Author's Note: Thank you, followers, for your continued support for the story Always on the Run.
In our previous chapter, Suzanne Gibbs shared a deep conversation with Breena Palmer, Ellie Bishop, and Abby Scuito at the Gibbs residence concerning motherhood versus career. Each woman brought a unique perspective to relishing the role of wife, career, and motherhood. After much deliberation, Suzanne quickly decided that she planned to resign from the White House.
The following chapter, which is long, takes place at the White House, where Suzanne prepares to give her resignation to President Owens.
The women from the craft session tried convincing Suzanne not to prepare her resignation Monday morning. In fact, she asked the three to hold the information close until she discussed it with Jethro. When Suzanne Gibbs logged into her work-related email account Monday morning, an email from Abby proved to be enlightening:
'Wait until Friday. Just think about it, please?' ABS-Abigail Beethoven Scuito. She took a moment to type a response.
'Need to. Thanks for reminding me. SDG.'
Suzanne was scheduled on desk duty and actually had an exciting task at hand: finishing preparations for the Southwest Asia visit and beginning the Pacific Rim Preparation. The first trip was in six weeks; the second, during her maternity leave. It tickled the staff to watch their colleague now walk a bit slower and snacking at her desk, much to the President's disapproval at times.
'Q-You're eating...again?! Can you finish that report, please?'
"It's not like I'm spending 10 hours eating!" Suzanne mumbled, chewing a coated peanut butter celery stick. "It's a snack!"
Linda was generally and genuinely happy for Suzanne, as she observed the growing belly and fuller face.
"How much weight have you gained?" She asked.
"About 20 lbs." Suzanne said.
Claudia was ecstatic as days passed, finally gaining an opportunity to travel since Suzanne's reassignment to desk detail. Monday, Suzanne revealed she was only 23 weeks pregnant but looking closer to a delivery time.
"You're in the third trimester."
"Well, that should really make you happy, Claudia-means I cannot travel." Suzanne typed and later pulled the paper from the printer to sign.
"Suzanne, it's not like that." Claudia tried to reassure her competitor, her colleague and really a good friend. "I love having to stay sharp around you."
"I appreciate that." Suzanne chuckled.
"I am jealous of you..." Claudia approached Suzanne's desk, sat on its corner. "You're having Gunny's babies." She smiled.
"In fact, I'm giving my resignation to the President." She poured through mail and opened a package: finally, her new name plaque arrived—Suzanne D. Gibbs. The temporary sign was Suzanne M. Gibbs. She sighed and tossed it inside her desk. "I'm doing it soon as possible so he can find a suitable replacement."
"Oh, God, No!" Claudia exclaimed. "Believe it or not: you're the only person, besides Linda, I can work with in this office!"
"I give her that." Linda agreed. "She's changed since you started working on the floor..."
"Are you sure this is what you want, Newlywed?" Claudia asked.
"It isn't, but it is what Jethro wants." She sighed. Suzanne sealed an envelope, stuffed the letter inside. "I want to stay married."
"You could take the maternity leave, decide after the three months..." Linda suggested.
"Jethro wants a stay-at-home wife and mother to his child-children, just like he had with Shannon."
"You're not Shannon." Claudia said. "You're...Susie. You march to the beat of a different drum."
"Claude...I can't jeopardize my marriage. Okay?" Suzanne whispered softly that she would not jeopardize her marriage to Jethro. "It's about children now, what's best for the children."
For the remainder of the morning, the office was quiet. Linda and Claudia resumed their work, their facial expressions displayed sadness and shock. Suzanne sat behind her desk, hands covering her eyes. She sighed heavily, knowing fully she enjoyed the camaraderie and challenges of her position but for the sake of loving Jethro and her children, she was preparing to walk away.
Suzanne knocked on the President's door early that afternoon, finishing the tasks at hand and the revisions to personal research information.
"Mr. President?" She whispered, slowly peeped inside. Patiently she waited for a response, a gesture.
"Claudia will bring the documents to the Vice President." He requested over the telephone, motioning Suzanne to come inside.
"Good. Let her know I'd like the documents in triplicate. Thanks so much." He hung up the phone.
"Have a seat, Suzanne."
He said 'Suzanne,' not 'Q'? She noticed. He must feel serious, or know I'm about to give him some serious news, she thought.
