August 2020

"So how are you planning on surprising Sam?' Donna asked as she examined the pedicure
Mara had just given her.

"Well I have a plan, but I had one in San Fran too and I was in the bathroom when Sam walked in. My poor Sammy the seal was so sick and tired he heard the flush and said If you're here to kill me, do it quickly!"

"That sounds like Sam, too tired to care anymore. So what is your plan?"

"My beige dress that he hasn't seen in a few years."

"Is that the legendary dress that sent many a man into the pool?"

"Yes, Sam calls it the seven vails dress. I had it on briefly, the first time we made love. What's your plan?"

"Josh seems to react well when I'm wearing a Met's jersey and nothing else."

"Hmm if you wore a Yankees jersey, he'd enjoy tearing it off you though."

"Interesting, but too expensive. You know this hotel should have pool side waiters."

"Donna, we are in Iowa, not LA or Vegas. What do you want?"

"Another drink and something to munch on. We should have checked the itinerary before..."

"Des Moines, is not that bad. Get another pitcher of spiked lemonade and I'm sure they have nachos or wings. Charge it to my room."

"Why am I fetching food?"

"Because if I move, Herman Munster and Lurch will follow me."

"You don't know your details names?"

"No, my regulars stayed in DC, these guys are part of Sam's posse."

"Ah, I'll be back in a few minutes then."

Mara was just putting her cell phone down on the table when Donna returned.

"The bartender is going to bring the pitcher out in a minute. Who were you talking to?"

"Jenna, she wanted to know if I still wanted her to pick up Taco Bell for dinner."

"Won't that put a damper on Sam removing your dress?"

"She's going to leave an hour early, claiming she's sick. So what muchies did you get?"

"A cheese and cracker platter. Too bad Mandy couldn't fly with us, she always brings me test copies of new books."

"Maybe she'll bring a few with her tomorrow."

"She's coming?"

"Yes, I told you, she had a meeting today and one at nine tomorrow. She is going to meet us in Columbia around dinner time."

"Oh, I sort of stopped listening after no we aren't going to pick her up in New York."

"Donna, Donna...drinks are here!"

"You know, you have guts to wear a bikini in public after playmate gate."

"First of all, I only own bikini's, secondly, shut up!"

Donna chuckled and took a sip of her drink before making a cheese and cracker sandwich.

They were contemplating ordering another pitcher when Jenna flopped down on the chair next to Mara and downed the last glass of lemonade.

"Donna, go get another pitcher and we'll need another glass too."

"Hi, Jenna. Why did you play sick? Didn't you tell Toby?"

"Are you crazy? I did not want to listen to him grumble about how Beavis and Butthead would be totally distracted all week long. I'll stay away from him tomorrow and then Mandy will show up and he'll be nice for the rest of the week."

"I hope the advance team knows about us this time. I don't want a repeat of San Fran."

"I told them and have personally made sure the three of you are counted in every transfer. Not that you will want to go to the events but there is room for you none the less."

"That's my girl."

"I'm going to go put your dinner in your room, change into my bathing suit and take a dip. Donna can I have Mara's card key?"

Mara simply rolled her eyes ignoring the big grin on Donna's face. When Jenna returned she downed her drink and dove into the water. Donna decided to join her and they had a few races before Donna decided she better get out to dry off. Unfortunately, she wasn't paying attention and slipped on a leaf on the deck. She landed with a thud on both knees, scraping the hell out of them on the concrete.

Mara jumped out of her chair and went over to help Donna up. Once Donna was lounging on her chair, Mara gave both knees a good look. The right knee wasn't too bad but the left looked really nasty. Mara knew from personal experience that Donna would end up with a permanent scar. Jenna left the pool and asked Ralph to go get the first aid kit.

"Ouch Donna." Jenna said.

She looked down at her knees and cringed. "My palms hit the ground first, so I only felt the sting of them which I think is a good thing."

"Ralph will be back in a minute with a first aid kit."

"Who is Ralph?" Mara and Donna asked in unison.

"One of your agents Mara." Jenna sighed.

