"Sam and Mara if you don't want to know the sex of your baby it's time to close your eyes." Dr. Phelps announced as she finished up her ultra sound.
Mara looked down at her hands and Sam turned around to face the door. Even though they had safely made it to seven months pregnant Mara was still prepared for the worst. As the months wore on, Sam's enthusiasm started to grate on her nerves and she'd spent the entire drive to the doctors office yelling at him. Once Dr. Phelps gave them the all clear he turned around and kissed his wife's neck. It amazed him that Mara was a full seven months pregnant and barely looked like she was four months pregnant. Unless you caught her in profile you'd never guess she was pregnant at all. Mara slid off the exam table and stepped on to the scale hoping she'd gained some weight since her visit three weeks earlier.
"Geez Mara, you are certainly porking out this month. You've gained 2.4 pounds." Dr. Phelps teased.
"So I've gained 14.8 pounds so far."
"Yes which isn't exactly ideal. You're still eating properly?"
"I'm eating properly plus I've been pigging out on crap lately. I'm averaging 4 Beavertails, 4 French Mint bars and a pint of ice cream a day. I ate 3 pints of blueberries last night."
"She's eating dairy like it's going out of style. We are going through four bricks of cheddar cheese a week."
"Dairy is good but I want you to eat more protein. I want two scrambled eggs a day and four extra ounces of red meat or chicken. The peak of weight gain is usually week 33 Mara. That's two weeks away. If you can give me 4 extra pounds by then I won't be quite so worried."
"Well at least I'm not losing weight anymore!"
"That's true, you were freaking the hell out of me."
"You did a good job remaining calm then."
"Of all my patients Mara, you are the one I try the hardest not to spook. Other than the low weight gain, you are having a near textbook perfect pregnancy."
"She's not going to believe the baby is fine until it's born." Sam sighed wishing Mara would allow herself to be a tiny bit excited.
She didn't want to think about baby names. She refused to decorate a baby's room. She wouldn't even have a discussion about God parents. It was as if the only realm a baby existed in Mara's mind was during visits to Dr. Phelps. It was driving Sam nuts and he didn't think he should have to gush to Ainsley, Ginger or CJ. He wanted to share the joy and anticipation with his wife but she refused to let him.
"You can put your shoes back on Mara. I'll see you in two weeks. Gail's already made the appointment. Go ahead Sam, say it." She laughed.
"That's one smart gold fish CJ has. She even takes appointments."
Mara rolled her eyes, she was tired of Sam's little joke the first time she heard it, three years ago.
She was looking forward to her trip to Ottawa in the morning. She's have four days of silence and no one to grate on her nerves. Dani was currently in Anguilla so she'd have her house to herself. Even Cheryl would be gone for the first two days of her visit.
Mara felt like she could finally relax when Sam and Jenna were left on the other side of the plane door at Andrews. She slept the entire way to Ottawa and kicked back and read for two hours when she reached her house. She had a two o'clock meeting with the Prime Minister and was looking forward to being back in her old stomping grounds.
A day later Sam hung up the phone and poked his head into Jenna's room.
"You almost done your school work?"
"I've been done for an hour. I'm downloading music."
"Toby wants to know if you want to go to a Yankees game tonight?"
"Really? I'd love to."
"I thought you'd say that. The jet is waiting for us, grab a jacket and your purse and let's go."
Jenna grabbed her backpack and tossed a few essentials inside. She hadn't seen Toby in nearly two months and she was looking forward to seeing him. She hoped that he'd let her edit the latest chapters of his book. He had left her in the opening months of the first Bartlet for America campaign just before Leo would fire everyone except Toby and rebuilt the team.
Mandy convinced them to stay overnight so Jenna curled up with a cup of coffee and started editing while Sam and Toby watched CNN. The next morning Jenna convinced Sam she was done all her school work for the week and talked him into taking her to see the Cloisters instead.
Sam took her to Tavern on the Green for dinner and they joined Toby and Mandy for dessert back at their condo.