"If I can sit down…" She chuckled as her boss helped her down. "Now, I'm not certain if I can get back on my feet, all ladylike."
"I've been through this three times, remember? Of course, Kay was in charge of delivery…" He said, chuckling. "It's not a secret you're pregnant and sitting down is a challenge." He leaned at the edge of his desk, focusing his attention.
"What's up?"
Suzanne handed the envelope addressed to the President.
"I'm here to officially resign as your personal aide, effective on…" The President ripped the document.
"You're not leaving, Mrs. Gibbs."
"My husband and I have decided…"
"It sounds like to me your husband decided on your career."
A moment of silence filled the room. The President continued, adding plausible suggestions.
"I thought about your situation, discussed it with Claudia and Linda. So…we realigned duties and responsibilities. You can ride the Domestic Desk with Linda until you're feeling ready for travel. Claudia gets to go with me for a while."
"You're not going to make it easy to leave, are you?" The President shook his head indicating no, smiling and placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Listen, you're a fantastic employee with tremendous potential. I've never done realignments for employees, so take it as a compliment. Take the maternity leave and then decide."
"Mr. President…" Suzanne interrupted. "Maybe I'm ready to settle down."
"No, you're not." He continued skimming through memos, signing paperwork, and handing them to Suzanne. He looked up.
"I see that sparkle in your eyes whenever we travel. You absorb everything whenever, whatever and wherever we're doing for the American people. Now, I respect your marriage and Special Agent Gibbs, but in this case, I'm not accepting your resignation."
Suzanne nodded and sighed.
"I need to discuss these options with Jethro."
"Please do." The President assisted Suzanne from the chair, walked her towards his door. "For the time being, you're still my EA-Executive Assistant and Analyst, and there's work to be done…like check with staff about the next news conference, please?"
"Yes, Mr. President." Suzanne gathered a legal pad, a file from her desk.
"He's not accepting no for an answer?" Linda asked, typing away.
"Nope." Suzanne replied, sighed. "I'm checking on the news conference, if anyone calls." She walked towards the main corridor into a briefing room.
A few moments passed and the President came out of the office, noticed Claudia and Suzanne's desks were empty. He spoke to Linda, the elder of the two associates.
"Linda, please call Special Agent Gibbs for an appointment, ASAP." He whispered. Linda smiled, showing her pleasure in his decision.
The President requested to meet Agent Gibbs without Suzanne's knowledge. Jethro hardly recognized Suzanne's desk; it was clean! He noticed the black backpack, the honeymoon picture, and her very humorous motto pinned on her message board: 'A woman is like Google: she has an answer for everything.' knowing it was her workplace.
Owens noticed Jethro glancing at Suzanne's desk.
"Welcome to Team-Ya-Ya, the Sisterhood, ran by the women." The President chuckled. "Please come in, Special Agent Gibbs."
The two exchange firm, strong handshakes. He motioned for Jethro to have a seat. Jethro did and quickly surveyed the office. He noticed the various pictures, from his family to his staff photos. Some were official, such as one was of his Executive Staff, with Suzanne standing behind beside the President. Others were intimate, like one of Suzanne with sunshades posing at the Equator in Kiribati.
"So this is where you do most of the work?" Jethro smiled.
"This is my library." The President sat behind his desk. "Q and I spend hours in here working on pretty much everything." Jethro nodded politely in conversation. "That sign about Google on her desk-pretty much the truth, Gunny. She's the best analyst and researcher I have with the Executive staff. Right now, she's briefing a press conference." He answered.
"Thank you, Mr. President." Jethro said. "But I know that's not why you invited me."
"You're right." The President leaned in. Jethro became upset. "And before you get angry, she doesn't know anything about this meeting."
"What's on your mind, Sir?" Jethro asked.
"I want to discuss Mrs. Gibbs' future with the White House. She has one, you know."
"With all due respect, Mr. President, this is a decision about our children."
"Notice how you used the word "our" in the same sentence, Special Agent Gibbs?"
The conversation ceased for a moment.
"Have you even talked with Suzanne about her career after the kids are born?" The President asked.
"It's hard when your pregnant wife is in the Pacific." He glanced at the picture.