"Mara and Donna looked back to see who was still standing there.

"Oh Herman Munster." Donna replied.

Mara giggled ignoring the look Jenna was giving her. Ralph returned and Mara took the kit off of him. She was happy to see hydrogen peroxide, surgical tape and gauze pads but there was no antibiotic cream.

"Jenna, go up to my room and grab my pink makeup bag."

"What do you need Mara?" Donna asked.

"I've got a tube of Baciguent in there. It will keep the cut from getting infected and may help heal the wound enough to give you a faint scar instead of a very visible one."

"Well you are the expert on scars. Oy, peroxide."

"It will sting but nothing cleans and disinfects better. I'll be as gentle as I can."

When Jenna returned Mara applied the clear gel to both knees and covered the wounds with the gauze and surgical tape.

"Ralph is this the hotel's kit?"

"No Ma'am it belongs to us."

"Great, I'll keep the tape and a few gauze pads then. Donna, I wouldn't be surprised if your left knee bleeds overnight. If it does, call me when you wake up. I'll come over and tend to you."

"You might want the peroxide too then." Ralph mentioned.

"Thank you Ralph and thank you Mara. You would have been a good nurse."

"I had a lot of practice taking care of Dani, Matty and myself for that matter. Then there is Sam, the sole reason I travel with Baciguent."

"Tell me about it. I've tended to Dad several times, Josh twice and even Toby and Ed. I cringe every time I hear, oh nurse Jenna. Donna you might want to take some Advil."

"I hope you brought a pair of pants." Mara commented.

"Of course, not! Just skirts, a dress and shorts. I'm going to look like such a dork. Grown women are not suppose to have skinned knees!"

"Ah don't worry about it Donna. Most of them will think it was a sex injury."

"That is even worse Jenna! I'll have you know I've never had a rug burn. On that note, I'm going to go back to my room and come up with a different plan to greet Josh."

"Call me if you need me Donna."

"I will Mar, thanks. See you in the morning."

"Poor Donna." Jenna sighed as she poured herself another drink.

"She'll be fine until the morning. You don't pay attention to how you are moving in your sleep. I remember when I sliced my shin on that concrete step. No blood and it didn't hurt too bad that night. I cleaned it and put on four regular band aids. My palms hit first like Donna so they were all I felt. I woke up the next morning and it killed when I tried to move my right leg and I had bled right through the band aids."

"It must have looked nasty when the scab formed."

"It did, it looked horrible for a full month. I never dreamed that sixteen years later a man would kiss the scar and proclaim that he loved it because it was part of me."

"Dad is too good to be true."

Mara smiled softly, "Yes he is. When will they be back?"

Jenna dialed Larry and asked him for a ETA. "They are running about forty minutes behind so they should be here by 6:30."

Mara knew she had enough time to finally have a heart to heart talk with Jenna. "Sweetie, I want you to listen to what I say and seriously think about it. OK?"

"You are freaking me out but OK."

"I know you love Jacob and he loves you. You have been dating each other for thirteen years. Thirteen years, Jenna! Jacob has been beyond patient with you. He kept things very innocent until you turned eighteen. I expected that from him. Then he supported you when you moved back to Montreal for two years. Then you took off to Oxford for another two years and jumped right on the campaign trail. Sweetie, you know I love you, but over the last five years you have been very selfish. Your number one priority is looking out for yourself. All that really matters to you are your dreams, your goals.

This idea that you don't even want to be engaged until you are thirty isn't because it's the mature thing to do. It's because you want establish yourself. It's all about you, you've slotted Jacob into your blackberry and you expect that he will wait another two years. Frankly, I would have broken up with you when you said, I'm leaving in six days to join my Dad's campaign. How would you feel if Jacob treated you, they way you have been treating him? After the campaign ends, you might not be traveling across the country, but you'll be consumed by the transition. Then you'll be telling Jacob how crucial the first 100 days are. Next you'll find another project and before you know it, it will be time to campaign again. You think that is fair? Don't try to tell me that is why you want to wait two more years to get engaged..."