Jenna had convinced Sam to go up to the Bay house for the weekend. He had a meeting at two at Georgetown and Jenna met him. They had an early dinner at Sal's and Jenna coaxed Sam across the street for a large twist ice cream. Jenna sat down in a swing in the park and started pushing herself once her cone was done. Sam had just finished telling her she was swinging too high when she lost her grip and caught her left arm on the chain as she fell. Sam heard a crack and a thud as he hopped off his swing and got down on the ground to attend to her.
"Fuck it hurts." Jenna yelled, in too much pain to care about her language.
"What hurts sweetie?" Sam asked as he noticed a trail of blood on the sand.
"My arm.."
"Don't touch it Jenna let me look." Sam followed the trail of blood and noticed it source was about two inched above her left wrist. He could see a jagged piece of bone sticking out. He knew he couldn't just press down to stop the blood. He whipped his shirt off and tore it into three strips. He turned the first one into a circle around the protruding bone and pressed down. When it seemed like he'd slowed the bleeding down, he asked their driver, who had left the car to see if they needed help to continue applying pressure. He wrapped one piece of shirt on each side to help keep pressure on and helped Jenna to her feet. Sam got into the car first so he could help stabilize Jenna's arm. As soon as he walked into the emergency ward at GW he was recognized and Jenna was taken right in to triage.
Half an hour later a doctor walked out and greeted Sam. "Mr. Seaborn, I'm doctor Kaye. Your daughter has suffered a distal radius open fracture. To eliminate any chance of serious infection and to repair it properly we are going to have to do emergency surgery. She'll most likely need a small plate and pin insertion. The surgery should take about two hours and carries the normal risks of any surgery. I'll need you to sign a release."
"Have you given her any thing for the pain?"
"I'm afraid not. As soon as I saw the injury I knew we'd be heading to surgery and I did want anything to complicate anesthesia. She's chewing her way through a towel at the moment."
"I want to see her. Bring whatever I need to sign and lets get her out of pain as soon as possible."
Sam followed the doctor and sat down beside Jenna.
"Sweetie you have to go right into surgery. I don't know if it will help any but those breathing..."
"They don't work! I hee hee hee'd and ha ha ha'd and nothing. I felt like I should be asking for a epideral. The pain Sam..."
"I know darling but as soon as I sign a damn piece of paper they can get you into an OR and put you under."
A nurse handed Sam a clipboard and he scanned it quickly before scrawling his signature on in.
"Say your good- byes." Doctor Kaye stated moments later.
"Sweetie, I'll be right here waiting for you. You'll be fine. I love you."
"I love you too Sam. Just in case tell Mar I love her too."
"You can tell her yourself." Sam responded as he leaned over to give her a couple of kisses.
When Jenna was wheeled out of sight Sam found his hands shaking uncontrollably. A nurse came along a few minutes later and held his wrists.
"She's young and strong and Dr. Kaye is one of the best ortho's on staff. Take a few deep breaths and let it out slowly."
Sam followed her instructions for a few minutes until she released his wrists. She brought him to a lounge outside of surgery and had him drink a glass of water. She left him a few minutes later when his colour looked better. He spotted the phone and dialed Mara's cell phone, only to get her message box. He called Leslie and asked her to get a hold of his wife. Leslie left him on hold while she tried several numbers.
Mara was munching on an order of tzatziki with an old friend who was now a Member of parliament when his cell phone rang.
"Stephanie?"
"Yes she's with me now. OK I'll tell her." He hung up the phone. "Mara call your assistant immediately at work. You need my phone?"
"No I've got mine. I wonder what the hell is going on?" She asked as she fished her cell phone out of her purse.
She noticed she had a message but called Leslie first. "What's up? I trying to eat an early dinner."
"Sam needs you, let me put you on conference. Go ahead Sam, I've got her."
"Sam? What the hell?"
"I'm at GW..."
"What in God's name did you do to yourself this time!"
"It's Jenna, she..."
"Oh my God what's wrong!"
"If you'd let me finish I could tell you. She fell and broke her arm. The bone broke through her skin. She's in surgery right now having it fixed."
