August 2020,

"Dad, MTV just called, they want you for TRL. President Davis turned them down, which was stupid in my opinion but great for us. You will score points with young voters and he'll look like either he is scared of them or doesn't think they are important. Can I call them back and accept?"

"When do they want me? Mara and I are going to the annual dinner party the Canadian Consular General throws for her. It's coming up this month. Find out when it is and maybe I can do TRL that afternoon since I'll be in New York anyway."

"Kay, I'll check on it and then make it happen."

Jenna swiped a quarter of Sam's club sandwich on the way out the door. She was starving but she couldn't remember who she asked to get her lunch. So far she had eaten half of Josh's fries, Toby's side salad and two of Ed's cookies. She noticed Grace walk by with an amazing looking chicken wrap and then remembered it was Grace she sent out for lunch. Jenna decided that she needed food and a break before she lost her mind completely.

Sam stopped reviewing his speech to eat his sandwich before Jenna ate it on him. Her grazing habits always reminded him of Ainsley. He picked up his cell phone off the table and gave her a call.

"Hello?"

"Hey Hayes."

"Sam, how are you? Where are you?"

"I'm in Dallas and I'm doing fine. My daughter keeps stealing my food and for some reason I thought of you."

"Ha, very cute. You want to say hello to your wife?"

"What's Mar doing with you?"

"She didn't tell you about our torrid affair? "

"Ha, very cute. Seriously?"

"We are having a late lunch before going to get Ginger, Sam and Matty."

"Oh yeah, it's the sisterhood weekend at the bay house. Sure I'll say hi."

"Did you call for a reason?"

"No, the food stealing just reminded me of you."

"Sam, if you get that easily distracted, how are you going to run the country?" Ainsley teased.

"Just put my wife on the phone, you evil Republican."

"Samuel!"

"Whoa, you just sounded like Mara and that is scary."

"It is me, you doofus! What do you want?"

"I thought I'd say hello."

"Getting tired of talking to your staff?"

"Sort of, Jenna is stealing my food so I figured I'd eat my lunch before the rest of it disappeared. That reminded me of Ains so I decided to say hi. How was your day?"

"Pretty good, it's remarkable how many people have left the city. No one wants to see me and the people I wouldn't mind seeing are all away. I've decided to give up and spend the next two weeks at the Bay House."

"Wish I could join you, do not let our son talk you into going sailing. You've learned a lot over the years but ...'

"Don't worry, I wouldn't go without backup myself."

"You sure you won't go stir crazy?"

"I'll find something to do, I can make my Christmas ornaments for this year. I thought snowman would be cute."

"They would be cute gift tags. I miss you."

"I miss you too. I didn't do the calculations when I agreed to this. If I had realized it was two weeks I wouldn't see you for, I would have said no."

"Why do you think I asked you twice?"

"I know, it's not your fault. Tell Josh this isn't going to happen again."

"I will. So how about a little phone sex tonight?"

"Sam, I'll be drinking and the girls will all be over, but hey if you want to..."

"Never mind, that idea was bad on so many levels."

Mara laughed, "I think putting that idea on ice until the girls leave would be prudent. Rain check?"

"Hell yeah, Jenna stole my MP3 player last night and hasn't returned it."

"Either she stole your battery or someone asked if the Senator has an MP3 and what artists are on it."

"I have text files on there too so I hope she's not nosey."

"What type of text files Samuel?"

"My collection of e-mail's this year as part of your traditional Christmas gift."

"Ah, so that's how you organize them. Have I told you how wonderful you are lately?"

"No, I'm waiting." Sam chuckled.

"My husband is wonderful, thoughtful and sweet."

"Thank you, well I better go before someone tells me I have to do something. I'll call you tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you too. Get that MP3 player back! I'll tell Ains you say bye."

Sam went back to his sandwich and was still chewing the last bite when Josh came in to tell him they were leaving in ten minutes. Toby walked in seconds later and handed Sam his speech for the afternoon. He read it until Josh was standing at the door again telling him to move his butt.

"Could I have my MP3 player back Jenna?" he asked in the car.

"Oh yeah, sorry I wanted the battery. I put my dead one in yours."

"Well I'd like it back anyway. Tobs do you still have AAA's for your pager?"

"Yes, concentrate on your speech and if you don't change a line I'll give you a battery when you are done."

Sam gave Toby a look and put out his hand. Jenna gave him his MP3 player back. Once they arrived, Sam shook several hands until he was ushered up to the side of the stage. The local congressman introduced Sam who spoke for twenty minutes on education and health care. He expertly fielded several questions and followed the speech up with four separate ten minute interviews for the local TV stations. Afterwards they took a short flight to San Antonio and had dinner along the Riverwalk.

