Chapter 13
Josh's POV:
We're still maneuvering our way off the convention floor when my phone starts vibrating. Yeah,
that shot of us on the big screen is going to mean all kinds of phone calls tonight, I'm guessing.
The caller ID notes that this particular call is from the White House.
"Josh Lyman." I answer resignedly.
"Please hold for the President of the United States." Of course. Is it too late to hang up? Cell
phone calls get dropped all the time, right?
"Joshua!" The booming voice of President Jed Bartlet comes over the line.
"Good evening Mr. President." I answer and Donna's shoots a glance at me.
"I was going to congratulate you on helping yet another no chance candidate win the
Democratic nomination, but now I see it was all a ploy to get Donna to marry you."
"Well, it worked, didn't it?" I shoot back.
"It appears that it did." He agrees jovially. "Congratulations, Josh, and give my love to Donna
will you?"
"Yes, sir, I will."
"We'll be there Wednesday. Tell Matt I'm looking forward to meeting with him then."
"Yes, sir."
"Oh and I meant to ask you. Who wrote the Congressman's speech tonight?"
"Uh…a new kid I hijacked from the Hoynes campaign." I hedge.
"A new kid? Incredible. It had the feel of an experienced Presidential speechwriter."
"Yeah, well he has an old soul, Mr. President." I try for humor and hit the mark as I hear the
President laugh. He knows very well who wrote the majority of that speech and he wants me to
know that he knows. Just then another call beeps in…my mom. And the hits just keep on
coming…"Sir, my mother is calling in, would you mind?"
"See you both Wednesday, Josh." He says before hanging up and I click over to the other line.
"Hi Mom." I say and Donna bursts out laughing. That is until her phone starts ringing. She rolls
her eyes and answers.
"Josh, darling, how are you?" She plays it all cool. The woman is good I tell you.
"Good, good. You?" Two can play at this game.
"Fine. Just got back from the movies with Ardy and thought I'd check in with my only son to see
how he was."
"I'm just fine. What movie did you see?" I volley back to her.
"It was 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'." She hits back.
"That's not in theaters anymore, Mom."
"It was showing at the senior center and I thought I should watch it just, you know, in case it had
any relevance for my life." Ruth Lyman continued. "Planning a wedding can get very
complicated, Joshua. You have no idea."
"I would never want to put you through that Mom." I deadpan. "How about I promise that if I ever
get engaged, I'll elope." That did it. I broke her. She lets out a big huff.
"I'm done talking to you now, Joshua. Put Donna on the phone." She tells me sternly.
"What makes you think Donna is with me right now?" I ask.
"Oh, the fact that I can see you both on TV right now gave me a pretty good indication." Okay,
maybe she won that round. I look around for the camera even as I hand the phone to Donna.
She hands me hers and mouths "Sam". I am definitely getting the better end of this deal.
"What the hell are you doing calling my fiancé?" I joke with my friend of 20 years.
"When you decide to do something, you really go big don't you?"
"No other way to play." I agree and smile as I watch Donna try to field what I'm sure are a million
questions for which we have no answers yet.
"My next question, of course, is how did you get Toby do write that speech for you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." I reply laughing. I finally spot the camera that's fixed on
us and use my free hand to pull Donna off the convention floor with me. We need to get to the
Congressman now.
"Uh-huh." Sam makes no further comment on the speech. "I just wanted to say I'm happy for
you and proud of you."
"About the nomination or the other thing?" I ask for clarification.
"Both, but mostly the other thing." Sam chuckles. "Although taking Matt Santos to the
Democratic nomination, and beating the sitting Vice President while you did it…There's going
to be no living with your ego now is there?"
"I'm guessing Donna will be able to keep me in check. She always has."
"If anyone can do it, it would be Donna." Sam agrees. "Give her a kiss for me and good luck
with the rest of the convention."
"Thanks, Sam. Bye." I hang up and take my phone back from Donna. "We've got to go now,
Mom. We're meeting with the Democratic nominee for President."
