Chapter 22.

Summer had come and gone and Fall was quickly coming to an end. Josh and Avery had now been together five months, outlasting Nathan and many other including the media's estimate determining the length of their relationship. As many first families before them, they too lived under a microscope, every detail of their lives outside of the white house documented for entertainment. For her younger brother and sisters it appeared to be less, because of their age they weren't targeted as much as she was. Avery had taken advantage of studying abroad as a way to escape living in the public eye . . . and until recently it proved to be effective. At first when the news of her relationship with Joshua became public there was much interest because of their parent's association with one another and the heated Presidential race expected in the up coming year, but soon after, the appeal of the President and the Speaker wore off. Instead the media focused on her and her relationship with Josh. Stories of past girlfriends and so-called scandals surfaced. They were bombarded by photographers every time they went out only to have their faces splashed in the next days paper or on the cover of the latest gossip magazine. In the beginning it was difficult to deal with but over the course of time they learned to just laugh at the outrageous headlines next to their pictures.

"Look who made it into the entertainment section of the Post today." Becca said while sitting at the breakfast table with her siblings and grandmother.

Avery took a sip of her coffee and rolled her eyes. "What scandalous thing have I done now?" she asked putting her coffee mug down on the table.

This had become a common discussion at the breakfast table and it took place at least one a week.

" Don't worry you haven't eloped or run over Mr. Templeton with a golf cart again this week." Becca said.

Avery shook her head. "You know they blew that completely out of proportion. I didn't run him over, just ran over his foot. No one told him to be standing behind the cart when I was backing up."

Kate chuckled, "I don't think Nathan will be inviting you to golf with him anytime soon."

"I don't think she's all that disappointed about that grandma" Horace smirked.

"Good morning." Both Mackenzie and Rod said in unison, greeting their family.

Kate and the kids greeted them back as they took their places at the table.

"What are you reading?" Mac asked her middle daughter.

"There's an article in the Post about Avery: 'Avery's ten reasons for choosing Dr. Templeton.'." Becca read the headline aloud.

Mac rolled her eyes at the absurdity of the title. "Apparently they have nothing new to report they just made something up."

Horace leaned over to see exactly what his twin was reading and chuckled at one of reasons listed.

Curiosity getting the best of her, Avery asked. "What's so funny?"

"One of them says that you won't have to worry about him partying like most guy's your age because he's too old and probably has arthritis." Horace answered.

Avery glared at her little brother. "That's not funny Horace."

He grinned, "Come on you can't tell me it's not even a little funny?" noticing she wasn't amused he continued, "It's just not something I can picture him doing."

"I'm sure he got it out of his system during his college days and that's a good thing sweetie." Kate pointed out.

Amy only having paid little attention to the conversation looked up curiously. " How old is Josh?" she asked.

"He's thirty-two." Avery answered. She paused momentarily, replaying her answer in her mind making sure she was right.

"He wasn't really that old. Was he?" she thought to herself. Their age difference had never really entered her mind until now.

Rod on the other hand had always noticed the age gap between his daughter and her boyfriend. It was just another one of his reasons why this relationship was a mistake . . . but over the course of the past few months he learned to not voice his opinions in this matter like he had so openly before. Mackenzie was to thank for that. During a conversation they had one night, Mac told him that even though he was entitled to his opinions, he didn't have to share it with everyone especially not when it was criticizing Joshua. All his comments did was hurt their daughter and that was something he never wanted to do . . . no matter how much he disliked her boyfriend.

"Wow he is old!" Amy said in an astonished tone which broke Rod out of his thoughts.

"I have to get to class."Avery exclaimed getting up and grabbing her bag . She rushed out of the room before anyone could say goodbye.

Soon after Avery's departure, Kate walked the twins and Amy down to their limo leaving Mackenzie and Rod alone in the dining room.

"So I hear it's going to be just us for dinner tonight." Mac said in a amused tone.

"Yeah, when your mom heard the twins would be out tonight she offered to take Amy out for pizza and a movie." he grinned . "So that means no staying late tonight . I want you upstairs by seven."

