When I get to my office, I discover a little present on my desk. The label on the container reads

Preggie Pop Drops- The Natural Way to Ease Morning Sickness!

There's a little card:

[Try these. Tell me when you're ready. -H]

I knew she suspected. It's nice that she's in a little early today. I'm glad I can tell her before everyone else. Then the thought hits me. I wonder where she got these. Are we going to have a First Family pregnancy rumor to deal with? I really hope not!

I knock lightly on the First Lady's door then enter. Helen beams at me.

"Thank you for the gift. It's been pretty terrible."

"It looked like it last week. You know, if you had told me, I wouldn't have made you go on the trip."

"Thanks, but I really wanted to go. I really like my job. I could live without throwing up several times a day though."

"It's worth it."

"I'll take your word for it."

She laughs. "Peter was a textbook pregnancy. Everything happened right on time. I had just the smallest amount of queasiness in the morning, which I milked for all it's worth with Matt by the way. I had him waiting on me hand and foot. The morning sickness vanished at the end of the first trimester and the second trimester felt like I could conquer the world. Plus the hormones made me . . . . well, let's just say Matt enjoyed the second trimester too. Then the labor and delivery were relatively easy too. And then there was Miranda- "

She laughs. "When they say no two pregnancies are the same they aren't kidding. All day sickness pretty much the whole pregnancy. Although it did get a little better after the first trimester. Weird cravings, which I couldn't keep down anyway."

"Like what?"

"You know those canned raviolis?" She shudders.

"Those are pretty gross." My Mother never let us have those, but I tried them in college.

"Yes. They are, but that's what I wanted. I'd hold off as long as I could but at least once a week I'd give in to the craving, thinking maybe this time they'd stay down. They never did." She laughs.

"I thought I wanted Josh's coffee this morning, even though the smell of it has been making me sick for weeks."

Helen chuckles. "How long did you make it?"

"Not even 2 minutes. It came up almost as fast as it went down."

Helen looks me right in the eyes. "I don't know if it will get any easier, but you will get the hang of it. If you find something you can tolerate or a time of the day that you can eat, just do it. It'll be fine. And if you need to leave early or nap while you are here, it's perfectly okay. We'll make it work. We can change the times of our meetings, you can come up to the residence to nap. Whatever you need. You don't ever have to worry about your job with me."

"Thank you."

I don't want to let her down, but knowing that I have some flexibility feels really good right now.

"So tell, me . . . how's Josh handling this?"

"He's pretty much walking a tightrope between exuberant and terrified."

"Well that's pretty normal too. I think Matt is giving him a pep talk today too."

"We need to call the Bartlets and tell them. Just imagine what President Bartlet's going to say to him!"

"Poor guy." Helen laughs but she doesn't really mean it. She and Josh have a strange relationship. As far is Helen is concerned Josh turned her entire life upside down. On the other hand, he got her husband, whom she believes whole heartedly in, elected President of the United States! And plus her children adore him. So she doesn't want anything truly bad to happen to Josh, but she doesn't mind if he suffers a little.

I glance at my watch. "We should get in there for the staff meeting."

"What's on the agenda?"

"Just a review of the Easter Egg roll stuff. And I guess I'm going to tell the rest of them about the pregnancy. Josh told his staff this morning. I think Annabeth suspects something after our trip."

"Oh, Annabeth doesn't just suspect."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she's the one who went out and got the Preggie pops for me. But I told her they were a surprise for you."

"Oh thank goodness! I was worried that if they were on a requisition from the First Lady it might start the rumor mill."

"I didn't think of that. Matt wanted to have a few more, but with the way he works, I really felt two was enough. Now I'm even more sure of it!"

"I don't know how many we'd like. Right now one sounds about right. But sometimes I picture Josh with several children around him. I think he's going to make a fantastic Dad. It's just. . . ."

Helen looks at me expectantly. "It's just what, Donna?"

"I have no idea how to be a Mom!"

"Oh Donna!" Helen laughs. "I'm sorry. I know your hormones are reeking havoc with you right now. You know how to be a Mom! You are one of the most nurturing people I know. Just look how you took care of Josh all those years!"

I'm still not so sure, but it's nice that Helen has faith in me.

"We'd better get to that meeting."

"Good morning everyone. Before we start the staff meeting, I have something to tell you." Everyone except Annabeth looks a little wary. The last time I made an announcement like this there was a stalker involved.

"It's good news! . . . . Josh and I are expecting!"

"Congratulations! That's so exciting" Karen squeals.

Angela just smiles at me.

"Just what the world needs a mini-Josh Lyman running around." Ned mutters.

I look at him in shock. I can't believe he'd say that out loud. I'm not sure how to react. I think another Josh Lyman, or 3, is exactly what this world needs!

"Ned! That was completely uncalled for." Helen looks pissed.

"I was just kidding. I'm very happy for you." Ned tries to cover but his congratulations fall flat. I certainly don't believe him and it doesn't look like Helen does either.

"Well, enough about my personal life. Let's get back to business shall we?" I look around the table with a brisk nod. I will not cry. I will not cry.

"Have you all fully reviewed the plans from the office of the social secretary for the Easter Egg roll?" Everyone nods.

"Okay, let's review our individual assignments."

As soon as the staff meeting is over, I realize I need to tell Ainsley. Josh told Sam during Senior Staff and he's not going to be able to keep it a secret very long. I think I'll just pop over to her office.

"Hey Ains, got a minute?"

"Donna, oh thank god! Sam called me earlier and asked if I'd talked to you yet, and when I said no, he said well then he knew something I didn't know but he wouldn't tell me until you talked me and that was 3 hours ago and I've just been beside myself, I mean, Sam can't know things that I don't know. You know?"

I smile at her and wait to see if she's done.

"I'm sorry. I meant to call you earlier but I needed to talk to Helen then I had a staff meeting. Anyway I need to ask you a question."

"Shoot."

"Those bridesmaid dresses? Do they come in maternity sizes?"

Ainsley squeals and jumps up and runs around her desk to hug me. "This is so exciting! Congratulations. So exactly how big will you be?"

"Oh roughly the size of a house."

Ainsley gives me a once over. "Highly unlikely. Seriously how many months will you be?"

"8"

"When is your due date?"

"November 7"

"Seriously? Like basically election day?"

"Ironic, isn't it."

I take a seat on Ainsley's couch and she sits in the chair across from me.

"So who knows so far? Is this like top secret?"

"Well, we told Josh's Mom last night. We were going to try to keep it quiet for a few more weeks but I've thrown up in front of so many people the cat's out of the bag. Josh officially told his staff this morning, and I just told mine."

"Everyone must be so happy for you two!"

"Well not everyone." I feel my eyes prick a little. I feel silly. I don't want to cry about this.

"What do you mean?" Ainsley looks shocked.

"Ned Carlson said," I sniffle, I don't think I can actually say it without crying. "Oh never mind, it doesn't matter."

"Donna, what did he say?" Ainsley's eyes are wide.

"He just made a crack about the world not needing any mini-Josh Lymans." I can't help the big tears that roll down my cheeks. "It's probably just hormones, but that was really mean don't you think?"

"Yes. It was. You know what I think?"

"What?"

"The world could use as many mini-Josh Lymans as you can manage to produce!"

"You know they'll all be democrats? right?" I giggle. I feel a lot better now that I got that out. My hormones really are going a bit crazy.