"Fine, but I want an update by this time tomorrow…from you, not CNN, understand?"
"Yeah, I've got it. I love you Mom." She returns the sentiment, although it sounded a little
grudging and we hang up. Donna knocks on the suite where the Santos family is residing for
the week.
Miranda Santos is standing just behind the Secret Service Agent who opens the door. I imagine
the only reason she's allowed to stand there is that the Secret Service has already cleared the
hallway and the Agent opening the door already knew it was Donna and me standing there.
Now that Matt Santos is the nominee, Agents are going to be everywhere.
"Hey Miranda." Donna greets her. "Wasn't your Daddy great on TV tonight?" She asks as we
enter the suite.
"Uh-huh. So were you! Daddy laughed when he saw you, but Mommy cried." She relays all the
reactions to our television appearance.
"What did you think?" Donna presses for Miranda's opinion.
"I don't know why big people like kissing all the time." She shakes her head sadly. But then an
idea occurs to her. "Hey, if you're really gonna get married can I be the Flower Girl?"
"Miranda!" Helen scolds laughing. "That's very impolite." She reaches around her daughter
and hugs Donna. "Congratulations."
"Thanks." Donna answers Helen before turning back to Miranda. "We haven't made any plans
for the wedding, but I think you'd make a great Flower Girl."
"Josh, I hope you know that I have a Secret Service detail now, and if you ever hurt Donna I'll
use them to make you disappear like Jimmy Hoffa." She smiles when she says that, so I'm
reasonably sure she's kidding…still…
"Josh. Tell me you didn't convince me to run for President just so you'd have an opportunity to
propose to Donna?" Matt shakes my hand and then envelopes Donna in a hug. "You sure you
want to take him on permanently, chicken fighter?"
"Yes, sir, I certainly am." Donna answers confidently and I think I feel my chest swell.
"Then I think we have more than one reason to break open this bottle of champagne, don't
we?" he replies and pops the cork. He fills the glasses that Helen hands to him until everyone
has a glass, then proposes a toast.
"To following your heart." He announces and we all drink.
Helen's POV:
I can admit I was wrong about Josh Lyman. I thought he was a raging political egomaniac
who didn't care about anything besides politics. It turns out he's a raging political
egomaniac who doesn't care about anything besides Donna Moss and politics. And
adding insult to injury, the political egomaniac part seems to be deserved.
When Matt first embarked on this journey, I thought it was just his swan song. He was
leaving the House of Representatives and had a few issues he wanted to bring to the
attention of the American people before he retired from Congress. Fine. He had no
organization to speak of and although he's a gifted public speaker, even I knew it took
more than that to wage a national campaign. So when he came to me with this plan to hit
the road until the money ran out, I figured it would run out fairly quickly and then I'd have
my husband back in Texas permanently.
This plan would have worked perfectly if Josh Lyman hadn't interfered not once but twice.
First, with the chicken stunt that catapulted Matt into a media frenzy, and then when he
and Donna joined his campaign and turned it into something serious. Still, I wasn't overly
concerned. What could two former Bartlet staffers do at this point in the election cycle to
get Matt even close to Russell in the polls or the delegate count? I was wrong again.
So that leads me to where we're sitting now; in the living area of our hotel suite waiting for
the leader of the free world and the First Lady to arrive. I'm a nervous wreck. I have to
give another speech tomorrow and meet the President of the United States and Dr. Bartlet
today. Thank God Donna thought ahead and hired one of the interns to take the kids for
the duration.
I hear voices outside the door and before I can take another deep breath Josh and Donna
come in with Jed and Abby Bartlet.
"Congratulations Congressman." The President begins. "Mrs. Santos, you must be feeling
a little overwhelmed at this point."
"You have no idea, sir." I reply. "Dr. Bartlet, it's an honor to meet you ma'am. Donna has
told me so much about you."