"I'm on my way home right now. I'll see you at GW." Mara hung up the phone and walked right out of the restaurant without even saying good bye.
Sam tried to get her on her cell but she was calling her pilot to let him know they had to leave immediately. Once she was on the plane she called Abbey who did her best to reassure her adoptive daughter that Jenna would be fine.
"Sweetie, do you want me?"
"Yes please, I can have the plane stop in Manchester to pick you up, hold on a second. James says we can land in about forty minutes."
"I'm on my way out the door then. In the mean time Mara, I want you to slowly drink a bottle of water and try you hardest to relax. This much stress isn't good for the baby. Keep telling yourself she'll be fine. I'll see you soon."
Mara tried to relax and decided to open a bag of chips to occupy her mouth. She struggled to get the bag open and got so mad that the bag finally burst open spilling all over the floor. She looked down at the mess at her feet and started crying out of frustration more than anything else. She didn't even bother to wipe the tear stains off her face when the plane landed. Abbey took one look at Mara's face and the ground and chuckled
"Was that your first bag of chips to be murdered?"
"Murder, it was an explosive suicide if ever I saw one!" Mara exclaimed smiling for the first time in two hours.
Abbey pulled her into her arms and held her until the plane had reached cruising altitude once more.
Hospital
Sam looked at the clock in the waiting room. Jenna had been in surgery for two hours and ten minutes. He heard his name being called and looked up to see Ginger.
"How is she?"
"She's still in surgery, they were putting in a plate and pins."
"Ouch, what the heck did she do?"
"She was trying to get airborne on a swing and she lost her grip and came crashing down on her arm. I heard the crack and then the sick thud of her body hitting the sand."
"Sam, that's horrible. Can I get you anything besides a hug?" Ginger asked as she threw her arms around her boss.
"Mara is on her way. She should be here really soon. How did you find out?"
"Leslie called me. She knew I'd want to be here for you since Mara wasn't."
"I hope the stress isn't going to hurt the baby."
"Mara is tough Sam. Now if you had to call her to say Jenna was dead, I'd be really worried. She knew it was just a broken bone. "
"That makes sense I guess."
"Have you eaten anything?"
"Yeah we had Sal's for dinner. We were going up to the Bay house when Jenna saw the ice cream truck and said she was buying. We ate our cones on the swings and then she decided to work the swing. I had just told her she was going too high when she fell off."
"Why are they doing surgery?"
"It was a compound fracture."
"Damn that must have hurt like hell."
"It did and they couldn't give her a pain killer because they knew she'd be on her way to the OR."
"Sam, you've got blood on your hand and near you temple. Why don't you go wash them off. You don't want to freak Mara out when she sees you."
"You're right. I'll be back in two minutes."
Back on the plane
"It never fails Abbey. I was as relaxed as I've been since Anguilla. All that tension in my shoulders was gone. I hardly recognized what it felt like to not be tense. Then wham, Sam calls and I'm back to the rock of Gibraltar. I didn't even say good bye to Pierre. I just ran out on him."
"I'm sure he understood Mara. You can call him in a few days and apologize if you really feel it's necessary."
Abbey made a phone call and sat back down beside Mara. "Sweetie, it was a distal radius open fracture. According to my contact they just started to close. She'll be out of surgery in twenty minutes tops. Her arm will be immobilized for a week in the hospital. Once they are sure there isn't going to be any infection, they'll put her in full arm cast for 5-7 weeks."
"We are beginning our descent into Andrews. Please fasten your seat belts. We should be on the tarmac in ten minutes."
Mara fastened her belt and sighed deeply. Abbey gave her an encouraging smile and held her hand.
Dr. Kaye came out to tell Sam that they had a little more repair work to do then they thought which required the insertion of a second small plate and pins. She was currently in recovery and they were going to move her to room 512 once she was awake. Dr. Kaye told Sam it would probably be an hour before she was in her room so Sam decided to wait for Mara in the surgical waiting room.
Abbey and Mara arrived twenty minutes later and headed straight up to the surgical floor. Mara walked right past the nurse on duty who gave chase.
"Ma'am, you can't just..."
