Sam opened the door and found Jenna sitting on the couch reading Pride and Prejudice. He smiled at her voracious love of reading. She was seldom without a book, forever asking anyone she met, usually adults, for reading recommendations. Jenna peered up from her book and smiled at Sam.
"Hey, how was Chicago? Did you see Oprah?"
"The only way I could have see Oprah was if she was going in or leaving the airport at the same time I was. All I got to see of the Windy City this time was the road from the airport to the meeting. Where's Mara?"
"Next door, she left about half an hour ago. She left you a note in the kitchen."
"Kay, did you eat dinner yet?"
"No I figured I'd give you an hour to get home then if you hadn't arrived I'd eat. Can we have pizza?"
"Did Mara leave us food?"
"Yeah."
"Then the answer is no. I'm going to change, then I'll put dinner on a plate."
Sam wandered into the kitchen and looked in the stove. Mara had made her ham and rice casserole topped with loads of melted cheddar cheese. Sam wondered what objection Jenna had to it and decided it was just that she never got sick of pizza. He opened the note and his worst fears were confirmed.
Hi Sweetie
A meeting of the Sisterhood has been called over at Ainsley's since Tom is out of town for a week. Don't wait up, dinner is in the oven and do not let the rugrat talk you into pizza instead!
Luv Me
Sam hated it when the Sisterhood held meetings because all it usually involved was drinking and talking. While Mara could hold her liquor with the best of them, she tended to vent and talk about their personal life. He was thrilled that she had so many close girl friends, but since they all worked with him, after every meeting he'd get strange looks, weird comments and be teased for at least a week. His wife might want to keep their private life private from the general public but she seemingly had no trouble sharing intimate details about their lives to her friends.
Sam sighed and went up to change. He came downstairs a few minutes later in a pair of faded jeans and a blue knit sweater. "Jenna put the book down and go wash your hands."
"I'm not hungry."
"Fine, but you are not ordering a thing. This casserole is really good Jenna, so stop being silly and go wash your hands then sit your butt down at the table."
Jenna muttered under her breath but followed Sam's orders. She didn't say much over dinner and Sam decided to just let her go off to her room afterwards. He had half a mind to go crash the meeting next door, but decided they might actually force him to stay, which would be worse.
"Geez, I'm so happy my belly provides a spot for your crab and artichoke dip." Ginger said sarcastically as Mara put the bowl back on her protruding stomach.
"Like you'd be able to reach it if I put it on the table." Mara chuckled.
A flash went off and Ginger and Mara yelled at Donna.
"Sorry but the two of you just look too cute, Ginger sprawled out on the couch and you using her as a table."
"You know it sucks drinking milk when you guys are drinking the good stuff."
"Fine Ginger, after I finish this glass of wine I'll join you on the sober train. I brought strawberry syrup with me. I'll hook you up with Jenna's favourite called 101 Dalmatians."
"Oh that is yummy, can you make me a spiked version Mara?" Ainsley asked as she returned to her chair.
"Yeah, so Ginger, are you still servicing my employee?" Mara asked matter of factly.
Ginger turned several shades of red and gawked at Mara, pushing her knee with her foot. "MARA!"
"Sorry, but I'm curious, because it doesn't look like sex can be that comfortable at this stage of the game."
"It's starting to be more trouble than it's worth and that's all I'm saying about that matter."
CJ chuckled, drained her drink, poured another one and decided to give Mara a taste of her own medicine. "So Mar, what I'd like to know is how did you manage to put such a smile on Sammy's face in Nassau when you were burnt to a crisp. If memory serves my correctly, Sam was calling you Princess Snark of Lobster land."
Mara didn't even seem fazed, "Very carefully and it wasn't a painless process."
"OK I want details, so spill it."
Mara looked at CJ wondering if she was going to take the bait or not. She knew Sam would kill her but she was also in the mood to share.
"Well I'd be happy to teach you a few things Ceeg but you all have to swear you will never mention this to Sam, He'd kill me! You can't even look at him funny, no teasing or smart ass comments."
"Promise." Donna, Margaret and Ginger said simultaneously while CJ, Carol and Bonnie looked at each other.