"As long is it's Donna that's been telling tales and not Josh, we'll be fine." Abby smiles and
takes my hand. "I think we should dispense with the formalities though. Please call me
Abby."
"Thanks Abby, I'm Helen. Won't you all come in and sit down. Dinner won't be delivered for
another hour or so."
We self-segregate, men on one side of the room, and women on the other. Josh naturally
turns the conversation to the convention schedule and runs through all our
responsibilities. Abby Bartlet must see something alarming in my expression because she
leans over to me and gives me some advice.
"More and more strangers are going to enter your life from this point on, Helen. All you
have to do is be yourself. If you remember to be true to yourself, everything else will fall
into place." Abby pats my hand. "Of course a shot of whiskey before going on national
television never hurt either." Donna and I laugh and draw attention from the men.
"Your other solemn duty, Helen, will be to keep your husband grounded. Remind him of
what a jackass he is every once in awhile. No one else will say that to him." Abby's eyes
meet Jed's and they twinkle.
"Oh, you don't have to remind her to do that, Dr. Bartlet. That part she has down already."
Matt assures her.
"If we could get back to the speeches?" Josh interrupts impatiently.
"Everyone has their schedule Joshua." Donna reminds him. "This is supposed to be
getting acquainted time. Why don't you pour everyone a drink?" she suggests.
"Why can't we have drinks and talk about the rest of the convention?" Josh quips.
"Because between you and me, everything is covered. Relax." Donna instructs him and
Josh reluctantly takes drink orders.
"I have to ask you, sir. Has he always been this tense and uptight?" Matt indicates Josh
with the glass in his hand.
"No. No indeed. Donna has had quite the calming effect on him. He used to be tense and
on edge all the time." Jed laughed with Matt at Josh's expense and he rolled his eyes at
them.
"This from the first candidate I plucked from obscurity and brought to the White House."
He groused just as Leo made an entrance.
"Excuse me? Who plucked the candidate from obscurity?" Leo asks.
"I won't argue that you had something to do with it, but you have to admit, he wasn't going
anywhere until Sam, Toby, CJ, and I came on board." Josh teased his mentor.
"I'll be writing it differently in my memoirs." Leo maintains.
"Speaking of memoirs." Jed interrupted smoothly. "What will I be writing in mine about your
Vice Presidential pick?" He addresses the group at large but his focus is on Josh.
"We've spent the last two days going over the list again." Josh informs him. "The
Congressman made his choice at lunch today. They're going to announce it tonight when
they gavel in the evening session."
"You've cut it pretty close there, young grasshopper." Leo teases back. "Your guy won't
have much time to prepare his speech for tomorrow night."
"Luckily, our guy has had lots of political experience. It will be a piece of cake." Matt
chimes in and I try to keep a straight face. I know what's coming next and I'm curious to
see everyone's reaction.
"Well…who is it going to be?" Leo asks, his face darting from person to person. Josh
reaches behind the couch and pulls out a campaign sign in patriotic red, white, and blue
that reads: Santos/McGarry. Leo almost falls off his chair.
"That is not a funny joke, kid." Leo speaks directly to Josh.
"It's not a joke at all." He agrees. "You're the guy."
"But…you can't be serious…" Leo stammers and Abby chuckles.
"Oh, he's serious alright." Abby disagrees. "And I for one, intend to enjoy every moment of
watching you get put through your paces on the campaign trail."
"Your party needs you Leo, as does your country." Jed says quietly reading the disbelief
in his friends' face.
"Besides, Vice President is really a step down from Chief of Staff." Josh explains with his
tongue in his cheek. "You get to go to funerals and meet beauty Queens, that sort of
thing."
"Seriously, Leo." My husband puts the conversation back on track. "I need you with me on
this. Will you accept the Vice Presidential nomination?"
"You may end up regretting this, but...I'd be honored, Congressman." Leo shakes Matt's
hand to seal the deal while Josh pours Leo something (non-alcoholic) to drink.
