Donna lay awake in the dark room, staring at Audrey who was sleeping peacefully beside her. They'd arrived in Wisconsin the day prior, but with all of the changes and commotion in such a short amount of time, Audrey wasn't sleeping well. She'd awoken the two nights prior, scared and unsure of her surroundings, and had refused to take a nap that day. She was growing more and more irritable and with that, she clung closer to Donna.
Donna heard the buzz of her cell phone on the nightstand, tilting it forward to check the number. She climbed gently out of bed and stepped into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind her.
"Leo?"
"Donna. Hi."
"What's going on?" She tried to keep her voice down but her stress level was immediately elevated with the sound of dejection in Leo's voice.
"I've got a little update. Are you in a place where you're able to talk to me right now?"
"Yes, of course. I just put Audrey down." Donna took a few steps away from the bedroom doors, sitting out of the way on the steps to the main floor in hopes of a few moments privacy.
"Donna…" Leo sighed, unsure of how he should go about this.
Donna swallowed hard. "It's not good, is it?" Her voice was small and fearful.
"No, it's not. Due to…" he trailed off. He wasn't going to drag this out. "The sentence will stand, Donna. 24 months. They're going to transfer him to a federal facility by the end of the week."
Donna let out out a sob, not caring to compose herself in front of Leo. She couldn't have cared less about protocol at this point. She leaned forward, her face coming to rest on her knees as she rocked herself back and forward for a moment. She felt as though she was living in a nightmare.
"I know," Leo tried to soothe. His heart was breaking for the man he considered a surrogate son, and thinking of Donna's grief and Audrey's fear only compounded Leo's pain. "I'm just-" Leo couldn't come up with the words. "We're all absolutely beside ourselves, Donna."
Donna managed to pull herself together enough to finish the conversation with Leo. She had to start thinking clearly and figure out where to go from here.
"Where are they sending him?" She was barely able to choke out the question.
"Well, there are two potential facilities. Danbury, Connecticut or Englewood Correctional Facility in Littleton, Colorado. It sounds like they'll send him to Danbury. That's a quick shuttle from DC, Donna. Maybe it won't feel like he's so far?" Leo knew he was grasping at straws.
"Littleton, Colorado?" Donna questioned, her mind already on its own path.
"Yes," Leo confirmed. "But you really don't have to worry about that. I think it's safe to say-"
"Leo, I have to call you back." The tone in Donna's voice was urgent.
"Donna? Is everything alright?" Leo sat forward in his chair, worried about the endless possibilities of what else could go wrong right now for the people he loved so dearly.
"I- Yes. I just, I'll call you back in thirty minutes. Bye." She ended the call and quickly dialed another number.
"Donna?" The voice seemed somewhat surprised to receive her call.
"Cliff. I need your help."
"Donna, the sentencing is final. There's not anything I can do at this point."
"I know," she told him in a hurry. "I mean, I'm not going to stop fighting it, but that's not why I called. I need you to have Josh moved to Littleton, Colorado."
"They're sending him to Danbury. I thought you'd be relieved to have him closer to DC." Cliff was confused as to why she'd want Josh sent halfway across the country.
"I just- I need you to do this for me, Cliff." Donna wasn't going to explain anything more than she had to. "You can sell it to your party as a win. He'll be less accessible to the administration and further removed from DC."
"Well, that's true but-"
"Damnit, Cliff!" Donna was losing control of her emotions. "He trusted you! And now he's losing his whole career, and two years of his life with his daughter! You can take care of this and look like a hero to your party as well as the White House insiders who will keep it to themselves but remember what you did, or you can do nothing and I'll call someone else! I have the Deputy Chief of Staff's rolodex programmed into my phone and the full weight and force of the White House behind me. Do you think I'm going to let him go down without a fight?" Her breathing had grown heavy, angry tears welling in her eyes.
"Okay." Cliff was clearly startled by Donna's outburst. "I'll make the calls. I'll touch base with you tomorrow morning."
"Thank you," she composed herself a bit more, sitting up a little straighter where she was perched on the steps. "Have a good night."
Once the call had ended, she let out a deep breath. She had to pray this would work. It was the only things she could think of to even begin to remedy this situation.
She called Leo back, as promised, and caught him up to speed.
"So, you want him sent to Englewood?" Leo wasn't following.