Mara totally ignored her and pushed on the door to the waiting room. She smiled at Ginger and looked at Sam who had his head down. She couldn't resist the urge and smacked him upside the head.
"What the hell did you let her fall for!"
Sam stood up and turned around. "Like I could have stopped her! I told her she was swinging too high and wham she was on the ground!"
"What the hell is she still doing in surgery!"
"She's in recovery. I figured you'd come here first so I waited."
"Remind me to never leave you alone with the baby."
"Baby? What baby? I wasn't aware you knew we were having a baby!" Sam spat back as all his frustrations with his wife spilled out.
"Hey, hey neutral corners there folks. Do I have to separate the two of you?" Abbey admonished.
"What room is our daughter in?" Mara hissed.
"512, I'll go up with you." Ginger stated giving Abbey her what the hell look.
"Feel better now Sam? That was one of your brighter ideas, pissing off your wife when she's seven months pregnant. I can see how that will really help the situation."
"Oh come on Abbey, you heard what she said!"
"Sam, your wife has an excuse for her hormonal stupidity. What's yours?"
"Are you coming up to the room?" Sam asked ignoring her.
"Yes, I'd watch my attitude if I were you Sam. Unless you want to spend the next month on Josh's couch."
Mara gave Sam an icy glare when he walked in the door. Jenna had just been wheeled in and she was sitting at the top right side of the bed.
"Mar, I'm going to call Jed and let him know Jenna is out of surgery. I'm going to get you something to eat."
"No chips!" Mara said with a smile then glared at Sam again.
"So how is my little Samantha doing?" Mara asked Ginger.
"Oh great, her new word of the week is down. If something doesn't meet with her approval she orders it down."
"Is she still calling you mammy?"
"Yeah, I think it's so cute."
"Me too."
"Her face still lights up when she sees Jenna. She calls her nenna now."
"She's getting there. Soon she'll be telling you that she doesn't want to eat that baby food crap."
Jenna chuckled softly and then coughed. "Mar?"
"I'm here baby. How are you feeling?"
"Like I just got run over by a Mack truck."
"I bet. You scared the hell out of me young lady!"
"I know, I'm sorry. It was a stupid thing to do."
"You won't get an argument from me. Do you want anything?"
"A chocolate milk would be good."
Mara chuckled, "One water coming up."
"Where's Sam?"
"Right here sweetie." Sam replied as he moved to stand behind Mara.
"Ginger?"
"Yes Jenna?"
"Just checking, I thought I heard your voice. Do you have a Worthers?"
"Of course, do you want one?"
"Of course."
Abbey walked in to the room as Ginger popped the hard candy in to Jenna's mouth.
"Hello Humpty Dumpty. How are you feeling?"
"Like crap, I'm happy to see you though. So what did they do to me?"
"You've got two plates and several pins in your arm You are going to be a good amount of pain for quite sometime."
"The pain can't be as excruciating as when I broke it. I never want to feel pain that intense again."
"Then I suggest you think before you decide to be a daredevil, Miss Thing."
"Damn, I guess I won't be going to the zoo with you on Monday Ginger."
"No, you'll be in here for a week Jenna." Abbey added.
"A week? I'll go out of my mind. Can you bring me my computer in the morning?"
"I'll think about it. Need I remind you that you only have the use of one hand?"
"I'll deal. I hate hospitals."
"Me too Jenna. Don't worry, Sam will keep you company tonight."
"Oh will I?" Sam asked giving Jenna a smirk.
"Yes. It's your turn to discover how comfortable this chair is to sleep in. By my count you owe me 8 nights." Mara replied with her I dare you to say something about it look.
"She's got you there Sam. Mar would you go get me Eeyore?"
"Of course my love. I'll go get Abbey settled and bring you back the essentials."
"Jenna, I better get back to Samantha. I'll stop by and visit you tomorrow afternoon."
"Thanks for coming Ginger."
Ginger leaned over and left a soft kiss in the middle of her forehead. "Sweet dreams."