"To the Santos/McGarry ticket." President Bartlet holds his glass out for the toast and we
all drink to that.
We watch together as Governor Eric Baker makes the nominating speech for Leo and I
can see how touched Leo is by the remarks.
Donna and Abby have started talking about weddings. Donna seems a little overwhelmed
by all that needs to be done and Abby is assuring her that anyone that can organize Josh
Lyman can surely put together one wedding. Donna keeps talking about the appeal of an
elopement; especially when the President talks about the possibility of a White House
wedding.
I get up and move into the other room for a moment passing several Secret Service
Agents as I go. I'm not sure I'll ever get used their presence. I pick up my speech from the
desk in our bedroom and look it over again. I take it out to the living room intending to
have Donna and Abby give it another look when I run into Josh.
"Everything okay?" he asks.
"Sure." I answer, but he looks down and sees the speech before I can turn the pages over.
"It's a great speech and you'll deliver it well. You've been a real asset out there, you
know." He offers and I recognize this for the compliment he means it to be. Josh Lyman
doesn't give out false compliments; in fact he rarely gives any compliments at all.
"Thanks." I answer a little self-consciously. "But this is different."
"It's really not." He argues. "Same thing, bigger audience." I laugh.
"Yes, by several million people." I'm aware my tone has become a little hysterical.
"I wouldn't think of it like that." He advises. "Just pick one person in the audience and
speak directly to them. The rest is all superfluous. Put the speech away. It's fine."
"Should I picture them in their underwear too?" I ask facetiously.
"If that helps." He laughs. "I hear the Sisterhood is heading to the Spa tomorrow."
"I was promised 4 full hours of relaxation and primping. Think you can go without Donna
that long?" I tease.
"Maybe." He says entirely too seriously. "But it will be tough. I depend on her a lot,
especially when I'm stressed. Tomorrow will be a stressful day."
"You think?" I shoot back.
"The Congressman, he depends on you like that, too." He tells me. "He loves you very
much and depends on you to ground him. I've learned a little bit about that recently." He
grins and I see the charming smile Donna's told me about. "You know when you work in
politics, you can pick the candidate you want to work for, but their spouse…that's a crap
shoot. In this case, though, I'm proud to be working for both of you." He takes the papers
out of my hands and leads me back to where the group is heckling one of the news
anchors.
"Josh?" I stop him before we rejoin the others. "That was a nice speech and all, but don't
think for a second I've forgotten who jump started this whole thing. If we win this, it's going
to be all your fault."
"Yes, Ma'am." He grins and plops down next to Donna who is sitting on the floor enjoying
the banter flying around the room.
Chapter 14
Josh's POV:
"NO! No, no, no." I mutter as I watch Helen's motorcade on TV as it makes an
unscheduled stop a few blocks away from the school she is supposed to be visiting. We
have had long, detailed discussions about unscheduled stops, Donna and I. She
promised we would be more disciplined with the campaign events.
"Edie!" I shout. "Get Donna on the phone…Now!" Son of a bitch. Isn't it enough that we're
running against a moderate Republican from California who has Bruno Gianelli running an
extremely disciplined campaign? Do I have to be fighting Donna too?
"Line 3, Josh." Edie calls to let me know she's got Donna on the line. I punch the button
for line 3 with a little more force than is strictly required.
"What the hell, Donna? We're running on time for a change so you & Helen have to make
a pit stop for M&M's or something? If you can't control that woman, I'll send someone out
there that can!" I pause for a breath, surprised Donna hasn't yet cut in. "Donna?"
"Sorry, Josh, she just ran in for some M&M's. Would you like me to give her a message?"
Helen's droll voice came through my speakerphone. This was so bad.
"Hi…Mrs. Santos…could I speak to Donna, please?"
"She can't come to the phone right now." Helen tells me and I'm sure under other
circumstances I'd appreciate her manners, but I can see both of them on the damn
television.