"Yes." Donna was resolute in her answer. "Leo, we aren't coming back to DC."
"What? Donna, your job is still here. We would never terminate your employment. You're an integral part of this administration."
"Thank you, Leo," a sad smile graced her face. "But I can't. You'll have my letter of resignation this week. I'll fax it to Margaret."
"Is there something we can do to change your mind?"
"No, Leo. But that's sweet of you. There are... many reasons... we can't come back."
"You can't stand the thought of continuing without him?" Leo venture a guess. He wasn't blind to what had developed between Josh and Donna over the years. And though he'd warned Josh about getting involved with his assistant at the beginning of the administration, he had watched their love grow over the years. This wasn't just a sordid affair that would land them in a gossip column. This was the real thing.
"That," Donna admitted. "And I don't think it's a good idea for Audrey to be in DC right now. There have been… things. On the internet."
"What kind of things?" Leo was immediately on full alert. "We can conference in Ron Butterfield and-"
"Nothing like that," Donna supplied. "Just some fans of Josh's with overly active imaginations that think they can raise Audrey while he's gone."
"Donna…" Leo wasn't convinced that this was nothing.
"She will never be able to have a normal life in DC," Donna told him. "Not where her last name is the source of every news headline right now. I can't put her through that."
"So, you're going to stay in Wisconsin?" Leo wasn't following Donna's logic on having Josh transferred to Colorado.
"No... " she hedged. "But I'm working on something."
Though she couldn't see it, Leo nodded his head in confidence. He knew Donna would make the best decisions for Audrey. There was no doubt in his mind. "Alright. Well, you'll let us know if you need anything?"
"Of course. Thanks, Leo."
"Anytime, kid. I'll touch base again soon. Kiss the baby for me."
"Absolutely. Goodnight."
She flipped her phone closed and climbed up the stairs to her childhood bedroom, crawling back under the covers and opening her arms as Audrey unconsciously snuggled in closer to her. She'd begin to put her plan into place the next morning. She could only hope that she'd made the right decision.
OoOoOoOoO
"Donna, look at me!" Audrey exclaimed happily from where she stood on a stepstool in the kitchen. "I'm helping!"
"I see that," Donna grinned brightly as she rounded the corner with her now empty coffee mug. She'd been on the phone in her father's study, locked away for the better part of a few hours.
"And what is it that you're making, Sweet Pea?" Donna stood behind Audrey and gently kissed the top of her head.
"Sauce," Audrey stated, pulling a few leaves of basil off the stem and adding them to her small pile.
"Well it smells amazing," Donna told her. She loved her mother's homemade pasta and sauce, and she was looking forward to their family gathering that evening. It had been a long time since she'd been home for Sunday dinner.
"It really does, Meredith," Edie chimed in from across the kitchen island, where she was peeling garlic.
Donna had been relieved, but not surprised, that Edith had been able to somewhat confide in Meredith. The two had always gotten along swimmingly on Meredith's visits to DC, but they hadn't spent a substantial amount of time together until now. Donna knew that Edith wasn't able to talk to any of her own friends about what was going on with Josh, but she'd been able to find another mother to trust upon their arrival in Wisconsin.
"So, what's the plan for this afternoon," Donna questioned, rinsing her mug and staring out the kitchen window at the falling snow.
"Well, Mark called while you were on the phone. He and Jenny are going to take the kids sledding on the hill by the High School before dinner. They wanted to see if you and Audrey wanted to join."
"Oh, please, Donna!" Audrey bounced up and down, eyes wide at the prospect. "Pleeeeease."
Donna raised her eyebrows at her mother for mentioning the activity in front of Audrey, but Meredith only smirked, knowing exactly what she'd done.
"It wouldn't kill you to leave the house, Donnatella," she continued. "Nothing's going to happen to you two at the sledding hill."
"How cold is it?" Donna glanced outside. "I don't think we have much besides her coat and mittens."
"It's not so bad yet. The blizzard isn't going to hit until early morning. Better let her go out and play while she still can. Besides, I have your little snowsuit in a box in the basement. I bet it will fit her."
"Fine," Donna agreed, "We'll go."
Audrey cheered at the announcement.
"But," Donna continued in a warning voice. "You're going to lay down for a little while so you're not tired when you're playing."
"Oh-kay," Audrey relented, knowing better than to test Donna.