"What is so wrong about me achieving the same level of education you have? You can be Ambassador and I can't be a senior international policy advisor? You get off on power and it's a sin because I get off on it too? How can you lecture me..."

"Jenna! I craved political power from the time I was sixteen because it fulfilled me. I wasn't dating, there was no-one who loved me, so I kept my head in books and planned to be Prime Minister before I was forty. I had nothing but my career and I conned myself into believing I was happy. When I think back on how lonely I really was, it physically pains me. I would have given everything up to have Sam's love in my twenties. You don't realize what a precious gift Jacob's love is. All that matters in this world Jenna is to love someone and have then love you in return. Education and careers have nothing on families. Ask Donna, Ainsley, Ginger or Abbey. Ask Toby and he'll tell you every word I've said is true. I'm not saying you can't be a senior advisor, I'm telling you that love should come first and the rest will fall into place. You need to break up with Jacob or take next week off and let him know just how much he means to you. You need to let him know that any time he wants to ask you to marry him is great for you. Once the election is over, you need to take some time and just be with him. Trust me, the transition won't fall apart if you are gone for two weeks. Hell, Sam is going to owe me a hell of a lot of time then too. It's high time you thought of Jacob instead of yourself. That's all I'm going to say. I'll see you in the morning."

Jenna was left speechless, she finished the rest of the spiked lemonade and replayed Mara's words in her head. Her anger was getting the better of her because she knew Mara had a valid point. She decided to go eat dinner and call Jacob later.

When Donna got back to her room she soaked her aching hands for fifteen minutes, dried off and slipped into the Mets jersey. She took one look in the mirror and sighed in utter frustration. She had never felt so unsexy in her life. She thought about wearing a towel but they were too short and showed her knees. As she hung her still damp bathing suit over the shower rod she had an idea.

Mara had left a message for Toby on his room phone letting him know not to bug Sam or Josh that evening. She changed into the little beige dress and was about to eat a chicken gordita when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hi Jenna, it's Larry. How are you feeling?"

"Hey Larry, you know this is Mara I hope."

"We are about half an hour away, do you want me to get you anything?"

"Sam is in hearing distance? Thanks for the information. See you sometime tomorrow."

She had taken two steps when the phone rang again.

"Is there a delay Larry?"

"Mar, it's me. Did you happen to bring a sarong with you?"

"I brought a few, why?"

"Just get over here with them please."

Mara pulled the four sarongs out of her suitcase, grabbed the take out bag and handed the agent outside her door the card key.

"I'm only going down two doors for about twenty minutes, no need to move."

Mara knocked three times and Donna quickly opened the door.

"Yowza, so that is the beige dress. No wonder Sam wants you out of it."

"What happened to the jersey?" Mara asked looking at the towel Donna had wrapped around her.

"I'll show you, give me a second."

Donna went into the bathroom and came out twenty seconds later. Mara tried but couldn't stop herself from chuckling.

"So that's why you wanted the sarongs, obviously you have no need for the sheer one."

"I feel like a ten year old showing her boo-boo's to her Dad!"

"Try the red one." Mara replied handing it to Donna.

Donna came out a minute later.

"Much better but let me fix the top."

Mara twisted and turned the material turning it from a sheath to a body hugging dress that showed off some cleavage. She plopped down on the edge of the bed and took out a gordita.

"Have one Donna."

"What about Sam?"

"I got enough for snacking later, so he'll have something to eat. I know Sam too well. He'll take one look at me and want me for dinner. I eat ahead of our encounters or I get distracted by hunger."

"Not a bad idea." Donna grabbed a gordita and ate it rather quickly.

They were eating and talking when there was a knock on the door. Donna opened it and an agent told her that their husbands were entering the lobby. Donna grabbed another gordita and Mara picked up the bag and other sarongs and left. The agent at her door put her card key in and then gave it back to her. Mara had just enough time to put the bag of food in the mini fridge and pop a cinnamon altoid into her mouth. She heard the door agent greet Sam and stood near the foot of the bed.

