Day Six
Nadine Tolliver glanced up from the stack of papers in front of her as Blake stepped into her office.
"She's at the White House?" She asked him.
"No. I'm good, thank you for asking. Lunch was great. I ate a yogurt while going over a stack of paperwork." He said sarcastically, folding his long arms across his chest.
"You've spent too much time with her." She said exasperated.
It was probably on the second day of working with her that Elizabeth McCord had interrupted Nadine's morning rundown to pause and say good morning. Her insistence on hellos, good mornings and good evenings had irked Nadine at first. Nadine had always prided herself on running an efficient and professional office - no doubt desperate to make up for her obvious and glaring departure from decorum; sleeping with the boss. But after a few weeks of forced "good mornings" she recognized that the office she had run had been sterile and lifeless. Still, occasionally she fell back on hold habits - making demands on her staff with no preamble of greeting. She tried again.
"Blake! Good afternoon! How are you holding up?"
He grinned. "She's at the White House, yes. I'm leaving now to pick up her luggage."
"When did she pack?" Nadine asked, perplexed. "I thought she was going to do that at three!"
"Change of plans. She's got a high priority meeting at 3:15."
"But the flight is at 5:30! Or did we push the time back?"
"Same time. I think she had her husband pack her bags."
"Good God! That's relationship goals right there! I wouldn't trust my sister to pack for me! There's no way I'd have a man do it."
"Alright." Blake nodded at her. "I'm going to overlook your obviously sexist comments because a) I've got a lot to do and b) you haven't had much sleep lately. Wheels up will probably happen closer to 6:15. We will meet you at the hangar."
"I'll keep you posted, if anything else comes up." Nadine said, rising and following him to the door of her office.
"Great."
She was still standing in the doorway, as he stepped into the hallway, just as Matt came out of his office.
"I'm gonna go and pack." He told them. "I've got another draft of that speech for her." He handed a file to Blake. "Croatia is supposed to be gorgeous."
"The love child of Italy and France." Nadine said with a shrug. "Or that's what I've heard."
"Well, international diplomacy aside, it should be a smooth trip!"
"You did NOT just say that." Daisy said, stepping out of their shared office. "You did not say that out loud!"
"Oh my God!" Blake shook a finger at him. "What's the rule, Matt? We talked about this!"
"No." He immediately began to back track. "This isn't like Switzerland or Iran. I'm just saying that it should be . . ."
"Stop!" Nadine held her palm out to him. "Do not finish that sentence."
"C'mon! You aren't superstitious, are you?" Matt asked.
"If something happens, we are all blaming you." Daisy said, pointing a finger at him.
"It isn't superstition," Nadine pointed out. "It's just a simple fact: You don't tempt fate!"
"I make my own fate." Matt scoffed.
***MS***
"I'm counting on you, Bess." Conrad said, as Elizabeth McCord rose from the couch. "I'm hoping things can be settled calmly for once."
"You and me both, sir." She nodded her head. "But Peter seems pretty convinced that everyone wants some sort of agreement. It is just a matter of people trying to get a seat at the table."
"Let's hope so." He reached out a hand to her, and she expected him to shake it, but instead, he clasped her hand in both of his. "Seems like I signed you on to a pretty crappy deal, doesn't it?"
"Some days." She said with a laugh. "But then again, I never have to wait for a table in D.C. anymore, so I guess it has some perks."
"Few and far between. Are you going straight to the airport?"
"I've got one more appointment. I'm supposed to be at the airport by 5:30."
"Keep in touch."
"Thank you, Mr. President."
***MS***
Even though they had discussed it over the phone, Henry McCord couldn't help but feel crushed when he opened the front door of the house to see Blake Moran standing on the front steps.
"Well, I can see you are thrilled to see me." Blake said seeing the professor's expression.
"Sorry, Blake. I guess I was just hoping to see someone else standing there." Henry stepped back. "Come in."
"I don't blame you. We really tried to work a trip home into her schedule, sir. I mean, I tried everything."
"I know you did, and I appreciate it." Henry said.
Blake followed him inside and saw the Secretary of State's luggage neatly assembled in the entryway. "She asked me to make sure you packed The Sweater. She said you would know what she meant."
"I do and I did." Henry sighed. "Although, it is hard to call that thing a sweater!" Henry hesitated. "Well, I guess you better get her luggage to her - God help you if Elizabeth McCord doesn't have her blow dryer!"
"Yes, sir."
"Keep an eye on her . . ." Henry began.
"You don't have to ask, Dr. McCord, not that she needs looking after! But I will do my best and I am sorry things have been so hectic in the office."
