use it anymore than you can the one at the White House," Donna rolls her eyes and reminds her.
"Now, to add a note on rent. Keep in mind that it does cost less than the Latrobe," she points out looking at Leo, to see if he gets her meaning. "A lot less."
"Thank you, Margaret," Leo sweetly throws over his shoulder, being a little sarcastic. Her price checking is not lost on him. He then addresses them all. "We can review the options for Latrobe when we go to it. Just keep an open mind that we are going to check both places."
"Well, Donna," Josh turns to look over to the back seat, sounding serious, "who's your favorite to win in this little adventure? You know that they're going to disagree." he states it like a given. "Pick now, before we get there," he rushes her like it's really important.
Donna, being cautious when Josh tries to hurry her with a decision, "What do I get if I pick correctly in the end." She figures it'll really be something for him, just that he'll make it sound good for her.
"Ok, a movie in the theater and you choose, but not a chick flick like the last one." Josh warns and sounds like the last one was like going to the dentist, "If I remember, it was something crazy about a wedding?"
Donna is insulted, "That was 'Runaway Bride' and it was sweet!"
"Exactly my point," he exclaims. "No chick flick, or you can take Margaret as your date," he's leaving himself a loophole, just on the outside chance.
"Ok, I agree. I'm still sticking with the Sisterhood and pick Margaret gets her choice." She smirks at Josh up in front. "I know I'll win. It's going to be her apartment."
"Deal!" Josh asks.
"Deal!" Donna answers.
"Now," Josh reveals what he has in mind if he wins, "If I win, I get a personal back rub from you! A Long one! With that wonderful lotion you have, the Vanilla one," Josh has that small satisfied smile on his face that pulls out the dimples as he looks a Donna to see her reaction.
Donna' thinking before speaking, "Agreed, but at my place, not yours." She quickly adds to remove that happy smile, "That's only if you win, Josh."
"Margaret," Leo has a disbelief tone to his voice, "Do you feel that they don't have any faith in us picking out your apartment and being civil about it?" Leo's trying to lighten the mood, he suspects that Josh may be right and he really wants the best for Margaret that he can get her to agree to.
"Well, Leo, I promised to keep an open mind and we do have a list to keep us on track," she seriously remembers their talk.
"Here we are." Leo announces as he pulls off the street into the front visitors parking. The building looks like modern 10 stories high rise, with a red and white-checkered appearance from the patio doors and the balconies across each floor. "Let's go find the office," Leo encourages as they exit the car. He's not too thrilled, but since he's staying at a hotel after having a home for years, he admits to himself that he doesn't have that much experience apartment shopping. Mallory wanted to do hers for herself. He did promise to have an open mind, also.
After a nice, but short exchange of pleasantries at the office, the manager escorts them to the backside of the seventh floor to view the available two-bedroom apartment.
The manager unlocks the door and still standing in the hallway the manager smiles and invites them to go on in with a hand wave, "Here you are, take your time and be sure to familiarize your self with the brochure and look over the apartment. I'll be in the office for the next hour, if you have any additional questions. You just drop by on the way down." The foursome step into the apartment and the manager leaves. Josh reaches over and closes the door that was left standing open, so they can have some privacy. They want to check out the pros and cons of the apartment without sightseers. They find themselves in a small foyer or hallway that leads to the living room. Leo steps to the left and finds the kitchen. The girls, after a quick peak in the living room entrance, check the door to the right and find another foyer for the bath and sleeping areas that has a laundry closet. The bath is the typical small size with all the fixtures lined up on one wall. Margaret moves to the back larger bedroom and Donna checks the front one next to the bath. Both have large closets along the adjoining wall with sliding doors, that are 'not' walk-in. The back bedroom where Margaret is has one wall that's 2/3rd patio doors, which lead to a balcony. The front bedroom that Donna's quickly checking is medium size with one window. Donna soon joins Margaret in the back bedroom, to find her looking out the patio doors. She also notes the view is the back parking lot. "Well, Margaret, we're to take notes pros and cons for the sleeping areas, we can review everything later," Donna tries to reinforce the open mind policy.
"I know, but all this glass in the bedroom and no walk-in closets." She sighs, "Not a good sign. Even for my frugal heart." She seriously looks at Donna agreeing face, "Leo, may be right and you may be giving Josh the back rub."
"Remember the cheaper price in your judgment." Donna reminds her, seeing the discouraged look on her face. "Lets go see what the guys have found in the other half of the apartment."