"But that's no fun." Carol whined.
"Those are my terms."
"Fine, we accept." CJ agreed begrudgingly.
"Well Sam had whisked me off for a day on a sailboat and a dinner underneath the stars. We were having a conversation and Sam mentioned Sour Patch Kids candy. I sort of lost focus and derailed the conversation." Mara closed her eyes and put herself back on the rented sailboat.
"Mara I'm sharing intimate details and you are talking candy?"
"Sorry, but there's something I think you need to know Sam. I'm a Candy addict. No 12 step program in the world has been able to cure me. I know it's bad for my teeth, that someone as hyper as me doesn't need an extra sugar high, but I just can't help myself. I hear 'candy' and my brain says 'Give it to me. Give it to me now!' I was in a meeting once and the MP said he felt like we were black balling him and pouf! I lost my train of thought and sat there for twenty more minutes thinking about the yummy licorice taste and how I'd chipped a tooth on one once. It controls me, Sam. I like to pretend I control it, but I'm too far gone to fight the addiction."
"So last week when I kissed you, you really said hmm could use Pop Rocks?"
"Probably, which reminds me, have you ever kissed a girl with a mouth full of Pop Rocks?"
"Umm no, those things are bad for your teeth."
"Oh, Sammy you haven't lived until you've experienced an explosive Pop Rock kiss. How about an Altoids BJ?"
"BJ?"
"Blow..."
"Mara! How on earth... never mind, I don't think I want to know."
Mara started laughing. "Well you've kissed me after I've had a mouthful of cinnamon Altoids in my mouth. How did it feel?"
"Warm, I guess, but what I like is how cinnamon spicy you taste. Anytime I smell cinnamon, I think about kissing you."
"Aw, well yes, the sensation is heat and think of the sensation of winter fresh or peppermint."
"Cool."
"Exactly. So, do I really need to connect the rest of the dots?"
A sexy smile spread across Sam's face. "Really?"
"Oh Sammy, we are going to have some fun tonight." Mara said with her own sexy grin. She walked over to her purse, pulled out the very familiar red and gold tin and popped about five cinnamon Altoids in to her mouth and tossed two in to Sam's.
"Does it really...." Donna asked with a big grin.
"You sound like Sam." Mara laughed. "It does, my purse is at your foot. Take a cinnamon Altoid and suck on it for a few minutes then blow on your hand, it will feel warmer."
Ainsley got up and came back a minute later with a tin of wintergreen Altoids. Once both tins of candy had made their way around the room and Mara had made everyone another drink, CJ brought the conversation back to her question.
"I still want more details."
"CJ was it not you, who proclaimed in the Oval Office no less, that you were great in bed? I think you know how to give a blow job!
"I do but weren't you in pain?"
"Yes, but I told Sam that there was a fine line between pleasure and pain and that any pain I felt would be worth the pleasure I'd give him. Let's just say that I arched my back once and didn't do it again 'cause it hurt like hell. End of story."
"Now why would Sam kill you for that, it wasn't even tease worthy info?"Margaret asked.
"Sam's a freak. What can I say? I think he finally just got the message that I refuse to have sex with him in his office."
"No couch, makes sense to me." Donna replied.
"Exactly and those people who have couches would kill us if they ever caught us having sex on their couches."
"Damn straight I would." CJ said quickly.
"On the other hand, my office couch was picked out with couch sex in mind."
"Yes, we all know why Sam enjoys having lunch with you so much Mara." Ginger snickered.
"What about sex and food?" Ainsley asked.
"Which do I prefer?" Mara asked playing dumb.
"No, do you ever combine the two?"
"Well I'm sure Tom must, to keep you interested." Mara teased. "Yes, some are more successful than others. I don't like how pudding feels but I don't flinch when ice cream hits my stomach. Honey is too damn gooey but whip cream is always good. I love those spray cans. It bugs me when Sam just uses me instead of a plate. My stomach was not made for easy access to his cheese and crackers."
"No, but apparently I'm good for dips." Ginger muttered sarcastically.
"Godiva chocolates warmed by body heat are quite tasty." Donna added ignoring Ginger.