"You're quite tonight Dad." Jenna stated as she dipped a chip into salsa.

"I just miss Mar, she'd love to eat here. She loves a good atmosphere and this one is pretty romantic with the river lit up."

"Give her a call, I bet dinner won't be here for twenty minutes."

Sam dialed the house and Matty picked it up on the third ring.

"Hello."

"Hey Matty, what are you up to?"

"Hi Dad, I'm making another pitcher of lemonade for Sam and I. What are you doing?"

"Waiting for my dinner to arrive. Is your Mom around?"

"Yeah, I'll bring the phone to her. So where are you?"

"San Antonio."

"Ah, Mommy it's Dad, he's in San Antonio."

Mara and the girls were sitting by the pool talking and drinking. Mara took the phone from her son.

"Hi Sweetie, what's up?"

"I'm in a delightful restaurant on the Riverwalk and I miss you."

"Aww, is it a romantic setting?"

"Yes and as much as I love Jenna..."

"I should be there with you."

"That's why I am missing you."

"Then why don't we share dinner over the phone. What did you order?"

Sam smiled, "I ordered the Enchiladas Verde which is two chicken filled tortillas, tomatillo sauce, jack cheese, corn and creme fresca."

"Sounds good, so how was your day?"

Sam and Mara talked straight through dinner and dessert and only said good night when Jenna threatened to take off with the cell phone. Mara seemed sad after she hung up which gave Ainsley an idea.

"Mara, if you miss Sam that much why are you spending two weeks up here? Stay a week and then I think you and Donna should go up and join the circus for a week. You can keep each other company during the day and be with your husbands at night. I'll look after the boys."

"Ainsley, have I mentioned how much I love you lately?" Mara replied and got up to hug her neighbour and friend.

"What do you say Donna? You up for a road trip?"

"I'm in, thanks Ainsley."

"You're both welcome."

On Monday after everyone left, Mara changed into a bikini, grabbed the latest book she was reading and went to sit by the pool. Matty emerged from his room craving food. When he discovered nothing was made he spotted his mother by the pool and went out to plead his case.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, my love."

"I'm craving a Frosty from Wendy's, can we go for lunch?"

"Sure, give me a minute to grab my wallet and put on some shorts."

Mara slipped on a pair of shorts and sandals and tossed her wallet into her summer purse. Matty was waiting for her at the door and four secret service agents were in the trail car ready to go. Neither Mara or Matty gave a second thought to her wearing a bikini top as she had worn them into town for years as did other women. What they didn't know was that a reporter from the New York Post was in town asking locals what they thought of the Seaborn's. He was leaving the local grocery store when he noticed the two cars pull in to the Wendy's parking lot. He recognized the black sedan as a government car and paused to see what was going on.

He couldn't place Matty until he saw Mara get out the other side of the car. He knew a picture of her in a bikini top would garner him the front page so he snapped a few pictures and waited for them to leave Wendy's. Mara made his life infinitely easier when she decided to pop across the street to the bookstore. He got a few great shots of her crossing the street and quickly put his camera away.

"Hi Carrie, anything new in?" Mara asked the clerk.

"Hi Mara, hi Matty, nothing new since last time you were in. I finally finished reading the second part of the Eleanor Roosevelt Biography, they were a great read."

"I knew you'd like them. Are you skipping our BBQ this year too?"

"No, I'm actually going to be in town. It's the last Sunday in August at 2 pm, right?"

"Yes, except you will have to RSVP and bring picture ID or the Secret Service won't let you in."

"That explains the mandatory RSVP, life is a lot more complicated now isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. It will only get worse when Sam wins."

"At least you have your own career. I would hate to have to be the little women."

"I'm lucky to have a job I love because I hate ceremonial stuff."

"Mommy, can I have these three books?"

"Sure."

After Mara paid for the books they went back to the house. Mara's agents had noticed the photographer but there was nothing they could do about pictures being taken on a public street. The photographer didn't linger long so they thought nothing of it.

Jenna was the first to see the picture when a staffer brought it over to her. She knew Mara would flip over the headline which read The First Playmate. The picture wasn't that bad, it just showed that her Aunt had an incredible body. Thank God it wasn't the red suit she thought as she turned to page 20 to read the story. After she read the story she found Sam having breakfast with Toby.

"I've got good news and bad news, which do you want first?"

"Good." Sam replied as Toby said bad.

"The good news is that the New York Post did a survey on how the locals in Maryland feel about you and Mara. You both scored very well. Nothing but praise and little stories of contact with you."