"Well, that's not your fault." He turned to help gather up the suitcases. "Just remember, if anything serious comes up . . ."
"Text: Genevieve. I remember." He reached for a suitcase. "I had to look that up, by the way. I mean at first I thought maybe it was some nickname or something but then I remembered her saying something about your Saint Christopher's necklace, and then I realized that Genevieve was a saint."
"Patron Saint of disasters." Henry explained as he followed Blake to the curb, helping him out the luggage in the car.
"Well, let's hope this trip is disaster free." Blake said. "Is there anything else?"
"Well," Henry hesitated. "There's just one other thing. . ."
***MS***
They left her waiting in a small vestibule. It was strangely quiet and for those few minutes she had nothing to do. It was odd. She studied the picture on the wall - a pastoral scene that no doubt Henry would say represented something or other about God.
She sighed. She had seen Henry for a grand total of thirty-two minutes yesterday. In an act of utter desperation, he'd come down to her office between classes. She'd actually spent fifteen of those thirty-two minutes watching him out of the corner of her eye as he patiently waited for her to wrap up a meeting. In the end they'd actually had eleven minutes together. It seemed that just as soon as he'd wrapped his arms around her in the privacy of her office, there had been a knock at the door and Russell Jackson had made an unwelcome appearance.
"Oh, uh, I was . . ." He said as Henry and Elizabeth broke apart from a kiss.
"Don't you knock?" Elizabeth asked, completely exasperated.
"I did!" He said, a hand to his chest.
"I didn't say, 'Come in!'"
"You might have a point there." He shrugged. "I apologize, but we got another message from TAK and I need to go over it with you." He waited but neither Henry or Elizabeth said anything. They just continued to stare at him until he finally added. "Why don't I just wait out there until you are, uh, ready for me."
Henry began laughing as soon as Russell left.
"That was almost worth it!" He said.
"How can you laugh?" Elizabeth asked. "God! I could cry! I swear, Henry! This is getting ridiculous."
He stepped closer to her, running his fingers through her hair. "Ladies ought not to swear." He said kissing her.
"I'm no lady." She said sulkily.
"Yeah, you are." He kissed her again. "Look baby," He lifted her left hand, pointing to her ring. "That's there to remind you; forever." He shrugged his shoulders. "This is just a bad week."
"Weeks." She corrected.
"Month. Doesn't matter. That ring means sooner or later, you'll be right back here in my arms. Guaranteed, babe. So," He reached out and held her chin in his fingers. "Go solve another mess and hurry on home."
"Henry. . ."
"Elizabeth. Listen, being away from you is frustrating. It always has been but we'll manage and it's not forever. It just feels like it. I love you, you know it."
"I do." She sighed, surrendering to his logic. "I can manage, if you can."
"There you go! Way to tough it out, soldier."
"I'm no Marine." She said as he gathered his coat.
"I'm granting you honorary status. You've seen more battle than tons of guys."
"Oorah!" She said.
"Oorah, indeed!" He kissed her and wrapping an arm around her led her to the door. "Better not keep Russell waiting."
They pushed open the door to find Russell standing in the outer office.
"Thank you for your sage counsel, Dr. McCord." Elizabeth said with staged seriousness.
"Anytime, Madam Secretary." He nodded at her and passing Russell said, "Good afternoon, Mr. Jackson."
"Henry." Russell nodded back. He immediately moved toward Elizabeth's office. "We got a cable a few hours ago and . . ."
He paused as Henry who had started to leave, suddenly doubled back and brushing past Russell, wrapped an arm around Elizabeth and pulling her close, kissed her passionately.
"Sorry." He said to Russell. "Forgot something." He winked at Elizabeth. "As you were soldier."
"See you back at base, Captain." Elizabeth said winking back. She turned to Russell who'd been rendered speechless. "Let's see this cable." She said leading him into her office.
"Well . . . Uh. . . Semper Fi." He finally managed.
Elizabeth laughed out loud when Henry's echoing "Semper Fi!" boomed back from across the office.
At the time, she had been disappointed to have him leave but expected to see him before leaving for Croatia. It had all felt like playful teasing leading up to a lovely night at home. Instead, she'd spent another long night in meetings, and crafting last minute changes. That lovely fifteen minutes was all they would have until she got back. It would have to be enough.
She glanced back at the picture, growing impatient. Some times it seemed she could actually feel the ticking of the clock.
"Ma'am?" Matt stepped into the room. "Everything's clear. If you'll follow me."
"Did she see you?"
"No, ma'am."
"Thank you so much for this!"
"Yes, Ma'am." He nodded at a door. "Right through there."