"Ah but Leondias chocolates are even better. French Mint bars melt quickly too." Mara supplied.
"In college, a guy once poured Brandy all over me and lapped it up. It was a mess but I didn't care while he was satisfying me. I only cursed him out much later when he split and left me to clean up." CJ said.
"Brandy? Champagne I can see but Brandy? Nope wouldn't have worked for me."
"Mara, you'd take champagne anyway you can get it."
"Only if it's the good stuff." Mara laughed.
Ginger started laughing to herself which drew Mara and Bonnie's attention.
"What's so funny Ginge?" Bonnie asked.
"I just remembered the stupid dream I had the other night."
"Spill it." Mara replied quickly.
"It involves you Mara." Ginger said with a smirk.
"Spill it for sure!" CJ exclaimed.
"Well it was a future dream. Sam was President and I was his Executive Secretary, sitting at Mrs. Lan...Debbie's desk. Donna and Josh came out after a meeting, just as Mara came in to the outer office. She didn't ask if Sam was free she just walked in and closed the door. I was on my way to lunch when all of a sudden the panic speaker system is triggered. I can hear every word in the Oval as can the Secret Service, who are rushing to the Oval. I can't believe my ears 'cause what's being broadcast is the two of you having sex. The agents realize and knock loudly and ask you to step outside. Sam opens the door and you try to get out of view but I see a quick glimpse of you holding your top over your bare chest. You say shit and Sam hears it in the outer office and realizes your nooner is being broadcast...."
"Holy Crap! I'm mortified just thinking about it."
"Yeah, I'm blushing for you in the dream and the kicker is Sam looks sheepish for about two seconds before his Cheshire Cat grin spreads all across his face. He says "I like having sex with my wife. So sue me. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to flick that damn switch off and go back to where I was, before I was so rudely interrupted." With that Sam closes the office door, I hear him chuckling and assuring you that he'll settle for couch sex from now on, never mind his desk and the sound goes off. I woke up laughing."
Mara was still mortified but she smiled softly at Ginger for knowing Sam would be President one day too. She leaned over and gave her hand a quick squeeze of affection. "I don't think I'm ever setting foot in the Oval again, just to be on the safe side." Mara stated with a grin.
"I want to know what the heck you ate before bedtime to have that dream."Ainsley asked.
"It always comes back to food for you Ainsley. You sure you don't have a tape worm?" CJ teased.
"So Ginger when is Ryan sexiest to you?" Donna asked.
"I'll answer that if Mara, Bonnie and you do too."
"Well I guess Ryan is sexiest when he is doing the job I pay him for." Mar retorted.
"You're such a smart ass, but I'll answer anyway. I think my husband is the sexiest when he comes home and gives me a tender kiss and leaves a soft kiss on my belly. He goes into this silly dialogue with my belly and ends it with "Now Sam you don't give your Momma any trouble or you'll hear about it for the rest of your life."
Mara wiped a lone tear off her cheek and smiled at Ginger, "Yeah I can see how that makes you melt."
"When Josh's ego gets way out of control, I know he is going to be smacked down to size and his wounded pride look just makes me want to jump him every time."
"Matthew shuts the football game off when I enter the room on Sundays. I never thought a man was capable of doing that so there's my answer." Bonnie added.
"It's never changed for me, Sam is in writer's mode, his hair disheveled from running his hands through it, his glasses have slipped half way down his nose, his sleeves are pushed back and he's unaware I'm watching. That's when Sam is the sexiest to me."
"How's life with Jenna going? Carol asked.
"Now that I've put her in her place it's going much better. She's stopped hogging Sam all the time and I love you all for competing for her Friday nights. She actually looks forward to getting out of the house and I love having my husband to myself."
"Yes, playing well with the other children was never your strong suit." CJ muttered.
"So how did your date with Ken go?" Mara asked CJ.
"Pretty good, we are having brunch on Sunday. Where have you been hiding all these Canadian guys? Do you have them locked up and bring them out for a fix up?"
"You mean, I haven't told you about my stable of Canadian studs?" Mara chuckled.
"If wishing made it so." Carol commented.
"You know Pierre in Passport Control might float your boat Carol. I'll fix you up."
