"Donna, are we almost there yet?" Audrey squirmed around in her car seat.
"Not too much longer, Sweet Pea. Color one more picture."
They'd been on the road for two days, stopping at a midway point in a small town in Nebraska to get some rest. And now, as the car slowly climbed the mountains, they were almost to their new home.
"It should be the next turn off, dear," Edith noted, glancing at the map. "And then another… mile or so?"
Donna took the turn slowly, unsure of the ice conditions as the sun set. She was relieved they were almost there. She'd checked the road conditions almost neurotically on the drive, grateful that Josh's Audi was all wheel drive. A few minutes later she could breathe again as she pulled into the hotel parking lot.
"This seems like a nice place," she noted, taking the keys from the ignition and exiting the car, popping the trunk to grab two suitcases and the briefcase, Edie following with another bag and Audrey.
Once they'd checked in and made their way to the room, Donna knew she needed a plan to burn off Audrey's excess energy if any of them were going to sleep that night.
"Guess what, Sweet Pea."
"What?" Audrey climbed onto one of the queen beds and bounced around a little bit.
"This hotel has an indoor pool!" Donna mustered all the enthusiasm she had left after 9 hours of driving.
Audrey's eyes widened. "Wow…" she whispered.
"So since you've been so good today, let's put on your swimsuit and we can go play in the pool before dinner."
Audrey scrambled off the bed and over towards her suitcase, bouncing on the balls of her feet with elation as Donna pulled out her swimwear.
"Ask Bubbe to help you get changed," Donna instructed as she grabbed her own swimsuit and slipped into the bathroom.
"Edith? Are you going to join us?" Donna grabbed a couple of towels and gave Edith a welcoming smile.
"Come on, Bubbe!" Audrey bounced around with excitement.
"No, dears. I think I'll just stay here and rest. You two have fun."
"Alright. We'll be back in 45 minutes or so and then we'll order some dinner. I'll pick up some delivery menus from the front desk."
Donna and Audrey made their way to the hotel pool, which was completely empty, much to Donna's relief.
Donna stood in the shallow end as Audrey jumped in and out of the pool, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Donna, watch," she'd request before jumping in and splashing around, laughing and clinging to Donna as they bobbed around in the warm water.
"Do you remember when we went swimming at Bubbe's house?" Audrey questioned. "Daddy likes to swim."
"I know he does," Donna agreed. "And he especially likes to swim with you."
"Donna?"
"Yes, Sweet Pea?"
"How many hours until Daddy comes home?"
Donna froze. She knew that Audrey would have more questions on this topic at some point, but that didn't change the fact that it broke her heart.
"Audrey, do you remember what Bubbe and I talked to you about in Wisconsin? That Daddy will be gone for a while?"
"Yes," Audrey nodded her head. "But why?"
"Well, Sweetie," Donna moved them towards the pool steps, sitting down and turning Audrey to face her. "Daddy is… He's…"
"Helping the President?" Audrey offered, her big brown eyes softly blinking in wonder as she waited for an answer from Donna.
"Well, yes. I suppose so." Donna couldn't come up with a better way to explain the situation without instilling fear in Audrey, so she ran with it.
"Is Papa Leo with him?"
"Well, no, Papa Leo isn't there this time."
"What about Uncle Toby?"
"No. This time it's just Daddy."
"Oh." Audrey considered this for a moment. "He's all alone?"
"Well… yes. For right now."
Audrey's chin started to quiver. "Is Daddy sad?"
"Oh, Sweet Pea. Don't cry."
Donna pulled Audrey close, holding her tight as she stood and walked up the steps of the pool and over to their chairs, wrapping Audrey in a warm towel.
"Sometimes you're going to be able to talk to him on the phone. And we're going to write him letters every day so he can hear about all of the new things you've learned."
Audrey considered this for a moment, but didn't cheer up. Then again, Donna hadn't expected her to. How could she ask Audrey to comprehend something that even she hadn't wrapped her mind around.
"Audrey, it's ok to miss him. I miss him too. But we're going to stick together and keep going." At this point Donna was giving herself a pep talk as much as she was Audrey.
Audrey stares at her tiny left hand, uncurling her fingers to look at her palm, the one that Josh kissed every morning so she could take his love with her to school. Slowly, she looked up, placing her hand to Donna's cheek as she'd learned to do in The Kissing Hand.