"Gee, Mrs. Santos, from what I can see on CNN it LOOKS like Donna is available." I try to
reign in my temper. "You might want to tell her to wipe that smirk off her face."
Helen relays my message and Donna actually waves at the camera. This is unacceptable.
Time to reassert some authority.
"Would either of you mind telling the campaign manager why you've stopped 4 blocks
away from the school you are scheduled to tour?"
"I was a little disappointed you took the Planned Parenthood Clinic off the schedule Josh."
She answers.
"We talked about that, Mrs. Santos. We decided-"
"WE talked about it? No, you talked about it and you decided." She countered. "As luck
would have it, I saw the sign for this clinic as we were driving by. WE decided to stop for a
minute." And with that she snaps Donna's cell phone shut and hands it back to Donna as
she starts shaking hands and talking to the people gathered outside. My head drops into
my hands.
"Josh, line 2!" Ronna shouts. "It's Donna."
"Why did you give Helen Santos your phone?" I'm mentally exhausted already and it's only
1 in the afternoon.
"She took it from me actually." Donna says and I can see her move away from the throng
of people gathering. Jesus, the Secret Service must love this. "I told you she's not feeling
included in the decisions, Josh."
"She's not the candidate, Donna." I point out yet again.
"She knows that. But here she is, her life turned upside down, her children in another
state, and every move she makes being recorded by 100 different cameras. She needs to
have a voice in this, or at least feel like she's being heard, or I'm afraid you're going to
see a lot more of these impromptu stops."
"Is that some sort of threat?"
"Would you stop with your control issues for just a minute and look at the big picture?"
"And just what would that be?"
"Helen Santos is a bright, articulate, and attractive woman. Instead of using her as prop,
you could be using her to push campaign issues. She can handle them Josh! Look at her.
Listen to her. She's a formidable weapon you haven't even picked up yet."
I look over at the television screen and see Helen Santos deep in conversation with a
young woman about the fact that birth control isn't covered under her health insurance
policy.
"My husband and I aren't ready to start a family yet. He's working and finishing grad
school and I'm working two jobs. But if he needed Viagra our health insurance will cover
that. Why Viagra and not birth control? I come to this clinic because they provide quality
health care that's affordable to us." The woman was telling her.
"Do you get nervous about coming here with all the protestors?" Helen asks her.
"A little. It seems kind of ironic that some anti-abortion protestors are using violence to
protest against what they call violence. This clinic is important to my family and to a lot of
other families in this neighborhood. Will your husband keep them open if he's elected?"
"Matt has always supported Planned Parenthood and he'll continue to do so as President.
He has some innovative ideas about health insurance too. You should come hear him
speak tonight at the University; 8:00."
"I'd love to go and ask him some questions but I'll be working my night job then. I work at
the Caribou Coffee just down the street from here. "
"It must be tough with both of you working so much." Helen sympathizes.
"It'll be worth it down the road, but we're not sleeping much these days."
"I know exactly what you mean." Helen laughs. "Campaigning doesn't leave much time for
sleep either. It was nice to meet you." Helen turns to the next person waiting for a word
with her. CNN is still showing the video but have now cut audio.
"Josh?" Donna is waiting for some sort of response. I don't know what kind to give her.
"We can't be pulling in two different directions, Donna."
"She's not going in a different direction. She wants to help pull in the same direction. Give
her something substantive to do." My eyes dart back to CNN where they are still sending
video feed of her visit to the clinic.
"Bring her back here after the school tour." I tell her shortly before I cut the line.
"You asked to see me, sire?" Helen came into my office and shut the door.
"I thought we could share a beer." I tell her and move to my min-frig where I remove a
couple beers. "You've had a very busy day." I pop the top and hand one to my candidate'
s wife.
"And it's not over yet." She acknowledges as she take a sip. "I need to be front and center
to be photographed politely applauding my husband at the University in two hours, so you
better move this along."