After washing her hands, Donna followed her upstairs, allowing Audrey to select a book from the stack in the playroom so she could slowly wind down. Donna began to read Harry the Dirty Dog and Audrey's eyelids slowly became heavier as she fought off sleep. By the end of the story, her breathing was deep and steady, but Donna stayed where she was, running her hands over Audrey's wild curls for a few minutes. Eventually, she tucked a blanket in a little tighter and placed Walter in her arms before tiptoeing out of the room and making her way back down the stairs. Meredith and Edie were just finishing the clean up from the sauce preparations.
"She's asleep," Donna announced.
"Let's head down to the basement and find that snowsuit while she's out. Your father will listen for her to wake up." Meredith dried her hands on a dishtowel. "Come on, Edie, you're going to love this."
Donna chuckled but followed her mother into the basement of the townhome and helped move boxes until she unearthed a large plastic tote marked Donnatella- Clothing in permanent marker. As Donna began to sort through to find the pink snowsuit she remembered wearing as a child, Meredith combed through for another box.
"Ah ha!" Meredith opened the top flaps and pulled out a photo album. "I knew it was in here somewhere," she muttered, flipping through the pages before stopping abruptly, a large smile on her face. "Now who does that look like to you," Meredith beamed, handing the album to Edith.
Edie let out a genuine laugh, her fingers covering her mouth after her outburst. "Donna, the resemblance is unbelievable," she grinned. "Audrey has Joshua's features, sure, and I've always been able to see Joan in her, but this- Look at her facial expression!" Edie laughed again, causing Donna's curiosity to peak.
She stood from where she was kneeling next to the box of clothing and peeked at the photo that was bringing so much joy to the two older women.
She recognized a 4 year old version of herself, standing beside a pool in her bathing suit and holding an ice cream cone, the ice cream portion of which was clearly dropped on the ground beside her. But for the blonde hair and blue eyes, it could have been a photo of Audrey. Donna's normally well tamed hair was curling wildly in the humidity of a Wisconsin summer and she wore a pout that Audrey had clearly adopted from her.
"Could I get a copy of this," Edith asked. "Joshua will just love it."
"Of course," Meredith agreed happily as the two continued to flip through the book.
The simple act of hearing Josh's name brought a pang of sadness through Donna. Edie was right, he would have loved it. But Donna wished he would have been there, with them. Laughing over photos of Donna with a mouth full of braces holding a spelling bee ribbon, or bundling up with them to take Audrey sledding. She would have given anything to feel his arms around her at that precise moment, bantering with her about Meredith's packrat tendencies.
Donna finally unearthed the snowsuit, holding it up and shaking it out. "It's a little big for her, but it'll work," Donna announced. "Just needs to air out a bit."
"It'll be fine for today. And she'll grow into it," Meredith assured, waiving away Donna's concerns. "She has a coat, mittens and a hat?"
"Yes. They're upstairs in the entryway."
"Alright. Jenny said she'd bring a pair of snowboots for her that he kids have outgrown, so I think she's all set." Meredith sat down next to Donna, perching on top of a box marked Baseball Trophies- Christopher.
"You saved all of this?" Donna was slightly stunned as she picked up a few well preserved articles of clothing from her childhood.
"Of course I did," Meredith thought it would have been obvious. "I thought perhaps you'd want them if you had a little girl one day. And well, you do."
"I remember this one," she smiled, holding up a dress about Audrey's size. "I loved this one."
"She's awake," Donna's father called down the stairs, drawing their attention from the box.
"I'll go get her," Edith offered quickly. "You two stay here."
Donna and Meredith sat in silence for a moment, both of them picking up and examining several pieces of clothing.
"Oh, she will look as cute as a button in this one," Meredith gushed, holding up a blue corduroy jumper, embellished with a few embroidered flowers.
"Where are all the baby clothes," Donna asked, seeing only items that began around a 4T size.
"Well, when you were born you mostly wore hand me downs from Christopher."
"What?" Donna laughed.
"You were a tiny baby and it was a very snowy winter that year. We hardly went anywhere. That, and we lost a few boxes a couple of years ago when the basement flooded," Meredith continued. "That's why we switched to the plastic totes."
"Oh." It was beginning to make sense now.
"Why did you think I hadn't sent any of this earlier?"
Donna shrugged her shoulders. She hadn't really known it existed, and therefore she hadn't especially missed it. But she was certainly glad to have it now.