Abbey stayed and talked with Jenna for twenty more minutes until Mara was ready to leave the room. Mara gave Jenna several kisses and promised she'd be right back. Jenna drifted off to sleep and Sam was left with nothing to do except stare at the bleak walls.
Mara got Abbey settled in Jenna's room and packed up a few things she figured Jenna would want. She had completely forgotten about Eeyore until Abbey tossed him at her.
"Somedays I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached. Speaking of heads, I wanted to rip Sam's off!"
"I know, I'm proud of the way you handled yourself. I told him he better watch it or he'd spend the next month on Josh's couch."
"I think that's the most mean spirited thing Sam has ever said to me."
"It was harsh for Sam. He's coming from a place of great frustration though Mara."
"Well the frustration is his own freaking fault. He bottles this crap up inside. He asks me if I want to set up a nursery and I say no. He asks if I want to create a lists of names and I say no. He drops it and I forget about it. I figure it can't be that important to him, if he's not willing to fight for it. I told him from the very beginning that I couldn't believe this time would be any different until I held our breathing baby in my hands. Josh gets it. Why the hell can't Sam see it? He's frustrated? Every time he says the word baby I feel like a total failure. He drops it so fast, it's like a drive by to my heart."
"I know this is hard on you Mara but part of it is your own fault. I understand why you have to deal with this pregnancy the way you do but you've only made it harder on yourself. CJ was saying that sometimes she feels like it's her baby because Sam spends so much time talking to her about it."
"Is my husband scared of me Abbey? It seems like it. Why can't he come to me when I'm in a good mood and say 'Look this is really important to me and I'd like to talk about the baby. Pick one of these topics you are most comfortable with ' Does he think I'd tell him to fuck off? I know my hormones have been out of whack but I really don't think I've been acting like an insensitive monster."
"Sweetie, you need to have this conversation with your husband."
"I still want to rip his head off. Not a good idea."
"Why don't you get over there and make Jenna happy, come back and get some sleep. In the morning you can write Sam a note. Leave it on your bed and send him over for some sleep. Tell him you're too mad to speak and you'll come to him when you are ready."
"I guess. I better go before Jenna is asleep. Don't wait up but I will have breakfast with you in the morning. I need to have at least 3 eggs for every breakfast."
"Oh so you expect me to cook for you? What do you think I'm your Mother or something?" Abbey teased.
"You're the Mom I love with all my heart."
Abbey smiled softly at her adopted daughter. "Get, before I change my mind. Give Jenna a kiss for me."
"Will do. Thanks Abbey."
"Anytime my love."
Mara made it back to the to the hospital just as Jenna was waking up from her nap. She ignored Sam except to ask for her seat back.
"So what did you bring me?" Jenna asked.
"I brought Eeyore, your discman, your robe, the book that was on your night table and a clove of garlic to ward off the blood sucking technicians that are going to be after you."
Jenna started laughing. "You bring me any food?"
"No but I set you up for the morning."
Mara had asked the night nurse if she'd mind accepting a delivery from McDonald's for Jenna's breakfast. She was still mad at Sam so he got nothing. The nurse told Mara that if she wanted to bring some of Jenna's favourite drinks in, they'd keep them in the staff fridge in the lounge beside the desk.
"Well I won't miss Capitol Beat tomorrow. Maybe I'll call in and force Josh to really debate."
Mara smiled, "Yeah you can give Josh a hard time and tell him you're doing it with one hand behind your back."
Jenna laughed then yawned so Mara gave her a kiss and told her to get some sleep. She walked out without saying a word to her husband.
"Sam what imaginary injustice did you commit that has Mar so pissed at you?" Jenna asked moments later.
"I actually said something rather nasty. The only reason I'm still living was that Mara had to see with her own eyes that you were fine."
"Sam, I don't think I need to tell you that raising her stress level is not a good thing."
"I know but the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them."
"Well if you continue to bottle everything up you are going to keep doing stupid things like that. What's the definition of stupidity: doing the same thing and expecting a different result?"
"Go to sleep Dr. Freud."