My lips twitch and I'm reminded about what I first noticed about Helen Santos; she's got a
wicked sense of humor and a dry wit. I've always found those to be great qualities in a
woman, particularly when they're blond.
"It seems like we've been at cross purposes since the convention." I note.
"That because you want me to be an arm ornament for Matt." She says hotly.
"That's not true." I answer truthfully; keeping eye contact with her so she sees that it's the
truth. "I'll be the first to admit that interpersonal relations aren't my strong suit-" she
chortles and takes another drink. "but it was never my intention to make you feel like an
appendage for the Congressman. I'll also be honest and tell you I like the visual of you
together. Not only does it reinforce the image of a young, attractive, passionate couple,
but it also subtly reinforces the image or Arnie Vinnick as old and alone."
"Can't we do that without me perpetually at Matt's elbow? Do you not trust me to tackle
issues on my own?"
"It's not a matter of trust. We need to have a unified voice. We're 9 points down and
running against an extremely politically savvy Republican."
"I'm aware of that. I want to help." She sets her beer down with a snap.
"Okay then." I get up and use the intercom. "We're ready Donna." A minute later, she
enters with the Congressman, Edie, Bram, and Lou (a recent addition to the team). "First, I'
d just like to point out to everyone that I used the intercom." I get scattered applause
although it seemed a little sarcastic to me. "Second, we're changing our plays. We're
going to split up the Congressman and Mrs. Santos. I'd like to hear ideas on how be can
best utilize both of them."
"Helen's numbers are very strong in the South and the Northwest." Lou tells us. "We
should really get her there talking more about health care."
"Health care?" Matt asks.
"You missed your wife's impromptu press conference at Planned Parenthood today." I tell
him looking at Helen. "She brought up some important points. I think that's a good
direction. Anybody else?"
"The Congressman should stay on point with education. It's his plan and every time we
send Mrs. Santos to a school, it looks like he's ducking the issue. Plus, I'd like to add, it
looks sexist." Donna throws in.
"I agree." Bram adds. "Education is something the Congressman is very passionate about
and it's one of his best known policy plans. Mrs. Santos should stay with healthcare and
homeland security."
"Excuse me?" Helen laughs at Bram's remark.
"He's right, although I 'm loathe to admit it." Lou states. "The Congressman can't toot his
own horn about his military experience without coming off as egotistical. Mrs. Santos can
talk about the service her husband has already given to his country as well as talk about
the sacrifices of military families."
"Works for me. What do you say, Helen? Are you ready to take point on healthcare and
security?" I ask her.
"Bring it on." She responds and I nod at her. "While we're in brainstorming mode, I have
an idea about something I'd like to add to the schedule before the speech tonight."
"As in before the speech that's going to start in two hours?" I clarify.
"Yes, that one." She confirms. I'm about to shut THAT down, when I catch a look from
Donna. I remind myself that this is her forte.
"Let's hear it." I sigh but earn a smile from my fiancé.
"It's not a big deal, but I thought on our way to the speech…" Helen starts.
"Julie?"
"Yes?"
"There's a guy waiting for you out front."
Julie sighs, wipes her hands on her apron and pushes through the swinging doors into the
public part of the store. She is greeted by the flash of many photographers and one tall,
dark, handsome candidate for President.
"Julie? I'm Matt Santos. My wife tells me you have some questions about health care.
Since you can't get to the speech, I thought I'd stop and get some caffeine and you could
ask your questions. Kind of kill two birds with one stone." He smiles and poor Julie is a
goner.
"Yeah…I mean, yes, that would be great. What can I get you Congressman?"
"Anything with high octane in a large cup." He replies and the manager hops to get Matt's
coffee while Matt encourages Julie to ask her questions.
"My husband has a pre-existing condition, so getting insured at all is difficult, but even
when we qualify, the cost is so expensive we sometimes have to got without insurance at
all. How would you change things so we could afford insurance after you're President?"