The auditorium was dim and she paused to smile and nod at Frank who waited just inside the door. She hesitated, adjusting to the changing light before settle into a seat, three rows back and slightly to the left of center stage.
They were a rather unruly looking group - forty or so high schoolers, some standing and some sitting on risers. The director tapped the stand with her baton, though, and the mob settled into silence as they all focused in on her.
"Okay, let's go ahead and do Wait for It."
Elizabeth was surprised when instead of groaning, they cheered. She was doubly surprised when a small huddle of students stepped down from their spots on the risers, Allison among them.
It was as the music started that Allison saw her, her large eyes giant with shock and pleasure. She lifted her hand waving, and all the years seemed to fall away, and it was as if she was watching a tiny Allison take the stage dressed as a shrub for her very first play.
She found herself lost in the song - the choir managing it well and then Allison stepped forward into a pool of sunlight and sang a solo:
I am the one thing in life I can control!
I am inimitable. I am an original. I'm not falling behind or running late. I'm not standing still. I am lying in wait!*
She was stunned at the power of Alison's voice; shocked that she hadn't told anyone that she'd been given a solo. Tears of pride stung her eyes, and she realized she'd almost missed it. It had come down to a choice: run home, pack and squeeze in a few minutes with Henry or sneak into Allison's rehearsal. She hated missing out on anything the kids did so Henry hadn't been the least bit surprised when she'd chosen to go to a high school choir practice.
One song was all she could really stay for but it was more than enough for her. She rose and walked to the front, mouthing a "Thank you" to the director who smiled and nodded even as she began to direct another song. Allison left her spot in the stage, briefly hesitating at her choir teacher before running down the steps to her mother.
"Mom! You came!" Allison beamed, engulfing her mother in a hug.
"Noodle, that was . . .that was beautiful! Why didn't you tell us you had a solo?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise! Don't tell Dad, ok?"
"I won't. You'll do great. I wish I could be there."
"You came today!" Allison grinned. "Are you leaving now?"
"Yes. I'll miss you, but I'll call in the morning."
Allison glanced over her shoulder. "I better get back. Thank you for coming, Mom. It was . . . You are the best! I love you."
"I love you, too. Look after Dad for me, okay?"
"Sure, Mom!" She hugged her mother tightly. "See you soon!"
Stepping back into the late afternoon sun, she blinked back tears as Frank led her to the car. Trying to gain control she asked, "Did Blake get my luggage?"
"Yes, Madam Secretary, but it didn't all fit. We had to put some on the seat."
"Didn't fit? How much did . . ." But her words were swallowed up in a whoop of joy as Matt opened the door revealing Henry inside.
"Did you know it takes forty-three minutes to get from here to your plane?" Henry asked with a grin. "Forty-three minutes! Imagine what kind of trouble we can squeeze in!"
"I can imagine a whole hell of a lot!" She said climbing into the backseat. "But you had a meeting, didn't you?"
"I did. I cancelled it." He slid an arm around her and she rested her head against his shoulder as the car pulled away. "Blake came for your bags and it all felt so wrong. I mean, I like the kid but I'm not giving him a goodbye kiss!"
"How disappointing for Blake!" She laughed.
"And he pointed out that it would be a long ride to the hangar and that there would be plenty of room in the car, and I don't know, Babe. I just can't send you off for a week and not kiss you one more time."
"I'm so glad! Henry! I've missed you so much!" She leaned up kissing him.
"I've missed you too, but tell me about Noodle. Was she surprised?"
"Yes! She was so happy! God, she's so sweet - it just kills me. You are going to love the concert."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"I'm looking forward to this trip being over! It's terrible that I haven't left yet and I'm already thinking about coming home."
"Check your calendar, baby. You haven't been home in nearly a week already!"
She said nothing in response to this only clinging tighter to him.
"Oh, hey! Before I start kissing you and forget everything else, here, I wrote you a note." He handed her an envelope. "I was giving it to Blake to give to you, and that's when he suggested I hitch a ride with you. Save it for when you are the most homesick, okay?"
"Okay." She slid the note into her pocket and turned to thank him, but before she could, his lips were on hers and all other thoughts faded. She was so grateful for these stolen, unexpected minutes with him, but later she wished she'd hesitated just long enough to thank him for this tiny piece of home that became her lifeline on the most difficult of days.
***MS***
Author's Note
Thank you for all the kind reviews and for the patience! This was my first chapter that was written/published strictly by my phone. It's good to know I don't have to wait to wrestle the computer from children/husband in order to publish! Reviews are appreciated.
*Lin-Manuel Miranda - Wait for It from Hamilton