Sam woke up with a very stiff back the next morning at seven when the doctor's did their rounds. Shortly after a nurse came in with a bag from McDonalds. Jenna unpacked it and tried not to smile when there was nothing for Sam. Jenna knew her Aunt was freezing him out as punishment.
"You can have one of my two hash browns Sam."
"No, I'm going to go get us some coffee and I'll pick something up."
Mara and Abbey arrived a little after ten stopping to pick up some chocolate milk and Dr. Pepper for Jenna as well as sandwiches for lunch. Mara had taken Abbey's advice and left a note sitting on their bed.
Sam was all set to flop down on the bed when he noticed a piece of paper sitting there.
Samuel Norman Seaborn,
I am so mad at you I could spit! Of all the hurtful, insensitive...you little fucker!
You know how hard this pregnancy has been on me. I warned you from day one that I couldn't think about it or hope for it. You said You had faith enough for both of us. How dare you get all resentful and frustrated at me! Do you even have a clue how much it hurts every time you ask me something about the baby and then just drop it. For fucks sake Sam, it's not my fault that you bottle everything up inside. Grow a damn spine and ask to talk to me instead doing these lame ass hit- and- runs. I'm beyond furious with you right now. Pack a bag and ask Josh to give you the couch because I sure as hell don't want you in my bed or my house right now. I'll let you know when I feel like hearing an apology from you.
He tossed the paper on the bedside table and fell asleep. He was too tired to care. When he woke up four hours later he looked at it again and called Josh.
"Hey, I'm on air in five. What's up?"
"I need a place to live for a week or so."
"Oh, man what the hell did you do this time?"
"If I tell you and Donna finds out we are both in trouble. If I don't' tell you, you can say that you know nothing and are innocent."
"Donna will kick my ass either way. So what did you do?"
Mara made a smart ass comment about not leaving me alone with our baby and I took it the wrong way. I blasted her back by saying 'Baby? What baby? I didn't know if you knew that we were having a baby!"
"Sam! I might kick your ass before Donna does. Even I wouldn't say something that stupid and that's saying a lot."
"I got one hell of a poison pen letter from her telling me that she didn't want me in her bed or her house and she'd inform me when she was ready to hear an apology."
"Why did Mara even mention the baby?"
"Jenna fell and gave herself a compound fracture of the left arm while she was under my watch."
"Ouch Poor Jenna."
"She'll be at GW for a week. She was planning on watching you today so..."
"I'll know who I'm dealing with when I hear Jenna from Georgetown on line 2."
"Yeah. So can I meet you at the studio when the show is over?"
"Yes but consider yourself lucky that you've been my friend longer than Mara."
"Abbey gave me shit, Jenna gave me shit so I'm getting use to it."
"Bring some beer with you. I've got to go."
The tease for Capitol Beat came up and Josh gave the viewers his usual smirk.
"I'm Josh Lyman, Welcome to Capitol Beat. Today on the show we are going to be discussing why many countries consider us "Ugly Americans." My guests today are the lovely Congresswoman Andrea Wyatt and Congressman Matt Skinner. I'd like to take a moment to wish a very special lady a speedy recovery. Jenna I hope you are feeling better really soon..."
"Our Jenna?" Andi asked forgetting about being on TV for the moment.
"Yes. Jenna had an unfortunate incident involving a swing and the ground. The ground won and left Jenna with a compound fracture in her arm."
"The poor thing. Jenna sweetie I hope they are giving you good drugs for the pain. I'll come see you after the show and sign your cast."
"I hope you are feeling better really soon Jenna. Casts in the summer aren't fun."
Jenna looked at Abbey and Mara before grinning. "That is so cool! Who told Josh?"
"I assume Sam did when he asked about renting space on his couch."
"So how long is Sam in the dog house this time?" Jenna asked with a grin.
"He is banished for at least a week. I may consider allowing him in to the dog house, for your sake, once you are back home."
"He admitted he said something pretty nasty without thinking. He said I was the only reason he was still alive."
"Truer words have never been spoken. I still want to rip his intestines out with a plastic fork."
"So I take it I'll be seeing you in shifts, because rage filled silence is a real downer to a sick person."