"Daddy loves you," Audrey stated softly.
Donna tried not to fall apart at Audrey's soft sentiment, but she couldn't help herself. She pulled Audrey close and kissed the top of her head. Having a small piece of him with her in Audrey made it feel as though she just might find a way to make it through the next two years. And having Audrey in her life was certainly giving her a reason to keep going.
"Come on, baby girl," Donna balanced Audrey in her hip and a small cloth bag of their belongings on her shoulder. "Let's find you some dinner."
OoOoOoO
The front door let out a chime noise as Donna stepped into the small real estate office at the address she'd been provided by Debevoise & Plimpton.
"May I help you?" An older woman with short, grey hair stepped out of the back room.
"I'm Donna Moss," she explained. "I'm here to pick up a key."
"Of course you are. Well, aren't you lovely?" The woman's smile warmed as she pulled open the top drawer and sorting through a small stack for an envelope with Donna's name and placing it on the counter.
"I'm Barbara," the woman introduced herself. My husband, Merle, he's taken care of the place for the past few years. You know, the maintenance on the house and the upkeep of the property."
"Oh, of course," Donna smiled in appreciation as though she knew the ins and outs of Josh's arrangement with his groundskeeper. Her years in DC had taught her well, she thought.
"Mr. Lyman… is he here?" Barbara stared out the front door towards the car, craning her neck to see.
"No, he's not here today," Donna tried to sound casual.
"Well, he's always been very good to Merle. Pays by the year, too. Check just cleared 5 days ago," she informed Donna. "So Merle, he heard you were coming to town and he was over there early this morning and plowed the driveway. Is that your car?" Barbara didn't miss a beat.
"Um, yes." Donna glanced at Josh's Audi in the parking lot.
"Well, it'll do for now," Barbara dismissed. "But you'll want to get some snow tires as soon as you can or you'll be stuck in that cabin for the duration."
"Right. Snow tires." Donna nodded once.
"There's a shop two blocks over," Barbara continued, jotting down the information on a post it. "Ask for Tom. Tell him you're a friend of Merle's."
"Thank you," Donna smiled sincerely.
"There's a map to the property inside the envelope," Barbara's didn't miss a beat. "So you shouldn't have any trouble finding the place. Water and electricity are already on. That fancy lawyer of yours called ahead and had it all set up for you."
"It's sounds like we're all set." Donna began to gather her things, but Barbara continued to speak.
"I told Merle, I said 'what are a couple of kids from New York City doing moving into a house out here.'"
"Oh just a change of scenery for a little while." Donna certainly didn't correct the woman on where they were from, letting her live under the assumption that because Josh's attorneys and money were out of New York that they, too, lived in Manhattan.
"And then of course that Josh Lyman from the news. Well, he's all you hear about lately. And I said well what are the odds of that Merle, you work for a man named Josh Lyman."
Donna was now on high alert. "Right…" she kind of mumbled. "Well, I better be off," she smiled, grabbing her purse and quickly making her way to the door. "Thanks again, Barbara. Have a lovely day."
And with that she was out the door and back in the car.
OoOoOoO
"Is this it?" Donna slowed the vehicle to a stop in the middle of a side road. They hadn't seen another car in at least five minutes.
She glanced at the map before confirming that the path beginning at the space in the perimeter fencing was indeed their driveway. It was freshly plowed, just as Barbara had indicated, but Donna took it as slowly as she could. Snow tires would be on the top of her list of things to do.
Donna's eyes widened when she began to get a good look at their new home. The residence that Josh has written off as a hunting cabin was in fact a beautiful home nestled in near a grove of pine trees with a second small building, likely a caretakers quarters from what Donna could tell, off to the side.
It wasn't lavish by any standards, but it seemed cozy and inviting, and certainly large enough for the three of them. Holding Audrey's hand in case of any ice patches, Donna stepped onto the wrap around porch and dug the key out of her pocket, placing it into the lock and swinging the front door open as the three stepped inside.
The main floor, an open room with a living, kitchen and dining room, maintained the rustic charm of exposed beams and a large, wood burning fireplace.