They find Josh out on the balcony and Leo's at the patio door looking out. "Leo, we're done looking in the sleeping area. You guys can check it out and we'll check this side." Margaret recommends.
"OK," he glances at Margaret with a disappointed look that speaks volumes to her. One of those: we'll talk later looks.
Shortly, the guys are back in the front hall to find the girls in the kitchen. The guys stay in the hall, as four people may not fit in the kitchen.
Josh asks the hanging question, "Ok, girls, what's the pros and cons with this apartment?"
Margaret flips open her pad of paper in her hand, "OK, Leo, Go ahead. Give me the cons, that I can see running past behind your eyes and I can read from your frown."
"Margaret," Leo growls and gestures with both hands out and down in front of him, trying to defend his opinion, "I'm trying to be fair, but the kitchen's barely bigger than the bath and I grant that the living room is good size, but with the sleeping area closed off by itself , it feels like a really small apartment." He looks toward the sleep area, 'I guess you could prop the connecting door open all the time, to feel you have some room to move around." He tries to show logical reason, "I just feel with all the foyers you loose a lot of usable space."
"Donna, what's your opinions," Leo asks hoping for reinforcements.
"My complaint is, Leo. And I think Margaret agrees with me. Is that we found that the two-bedroom apartments don't have the walk-in closets she was hoping for." Margaret's nodding her head in agreement, not looking at Leo, for fear he'll smile and she'll have to do bodily hard to him in front of witnesses. Donna continues with what she found. "The bath is small, but you probably give up bath space to have the extra bedroom. Which is good size, usually the second one is really small, like for a child." She pauses thinking, "It did have the laundry closet in the foyer, that's on her list." Donna tries to find at least one thing that is a pro.
Margaret's writing down all the comments for later, when they debate the two apartments.
Leo's wanting to get everyone's input in while they are still in the apartment, more like evidence from what they're finding in this apartment. "Josh, your turn."
"Well, I agree with what has been mentioned, but they use the balconies as an incentive and then the only view you have is the additional parking lot out back." He has a second problem to mention, "You know with all the foyers that it has, it is sorta like a maze and getting the furniture through all the doorways will be fun for the movers." Josh adds his items to the list.
Margaret lastly gives her opinion, "Well, here's a surprise, everyone." She waits as she knows that they anxious for her comments, "I'm not really fond of balconies, since I'm never home to use them and they can be a security risk." She attaches a logical reason. "The worst thing about them: is. That there are two of them and the heating bill in this place, in the winter, with that much glass would be an outrageous cost." Her frugal side just cannot tolerate the thought.
Josh points out on the same line, "The a/c in the summer will be a killer, also. This building runs north to south and you'll get a whole wall of either the morning sun or the afternoon sun."
"Ok, everyone," Margaret announces, "I have noted all the comments and also added that it does have a coat closet by the front door that I don't have one at my place now." She waves the paper from the Manager, "We also have the nice brochure," with a smart-alecky tone, since he was so briefly helpful.
Leo's now trying to keep things moving, "Well, let's return the key and then head over to Latrobe and see if we can see it a little early." He hopes that going straight over will make a better impression on Margaret.
In the car again, Margaret's in sitting in front with Leo this time and she pulls out the notes that Leo printed out, the night before, on Latrobe.
"The address is 1325 15th Street NW." Leo pipes in the location before Josh can ask this time, "It's the one north of the capital."
"How close to work is this one?" Josh asks again.
"It's 'under' one mile and takes less than 4 min. to get there from work," his voice has that 'can you believe it' quality. He continues talking to the others, but really is directing it to Margaret, "Which sounds good to me. Maybe, she'll go home and sleep more?" Margaret makes an unladylike snort at his last comment. Josh and Donna both chuckle together as Donna lays her head on Josh's shoulder. They both are thinking that's not going to happen, unless she drags Leo home with her.
Leo looks in the rear view mirror at the pair chuckling at his expense. "You two 'are' wearing seat belts, right?" He pauses to check the mirror and see the innocent looks they give him, "You're getting really cozy back there's that's why I'm asking." He teases them now, "No back seat fooling around, its still broad daylight." This really cracks Josh up and Donna gives his a firm pat on the chest for his trouble, but she still snuggles into him.
"Just watch the road, Leo. The back seat is 'our' business." Josh tries to redirect they're attention, "You and Margaret just keep discussing the next apartment." Josh then tilts Donna's chin up with his hand and does the tongue tango with her, whether Leo's watching or not.