"You're doing a great job with her, you know," Meredith continued softly. "I'm very proud of you."
Donna beamed with pride at her mother's praise.
"I don't think I can even begin to understand what you're going through right now," Meredith continued, "and I know you may not want to talk to me about it, but if you do, well, I'm here, alright?" She placed her hand softly on Donna's shoulder.
"It's just hard," Donna admitted, turning to hug her mother. "I wish I could fix it. I want to make it all go away, and I don't know how." she admitted.
"I know you do," Meredith soothed. "But Donna, you're doing everything that you can for him. You're taking care of Audrey and to Josh, that's all that matters."
"I just already miss him so much," Donna cried.
Meredith softly rubbed her daughter's back. Donna had been so strong for Edie and Audrey, but she hadn't allowed herself time to come to terms with how she felt about Josh's absence.
"Somebody's awake," Edith reported from the top of the stairs.
"Donna?" Audrey called, a bit unsure of herself.
Donna moved back a bit from her mother, wiping her eyes as she answered. "I'm down here. Come on. Hold onto the railing."
Audrey took the steps slowly and groggily wandered over to Donna once she reached the basement, climbing into her lap.
"Hi, babycakes," Donna kissed her forehead. "How'd you sleep?"
Audrey rest her head against Donna, simply blinking a few times. "Is it time to play in the snow?"
Donna laughed at Audrey's response. "Almost. We'll have a little snack and then get dressed and it will be time to go."
"What's that?" Audrey questioned, pointing to the jumper still laid out on top of the box of clothing.
"That's a dress that was mine when I was a little girl," Donna told her.
"It was?" Audrey stared at her, wide eyed with adoration.
"Sure was," Donna nodded, smoothing Audrey's wild bed head. "Would you like to wear it sometime?"
Audrey gave full dimpled grin. "Yes."
"Alright," Donna grinned back, "Well now it belongs to you."
OoOoOoOoO
Donna lugged a small sled up the hill behind her former high school for what felt like the hundredth time. Audrey ran along infront of her giggling and occasionally tossing snow into the air with Maddie and Tyler.
"Is this why Dad always tried to talk us out of sledding?" Donna asked, huffing and puffing.
"Probably," Mark smirked. "Only he had to pull 4 sleds instead of one."
"That's fair," Donna laughed. "Can't say I blame him."
"Me either," Mark agreed.
Donna sat the sled down at the top of the hill and Audrey climbed on board again. "Last time," Donna told Audrey.
"But… but... " Audrey's eyes widened as she began to protest.
"No but's, Audrey Joan. It's getting colder and it's snowing harder. We need to get back to Grammy's before you catch a cold or the roads get bad."
Audrey popped her lip out in a pout, causing Mark to laugh outright.
"Talk about a taste of your own medicine," Mark muttered, shaking his head in amusement.
"How about this…" Jenny piped in. "Instead of going down this hill one more time, how about we go over to the big hill?" She pointed to the large, steep decline where the older kids were zipping through the snow.
Tyler and Maddie cheered, and Audrey joined in with her excitement.
"Let's go," Donna took Audrey's hand and pulled the sled along as the 6 of them made their way to the large hill.
Audrey squealed with glee as she practically flew down the hill on Donna's lap, the two coming to a stop as the hill leveled out near the elementary school's parking lot.
"Alright," Donna hopped up to begin to climb back up the giant hill and return to the car. "Come on."
Audrey reached for Donna, wanting to be carried up the hill. "No, Sweet Pea," she began. "You have to walk. I don't want to slip and fall and hurt you."
Audreys' shoulders drooped and Donna was certainly glad she'd mandated that Audrey take a nap that afternoon.
"I'll hold your hand," Donna offered and Audrey smiled, placing her mitten into Donna's.
They'd made their way back to the car, Mark loading the sled into the back of his truck and promising to be over to their parents house in time for dinner.
"Donna? Donna, is that you?" Donna's head swiveled around when she heard her name called.
"Oh! Steph! Hi! What are you doing here?"
"I'm sledding with my nephews," she reported.
"Hello, Audrey," she greeted with a smile.
"Say, hi," Donna instructed. "You remember Steph. Same came to see us last year and we all had breakfast at Daddy's favorite diner."
Audrey waived her mitten at Steph.