"Yes. Would you like some Dr. Pepper?"
"Sure when don't I want some DP?" "Wait, dial the show I have an answer for Josh."
Mara picked up the phone and dialed the number. Jenna didn't' recognize the voice on the phone and told the new intern who she was and that she wanted to talk to her Uncle Josh and thank him for his get well wishes. The intern selected Jenna as one of the callers and put a card in front of Josh. Josh read Jenna wants to thank you and he almost laughed. He knew there was no way he was going to get thanked on air. Jenna had quickly become one of the viewers favourite callers because she argued so fiercely with Josh and often got the better of him. Josh had wanted to bring her on the show for months but Mara and Sam wouldn't let her because they feared she'd be offered her own political talk show.
"Jenna from Georgetown you're on the air."
"Hi Andi , Hi Matt. Thanks for the well wishes. Josh you want to know why so many people can't stand the United States? I'll tell you, it's because you all have big fat heads from your big fat egos and live in your own little isolated world. You all think America is the greatest Country on earth. You never stop to consider that the Untied Nations picks countries like Canada and Sweden as the best place to live. You think they are just doing it for laughs?. The United Nations looks at quality of life, quality of education, of health care, the crime rate, the economy, race relations and a whole host of other criteria and the US just doesn't make the grade. Yet year after year you bury your heads in the sand and keep muttering USA all the way, We're number one!
How can a country with a lack luster literacy rate, no universal health care and an insane amount of gun deaths demean third world nations and yet ignore what's in your own backyard? You think the good old US of A makes the world go round, therefore you don't bother to learn a thing about the rest of the world. Any fifth grade Canadian child could tell you about the types of government in ¾ of the world. We study every country and are taught to think globally and act locally. At dinner last night, a high school kid asked me where Canada was. I almost wanted to give him credit for knowing it was another country. So many people hate Americans because as a whole it seems all you care about is ME and never consider WE. Until this changes, Americans will continue to wear little Canadian flags on their back packs in their misguided notion that they will get better treatment from the world as Canadians. Problem is Canadians don't need to wear little flags. America is flash with little substance yet it treats countries with substance like trash. You once told me that no one wants to sit on the Senate Foreign Affairs committee because there was no money in it from lobbyists to build up the campaign coffers. So there is another reason right there: greed. I hate to break it to you Uncle Josh but Americans are the only ones misguided enough to think the US is the greatest nation on earth."
There was silence in the studio as Josh reset his jaw. Andi was beaming with pride and responded first.
"Jenna, you spoke in wide sweeping generalized terms but you managed to hit the nail with the hammer. The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and the Congressional Foreign Relations Committees do try very hard to think globally but you're right we don't get much respect in or outside of the government. When we try to get increased aid to help the starving children in Africa someone will always say well there are starving children here too. We should take care of our own and never mind with them. While these people have a point, they have no knowledge of the outside world and can't even comprehend the degrees of abject poverty a child in Somalia faces compared to an American child. "
"So we are greedy misguided, ego maniacs with little substance and isolationist tendencies?" Josh asked.
"Pretty much ya." Jenna answered knowing Josh could see the grin on her face.
"I wonder Josh, if a fourteen year old can tell us that, why can't we see the forest through the trees?" Matt asked.
"Because you're too busy cutting down the trees to make a quick profit and whining about Canadian Softwood lumber cutting in to your all mighty profits." Jenna retorted..
Matt, Andi and Josh all chuckled at that one and Josh cut to commercial.
"Rugrat, you're killing me here. Those parents of yours have to stop letting you read so damn much!"
"A mind is a terrible thing to waste Josh. I mean... imagine what you could have accomplished if you didn't waste your mind all those years ago " Jenna teased..
"Jenna what can I bring you?" Andi laughed.
"A pint or two of Cherry Garcia."
"Done. Do they have you on good drugs?"
"Yes I can't feel a thing."
"Jenna, If you don't mind I'll stop by this week to visit you."
"Sure Matt, you are the only Republican I like."
Matt chuckled, "What about Ainsley Hayes?"