Grinning, he flashes a smile across the seat from him, "Margaret, we may have to separate them or trade places." He pauses to rethink what he just said, "Nah, Josh isn't driving my car, he'd wreck us for sure." He explains with at dig at Josh, to see if he's really listening to him and for the fun of distracting him from Donna, "He's so used to that tinker toy he calls a car that he doesn't know how to drive a full size car anymore." Leo knows you do not insult Josh's car and get away with it.
Josh's sounding offended, "First, you guys tease me about my eating, then my cooking skills, now my driving and my car. Sheeesh!"
"But, Honey, what are friends for?" Donna asks him sweetly. "That's our way of letting you know how much you mean to us." She perks up with, "Plus, it's fun when you always take the bait."
"Thanks guys, I can really feel the love," he's being sarcastic. Then, to get even he gives Donna another kiss to prove he's just kidding.
"All right," Margaret breaks in and teases them now, "Before you two fog up the back window, I'll read the options for Latrobe."
Josh and Donna turn forward and are still leaning together, now ready to pay attention.
"The Latrobe has some of the same features as Potomac, like controlled access, covered parking, a/c and plus, an intrusion alarm for extra security." She likes the sound of that. "It doesn't state that it has an elevator." She looks at Leo on this.
Leo answers her look, "If it's a large building, it'll have an elevator, Margaret. It's not like the place you have now, yours is only four stories. This one looked like ten stories from the picture"
"We'll check," she notes that on a new page. She reads more of the notes out loud, "In the kitchen at the next one they list a dishwasher, microwave and garbage disposal. It states walk-in closets, so I hope it does." She smiles at Donna, who has her fingers crossed this time. "Some apartments have laundry rooms. All of them have a ceiling fan, cable and Internet. Plus, get this guys, access to a pool and hot tub." She sighs after reading this. "A fitness room was shown in the pictures," she adds. Margaret pauses from listing the items. "It 'does' cost more than Potomac Palace, about 25% more than Potomac and 30% more than my old place." She says this like it's going to be a sinful amount to pay and will be painful. She does admit glancing up from her notepad to Leo, "It does have some nice features, I hope it's not going to a disappointment like Potomac seemed to be."
Leo smiles and tells the couple in the back, "The one item that she did not mention, the best feature included and the one that 'is' raising the price." He pauses for effect, "Is that the two-bedroom apartment has two bathrooms, one for each bedroom." He smiles at the mirror and is satisfied with the knowing look Josh gives him back.
Margaret quietly adds, because she knows it's going to another feature he'll like, "It also has valet dry cleaning, but I'm not planning on using it often, just maybe for my gowns. You have it at the hotel already, Leo."
Josh tries to reason with her, "Margaret, you can look at the higher cost in two additional ways, not just what you mentioned last night about taking what you could find on short notice." He lists them for her, "First, is that you will be getting your money's worth with the extra features and second, the sad fact is, that the prices have gone up on everything." He seriously adds looking at Leo in the mirror, "One of the things we're working on at the White House with the economic package."
They arrive and Donna is impressed, "Margaret, this is so much better looking than the Potomac."
"I agree with Donna," Leo's real pleased with the look of the building, "Now, if we can just get her to consider the extra price. He exaggerates a wink at Donna. "This looks like a nice place with all the warm brown brick." Leo turns the charm on to Margaret, "You're close enough to practically 'see' the White House and the monuments!" He's still charming her, now with logic, "Considering the advantages of locations and class look of the place from the outside, the 30 % more might be worth it." He grins encouragingly at her, "Let's go inside and see what they have to show us." While walking to the front of the building, Leo removes his sunglasses and notes to the others, "If I remember right, the two-bedroom apartments have that bay window in them, you can see them over there on the side of the building."
"A bay-window, Leo? Like in a real house?" Margaret has a happily surprised sound to her voice. "You may have just sold me on it." She's teasing Leo in a serious voice, "I don't really eat much. I could save more that way." Leo flashes her a dark look, but doesn't growl at her comment, since Margaret's starting to agree with them about the looks of the Latrobe.
Josh is holding the lobby door open for them as Donna slips inside, in front of them. Josh takes his sunglasses off with a flourish all his own, as he follows them in.