"I'll date anyone once." Carol replied seriously while the others chuckled.
"Ginger, does your Doc still think your due date is accurate?"
"Yeah Mara, but I'm hoping I'll be a bit early or you and Sam will miss the birth."
"Why would they...oh Anguilla." Margaret answered her own question.
"Well I haven't mentioned it to Sam yet, but I was thinking of postponing our trip until after Sam can meet Samantha. I hope he's not driving you nuts at work."
"Are you kidding? I love being pampered and I think it's so sweet when Sam starts talking to the baby and telling her all the things he's going to teach her."
"You'll have to take care of the punctuation part yourself." Bonnie teased.
"I still can't believe you agreed to that Vanity Fair interview." CJ muttered incredulously. "Why ask for my opinion, if you are just going to do what ever the hell you want to anyway?"
"I got several opinions, took them in to consideration and made up my own mind." Mara replied testily.
"Mara, I know you, this is going to get very personal and you aren't going to be able to spin it. I know you have one of the sharpest political minds in the world, but this bears repeating: It was dumb to agree, so you better be damn careful about what you say and how you say it."
"Couldn't you have requested another reporter?" Donna asked.
"Sure, then the article would have been about how I'm too insecure to deal with my husband's former fiancée. If I had said no outright, they'd be speculating on what it is I'm trying to hide. It was a no win situation and the best thing I could do was go into it with my eyes open. I've read some of Lisa's pieces, she's not bad....nowhere near Sam's caliber, but she seems to have a degree of impartiality. I set the date knowing Sam wouldn't be in town for most of the week and Jenna will be in Montreal. I've never been afraid of the press and as long as they keep Jenna out of everything they'll live."
"I guess our lunch next week is canceled then." Ainsley stated.
"Please, I still have to eat, unless you are uncomfortable with it Ains."
"I love food and I'm sort of curious to meet the woman Sam almost married."
I'm kind of curious myself. Sam's told me more about Laurie than Lisa. What I've managed to get out of him about Lisa makes me wonder why on earth he asked someone he didn't really love to marry him."
"He was going through the motions; thank God Josh came along and rescued him."
"Actually Donna, the truth is that Sam was already thinking about making a change, Josh merely provided him with the perfect opportunity. Let's analyze this. Do you really think that Sam would have made such a radical, life altering decision just on Josh's bad poker face alone?"
"I never really thought about it, but Sam never makes rash decisions."
"Stupid decisions maybe." Ginger chuckled, "Sam tends to overanalyze things. Has he ever heard from Laurie?"
"A few times, but he hadn't heard from her in about 2 years. I had Leslie track her down for me. I told her Sam and I were wondering what she was up to and that we hoped she was doing well. She was working for a small law firm in Atlanta but was hoping to secure a position in a larger firm in Seattle. We talked for about 20 minutes and I told her I'd be happy to send her a letter of recommendation but she declined. She was afraid it would lead back to Sam and since that's finally forgotten; she didn't want it to resurface. I had Sam call her from my office a few weeks ago. She got the job and starts May 1st."
"Good for her, y'all ready for dessert?"
"Raspberry butter cream from Cake Love? Bring it on!" Ginger exclaimed.
Lisa was a few minutes late arriving at the Canadian Embassy and wasn't in a very good mood, since she wanted to create a good impression. She had reluctantly accepted the assignment and was slightly surprised that Mara agreed to be interviewed. She read everything about her that had been printed. She made sure she had done excellent research since countless articles had pointed out, that she had no tolerance for fools or ill prepared people. She was escorted to the sixth floor elevator and followed the guard's directions to Leslie's desk. The desk was empty but she could see that Mara's office door was half open. She sat down on the closest chair to the door and after hearing Sam's voice, listened intently.
"No, she's not here yet. Leslie said traffic was a real bitch this morning."
"You mean Leslie was late? Wow, she must have been freaking out."
"Yeah, I sent her over to have some breakfast and asked her to bring me back a hot chocolate and Beaver Tail. The poor thing was so frazzled by road rage when she came bustling in."
"Our favourite rugrat just sent me an e-mail."