"Listen, I wanted to call but I didn't know where you would be or what was going on." Steph trailed off. "I was so sorry to hear what happened."
"What happened," Audrey asked, tugging at Donna's arm.
"Let's get you in the car, sweetie," Donna deflected, opening the back seat and removing Audrey's damp mittens and coat before buckling her in to the booster seat.
"Sorry," Stephanie cringed at her misstep.
Donna reached in and started Josh's Audi, cranking the heat up to try and warm the car for Audrey before closing the door so she could speak to her friend with privacy.
"It's okay. I just haven't really had the talk with her yet," Donna bit her lip. "I think she's half expecting Josh to turn up to tuck her into bed any day now. She knows he's going to be gone for a little while, but we had no idea…" she trailed off, clearing her throat after a second or two. "Anyway."
"How long are you in town?" Steph questioned. "We should grab dinner or something."
"Yeah," Donna hedged with a fake smile. "Maybe. Things are just kind of hectic right now."
"Well, call me if you have the time."
"Sure. Of course. It was great to see you."
"You too, Donna."
"Oh, and Steph. If we could just keep this between us. I mean, the fact that I'm in town. I don't want all of Madison to know…"
"I understand," Steph nodded. "See you later Donna."
Donna nodded her thanks before climbing back into the car and heading towards her parents townhouse, Audrey singing to herself in the backseat. Once they were both changed into dry clothes, they made their way back to the kitchen to find Edie and Meredith sitting at the island with mugs of coffee playing cards.
"Perfect timing," Meredith stated as Donna popped Audrey onto the barstool next to Edith. "Cookies and cocoa are ready for the sledders. She handed Audrey a small mug of cocoa that wasn't too hot and slid a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies onto the counter.
"Yummy!" Audrey exclaimed, leaning forward, climbing onto her knees on the stool and leaning across the counter to reach for a cookie. Her hand hovered over the treat until she quickly retracted it back, glancing over to Donna. "I didn't eat my dinner yet," Audrey reported as though perhaps Donna had forgotten. The little girl knew the rules and she certainly didn't want to disappoint Donna.
"It's okay," Donna chuckled. "Just this once."
Audrey carefully picked a cookie and sat back in her chair to enjoy her treat.
"Mom, can you watch her for a sec while Edie and I step into the other room."
"Of course," Meredith replied, looking between the other two women.
Edith followed Donna into her father's study.
"What's going on?" Edith was immediately worried.
"I talked to Leo last night," Donna began, taking a seat on the couch next to Edie.
"And? Did they figure something out?"
"No," Donna stated dejectedly. "They're going to transfer him into federal custody by the end of the week."
"Oh my God." Edith was clearly beside herself.
Donna reached out to squeeze her hand in comfort. "We're not going to stop fighting for him, Edith. And in the meantime I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make this better for everyone. I've spoken to some friends who are inside on this one and they think they can get him transferred to Englewood Correctional Facility in Littleton, Colorado."
"Colorado?" Edith was becoming even more panicked.
"I think it would be best for us to stay away from Washington for a while, don't you?" Donna offered the suggestion lightly. If Edie wanted to return to DC she'd certainly hear her out.
"Well, I- I don't know. I suppose. But where are we going to go? Florida?"
"I think it may be time for a fresh start." Donna tread lightly. "And I'd like to be closer to him."
"Yes, I would tend to agree." Edith shifted in her seat.
"A few years ago Josh listed me on the trusts," Donna began, unsure of how much Edith already knew. "And he sent all of the paperwork with me last week."
"Alright…" Edith still wasn't following.
"The assets are frozen while he's gone," Donna explained. "But we still have access to other things. Noah left him a cabin. Do you remember this? A hunting property outside of Breckenridge."
"Oh. Yes. I seem to remember something about that." Edith was concentrating. "It was a type of bonus when he made partner."
"Right. Well, Josh has kept it up for the last several years as an investment property. I called Debevoise & Plimpton and they'll forward the details on the property to us. I can arrange to have the utilities turned on and someone there to meet us with the keys..."
"So, you're saying you want to move to Colorado?"
"Yes," Donna nodded. "I think that's the best option."
"Well," Edith paused for a moment. "Joshua trusts you. And so do I. I guess we can give it a try."
"Alright," Donna nodded resolutely. "We'll talk to Audrey about it tomorrow and head out as soon as the weather clears."