Leo reminds her with a tone low in his throat, while he puts a hand at the small of her back to escort her into the building. "Margaret, I know what you make and you can afford the apartment. You'll just not be able to save as much as you'd like to." ~Penny pinching be damned!~ Leo's remembering the deal that they made, the night before last, about his paying for the extra bedroom. He figures he can get her to agree to 1/2 of the extra cost, over what she was paying now. She's already expecting to pay more rent for a new apartment.
Just inside the lobby they notice the clean waiting area and a bank of elevators, behind a glass wall with an electronically controlled door. Leo smiles, "See, I knew that elevators would be available. Check one item off the list." They find the Management office located just to the side of the lobby. The Manager is waiting to give them some basic info and a brochure. Next, he's happy to show them around the general access rooms, after taking them through the secured doorway. They tour the pool and hot tub area and then walk through the fitness center. Margaret notes where the recycling room is located, right next to a freight elevator for furniture moving. The Manager's now telling them, "The last part of our tour, before I show you the apartment, is at the lounge and meeting room. We have a residents meeting once a month and a charity benefit group that helps organize ways that the residents can volunteer to help organizations in the area. We're a very nice community and try to preserve a pleasant atmosphere here." Standing in front of the elevators he continues with the buildings visitor security information, "Out in the lobby where we started," he's now pointing through the glass wall as they wait for the elevator to arrive. "We have phone access, for your visitors to call you on the intercom in the apartment and you can buzz them into the elevator area or they can wait in the convenient lobby."
At the apartment, he opens the door and ushers them inside, even bare they can tell this is so much better than the other apartment they viewed earlier. The carpeting is in soft neutral colors and clean. The walls are of interesting designs and pastel coverings. The apartment opens into a nice size foyer with a closet and slightly to the left is the living room with Margaret's bay window. The kitchen's directly to the right from the foyer and is good size with a double pass thru window to the living room for serving. Leo was really impressed. To the left off the foyer was a small bath that's also connected to the second bedroom. The main entrance to it is off the left side of the living room. Walking from the living room to the right was the master bedroom with an identical separate small bath and the hoped for huge walk-in closet, containing an over and under laundry pair in one corner of it. The apartment is spacious and just flows. The manager decides to leave them to discuss the merits of the apartment. " Mr. McGarry." He turns and nods, "Margaret. I'll be down in the office, if you'll just stop by to return the key and I can give you a listing of the fees." He then leaves them with a smile.
"Well, Margaret, he must be a democrat? He knew who Leo was." Josh's tickled that the manager unknowingly let it slip. "I, for one, think you should take this place, Margaret. For the rent you're going to be paying, this is a bargain for what you'll be getting." He teases her back now, "You only live once and with our jobs, we 'all' deserve a nice place to regroup."
"Yeah," Donna agrees, "If you can afford this place, I say go for it." She also tries to persuade Margaret. "This is really nice and has all the options you wanted." She jokingly adds, "Just remember to add us to your visitors list. I'm going to visit you real often, if you move in here."
"Come on, Donna," Josh suggests, as he grabs her by the hand. "Lets go back into the Living room and check out where I can put the entertainment center. I need to see where the connections are located." They both know that Leo and Margaret need a few minutes to privately discuss Margaret's decision.
Margaret and Leo have moved into the nice kitchen and they are standing face to face, with arms looped around each other's waists ready for serious decision time. "Leo, I can tell by your smile that you already have me moved in here."
"I want you to be happy with your decision to live here, Margaret." He looks her in the eye for her to see he's serious. "This will be your home and you need to be comfortable here. If your agreeable, then lets go down and talk to the manager and see what he has to say when you tell him that you're serious in wanting to rent here." Leo nods his head to the side and continues, "He can tell us the deposit, getting utilities and tell you what references that you might need." He pauses and has a small smile, "but I think your friends with you and where you work might be enough references." He's really smiling now. He can tell from her face as she looks to the living room, out the pass thru window, at the bay window, that she's hooked.
"OK, Leo." She grins back at him, "I'm going to go out on a really thin limb here and go with your opinion." She looks him in the eye this time, "So, if this doesn't work out, remember you get to move me back out of here and no complaining." She gets the last word and is happy to surrender with valor.
"Thank you, Margaret." He kisses her quickly and happily, as he knows she's really trusting him on this one.
She really knows he'll feel better with her in a nicer apartment building and so close to him at work .
"Come on, guys," Leo calls to the others, "she wants to go talk to the manager again."