When Sam opened the door the first thing he saw was Mara smiling at him. He dropped his backpack and ran into her arms. He hadn't noticed what she was wearing until his hands traveled down her body. He stepped back and smiled at her.

"Hello old friend, I haven't seen you in awhile but you know where you belong."

Sam reached up behind Mara's neck to release the clasp and her dress silently fell to the ground. Sam pushed her gently so she fell back on the bed.

"You aren't even going to say hello?"

"Actions speak louder than words." Sam replied in a husky voice before kissing her.

"I suggest you greet me properly or I'll put my dress back on and go keep Toby company."

Sam sighed into her stomach, "Hello my beautiful and sexy wife. So nice of you to visit me." Sam punctuated each word by kissing her breasts.

Donna heard Josh talking at the door and grinned. You may be changing Josh but I don't think you'll be joining Toby for dinner, she thought. Josh opened the door and froze when he saw his wife.

"Please tell me I'm not hallucinating."

"Josh, I don't think you are capable of hallucinations of this caliber."

"Wow, you look gorgeous Donna, what are you doing here?"

"Why don't you set foot in the room and I'll tell you."

Josh walked in and wrapped her in his arms giving her a long kiss. "So..."

"Mara was really missing Sam, so Ainsley suggested she spend the week with him instead of at the house. Mara wanted a playmate during the day so I figured you'd be happy to see me."

"I am happy to see you. If Mara's here I can work her into..."

"No public appearances! She is here for Sam."

"So then you are here for my pleasure?" Josh asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Technically, I'm here for Mara's pleasure but you get sex out of the deal." She laughed.

"Works for me. Why don't we order room service and I'll show you some pleasure while we wait."

"Works for me."

Meanwhile, Toby entered his room and noticed the light flashing on the hotel phone. He picked it up and listened to the message. He hung up and rubbed his face with his hands. He knew Josh and Sam would be totally distracted all week long and he was sure a major gaffe would occur. He called to see if Jenna wanted to have dinner with him but there was no answer. He decided he needed some food and several drinks and left again.

Josh never got past Donna's breasts while waiting for dinner which was fine with her. Her knees were not hurting but she felt stupid having a huge gauze pad on each knee. She picked at the fries that came with his club sandwich and ate the cucumber slices. Josh left the tray outside the door and sat down beside Donna on the bed.

"Now where were we?" He asked as untucked the edge she had slid in to cover herself when room service arrived.

He pulled her to her feet and completely removed the sarong. He missed her cringe when he tossed it on the chair. She unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it on the table. Donna smiled and gently kissed her way along his scar, over the years it had faded but it was still noticeable. Josh undid his pants while she kissed him. He didn't notice her knees until he pushed her back on the bed.

"Sweetie, what happened?"

"I wiped out on the pool deck and scrapped the hell out of my left knee and hurt the right one a bit too."

"At the bay house?"

"No, here a few hours ago. Mara patched me up."

"Does it hurt?"

"Not really, I'm going to end up with a scar though."

"That's OK, on you a scar can be sexy."

Donna moved back on the bed. "Drop the boxers and come show me how sexy you think I am."

Josh didn't have to be asked twice in engage in sex with his wife.

"Do you know where the room service menu is?" Sam asked before kissing her again.

"You don't need room service, I've got that covered."

Mara hopped out of bed, grabbed the bag out of the mini fridge and put it in the microwave. Sam watched her as he never missed an opportunity to admire her naked form. She looked like she had lost weight so he asked her to turn around.

"You've lost weight again." He finally said.

"I don't think so, my clothes don't seem any looser."

"You have, I know every inch of your body. Have you been skipping meals?"

"No."

"Eating less crap than usual?"

"Not really, in fact all I do at the bay house is swim, eat, read, drink, eat, lie in the sun, eat and oh yeah eat."

Sam chuckled as she took the bag out of the microwave and took out a gordita before tossing the bag at him. After eating two, Sam brought the topic of conversation back to her weight.

"So you are not skipping meals, you are still eating junk have you been drinking a ton of water?"

"No, I've been drinking a lot of lemonade and all the various cocktails Matty has been making. I think he's going to be a bartender when he grows up. Oh excuse me, a mixologist. He keeps correcting me."