She met her husbands gaze with a mischievous smirk playing across her lips, " Is that an order Mr. Calloway?" she questioned.

"Yes it is." he replied in an equally playful tone. "I pull rank when the opportunity for a night alone with my wife arises." he concluded with a wink and a enormous grin.

Mac's heart skipped a beat. Over twenty years of marriage and he still had that effect on her she thought.

"Well I guess I can't argue with that.." she returned his grin. Mac picked up the newspaper Rebecca had left behind.

"This article is ridiculous."

Rod took the paper from her and read through the article.

Shrugging his shoulders, "I agree with some of these." he said.

Mac looked at him in disbelief. " Really? Which one of these do you agree with?"

"Well, the age issue for one. I think he's too old for Avery and she's missing out from being with people her own age."

"What is it you think she's missing out on? The drinking, partying, immature young men chasing after her?" she asked sarcastically. "If anything it should be a relief that she's met a mature, stable, and very caring man that makes her happy."

"Mac, I'm not saying I want her to be with some loser whose idea of extra curricular activities consist of beer pong , wet T-shirt contests , and drunk mattress surfing."

Mac nodded her head and cheekily responded, "Guess I know what you did on Friday nights in college."

"Mac that's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying that I think they are both in different places. Avery is about to finish college and then she's off to law school, she's barely begun her life. Joshua is eleven years older than her, settled in his career and probably ready for marriage. Do we really want that distraction for her?"

Mac stood from the table and put her plate in the sink. She turned to look at Rod and slightly shaking her head, "I can't have this conversation anymore, Rod. I thought if we gave you enough time you would be able to accept this. Instead you have found more reasons to hate Joshua in the past five months than were used against me during the campaign when I ran for VP and my confirmation hearings put together... I just wish you would stop being negative for one moment and allow yourself to find one thing you do like about him because he's not going anywhere anytime soon." She grabbed her briefcase and placed her hand on his shoulder "I'll see you later."

Replaying his wife's words in his mind, Rod just sat there , staring straight ahead.

"She's right you know." Kate walked into the kitchen and took a seat next to her son-in-law.

Rod looked up at the older woman.. He had come to love Kate just as much as his own mother , who unfortunately had passed away soon after he and Mac married. Kate had always treated him just like her own child and he respected her opinion just as much as he did his wife's.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop and if you don't want to hear what I have to say just tell me."

Rod smiled, " That's never stopped you before." Kate smacked his arm lightly and Rod put his hands up in defense. " I want to hear what you have to say, really I do."

"All right... I think you've forgotten what it's like to be in Joshua's position. If my memory serves me right your mother didn't give Mac an easy time when you two got serious."

Rod nodded remembering. "Yeah she didn't talk to me for a month after I told her Mac and I were engaged."

"And how did that make you feel?"

"I don't think I had ever been as angry with her as I was during those few months. I couldn't understand how she didn't see how much I loved Mac and how ready we were to start our lives together." seeing where his mother-in-law was going with this he said, "But Kate it's different with Avery."

"Why is it different? If you think it's because she's too young... to tell you the truth , Rod, I look at her and I see a young woman with a good strong head on her shoulders, who knows exactly what she wants and how much she can handle."

Rod sighed, " I know Kate... I know she's smart and she's old enough to make her own decisions. I just don't see what she see's in this guy."

Kate couldn't help but chuckle. " You sound just like Michael the first time Mac brought you home. He too wasn't thrilled at the prospect of his baby girl head over heels for some guy she'd met in school."

"He never showed it though."

"No, because over time he saw how happy you made Mac and that you really only wanted the best for her . When I look at Joshua and Avery together , it's like seeing you and Mac all over again at that stage... he's a lot like you too, you know."

"That's what scares me." he confided.

Kate smiled and patted his hand while standing up. " Better he resemble you than Nathan... Just like her mother she won't settle for anything but the best."

Rod genuinely smiled at his mother-in-law , "Thank you Kate."

Rod was glad they had their talk. He had really forgotten what it was like for him and Mac and was kicking himself for making the same mistake his parent's made.