Donna stepped further inside, Audrey clinging close to her in the unfamiliar environment. Crossing the living room, Donna peered into the master bedroom, sharing the distressed brick wall with the peer through fireplace. It was sizable, with a large window that looked into the forest and an en suite with a claw foot tub. Donna thought it would be perfect for Edith, and was glad to see it was on the first floor as she knew Edie's knees gave her trouble occasionally.
"What's up there?" Audrey pointed to the stairwell with the wooden banister that appeared to lead to a loft space.
"I don't know," Donna told her, acting excited, "let's go see."
Audrey lead the way, pausing only briefly when the bottom step let out a creak, to a small landing with doors on either side. On the left, a small bedroom with a window and a connecting door to the Jack and Jill bathroom, and on the right, a second, larger bedroom. Audrey stepped inside and paused.
"Wow," she whispered, looking around in awe. Her eyes went immediately to a skylight, filling the room with natural rays, seeping in even through the dusting of snow on the roof. Donna, for her part, was particularly endeared to the small dormer window in the corner.
"This one is pretty special, huh?" Donna smiled at Audrey.
There was no question. Donna would take the smaller room across the hall and Audrey would live in here.
"Come on, let's go find Bubbe," Donna herded Audrey back downstairs.
"There's a window in the roof!" Audrey exclaimed to Edith halfway down the flight of stairs.
"Oh my!" Edith laughed at her granddaughters excitement.
"What's in there, Donna?" Audrey pointed towards the door across from the master bedroom one they'd returned to the living area.
"Open it up," Donna encouraged Audrey, standing right behind her.
All three women were pleasantly surprised to see a spacious sunroom overlooking the property. The backyard stretched out for what Donna imagined was at least a hundred feet before slowly sloping down and widening to an expansive view of a sweeping meadow and snowy peaks in the distance.
They were all enchanted by the scenery, standing quietly for a few moments before Donna leaned over and hoisted Audrey onto her hip.
"Well, Sweet Pea? What do you think? Do you want to live here?"
"While we wait for Daddy?" Audrey tilted her head to wait for Donna's response.
"Yes," Donna tucked a loose curl behind Audrey's ear. "While we wait for Daddy."
"You're going to stay here with me too?"
"Of course I will. I'm not going anywhere, Audrey."
Audrey thought a moment before agreeing. "Yes," she rest her head on Donna's shoulder. "I like it here."
"Okay," Donna stated softly, kissing the top of Audrey's head. "Then I guess we're home."
OoOoOoOoO
Donna sat cross legged on the hotel bed, her phone balanced between her ear and her shoulder, pen and pad off to the side, as she peeled a small tangerine for Audrey, who was bouncing in place while she waited for her snack, watching an animated movie out of one eye.
They'd returned to the hotel after touring the cabin the day before as they didn't have any furniture, and Donna had immediately set herself to work on what seemed to be an endless list. Keeping in mind their limited budget, she knew they couldn't stay in a hotel for very long, but Edith insisted they remain there for the time being. She hadn't even hesitated when she'd put her credit card down to cover the room. Donna felt as though she could breathe a little bit, knowing that Edith was there and covering the costs, but she knew they had to find a more permanent solution, too.
She'd been on the phone practically the entire morning, trying to make arrangements in DC as well as she could. She'd booked herself a flight to Washington at the end of the week, and reserved a moving truck to bring their belongings back to Colorado. Her father and Chris had volunteered to drive the truck to meet her in Colorado, enabling her to fly back as soon as the belongings were loaded. Though it had been pointed out to her a few times that she could have easily hired a moving company, she wasn't willing to delegate the possession of Josh's personal possessions to strangers. The political climate was too rough right now. She needed to pack and transport his belongings, and specifically the contents of his office, herself.
She'd called the newspaper first thing that morning and run an ad to sublet her apartment. She'd sorted through the briefcase full of paperwork for a second time, pouring over the documents relating to Josh's condo. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized it was paid off. It may be a juggling act, but she could handle this, she told herself. She could do it. She had to.
OoOoOoOoO
"Where are you going," Audrey questioned softly when Donna emerged in a pair of old jeans and a well worn sweatshirt.
"I'm going to our new house. Do you remember it from yesterday?"
"Yes," Audrey nodded.
"I'm going to clean it so it will be nice and shiny when we move our things in."
