Here's Chapter4. I didn't mean to scare anyone about the note, just read this chapter and you'll understand.
Kursk: April 22 makes it exactly 9 months, because today is Jan. 22
Miss Jasadin: CJ is special counsel to Leo, she will definitely be used, but in later chapters.
It was my very first senior staff meeting, even though I had worked with everyone who was in the room before. It was Sam, Annabeth, Charlie, and I. Sam had yet to appoint a deputy, but we were looking. While I was finally getting my point across to Annabeth that she should use the stool, the phone rang. I asked Gloria to pick it up, but she said it was only ringing in my office, which meant someone wanted to talk to me really bad.
I picked up and Donna answers with a weird question, "What should I wear?" So, like any normal human being, I ask her the occasion. Then, she reads me this card that she got with some flowers and I soon realize who truly sent them. Not to make her speculate too much, I suggested something red, it's my favorite color on Donna and hung up the phone. As all of senior staff had witnessed the conversation, I order Annabeth and Charlie out, shut every door, and prepare to give my best friend a talking to. "SAM!"
"What? Josh, for god's sake, it's been 9 months. Every time we go out to the deli for lunch, you can't stop staring at all the pretty rings in the window. Dammit, if people didn't know you very well they'd swear you've been together since Bartlett's first campaign, which you should've been, but that's beside the point. Ainsley and I had been going out for 6 months when I asked her, and it was 7 for Charlie and Zoey, so you're late."
"But Sam, what happens if I screw this up? Traditionally, you only propose once, you can't start and then say, 'Wait, can I start over, I messed that up'. That's just bad."
"Why can't you screw up? When I asked Ainsley, we were at Disneyland in front of the teacup ride, because it's her favorite. Anyway, this kid wasn't paying attention and right as I was asking, her dropped vanilla soft-serve ice cream on my head. Now it's our special ice cream. It's OK to screw up Josh; it makes it more human verses fairytale. Now, we'll pick up lunch, AFTER you pick out the ring. Do you know her ring size?"
"6 1/2, 6 is too small, 7 is too big."
"Good, now meet me at McKay Jewelers at noon. I'll tell Toby to join us."
Oh fun, I just need Toby complete support in picking a ring."
See? By the way, I made up McKay Jewelers, so if there happens to be one in DC, this one's different.