"Have you been eating a ton of fruit instead of your usual bagels and sandwiches for lunch?"

"Yeah, you know I can't resist summer fruits, especially berries and cherries."

"That's why you have lost weight. So what's this about Matty?"

"It all started just after you left. Ains and I were drinking those grapefruit vodka drinks I like so much by the pool. Matty and Michael were in the pool. I left to help Ainsley do something and when I came back my drink was gone. Matty asked me what it was because he thought it was tasty. After I reminded him that he shouldn't taste my drinks without asking he wanted to read the bottle. The next day he had me tasting his creations, I suggested to add a drop of bitters and bingo it tasted just like the original. Since then he's been making all different types of non alcoholic drinks."

"Are they good?"

"They are amazing."

"You are amazing! Is there any dessert?"

"I have a couple bags of Good and Plenty."

"Hmm, I could have some fun with a Mara candy trail."

Josh woke up the next morning with a big smile, he loved waking up with Donna in his arms. He took a shower and got dressed before waking her up with tender kisses.

"Morning, care to join me for breakfast?"

"Morning, breakfast sounds like a good...ow...ow...damn it hurts."

"Your knees?" Josh asked as he moved the covers down to look at them.

"The right one is a little stiff but the left one really hurts when I try to bend it."

"Umm that might be because you've bled through the gauze pad."

"Ah hell, Mar warned me that may happen. I'll have to call her to fix me up again. Guess I'll go have a shower, if you'll help me up."

"Want me to run the shower?"

"No, just help me up. You could go get me breakfast and bring it up. I'm sure it's faster than ordering room service."

Josh sat down next to Jenna and ordered breakfast.

"What's wrong Jenna, you look ready to kill someone."

Jenna told Josh all about Mara's mini lecture and that she resented it. She then told him that when she called Jacob and told him to take next week off he told her he was too busy. When she pressed him he told her that he didn't say anything when she took off to join the campaign because it was important to her and his job was important to him. He told her he'd work late this week so that he could be out of there by five the following week and take the Friday off.

"So, you are mad because when you decided to grace Jacob with your presence you found that he had a life of his own too? Then he had the nerve to offer to make as much time for you as he could."

Jenna scowled at Josh, "You are so on my list now too!" She huffed and left.

Josh rolled his eyes and waited for his breakfasts to go. When he returned to the room Donna was sitting on the edge of the bed with her left leg extended.

"That is one nasty scab."

"Tell me about it. So can I have my breakfast now?"

Josh pulled up one of the chairs to the edge of the bed so she could use it as a tray and she happily ate. The coffee he had brewed before he left was finally ready and he poured them each a mug. Josh was pouring his second mug full when there was a knock on the door.

"I'm here for my morning rounds. How is my patient doing?"

"We need your wound care services, nurse Mara." Josh replied leaving a kiss on her cheek.

"I'm guessing it hurts like hell because it looks like hell. Have you taken any Advil?"

"No, I took a shower and ate breakfast. Josh get my pill case out of my purse."

Josh handed his wife the pills and left to go talk to Sam. Mara patched Donna's left knee up and simply put a Band-Aid on the other knee.

"Can you fix the sarong for me again so I can wear it on the plane. I'm not showing my knees! Jenna must have a pair of pants with her."

"You'd have to ask her, she's mad at me."

"She's mad at Josh too, he must have said something similar to what you did."

"She's pissed at me because she knows I'm right."

"Luckily, I haven't faced that with Noah yet. He's smart enough to not always trust his Dad but he thinks I'm always right."

"We are." Mara replied with a grin. "I want breakfast, so I'll help you get dressed then you can have a coffee while I eat."

"You've got a deal."

Donna and Mara were lounging on the airplane when Toby came through the door. He gave them both a look, grumbled something and walked right past them. Jenna gave Mara the evil eye and went back to sit with Toby. Josh and Sam both had smiles on their faces and gave their wives long kisses.

"Toby is in a mood." Mara whispered to Sam.