They reach the lobby and Josh is bouncing with energy, ready to pack and move the entertainment center. He just anxiously waits for when Margaret is given a key. He knows she's going to take the apartment; by the way she and Leo are holding hands. They don't even have to tell them they have decided in favor of the apartment. "Leo, give me your car keys. Donna and I'll wait in the car while you talk the manager about the details."
"Sure," he digs into his pants pocket and hands Josh the keys. "Feel free to play some music, but don't change the radio buttons, like you did last time for a joke!" Leo reminds him of the time Sam and he were left to wait in his car.
They then enter the manager's office. Margaret smiles at the Manager, "Hi, I think I'd like to find out the details for renting the apartment, if you can do that today, with it being Sunday?"
He smiles back at Margaret and Leo, "Yes, I'd be happy to help you with the arrangements today. I would assume that you two have very little time during the week."
Leo answers for them, "You're correct at that, in fact we work most hours around the clock. Since you did recognize me, you probably guess that we have to discuss the serious a factor. I'll be here visiting Margaret and we might get a surprise visit from the Secret Service now and then due to my job and with Margaret being privy to some information that's not for everyone to know. Security is sometimes an issue. One of the reason Margaret and I like it here is your buildings safety measures."
The Manager, not surprised, agrees, "I understand that and we have had to deal with unusual residents before, with us being this close to the capital." He now tries to assure Leo, "You just let us know how we can make it easier for you and we'll see if it can be arranged."
"If Leo is OK with that part," Margaret's ready to get down to business and asks, "Then can we discuss the rental agreement and the financial aspects for the apartment?"
"Right, I have an application here that is short and simple. It asks for references, but if you list your friends that you have here with you, I can guarantee that we'll not worry about that. Due the fact, we previously know all employees of the White House are already security cleared and that's good enough for us." He hands Margaret a form that has three layers, "Here you go. If you like, you can take a few minutes to fill it out now and I can answer any additional questions that Mr. McGarry can think of."
"Thank you," Margaret replies. That would be helpful if I could fill it out now. Time is a little short for us this coming week."
Leo now redirects the manager back to him, "I did see that the rear door has a pass card lock. Is it the same as for the security door here in the lobby?"
"Yes, it's the same." The manager explains, "The rear door is for the residences only and anyone they're escorting in with them, so they can enter from the covered parking. Anything else I can answer for you?"
Margaret lifts her head from filling out the application and has a question on the security cards "With the door security cards, how many cards am I allowed to have?" She looks at Leo to let him know she's thinking of his habit of arriving at her apartment after she does.
"One per listed occupant and that 'is' confidential." He adds to reassure Leo, "We have had foreign residents that the various law agencies wished to remain confidential." He boasts, "We have been a close and handy location to the Capital in such situations."
"Then, if I list Leo on this application as one of the occupants, I can have a security card for him?" She just wants to confirm it, not trying to move Leo in or anything permanent. But who knows the future?
Leo follows this train of thought, "If that's possible, then the next problem may be that the secret service will want one". Leo smiles and adds why, "That's if they need to quickly secure and retrieve me, as Margaret kindly puts it."
The manager knowingly returns the smile, "That'll not be a problem, as they've had one in the past. Our other residents deal very well with the inter-workings of the political DC area. As most are of political or business occupations."
Leo now shows signs of relaxing. He was worrying that after getting Margaret to agree that there might be other obstacles blocking her renting here.
Margaret grins and hesitates with pen over the from, she remembers to ask, "Now, as you might have guessed, our friends want to know you're rules on visitors."
"We are pretty flexible, but try to retain the security of the other residents. You may have guests 'accompany' you to any of the general room with you. Overnight guests are fine, unless they need to stay more that 2 weeks. Then we ask you list them temporarily on the rental agreement." He smiles at Leo, "That's not including anyone on the rental agreement as you indicated you would be. They get full resident privileges, same as she does. Hope I covered any questions you have on that, Margaret, but you can always call down and ask us."
Leo wants to be up front with the Manager, "Yes, Margaret, is right. I'll need a security key card." He smiles at her and she flashes him a smile back, comfortable with his honesty and knowing he's going to explain, "Margaret and I are a couple as well as working together at the White House's COS office. We work long and unusual hours and we'll be coming and going at odd hours." Leo jokes with him, "You may have to sometimes point us to the elevator, as we might be asleep on our feet." He leans forward toward the manager, like a conspirator and teasing Margaret at the same time. "That's usually when Margaret finally give in and goes home to sleep." She blushes, but still gives him a look that says, 'I go home, when you go home'. That's the way that is, always has been!