"Pre-existing conditions are just one 'disqualifying event' that insurance companies use to
deny coverage or jack up premiums. When I'm President I will work with Congress to
create new law that will give everyone portable coverage. That is coverage you can carry
with you from job to job. When Americans, who live in the richest country in the world…"
Josh looks at his watch. "We are going to be so late." He murmurs.
"This was a brilliant idea and you know it. You're just sore because you didn't think of it
first." Donna nods between where Matt is explaining health care issues and Helen is
addressing the questions of customers of the other side of the store. "The media is all
over this."
"But we're going to be late." Josh complains for form.
"It looks like he might bring a crowd from here with him." Donna returns. "Admit it Joshua, it
was a great idea."
"Maybe." His dimples pop out despite his attempt to keep a straight face. Donna, unable
to resist, kisses them.
Chapter 15
"I blew it. You can say I blew it, you know. The sky isn't going to fall." Leo asserted.
'I was more concerned with lightning striking." Josh replied smiling.
"You think it's so easy? Sure you do you're sitting over there smirking at me." Leo threw
up his hands.
"You're the one who taught me to smirk in the first place." Josh argued, still smiling.
"And I can wipe it off your face just as easily, son." Leo threatened which just made Josh
grin wider. "You know, ever since that woman agreed to marry you, you have been
disgustingly cheerful."
"I really don't deserve her." Josh agreed.
"Tell me something I don't already know." Leo muttered. "I just blew a big answer in front
of an entire contingent of national press and you just sit there smiling at me."
"But it was such a classic Leo line!" Josh counters and Matt Santos walks in without
knocking.
"Leo, I get that this is your first time being an actual candidate, but if you could refrain
from telling the press that I was completely ineffectual as a Congressman, I'd appreciate
it." Matt was smirking too.
"I wasn't referring to you, I was referring to Congress in general and I-" Leo broke off when
Josh and Matt both broke into laughter. "Never mind. I give up."
"Don't let them get to you, Leo. It's their job to twist your words around and try to rattle
you." Matt told him encouragingly.
"Do you honestly think I don't know that?" Leo was getting worked up so Josh decided to
step in.
"It's a whole different ballgame for you, boss." Josh said seriously. "Cut yourself a break."
"This isn't the worst of it. You know that." Leo groused at Josh while Matt look perplexed.
"Okay, I give. What the worst of it?" Matt asked.
"Mr. McGarry?" an intern interrupted them. "I'm sorry, sir, there's a call for you from the
White House, a Mr. Potus?"
"That would be the worst of it." Josh told Matt as he busted out laughing again.
"Oh, shut the hell up, will you?' Leo complained, but he left to take the call.
"What you got there Joshua?" Matt indicated the spreadsheet Josh had in front of him.
"Numbers. Money numbers, polling numbers, and media market share numbers." Josh
tipped his head back and rubbed his eyes. "I think there are numbers burned into the
back of my eyelids."
"It's getting late. Why don't you go find that beautiful fiancé of yours and call it a night?"
"Mainly because she's in Oregon with your wife, sir."
"That could be problematic." Matt agrees. "Any movement on the debate negotiations?"
"No, Lou walked out on them and we've heard nothing since. If we have to go back and re-
approach Bruno…"
"How long do we give them before we have to swallow that crow?" Matt asked.
"As long as is humanly possible." Josh deadpanned.
"Okay, then when do I get my wife back?"
"Would you stop blaming me for that?" Josh demanded. "It was her idea not mine.
Besides, if you had a less intelligent, less appealing wife…"
"Thanks…I think." Matt drawled. "Why can't we close this last 4 point gap, Josh?"
"Because we haven't debated yet. That's all we need. A side by side, apples to apples
comparison. We've got to get that debate soon so we have time to use it to woo
undecideds."
"Woo? I don't think I've heard that word since I was forced to read Jane Austin in college."
Matt teased him.