"Did she? What does Jenna have to say when she should be listening to her teacher?"
"That she's bored to tears and did this math lesson eons ago. She wants to get to Social Studies so she can do her presentation on the Governor General. She's using the pictures of Rideau Hall she took when you brought her to a reception a few years ago."
"That was when I first noticed she had a talent for photography. I hope you intend to finish your business as quickly as possible and get back home. I hate taking sleeping pills."
"I'll do my best. Go get drunk with Donna." Sam laughed.
"You want me to wake up with a hangover when you aren't around to bitch to? I thought you loved me." Mara teased.
Please, in all the years I've known you, I can count the number of times you've had a hangover on one hand."
"I'm not a Mary sissy pants like you." Mara chuckled.
"I shouldn't let you talk to Nancy so often."
"Like I need your permission to talk to Nancy, pretty boy!"
Sam decided to ignore Mara "Ginger wants you to know that if you feel so inclined, she'd really love a picnic lunch in my office today."
"I don't know if I can swing it with Lisa being here, but if I can't today I'll do it one day this week."
"They are boarding my flight, I've got to go. I love you, you big pain in the ass."
"I love you too, geek boy. Come home soon."
""I'll see what I can do. Say hi to Lisa for me."
"I will. I love you, Sam. Stay safe."
"I love you too, sweetie. Bye."
"Bye."
Mara switched the speaker phone off and thought she noticed someone pass by her door.
"Leslie did you inhale that coffee?" Mara yelled out.
Lisa waited a few seconds then rose and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"Hello Ambassador Whitford, I'm Lisa Sherborne and I'm sorry for being late."
"Hi Lisa, call me Mara. Don't worry about it. I hear traffic was more hellish than normal this morning. Have a seat."
"Thank you."
"Would you care for a drink?"
"No, I'm fine, thanks."
"You mean to tell me you aren't a caffeine addicted fiend?"
Lisa couldn't help smiling. "I prefer to delude myself into believing I'm not an addict."
Mara grinned, "Sam claims you make a mean cup of coffee. He says hello by the way."
"Right back at him, I understand you don't like coffee at all."
"The smell makes me queasy and I generally prefer any other type of drink. I have maybe 5 cups of coffee a year."
"How did you manage a career in politics without a coffee connection?"
"To tell the truth, I never was asked. I guess everyone assumed there was coffee in my mug when it was pulp free orange juice. I have to have my sugar and vitamin C jolt in the morning or I can't function."
"Thank you for agreeing to this interview. It wasn't my idea, but I admire you for accepting. I know why they assigned me to this story, but this is a profile on the Canadian Ambassador. I do not intend to turn it into a tabloid tell all. Frankly, the less I have to write about Sam the better."
"Lisa, I accepted because it was a no win situation. I had your last ten interviews pulled and didn't think you'd be out to do a hatchet job on me. Sam and I both take great pains to keep our private life private. Here's a copy of the interview Danny did with us about our wedding and why in an ideal world, we hoped no one would ever find out we were married. You can try, but you aren't going to get more personal details than that."
"I'm familiar with no comment. Can I start with a question I'm not sure you'd want to answer?"
"Why don't we get the tough ones over with first?"
"With the recent death of your cousin and her husband, you've become your 12 year old goddaughter's legal guardian. How has instant parenthood affected you personally and professionally?"
"I think the personally is fairly obvious, Sue was my favourite cousin and I adored Steve. I'm still coming to terms with my own grief. My greatest concern has been and will continue to be Jenna's welfare. It's very hard to parent a child today, but imagine trying to parent when you aren't a child's natural parent. Sam and I are doing the best we can and praying that we don't scar Jenna for life."
"And professionally?"
"Well you might have noticed the desk up against my wall outside. That's where Jenna does most of her school work via the Internet and video conferences with her classroom back in Montreal. She's been given the power to interrupt any meeting if she needs to talk to me. The Prime Minister gets put on hold if Jenna needs me. I've become even more zealous about getting out of here on time. Planning business trips becomes more of a logistical nightmare. Sam and I can't both be off somewhere at the same time, unless Jenna is going to be in Montreal. I love my job, but Jenna is a much higher priority for me."
