Author Note: So, all those years of pent-up sexual frustration… what are they going to do about it now?
xxxxx
After Donna was finished crying her heart dry, she was so exhausted that she simply curled up on CJ's couch and took a four-hour nap.
During that time, CJ devised a plan.
A plan to let Donna get over Josh.
A plan to fix everything.
Over macaroni and cheese that night, CJ proposed the plan to Donna.
"You want me to what?"
"Write two letters; one to Josh and one to Max."
"And then you want me to burn them?"
CJ shook her head, "Just the one to Josh. You're going to go home as soon as you write the letter to Max and hand deliver his letter to him."
Skeptically, Donna raised an eyebrow. "And this is going to do what?"
"In the letter you write to Josh, you need to tell him everything. The moment you fell in love with him, why you married Max, why you kissed him, everything Donna. Absolutely everything. Even the things that are only the whispers of your heart. And if it takes you the rest of the week, then so be it. And once you finish the letter, you're going to burn it, signifying that you release Josh from your heart."
"And what about the letter to Max?"
CJ paused. "That's really up to you. But it needs to be the whole truth."
"I've screwed up pretty bad," Donna whispered.
"I think it'll probably be better than you think it will be. Max loves you and he wants to forgive you. I think that he's a lot more confused and hurt right now than hopping mad and ready to divorce you."
Donna nodded and began to turn the pages of her memory.
xxxxx
"My Dearest Joshua,
I love you.
For 30 years now, I have found myself falling desperately in love with you. I love Max, and I always will, but there are days I wish Max would die or leave me or something so that I could end up with you.
Isn't that horrible? And not like me at all. See what you've done to me?
When Max asked me out for the first time, remember how I asked your permission? I told you I didn't want to date your new best friend if you didn't want me to. Every fiber of my being, I wanted you to tell me no. But you didn't. And if it's possible, I found myself in love with two men – the one who wanted to marry me and the one I worked for.
You never asked, Josh. You never asked me to love you, you never asked me to be with you. So I told Max yes…"
It was not an eloquent letter, but it was true. It was everything that Donna had never said to anyone. Everything that she was afraid to utter, even to herself.
It took up seven pages, front and back. And when it was done – she lit the match.
xxxxx
"My fellow Americans, I address you tonight as a human being. A fragile and frail human being, who, like you, is subject to all of life's cruelties; disease and death, petulance and plague," Josh stared into the bay of microphones before him. Mark had set up this press conference without his permission and Josh was none too pleased. But, as CJ pointed out, the truth needed to be told.
"Two months ago, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 brain cancer. Tomorrow morning, I will undergo the first of three surgeries at John's Hopkins University Hospital to remove the three tumors that have lodged themselves upon my brain, but I regret to inform you that the doctors are doubtful that the surgery will remove the cancer.
"Many of you are asking why I'm running for president if I am suffering from a terminal illness. And as cheesy and cliché as you may find my answer, it's the one that is true. And the truth is what you deserve to know.
"We're all dying. Some of us just faster than others. None of us have any guarantee that we will be here tomorrow. I feel that I would make an excellent President and I know that I will serve the nation well for as long as I am able to serve you. I have selected a running mate who, while she may be unknown to you, is no stranger to the American Government and has served this country faithfully at home and abroad for the majority of her life. Claudia Jean Seaborn would make an exceptional president should I be unable to continue my term.
"I would love to lead you as your president, but the choice is entirely up to you. Thank you and goodnight."
Josh stepped down and briskly walked away from the podium, while Mark stepped up to answer questions.
Dragging CJ down the hall of the Connecticut State Capitol building, he muttered, "Where is she?"
"She?"
"Donna."
"She went home."
Josh stopped dead in his tracks. "Home? Like back to Max home?"
CJ smiled, "Yes, Joshua, back to Max home."
He stood there stupefied for a moment before continuing. "But my surgery is tomorrow! The flight leaves here in four hours! She can't get to her house and back in that amount of time."
"She isn't going to Baltimore with you."
"WHAT?"
CJ sighed, "She's not yours, Joshua. And you've violated that fact a couple too many times lately."
"But…"
"But what? I have tried to reason with you, I have tried to be nice. Whatever the heck was going on between the two of you is over. Move on."
Before Josh could respond, she began to walk towards her office, leaving him speechless in the hallway.
"What does she mean it's over?" He questioned aloud. "And why isn't Donna going to Baltimore with me tomorrow? Did I miss something?"
xxxxx
I In our next chapter, we find out what happens when Donna goes home… /I