"I love her despite her political short comings."
"Rugrat, I'm coming out of commercial. Don't call back and I'll see you later."
"Jenna, you have to remember that Mara is the Canadian Ambassador and what you say may reflect on her." Abbey stated.
"Jenna don't worry about it. I never want you to think you can't have an opinion. I just want you to think about who is listening before you say something. No one listens to Josh." Mara said with a grin knowing it wasn't true.
Sam met Josh at the station and listened to his rant about Jenna being too smart for her own good. Sam just let him continue talk because there was no questions about Mara. Sam figured he'd give Andi some time to visit and he called to talk to Jenna.
"Sam says he'll be here to have dinner with me. He's bringing me McDonalds. I take it you'll be leaving soon."
"Jenna if you want me to stay I won't have any problem ignoring Sam."
"No you and the baby shouldn't be around all these germs. Go home and try to relax. I'll be fine. I'll call you once I'm getting sleepy to say good night."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Now are you and Abbey going to help me eat that second pint of ice cream or not?"
"There are two brownies left, I'll split one with you Abbey." Mara said as she got up to get the ice cream from the nurses lounge.
They finished the ice cream and Abbey told Mara she'd meet her at the nurses desk after she went to the bathroom. She made sure Jenna had everything she needed and gave her a big kiss. She sat back down in the guest chair until Sam arrived.
"Jenna, last night I was thinking that we should do something really special every month. Just the two of us and maybe we can include Abbey if she happens to be around. What do you think of us going for High Tea the third Saturday of every month.?"
"Really?" Jenna asked with a huge grin.
"Yeah, the Ritz does one here, the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal. The Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, there are a few places in New York or Toronto and we could copter to the Inn at Little Washington if we are at the Bay."
"But what if I'm in Montreal the third Saturday?"
"Then I guess I'll just have to get on a plane and come to you."
"Oh wow, No that's silly. If I'm in Montreal we'll do it a week before. I was going to add or after but I'm in to instant gratification just like you."
Mara laughed and kissed her again. "Sounds like a plan to me."
"Can we get all dressed up like we were having tea with the Queen?"
"I think that is a great idea. We can have a proper civilized tea like ladies of the royal court."
"Then our pinkie's must be...hey Sam, Josh!"
"Don't think I'm not on to you Rugrat. I know you are trying to steal my job from me." Josh teased. He noticed the sudden chill in the air as Mara looked right through Sam.
"Josh if she was trying, she'd already have your job!" Mara replied as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll leave you to your gentlemen courtiers Lady Jenna. Don't forget to call me."
"I won't, thanks Mom, I love you."
"I love you too Jenna Benna." Mara leaned down to give her a kiss "Mom is going to go cry in the hall now."
Jenna smiled knowing that she would be crying in Abbey's arms but in joy for a change.
"I got you a cheese burger happy meal with two extra cheese burgers and did you just call Mar, Mom?" Sam asked.
"Yes I did. She told be that I could call her what ever I wanted to and she'd never care or mind. It just seemed right. She didn't feel like my Aunty Mara she felt like my Mom."
"Wow Bu is going to ruin Abbey's shirt instead of mine for a change." Josh commented.
"I'll be back in a second." Sam said wondering for a split second if he should just let Mara be.
She was leaning on Abbey her face buried in her shoulder. Abbey saw Sam first and smiled. He leaned over and left a soft kiss on her neck.
"You are an amazing Mom." He said softly before turning to walk away.
Mara reached out and grabbed his arm squeezing his wrist very tightly knowing it would hurt.
She pulled him towards her until their foreheads met.
"I still want to rip your head off and feed it to the elephants."
"I know but I love you anyway."
"I love you too now get away from me cause I want to bash you one."
Sam jumped back in almost warp speed, blowing a kiss to his wife before disappearing into Jenna's room.
"She still wants to murder you." Jenna said with a grin.
"I know but she admitted she loved me and warned me to leave before she bashed me."
"The two of you are both the world's biggest freaks." Josh chuckled before snatching a fry and shoving it in his mouth.