Wedding Cake

All afternoon Josh had been working on the finer points of the foreign opps bill. It was getting harder and harder to shore up people's support and make sure that the bill kept its original integrity. On top of everything else, there was a strong opposition coming from the Republicans, some of whom were becoming quite skilled at causing problems for the white house. Josh decided to take a short break. As he stood up behind his desk, he paced just a little to stretch his legs and then pulled out his phone. Josh punched some numbers into his cell phone and shuffled his feet anxiously while he listened to it ring over and over. The phone continued to ring and ring, and Josh couldn't understand why there was no answer. The President was out of the country, there were no more major domestic crises and Josh was feeling a little bored and felt like he was going stir crazy. The incessant ringing was not helping. Finally, just as Josh felt like jumping up and down on his phone, he heard a click on the other side.

"Hello?" whispered a voice almost inaudibly.

"Jules?" Josh asked, perplexed. He was confused for two reasons. Was this really Juliana, it was hard to tell with the whispering and what seemed to be a large organ playing in the background, and why was she whispering?

"Josh? What do you need?" Juliana continued to whisper. She kept her voice so hushed that Josh turned up the volume on his cell phone.

"Jules? Where are you? Why are you whispering?"

"Josh…I really can't talk, I…." Juliana's whispers trailed off and suddenly her voice was loud and booming. "I'm in Annapolis, Josh." The sudden change in volume caused Josh to drop his phone, which clattered across his office floor. "Josh?"

"Sorry Jules. All of a sudden there you were loud again, really loud. I dropped you. Where did you say you were?"

"I'm in Annapolis." Juliana didn't offer any additional information.

"Why are you in Annapolis? And why were you whispering?" Josh inquired.

"I was whispering because I was in the Naval Academy Chapel, which I had to leave so I could talk to you." Josh could hear sarcasm, irritation or something in her voice, he couldn't quite tell.

"A-kay. So why are you in the Naval Academy Chapel?" Josh pestered.

"For a wedding."

"Yours?"

"Josh!" Jules sounded exasperated.

"I was just checking!"

"No…I'm in a friend's wedding. I told you about it, remember? The wedding is here at the Naval Academy's Chapel and there is an enormous reception to follow. You know, one with the whole works," Juliana's voice started trailing off and sounding more and more disappointed and un-enthralled as she talked. "A reception with a five course sit down meal, cake, bouquet tossing, dancing, socializing, more dancing, you know…the works."

"Why so sad about this whole thing?" Josh asked casually.

"Was it that obvious?"

"Jules, it sounds like someone's dragging you to your puppy's execution. Weddings are fun. Why aren't you excited?"

"I don't know a lot of people here. And, I don't have a date. Dancing's no fun when there's no one to dance with."

"Oh." This all made sense to Josh, but he felt that there was something more. "Is that all?"

"Yeah." Juliana almost whispered her response. Finally she spoke up. "Josh, did you need something? I need to go, the wedding's about to begin…" Josh jumped in and cut Juliana off before she could continue.

"No, I just wanted to say hi. I wanted to talk to you. Go to your wedding…well, not your wedding, but you know what I mean. Hey, Jules?"

"Yeah."

"Smile. Weddings aren't all that bad. You'll find the fun, you're resilient like that."

"Thanks, Josh." Josh could almost hear her coy smile through the phone. "I'll call you when I'm on my way back to Washington."

Juliana hung up with a click and Josh was left alone again in his office. Josh strolled to his door and looked out into the bullpen. Donna's desk was empty. Some of her Wisconsin relatives were in town, "wacko cheese people" as Josh referred to them, and Donna had left early to show them around town. Josh stood quietly, and then turned with a skip back into his office. He quickly began finishing up a stack of memos and cleaning up his desk area.

Later in the evening, Juliana sat back and evaluated her day. The wedding had been beautiful, though she really couldn't remember a wedding that people didn't describe as beautiful. Gracie, one of Juliana's friends from her childhood in California, was the picture of a perfect bride. Most of the men were in dress uniform and the bridesmaids dressed strapless satin gowns, in a hue of such deep blue that it almost looked black. Juliana's dress, while it flowed out almost like a ball down, had a slit up the side that ended just above her knee in a small billow of material. The wedding had been like a little girl's dream, standing in the massive chapel at the Naval Academy and hearing vows exchanged while surrounded by flowers and people. At times it struck Jules as almost suffocating. After the ceremony, it was off to the reception.