"So what's the bad news? Toby asked, pleased with the positive press.

"To sell the issue well...it's a good thing Mara is still asleep...it's a better thing that you don't subscribe to the Post or...ah hell look!"

"Damn she looks hot." Sam said before he read the headline. "She's going to freak out."

"I'm glad I'm not behind this." Toby stated.

"Do we comment?"

"If anyone asks you can say that while we appreciate the article we condemn the Post for suggesting that one of the world's brightest political minds is a playmate."

"Kay, I'll phrase it a bit better, but that will be the message. So do we warn Mom or let her find out naturally?"

"I suggest you give her a call Jenna." Toby answered quickly.

"Do I look like I have a death wish?"

Sam chuckled, "As her keeper, I'll tame the wild beast."

"It's been nice knowing you buddy." Toby cracked.

"You were a good Dad, I'll miss you."

"Mara will get a kick out of the two of you being scared of her. You are wimps!"

"Maybe, but we will definitely still have our hearing tonight. Good luck."

"Have fun Sam, we are leaving in fifteen minutes."

He decided to call the bay house, figuring he could just leave a message with Matty to have her call him. He was amazed when Matty informed him that Mara was up and making him French toast.

"What on earth are you doing up at 8 am?"

"I woke up at seven and couldn't go back to sleep so I figured I'd feed our son."

"So you haven't heard from Leslie today?"

"She's off all this week...Matty turn the burner off and you can start on those two...why Sam?"

"I have to tell you something because Toby and Jenna are too scared to tell you."

"Spit it out, Samuel."

"The New York Post was snooping around in town asking the locals what they thought of us."

"So? Last time I checked everyone liked us."

"The story was pretty good, the problem is that the front page features a picture of you crossing the street in shorts and your navy bikini top..."

"That was yesterday...what I don't look good?"

"No, you look sexy as hell, it's the headline that will cause Mount Mara to erupt."

"What on earth does it say?"

"The first playmate, followed by a question mark."

"Well the post does like pandering to the lowest common denominator, jerks."

"Jerks? Is that all you are going to say? You must be the pod Mara, can I talk to my real wife!"

Mara laughed, "While I prefer to be recognized for my mind, it's sort of cool to hear that they think I'm that hot, even if it's in the icky sort of way. I'm not going to waste my energy dealing with their adolescent minds."

"I officially give up trying to figure you out."

"Sam, you say that about once a month."

"Yeah but I mean it this time."

"Till next time anyway. So do you want to cash in that phone sex, rain check tonight?"

"Ew...gross MOM!" Matty shrieked dropping his fork.

Sam started laughing, "Forgot he was around did we?"

"Yup, hold on a sec. Matthew Tobias Seaborn, I think you are old enough now to know that your Dad and I ...quite often...and when we can't be together...so stop looking at me like I'm killing Bambi with your toothbrush!"

Matty looked at her like she had twenty heads and quickly left the room.

"I think I scarred him for life."

"Killing Bambi with his toothbrush? I think you scarred me for life."

"Oh shut up! Do you want phone sex tonight or not?"

"When don't I want phone sex?"

"DAD! Even knowing that is Mar on the line, Ewww!"

Mara started laughing this time, "Forgot she was around did we?"

"Let me see if I can nail it...Jenna, Mara and I ...quite often...and when we can't be together...so stop looking at me like I've asked you to kill Bambi with your toothbrush!"

Jenna's jaw dropped and she seriously wondered about his sanity "We are leaving now and thanks to you, I'll never be able to watch Bambi or use my toothbrush again."

"I've got to go sweetie, but now that we've scarred both our children for life, I think we can be proud of our parenting skills. Call me at ten your time."

"I will, bye."

Sam continued to chuckle as he put his cell phone into his pocket and grabbed his knapsack. He didn't see Jenna until they were about to get in the car. He waited until she looked at him to make a motion like he was brushing his teeth, followed by a few quick stabbing motions. Jenna looked horrified and told him he was sick. Sam just grinned, thinking about how much fun he could have over the next few weeks torturing Jenna. Next time he spotted a Disney store, he was going to go in and buy Matty and her a stuffed Bambi.

When Mara called a little after ten, Sam's hopes for phone sex were quickly dashed when he told her how he had been teasing Jenna all day. They were both laughing so hard the mood was broken. She nixed his idea of buying Matty a stuffed Bambi but told him she'd take it and put it in her office to make her smile every time she saw it.

"Well I'm going to take a cold shower then try to sleep. I love you."

"I love you too Sam, sweet dreams."

Mara hung up the phone and smiled. Only two more days and we'll be together, she thought as she went to say good night to Matty.