Audrey hopped up from where she was sitting on the bed, quickly shoving her coloring book and Walter into her tiny backpack, a frantic look on her face as she sat down and tried to pull her shoes on as quickly as possible.
"Whoa," Donna laughed, "slow down, Sweet Pea. You're going to stay with Bubbe this afternoon so you can watch a movie and play."
"But I want to go with you." The look of abject panic on Audrey's face wasn't lost on Donna.
"Sweetie," Donna kneeled down, "I'm only going to be gone for a few hours. I'm going to go over and clean it and come right back in time for us to all eat dinner together, okay?"
"No," Audrey began to cry. "I want to go with you."
"Audrey…" Donna began to gently warn.
"Please, Donna. Please." The little girl's watery eyed desperation practically broke Donna's heart.
"Maybe it would be better for her to get out of the room. She's been cooped up," Edith chimed in. "I could use the rest, too."
Donna bit her lip and considered the possibility. She'd get substantially less done in the house today, and she was somewhat concerned for Audrey to be running around an area she wasn't familiar with, but she didn't want just to leave Audrey, especially mid meltdown. Edith seemed like she could use a few hours alone anyway, Donna rationalized as she helped Audrey into her coat and they made their way to the car.
After stopping at the store for a large bag of cleaning supplies and two boxed lunches, Audrey and Donna made their way to the cabin. Donna had to smile, thinking of Josh's hasty description of the home they'd be inhabiting. He'd clearly never visited the property, writing it off as a hunting cabin when it was what Donna would describe as a normal sized family home.
After situating Audrey with a coloring book and a magnetic block board, Donna got to work scrubbing the house. It didn't take her long, given the fact that the place had been well maintained and empty over the years, but she still wanted to make sure everything was sparkling clean when they moved in.
The floors, which were covered in rich hardwoods, shined nicely in the early evening sun and Donna began to feel hopeful that the house would become a cozy retreat for their nontraditional family.
"Let's go, Audrey," Donna called, locking up for the afternoon. They'd stop at the hardware store on the way home and pick a few new paint colors to warm up the rooms and grab dinner on the way back to the hotel.
With a few more days effort they'd be ready to settle in.
OoOoOoOoO
"Hello?" Donna didn't recognize the number, but answered nonetheless. With all of the inquiry calls she'd made that morning she'd assumed she was about to receive a follow up on an inquiry to shut off cable.
"Hi." His voice, quiet and hesitant, washed over her with a familiar warmth.
"Josh."
"Donna, I'm sorry," Josh's voice came through the phone. She was certain she'd never heard him as unsure of himself as he sounded now. "I'm so sorry."
"Shhh," she softly soothed, attempting to let him know he had nothing to apologize to her about, and that she didn't want him to worry about them. "Are you okay? Where… where are you?"
"I'm in Maryland right now. I don't know if you've heard but they're transferring me to Colorado tomorrow. I don't know…" he let out a frustrated puff of air. "I don't anything actually know anything."
It sounded to Donna like he was admitting defeat. It was the last thing she'd expected to hear.
"I had you transfered," she stated, hoping that this revelation wouldn't upset him more.
"You… what?" He was completely thrown off.
"I had you transfered, Josh. I worked the back channels, I put spin on it, just like you taught me to."
"But… why?"
"We're in Colorado, Josh. We're here. We're waiting for you." She continued before he had the chance to interrupt, thankful for the brief moment of privacy while Edith and Audrey were down the hall at the ice machine. "I wanted… I felt it would be best to get out of DC so we're moving into the hunting cabin you inherited from your father. Except it's, well, not so much a hunting cabin as a home. Is that… Is that okay?"
He was silent for a moment, taking in what she said.
"Yes. Okay." His voice didn't falter. "I trust you."
"What do I do now," she asked. "I can get a lawyer and-"
"Do nothing," he told her immediately. "Do absolutely nothing."
"What?"
"Stay where you are. It was a smart move, Donna. Lay low, keep Audrey safe, keep yourself safe. You're in charge now, Donna."
"But…"
"Donna. Listen to me. I need you to assure you me you won't pursue this. Alright?"
"Josh! I can't just leave you there! I won't do it! You belong here. With us." Donna let out a stifled sob, beginning to lose control of her emotions.