As one of the six bridesmaids in the wedding, Juliana was currently sitting at a table with the other members of the wedding party, none of which she knew. She had survived dinner, toasts, cake and was now sitting idly by watching other people join Gracie and her husband on the dance floor as they enjoy their time together. To keep her mind off of what a horrible time she was having, Juliana was coming up with all the words that could possibly describe her mood. Glum. Sullen. Morose. Gloomy. Depressed. Miserable. Juliana began wondering why she was so depressed. Usually she was totally sociable and extroverted, but tonight was different. The soft music that had started playing for the dancers provided the perfect conditions for Juliana and she was soon lost in thought. The sensation of someone behind her broke through Juliana's thoughts.

"Someone who looks as amazing as you should be out dancing." The voice came from behind Juliana, and she whipped around to see the person behind her. Juliana was stunned to see Josh standing behind her.

"Josh? What are you doing here?"

"Happiness has arrived." Josh had a cheesy grin on his face showing how proud he was of his statement.

"I don't get it."

"Happiness has arrived." Josh paused for a moment, and then decided to explain. "Me. Happiness." He paused again, and finally sighed and offered an explanation. "You said the wedding wasn't going to be any fun because you didn't have a dance partner. Not dancing means not being happy. So I have come to offer my services as a dance partner and bring happiness back into your life." Josh finished his proclamation with a low bow. Juliana stood up and looked quizzically into his face.

"How did you get in?"

"I scaled the wall."

"Josh, the guards at the gate have guns because of things like that. And this is you we're talking about, you didn't scale the wall."

"Are you mocking my wall climbing abilities?" Josh smiled mischievously and slipped his arm around Juliana's waist, resting his hand on the small of her back.

"How did you get in?" Josh noticed that Jules was smiling. A real smile.

"I told the guys out there that I left something in the car and that my girlfriend was already inside. You know, I have the diplomatic ranking of a four star general. I could have just flashed my credentials at them…" Juliana cut Josh off.

"Did you?"

"No."

"But you came here to be with me so that I would have a good time?"

"Yeah." Josh was staring down at his shoes all of a sudden, dropping his hands to his sides.

"Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"I think this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me." Juliana reached up to touch his face and redirect his sight to her. "I mean it."

"Well, you sounded like someone who…I mean…" Josh couldn't finish his sentence because suddenly Juliana's lips were keeping his from moving. Juliana kissed Josh deeply, slipping her hand behind his neck to pull him closer. Pulling away, Jules looked at Josh.

"You're welcome." Josh mumbled as he leaned in for another kiss. When he was finally finished caressing Juliana's lips with his own, Josh pulled away and positioned himself behind Jules, threading his arms around her waist.

"Let's dance." Josh guided Juliana out onto the dance floor, put one arm around Juliana's waist and clasped her hand with the other. Josh began swaying and dancing with the music, and noticed that Jules had a smile on her face that literally stretched from ear to ear. Soon Juliana leaned in and rested her hand and cheek on Josh's shoulder, feeling comfortable and relaxed in his arms.

A few minutes later, Josh and Jules were the picture of perfection. They had gone from slowly waltzing around the floor to doing some mix between swing dancing and shagging. Josh had to admit that he wasn't the best dancer out on the dance floor, but with Juliana as a partner he felt much more proficient.

"Where did you learn to dance like this?" Juliana asked with a giggle as Josh spun her on the dance floor.

"Blame it on my mother. She made me go to cotillions every summer for a few summers when I was little. I think she was hoping it would make me a little less brassy."

"Didn't work so well, huh?" Juliana teased.

"But, you're enthralled with my dancing."

"Very true. Do you want to go get a drink?"

"It's about time! You might like my dancing, but my feet are beginning to hurt." Josh spectacularly spun Jules one last time and the two exited the dance floor. As Josh crossed the room with Jules, he thought he heard his name being called out.