Margaret has another question she needs the answer to before they leave, "On another topic, I believe I mentioned to you on the phone that I have to move quickly and we need to know how soon and what arrangements we need to make. My current landlords are firm on the date to be out of my current apartment."
He's happy to be able to give her a positive reply, "You can move in as soon as I receive payment for the deposit and first months rent. We allow furniture moving on weekday 8 to 8 and on Saturday, but discourage furniture moving on Sunday. It's the one day that most residents have as a quiet day here."
"Sounds agreeable to us." Leo remembers this morning's quiet talk they had on a Sunday morning, "Now maybe you can help us, we'll need a moving crew in about a week. We could start on small things during the week and they could move her big furniture in on Saturday."
"That would work." He agrees with Leo, "The apartment is ready for immediate occupancy."
Margaret now hands the rental forms back to the manager, "I think I have all the information on here that you need." She glances to Leo and back to the manager, "Would you like us to sign now and leave the deposit or would you like to wait till you approve my application," she asks wanting to finalize the agreement.
"I think we can finish this up now, since you both have reached a mutual decision." He hands to form back to Margaret after reading it over, "Just sign across from your name and have Mr. McGarry list his name and sign to receive his own key card. You'll be the apartment renter and Mr. McGarry will be the secondary, with full occupancy privileges." He looks at Margaret and then glances to Leo, "If this is agreeable I can take your deposit check and issue the keys to the apartment and the security key cards." He continues with more information, now that the agreement is being signed, "Your apartment number is 525 on the fifth floor. It is halfway up the building and has a nice view of the city at night, but the upper floors are a little more expensive due to the greater view of the DC area."
"That is fine with me." Margaret sounding like she's not really impressed, "I see the historic sites up close and personal everyday." She adds, "Including the President." She wants to let him know that selling point for her, "I do love the bay window and the pleasant atmosphere here. It is what we're looking for to recuperate after work. A nice retreat."
"Thank you, Margaret." He's very pleased at this point, "We appreciate your opinion of our community and we're happy to welcome you." He open as drawer and removes a small envelope with her new apartment number on it. "Here are your keys and two security cards, plus a new resident folder with lots of information on our facilities." He adds before they leave, "The number on the key card is also the number of your parking space. This way you will each have a space that you'll arrive at, from the rear of the building. He opens another drawer and hands Leo a security card, "Here, this is the Secret Service card. It's the red one and is a master pass card without a number." He now goes over to the side table in the room and brings back a pamphlet, "Mr. McGarry here's list of recommended movers for our area that have worked well here and I hope will help you. Call if you need any assistance at all. We're available at all hours." He knowingly smiles, really doesn't need to say it but he does, "It just the way with the DC area."
Outside Leo takes her hand in his as they walk to the car and he gives hers a little squeeze in appreciation. She smiles, as it is now a relief to know where she's moving to and is happy with their selection.
Leo slips his sunglasses on, but he notices that Josh and Donna are in the front seat of the car. Josh is slumped down and enjoying the music thay they can hear he's playing, when they get near the car.
"Hey guys, you get all the details?" Donna asks as they arrive at the side of the car.
Margaret holds up her news keys
"You took the apartment! That's great, Margaret!" Donna is pleased for her and jokes, "You ever throw Leo out, let me know and you can twist my arm to be your roomie."
"Sorry, Donna," Margaret softly assures her, "I'll never throw Leo out, he's grown on me after all these years." He has his arms wrapped around her as they talk outside the car. Margaret says, to prove what she said "I even got him his own key card to the new apartment."
"Great!" Josh agrees from the drivers seat with his arms folded on the window ledge, he winks at Leo and looks at Margaret, "Congratulations are now in order, Margaret. Now lets go somewhere for a quick meal and celebrate."
"Fine," Margaret agrees, "As long as you two cut out afterwards." She quickly adds, "I'm not trying to run you off, but I know you both have things you need to take care of on your day off, at your own places. We can talk over dinner about the packing time schedule and you would not believe when Leo told them we're moving in the furniture. Hope you two can start tomorrow evening. Leo has warned the President that we need extra time off next week and we are really going to need it."
At dinner, Josh and Donna admit that they both won and agree to both the movie and the backrub. Both could get interesting.
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