"I know," Josh's voice began to crack on his end of the phone as his true desperation began to seep through. "God, Donna, I know."
"Please don't give up," she practically begged him.
"I'm not," he whispered, feeling more alone than he had all week. It had only been a few days but he ached to hold her, hating himself for all of the events that had transpired and what they were doing to her. He wanted to be back in her apartment in the early morning hours, holding her, drinking her in. Before all of this. Before what he feared may have ruined everything. "I'm not going to give up on you." He hoped he sounded reassuring, but he wasn't so sure. "But I need you to trust me, Donna. And I need you to take care of Audrey."
"Of course." She began to pull herself together at his mention of Audrey, knowing this was the time for her to be strong for the people she loved so dearly.
"I need you to get me 5 minutes with Leo," he continued. "On the phone. I can't just call him. Can you help me?"
"Of course. I'll be in DC at the end of the week. Thursday to Sunday. I'll make sure he carries my phone. I'm going to need a new number anyway."
"Okay." Though she couldn't see it, he nodded his head slowly on the other end of the line.
"Okay. Thank you. Good job, Donna. With... everything."
"It's… You don't need to thank me. It's what we do, right?"
"You're my angel, Donnatella," he told her, meaning it with every fiber of his being.
Donna heard the keycard slide into the door as Audrey turned the knob and skipped inside to find Donna perched on the edge of the bed, head in her hand, still on the phone. Donna was sure her eyes were still red rimmed from her tears but she was grateful for Audrey's sake that she hadn't been crying when she walked into the room.
"Josh, I-" Donna had plenty more to say to him but she realized now wasn't the time.
"Joshua?" Edith's head turned quickly towards Donna at the sound of her son's name.
"Daddy?" Audrey immediately moved to stand beside Donna, gently tugging on her sleeve and giving a pleading look as she waited as patiently as she could for her turn on the phone with her Daddy.
"I'm sure you only have a few minutes and there's someone else who wants to say hello, too." Donna offered.
"Yeah." Josh cleared his throat, trying to sound as chipper as possible. "Put me on speaker."
"Daddy?" Audrey called out as soon as Donna handed her the open cell phone.
"Hey there," Josh greeted with fake cheer.
"Daddy, where are you? I miss you."
"I miss you too, shortcake. I wish I was with you. I'm doing something really important for the President and Papa Leo. I promise I'm trying as hard as I get to get done as fast as I can so I can be with you and Donna. Okay?" Josh's voice was desperate and starting to break and Audrey's little forehead furrowed in confusion, looking so much like her father it practically took Donna's breath away.
"But when?" Audrey asked Josh but looked to Donna for an answer. An answer she didn't currently have.
Donna realized that she needed to intervene and try to make sure that the conversation between them ends on a happier note.
"Audrey, tell Daddy about where we stopped for breakfast on our road trip."
"There was a big dinosaur," Audrey explained with excitement, her eyes widening at just thought as she began to gesticulate wildly.
"Bigger than the building, wasn't it?" Donna encouraged Audrey to keep going."
"Uh-huh. And we ate pancakes with candies in them," she practically squealed.
"You… What?" Josh chuckled.
"They had M&Ms inside, Daddy!"
Josh laughed genuinely. "Three days, Donna," he chuckled. "It took her three days and she broke you. Candy filled pancakes for breakfast."
"Actually, that was a me," Edith chimed in. "Hello, Son."
"I should have known," Josh responded. "Hi, Ma."
"Daddy! We're going to live in a new house now!" Audrey recaptured the conversation. "And my room has a window in the ceiling and Donna said I can have a pink wall." She turned her attention to Donna. "What's that word again?"
"Soirée," Donna gently reminded. "The paint color is called coral soirée."
"That means a party," Audrey informed Josh.
"Very good," Josh commended her.
The three heard a noise in the background before Josh informed them he had to go. His time was up.
"I love you guys," he told them quickly.
"We love you, too," Donna called out, the only one quick enough to respond before the call cut out.
The silence on the line brought them back to reality, the still of the now quiet hotel room hanging over them as they felt the loss of his presence once again.
Donna pulled Audrey onto her lap, holding her close. She'd respect Josh's wishes and do as he instructed, but she wouldn't give up hope.