"How is she handling this?"
"About as well as can be expected, she has her good days and her bad days. She is a remarkable young woman who will put us all to shame one day. She relates to adults more than kids her own age. I was like that too, and I don't think that is necessarily a good thing."
"You had an unhappy childhood?"
"It wasn't horrible but it certainly was not ideal. I don't know what I would have done without my Grandma's love and attention. I don't think a grade nine student should be playing mother to her younger sister but I didn't have a choice. The prospect of letting Dani fend for herself at age nine wasn't an option to me. I wonder what world my Dad was living in to think that he could move to Toronto for his career, spend sixty hours a week at work and leave a nine and fourteen year old home alone. I love my Dad but he'll never win a Father of the Year award because he was never around."
"Wow, is that why you are so driven to succeed?"
"I wouldn't say I'm driven to succeed. Whatever I do, I try to do to the best of my abilities because there is no sense in doing things half assed. Can we go off the record?"
"Sure."
"Lisa, my mother was a narcissistic bitch who only paid attention to her children to dress us up like little Barbie dolls to show off to her friends. My Dad loved us, but was never around enough. He thought spending a few hours with us once a week was being a parent. My childhood affected me personally, but it had nothing to do with shaping my professional life. My Grandma gave me so much love that I can never claim to have had a horrible upbringing. The damages I suffered didn't prevent me from becoming the Director General of the Canadian government for 12 years. They didn't prevent me from being named the Canadian Ambassador to the United States of America. Incidentally, the damage isn't there anymore because Sam's love and determination erased it all. Sam showed and taught me that I was worthy and deserving of love and that it was OK to return his love because he'd never leave me. Don't talk about my childhood and you can use those last 2 sentences if you want to."
"Mara, what would you say to a Jeckyl and Hyde type profile? The first half on the political mover and shaker who defies all conventions, but arguably is the most successful Ambassador in modern times. A woman whose mere name strikes fear in the heart of men. The second part will be about the big kid who has bubbles and a candy store in her office. Whose love for her husband is evident the second his name is mentioned. A woman who is determined to give her goddaughter the best childhood humanly possible. You know, CJ threatened me with reporter death if I hurt you. Most impressively, the woman who would toss it all for her husband and goddaughter without a second thought. Let's go outside the box, Mara."
Mara smiled, "I always tell new employees that they have to be willing to think outside the box. I guess I should be willing to go there myself."
Mara found Lisa easy to talk to and was confident that she wouldn't regret the final published article. Sam called her at nine Thursday night to tell her he was on his way to catch the last flight out of Philadelphia for the evening. Mara passed the information on to Ginger so she wouldn't be surprised to see him in the morning. Ginger was watching ER with Ryan when a breaking news banner about a plane crash came across the bottom of the screen. Ginger's jaw dropped as her glass of apple juice shattered on the floor.
"Baby, what's wrong?"
"US Air 319 is the last flight from Philly to DCA. I know because I've booked it for Toby and Sam countless times."
"Wow. Thank God neither of them is on it."
Ginger started shaking and crying at the same time. Ryan pulled her into his arms. "Abbey, we've got to call Abbey. Mara can't be alone when she finds out."
"Mara? Oh God...Sam was on the flight?"
"Yyyes...that's what Mara called to tell me. He was on his way to catch the last flight out."
"Maybe he didn't make it on the flight, Baby. Try his cell phone."
Ginger started dialing the number but her hands were shaking too much. Ryan cycled through the directory until he found the number and hit send. A recorded message came back saying that the caller was out of the service area. Ryan called directory assistance for a phone number for the Philadelphia Airport and asked for Sam to be paged. There was no response. Ryan tired the cell phone one more time before he started to worry too.
"Ginger, I think you better call the First Lady."
Ginger managed to hold it together long enough to be connected to Abbey but lost it when Abbey said hello.
"Dr. Bartlet, it's Ryan Gauthier..."
"Ryan, is something wrong with Ginger or the baby?"
"No Ma'am. We were just watching TV and found out that there has been a plane crash. Ginger is fairly certain that Sam was on the flight."
"Dear God, no."