"Suzanne is an asset and I will do everything in my power to keep her in my administration." He scanned over memos, notes.
"This is about your recent polls…" Jethro growled, flicking away the paperwork. "You just want her to stay to make you look good."
"No. This is about a woman who submitted a resignation, almost in tears, just because she's pregnant." The President and Jethro continued looking at one another.
"Gunny, Suzanne is a treasure. I'm offering to keep her on the Domestic Desk as my scheduler and asking her to travel only when it is necessary."
"Do you make special arrangements for all your employees, Mr. President?" Gibbs asked.
"You just don't waste good talent." The President replied. "Isn't that one of your professional and personal rules for life?" Gibbs nodded. "She's just starting out...and she loves you, loves the fact she finally finished school, using all her skills…"
Jethro smiled with pride, realizing how indispensable Suzanne was to the President of the United States! He nodded in agreement.
"Just talk with Suzanne about the offer, and be supportive." He extended the hand for another handshake. Gibbs obliged, gripping with equal strength. "We're in the same boat—two career-minded women. That's all I'm asking—as one man to another. I know it's not easy."
Jethro left the Oval Office, wondering how to adjust with changing times but hold onto unyielding principle. The quote from former President Jimmy Carter was his wife's favorite, the one that sat on her desk. Shannon enjoyed her role as wife and mother. It was evident in her demeanor. Suzanne relished her life as Mrs. Gibbs. He was fine with a career-minded wife, just as long Suzanne came home. The two seldom discussed more, or so it seemed with Jethro. Maybe he didn't listen to wants and needs. Jethro arrived home from the meeting, ready to discuss with his wife her career. In their home, he immediately walked into Suzanne's office, noticed her degrees affixed on the wall.
'Master of Public Policy; Juris Doctor; Bachelor of Arts...' Gibbs muttered to himself. He smiled at the various pictures-Nicaragua, Guatemala, her graduation picture, their wedding day, their honeymoon. She's just beginning, he concluded. Just a year into professional life...she's worked hard for the opportunity.
Meanwhile, Suzanne ran a few errands before arriving home. Jethro liked it, loved it when Suz was grounded. She cooked, cleaned and enjoyed grocery shopping, the domestication role of wife. She appreciated Jethro and Fred as balance to the hectic schedule. Whenever interviewed, the two 'men' of her life she cited as her rock, the consistent thing in her life next to her nephews, brothers, and mother. 'Going home to my men.' Suzanne said on many occasion, leaving the premises and happily driving home. The distinct sound of the car puttered inside the driveway. He immediately opened the front door and met his wife at the car door. Struggling to get solid footing, Jethro reached for her hand.
"Listen, you can't drive the Karmann Ghia once the kids are born." Gibbs chuckled. "You can't drive the pickup or the jeep; too old and unreliable…"
"With my belly growing week by week, I'm struggling to drive it now." Suzanne commented, grunted, and reached for the groceries in the back.
"What about an SUV?" Jethro suggested, taking the bags from Suzanne.
"Thank you." Suzanne walked into the house, holding the door. "Don't even suggest I drive one of those 'Mom' vans."
"We'll take a look over the weekend?" Jethro asked, placed the bags onto the kitchen counter. Suzanne stroked Fred's back, acknowledging his presence. "At least…we look for something roomier?"
"Jethro…what's about the car?" Suzanne unpacked the perishables first. "So…this is what my life will become…" Suzanne mumbled, Fred jumping beside her waiting for a treat. "Driving a car with a diaper bag, two car seats, and a dog in the rear seats…next, I'll be driving to soccer practices, piano recitals and sewing merit badges on Scout uniforms."
"Let's get you a reliable car." Gibbs chuckled.
"Well…you want a stay-at-home wife and mother. I guess you're getting your wish once I get behind a minivan or station wagon."
"Maybe…" Jethro joined her on the couch, his arm around her shoulder. "I want my wife to be happy. I don't think staying at home would make her happy."
"I love working for the President." Suzanne admitted. "But not as much as I love you." She rested her head on Jethro's shoulder. He kissed the top of her head, thinking to himself how they could reach an amicable decision.
"We have some time to discuss possibilities, Susie." Jethro whispered. "I don't want you to miss out of a career, but I don't want strangers raising our children."
"I agree with that, Jethro."