"Toby was born in a mood." Sam exclaimed.

"He resents those of us who got some last night. Apparently, the two of you are capable of turning our minds to mush." Josh stated.

"We can do that without breaking a sweat." Donna laughed.

We are not simpletons!" Sam protested.

"Please Sam, if I want to distract you for hours all I have to do is take my top off and let you play with the girls."

Try as he might Sam couldn't refute the charge so he changed the subject instead.

Toby came up with an idea for Sam's second speech in Columbia and started to tell him about it. Mara leaned over to give Sam a kiss and Sam lengthened it .

"Yo, Yoko! You think you can keep your lips off him until I'm done speaking?" Toby grumbled.

"Yo Tobias, you want a fat lip?" Mara growled giving him her death glare.

"Toby go sit back down and when you are ready to act like a human not a bear, you can come back." Donna snapped.

Once they arrived in Columbia, Mara and Donna went to the hotel while Sam went to his first speaking engagement of the day. After checking in, Mara convinced Donna to go on a shopping spree with her. Mara found a jewelry store where most of the creations featured beads and crystals and bought six thousand dollars worth of necklaces, bracelets and earrings for herself and Donna. Donna managed to find 2 long summer skirts which improved her mood considerably. Mandy called when she was at the airport and they all arrived at the hotel at the same time.

"Thank goodness you are here. Toby is in a big time grumpy snit." Donna stated as she gave Mandy a hug.

"I think he's jealous that we are here and he's not getting TLC."

"I'll give him shit first then let him ravish me. I'm happy to be here but I actually have some work to do. Breakfast tomorrow at 9:30?"

"I think we can make it."

"So now what do you want to do?" Donna asked as Mar handed her the card key. "You know these really are pretty easy to use once you get the hand..."

"I hate card keys, I refuse to use them, end of story. Hi Tedzy, did you miss me?"

Donna laughed when the bear fell over. "Check the mini bar, I think Tedzy has been helping himself."

Mara laughed, fixed Tedzy then flopped down on the bed. "I think Tedzy is right, a nap is a good idea."

"Now that you mention it, I could probably fall asleep easily. Thanks again for the shopping spree." Donna turned to head to the door.

"You are welcome and where are you going? You can have Sam's side. I don't roll over and sleep on top of him anymore."

Mara grabbed Tedzy and turned to face the wall. Donna kicked of her shoes and carefully got in the bed. She examined her knee, it had bled again but not through the gauze. They talked for a few minutes until Mara stopped answering. Donna was about to give up and turn on the TV when she dozed off.

Sam couldn't help smiling when he opened the hotel door. He called out to both of them but they were in a deep sleep. He quickly changed and happened to be near the phone when it rang.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know where Donna is?"

"She's in bed with Mara."

"In bed with Mara?" Josh questioned.

"Josh get your mind out of the gutter and..."

"My mind wasn't there but guess where it's going now."

Sam could picture the goofy grin on Josh's face and chuckled. "Why don't we go grab dinner and bring something back for our sleeping beauties?"

"Kay, shall I call Toby?"

"No let his mood keep him company. I'll see you downstairs."

The only thought on Toby's mind when he opened his door was making himself a good stiff drink. His jaw dropped open when he saw Mandy sitting on the bed working on her computer. The door closing let her know he had finally arrived.

"So I hear you've been a bigger pain in the ass than usual." She stated, not looking up.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, ignoring her comment.

"Jenna begged me to come down because she didn't want to deal with you."

"I'll have to thank her later. You here for the night?"

"No, the rest of the week."

"Really? My week just got a whole lot better."

"First you have to tell me how you intend to apologize to Mara."

"Flowers?"

"With an apology note?"

"Sure."

"Then you may approach the bed and greet me."

Just as Sam and Josh were getting back from dinner the agents were checking a bouquet of flowers that had just been delivered.

"They are clean Senator, you can bring them inside."

Sam looked at the card and laughed.

"Who are they from?"

"Toby, the card says Sorry for calling you Yoko. You will find me in much better humour in the morning."

"What does that mean?"

"Mara will know."