"Josh!" A low voice bellowed happily. Josh turned around to see a familiar naval uniform, decorated with quite a few medals and ribbons, striding across a small space to greet him.

"Admiral Fitzwallace," Josh greeted. "Good evening sir." As Josh and the admiral shook hands, Juliana smiled at Josh's sudden formal tone.

"Josh, I thought that was you out on the dance floor. But then I started second guessing myself because I didn't think you were coordinated enough to dance that well." Admiral Fitzwallace was chuckling at himself. Juliana smiled at the joke, too. "Josh, have you ever met my wife Gail?" The admiral turned to the woman at his side as he introduced her to Josh.

"No, I don't think I've ever had the pleasure. Mrs. Fitzwallace, it's very nice to meet you." A few pleasantries were exchanged, and then Josh remembered that Juliana was still standing quietly at his side. "Admiral, I'd like to introduce you to my date…no, really my girlfr…well, actually, she's…" Seeing Josh get tongue-tied was fun for Juliana, but she decided to jump in and save him.

"Josh, it's really sweet how flustered you get when I'm around." Juliana playfully swatted Josh on his shoulder and watched him blush several different hues of red. Juliana turned to the admiral to introduce herself. "Since Josh evidentially can't put together a coherent sentence, let me introduce myself. Admiral Fitzwallace, Mrs. Fitzwallace, I'm Juliana Wexler. It's an honor to meet you both."

"You look familiar, too." Admiral Fitzwallace admitted.

"She's on TV darling." Gail Fitzwallace said to her husband, trying to clear things up."

"Well, only a few times." Juliana admitted. "I work on Capitol Hill."

"Plus, Admiral, you know her brother." Josh piped up, having regained the ability to speak in complete sentences. Admiral Fitzwallace was giving Josh a questioning look. "She's Sam's sister."

"My goodness." Admiral Fitzwallace paused to rub his forehead gently, then turned to laugh at Juliana. "Sam for a brother. This guy in your life. I don't know how you do it."

"Sometimes, I don't either." Juliana could see Josh about to protest, but she continued to talk. "But then you have nights like tonight, and I know I'm lucky to have both of them."

Juliana recounted the story of Josh's surprise arrival to Admiral Fitzwallace and his wife. Mrs. Fitzwallace seemed particularly touched by the story and beemed with affection.

"Josh, you're quite a charming guy." Admiral Fitzwallace indicated.

"Well, don't let that get out, sir. I have a reputation to keep up."

The whole group chuckled and continued to talk casually.

Josh returned to the reception, fully enjoying himself. Josh had to admit, he was having a great time. Jules looked fabulous, he was dancing, all in all he was having fun. It was an excellent alternative to working on the foreign opps bill all night. Now, if Josh could only find Jules, his evening would continue to be perfect. Josh scanned the room, looking for Jules and in a room full of navy uniforms, picking out someone in dark blue wasn't easy. Past the dance floor, Josh could see Juliana through the antique glass French doors. She was standing outside on the terrace. Josh walked across the room and outside. When the doors opened, Jules turned to see Josh and smiled. As Josh made his way towards Jules, the cold winter air hit him. Instinctively he shivered and rubbed his arms to keep the chill off.

"Hey. What are you? An Eskimo?" Josh took off his jacket and draped it around Juliana's shoulders. "They're lining up single women in there like they're rounding up cattle." Juliana let out a little laugh.

"When was the last time you saw a cattle round up?"

"I've seen movies. Anyway, I think they're about to throw the bouquet. Let's go in. Why are you out here, anyway? All the fun's inside. And by all the fun, I meant me!" Josh grinned as he grabbed Juliana's hand and teasingly tried to pull her back towards the door. Juliana didn't take hold of Josh's hand, she just looked out into the night.

"I just wanted some air. I'll be back in a minute."

Josh looked at Jules and could tell that something was bothering her. This was something more than not having a dance partner and not knowing people at the wedding. Taking a few steps in Juliana's direction, Josh positioned himself behind her and rubbed his hands over her arms in an attempt to warm both of them.

"What's going on?" Josh asked gently.

"I was just getting warm in there and wanted some air."

"Bull."

