Danny looked at his son in amazement. He was plowing through a second helping of baked French Toast and the side dishes. It was more noteworthy because P.J. hadn't stopped chattering since they'd crossed the threshold at C.J.'s.
Patrick wanted a tour, he wanted to turn on the TV, he wanted to know why her Christmas tree wasn't up.
C.J. just smiled and coped by letting him fold the cloth napkins. That impressed the seven year old, "Dad just has the paper ones or paper towels."
She'd led them to the breakfast table with a bit of nerves showing. The table groaned under the weight of the meal.
Danny was stunned. Somehow between the time she left Danny's apartment until now, C.J. had turned into super chef. She'd made a coffeecake, baked French Toast, hash browns and had a plate of breakfast meats.
"Uh, C.J. is there anything left at the store?"
"I wasn't sure if P.J. liked bacon, ham, sausage patties or sausage links so . . ." She shrugged her shoulders.
Danny couldn't resist teasing her. "I don't see Canadian Bacon."
She gasped and looked stricken until he laughed. "Kidding, kidding."
P.J. chimed in, "I like all this. Let's eat." He sat down and started to reach for a platter. His hand froze in midair when he caught Danny's eye.
"Champ, it's not an eating contest. I think saying grace would be a nice start since C.J. went to all this effort."
"Sure. Gimme your hands." He urged the two adults along, "Come on, you have to hold hands or this doesn't count."
They reached across the table and tried not to let on that holding hands was nothing unusual for them. P.J. rattled off the traditional Catholic before meal blessing as he had last night complete with the hand squeeze that joins family members. "Okay, I'm starving, let's eat."
Danny offered C.J. the plate of French Toast. "But even starving, you're still a gentleman."
There was a heavy sigh and eye rolling from the child. "All right."
C.J. took pity on him and quickly grabbed his plate. "I think it'll be easier if as the hostess, I serve. What would you like, P.J.?"
"Everything, please." He had his fork poised as she set the filled plate back down. "Thanks, is there syrup?"
"Yes and it's from President Bartlet's own maple trees on his farm in New Hampshire."
"Cool." He took the pitcher from her extended hand, "Wow, it's warm. This is just like a restaurant. Like one of those all you can eat buffets."
"High praise indeed." Danny nodded toward his son, "You're a hit, C.J."
C.J. loved having them at her table. It felt comfortable like it was her life. For a moment she allowed herself to imagine that this was her family and not just a delightful interlude. Once again she had to suppress a longing she wasn't even aware was buried deep inside her.
Danny nudged her foot under the table and when she looked at him found him smiling and nodding. He understood her too well for her to hide her feelings.
P.J.'s chatter continued between bites throughout the meal. Without one word of prompting he took his dishes, glass and silverware to the sink. "Thank you, C.J. It was all good. Is there coffeecake left to take to Josh?"
"That's a great idea, P.J. I'll wrap up the rest of it for you to take and share."
"All of it?" The boy sounded plaintive.
She tapped the tip of his nose, "As much as you'd like to share."
Danny insisted they help clean up before leaving and C.J. discovered Patrick was well trained in kitchen chores. She was sorry her time as part of this family was about over especially when P.J. wrapped his arms around her in fierce good bye hug.
His father restrained himself from following P.J.'s lead. He promised, "I'll be back at work Tuesday but we may stop by tomorrow so P.J. can say hi to Libby."
"See if Josh can get you into the Oval to see the President. I'm sure he'd enjoy seeing P.J. again."
"Cool." The child tugged on his father's hand, "Dad, we gotta go. Bye C.J."
They were gone and C.J. lingered in the doorway wanting to hold onto the Concannon vibes a little longer. Her apartment suddenly seemed too quiet and too empty.
She decided to call her brother. Drew would refresh her feeling of family. She'd also have the chance to catch up with her sister-in-law and nephews. Hearing about their exploits would liven things up again.
P.J. bounced up and down as he kept a continuous pressure on Josh's doorbell. "Dad, he's taking forever."
Danny moved his son's thumb off the buzzer. "Champ, you need to remember something. Josh is still getting better. He has a hard time moving quickly."
"I'm sorry."
"No need for that, not to me."
Josh Lyman flung open the door, "Which got stuck, your finger or my buzzer?"
"I was trying to wake you up so I can beat you at some video games before kick off." P.J. dashed into the apartment and gave Josh a head to toe appraisal. "Hi. I'm glad to see you."
He saw Josh open his arms and the boy ran into them and held on tight. "Same here. You're a good friend just like your Dad and I'm lucky to have you in my corner. Thanks for the cards and your Mom's cookies."
Danny knew that neither Josh nor P.J. would want to admit how emotional this was so he went for levity. "Hey, I came to watch football and eat junk until this place smells like a diner."
"Okay, then. First things first, got you a new Redskins' sweatshirt short stuff." Josh kept a hand on P.J.'s shoulder, "You have to catch me up on everything in Podunkville."
"That's not where I live, Josh."
"Whatever or wherever. You mean you don't have any news?"
P.J. considered the question. "Well, let's see. My Dad has a new girlfriend."
"Huh?" Danny's mouth dropped open.
"Really P.J.?"
"Yeah. Her name is C.J. Cregg and she works at the White House. She says she knows you."
Danny knelt in front of his son, "Where did you get an idea like that?"
"She told me she worked with Josh."
"No, about C.J. and me."
"I'm not a little kid, Dad. I've got eyes and a brain."
Josh laughed, "Busted."
The Pulitzer Prize winning Senior White House Correspondent famous for his grasp of language could only lean back on his heels, scratch his head and mutter, "Boy, oh boy. Boy, oh boy, my boy."
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