"Not only can I use the word appropriately in a sentence, but I can demonstrate it's
meaning."
"Are you hitting on me, Joshua?" Matt grinned.
"Absolutely not…" Josh began and met Matt's eyes before they answered together;
"Not that there's anything wrong with that." And laughed.
"I think I'm getting punchy." Matt noted. "I'm going to try and get some sleep. You should
too."
"Right. Hey, don't forget to look over the remarks David wrote for the Chicago forum. We
leave tomorrow at 2." Josh reminded him.
"Is Vinnick still planning on going too?"
"They've got you scheduled an hour and a ½ after him." Josh reassured him, but the
Congressman just rolled his eyes. "On the plus side, Helen and Donna will be meeting us
there."
"At least there's something I can look forward to there." Matt said as he left Josh with his
piles of numbers.
*****************************************
Donna walked through the doors of the hotel and searched her memory for the location of
the ballroom they were going to be in.
She picked up her pace walking down the hallway of what she hoped was the correct
ballroom. She was so intent on looking at the plaques above each ballroom door she didn'
t notice Josh waiting across the hall watching for her. He grabbed her from behind and
she let out a shriek until she saw who had grabbed her.
"God! Do you know what you just did to my heart rate?" she scolded him.
"I imagine it's the same thing you just did to mine." He teased as he pulled her back into a
corner with him. "Four days, Donnatella." He whispered as he placed kisses across her
face. "Four days without kissing you…touching you…sleeping with you."
"Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment, or even feel the same way, but we have to get
to the ballroom. We don't want to miss the Congressman's speech or the Q & A."
"They're running late." Josh murmured and kissed her mouth with slow deliberation.
"Politicians being long winded? Who'd have ever considered that?" she said drolly.
"I've been thinking…" Josh admitted when they came up for air. "We're going to be in
Nevada in two days; the wedding capitol of the world. We could take an hour lunch, hit
one of those drive through chapels and be done with the whole thing within minutes."
"Wow, a whole hour for lunch ay a drive through chapel? No, no girls, I saw him first; he's
mine." Donna spoke up to stake her claim to the women passing by.
"I just meant we could skip all the hoopla and be married by this time on Friday." Josh tried
to smooth it over.
"Except, I want the hoopla, Joshua. I'm looking forward to the hoopla. And I promised
Miranda she could be my flower girl." Donna pouted and Josh's head fell on her forhead.
"Fine, but when your mother, and mine, are driving you crazy with the hoopla, remember
that I offered the romantic Vegas getaway."
"I promise I will." Donna kissed him once more before pulling away from him. "Show me
where the candidates are waiting so I can go over a couple things with the Congressman
before he goes on."
Josh reluctantly leads her through backroom corridors until he gets to a staging area. The
sight that greets them makes Donna gasp and Josh groan.
Congressman Santos and Senator Vinnick are toe to toe arguing about why there haven't
been any debates yet. The press is happily snapping pictures.
"You can't possibly be worried about debating me, Senator." Santos was baiting him. "You'
ve been doing this way too long. So I have to wonder what you're procrastination is all
about."
"If that's a subtle dig at my age, you're pushing the wrong button. With age comes
experience and experience is what this country needs right now."
"Then prove it. Take a step out onto a debate stage with me a week from Sunday; 2 hours
of exchanging ideas and visions for this country. What do you possibly have to fear from
going mano e mano with me?"
"Nothing." Vinnick responded. "Absolutely nothing."
"Then a week from Sunday?" Matt confirmed holding out his hand to seal the agreement
with a handshake.
"A week from Sunday." Arnie Vinnick confirmed briefly shaking Matt's hand before he
walked briskly away, entourage in tow.
"What the hell did you just do?" Josh said quietly to Santos.
"I got us a debate." Santos grinned. "And I didn't even need a guy in a chicken suit this
time. Damn I'm getting good at this." He took Helen's hand and walked out onto the stage
to thunderous applause.