Josh didn't say anything more. Juliana didn't say anything at all, she just looked at Josh. She opened her mouth to try to say something, but quickly realized that what she was going to say wasn't going to be the truth.

"What's the real reason?" Josh asked again. "Why have you been out of sorts all day?"

"I guess…Weddings just aren't my thing." Jules paused and looked over her shoulder at Josh to see if he understood. Seeing that he didn't quite recognize what she was saying, Juliana continued. "I try to avoid them altogether. Weddings, that is. I haven't been to one since…" Juliana's voice trailed off. She didn't finish the sentence; instead she took a deep breath, tilted her head and closed her eyes. "I see these perfect weddings, where everyone is so happy and in love, and I think about how I had that once."

Josh didn't respond. He was taken aback, momentarily. Josh had almost forgotten about Juliana's tragedy. Jules wasn't a sentimental kind of person, so this turn in her mood was new for Josh. Recovering from his temporary surprise, Josh gently kissed Juliana on her cheek and wrapped his arms around Jules.

"I can't stand here and tell you that you'll have a perfect wedding again. I can't predict the future. Well, not accurately anyway." Josh paused and picked his words carefully. "You're right. There is a lot of happiness and love in that room. But you're part of it. You were happy. And being with you made me happy. I've loved tonight and being here with you. I've loved you more than the rest of it." Juliana turned so that she was standing in Josh's embrace and looking into his eyes. A small smile spread across her face.

"Thanks. If you don't watch out, word's going to get out that you're quite a softie."

"Admit it. You love me." Josh had an arrogant smile on his face. He quickly pecked Juliana's lips. "But if this information does get out. I know where you live."

Josh and Jules turned to walk back into the reception. The bouquet toss was over, the music had picked up in tempo and dancers were flocking to the dance floor. Josh and Jules joined the other party goers, their bodies meshing perfectly as they danced to the music.

About an hour later, Juliana grabbed Josh's wrist to get a look at his watch.

"Well, what time is it?" Josh asked.

"Your watch says 10:40, so that means it's really about 11:00."

"Huh?"

"Donna told about you watch." Juliana said nonchalantly.

"I don't know what scares me more. The fact that you can tell time on my watch better than I can, or that fact that you've been talking to Donna about me."

"Hhhmmm. I guess you'll never know. Hey, let's get out of here."

"A-kay."

Josh and Juliana made their way out of the reception and out into the night. The pair wound their way through the historic houses on Annapolis, arms linked together. Josh had his suit jacket back on and Jules, who had left her coat at the chapel, was wearing Josh's heavy wool overcoat. As they passed by the state house, their conversation bounced from Revolutionary War history to personal anecdotes to brief political chatter. Over ten blocks from where they began, Juliana stopped suddenly.

"Where are you going?" Juliana asked Josh quickly.

"I was following you. Why where were you going?"

"I'm staying here." Juliana motioned with her hand to an inn just in front of them across the street.

"Well, if I had known that, I would have driven you over here."

"Why don't you stay?" Jules offered. "It's very quaint. Romantic even." Josh could see the coy act Juliana was putting on. He liked this side of her. "Plus, I have to get up tomorrow morning and go into the office. So, it's not like you'll oversleep and miss something."

"But I don't have anything to sleep in." Josh protested mockingly.

"You don't need anything." Jules countered, grabbing Josh's tie and pulling him in the direction of the inn. "Plus the sheets have a high thread count. They're heaven against your skin."

"Why, Ms. Wexler! Are you trying to get me into bed." Josh sang out teasingly.

"Mr. Lyman, I thought you'd never notice." Juliana called to Josh as she turned to walk backwards into the inn, leading Josh by his tie. "Let's get going."

Juliana led an eager Josh into the inn, both laughing and smiling.

Another block over, Admiral Fitzwallace and his wife sat in their car waiting for a red light to change. During their wait they had taken in the scene in front of them, not being able to hear what was being said, but being able to read the body language and actions in its place.

"They remind me of some people I know." Gail Fitzwallace said, squeezing her husband's hand.

"Please tell me that we were never that goofy." The Admiral said.

"We were. But I think we turned out just fine." As Gail finished, the light turned green.