The reception line is tedious, and my feet are starting to hurt. But I keep a smile on my face and say hello to everyone that comes through the line.
I feels like, mostly, it's Ainsley's family. I hear a lot of cousin, aunt and uncle in the introductions. Every once in while someone mentions that they are co-workers from California. Sam and Ainsley must really have made an impression for people to come that far for this wedding. But then senior staff comes through and it feels like home. Lou, Edie, Bram. Ginger and Margaret, Otto. Even though it's only been a few days, it feels really good to see them. I'm even glad to see Lionel Tribbey, although he still scares the crap out of me.
When the line is done, I'm disappointed. We haven't seen either of the Presidents or their families yet. I guess it's not surprising that they wouldn't wait in a line.
But when we go back into the church for group pictures, the Presidents are there, surrounded by their agents, having a nice chat. The first ladies are also conversing, while Zoey seems to be entertaining Peter and Miranda.
"Sam! Ainsley!" President Bartlet calls out, "I always had a feeling about you two. Now Sam, I believe you owe me a thank you for hiring her in the first place."
"Yes, I do Mr. President. Thank you." Sam says with a huge smile, he stretches out his hand for a handshake. But President Bartlet uses his out stretch hand to pull him into a hug.
"I'd really like you to call me Jed now."
"Yes, sir, Mr. President." Sam responds with a grin.
"Ainsley, I'd like a photo, if you don't mind."
"Me too!" President Santos chimes in.
"I'd be honored." Ainsley says with a smile.
As the photographer lines them up at the front of the church, Miranda comes over to Josh and I.
"I wish I could have been a flower girl. I would have done the petals right and not fought about it."
Josh leans down to her level. "I'm sure you would have, sweetheart."
"I need someone else to get married." She pauses a minute and wrinkles up her nose to think. Then, as she's called to the front, I hear her mutter, "maybe Ms. Schott and Mr. Vinick."
Josh and I look at each other and burst out laughing.
Once the photographs are done at the church, we head back to the resort. We'll be taking more there. We've got some time to kill while all the guest go through the security screening. This time Josh and I end up in an SUV with our detail. I don't mind. I could use a few minutes for just the two of us.
I lay my head on Josh's shoulder and he immediately begins to rub my back. That feels so good.
"Tired?" Concern laces his voice.
"Only a little. I'll be okay."
He tightens his arm around me. "God, I love you so much. You looked so incredible walking down that aisle. But our wedding was better." He says with a chuckle.
"I don't know, dualing flower girls is pretty funny. I hope they got that on video."
"Yeah, just what everyone wants from their wedding, a viral video. I got everything I needed from that day." He kisses the top of my head. Sometimes he can be so sweet.
The detail drives us around to the back of the resort, where the rest of the bridal party is spilling out of three limos. There are golf carts waiting to take us out on the greens. I'm really glad we don't have to walk.
It feels like forever, but eventually, the photos are all done and we are ready to enter the reception.
The DJ announces the bridal party in reverse order.
Hunter escorts Clemmie and Gunner escorts Maggie. They are really too cute.
Aberdeen and Will are announced, then walk in and move to their spots at the head table.
Next Charlie and Leighton walk in together. I was really pleased when I heard her give a blistering talk down to her aunt for suggesting that it was inappropriate.
Then Dixie and Beau, and then, Duke and Savannah.
I take Toby's arm and we make our way in together. "Thank you for the honor." He says as we find our seats.
Josh and Brinley are last. I'm not a fan of seeing someone else on his arm but I know I don't have anything to worry about. She's definitely not his type.
Ainsley figured out how to seat Josh and I together at the head table. Brinley, as her Matron of Honor is directly to her right, while Josh as the Best Man is directly to Sam's left. Then me and Toby are next to Josh, then Charlie and Leighton. On the other side Duke and Savannah are next to Brinley, then Beau and Dixie, then Will and Aberdeen. I almost feel sorry for Will.
We find our places, then wait. A few seconds later the DJ says- "and now, I'm pleased to announce for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Seaborn!"
As they cross the dance floor towards the table, Sam gives Ainsley a twirl, then dips her and kisses her passionately. Go Sam!
Then the music changes and we hear Frank Sinatra's voice crooning, "The Way You Look Tonight." Sam pulls Ainsley close and she rests her head on his chest, and they dance like they are the only two people in the room. It's incredibly sweet. I had expected them to do some sort of formal dance. I know they both know how, it was part of their upbringing. But this small moment of touting expectations is so much more like them. It's really the perfect way for them to start their marriage.
When the song ends, Sam and Ainsley make their way to the bridal table, and Earle steps up to the microphone. I find myself literally crossing my fingers in hopes that he doesn't say anything offensive.
"Thank you all for being here to help us celebrate the marriage of our daughter Ainsley to Sam Seaborn. Please join me in toasting to their happiness. To Mr. and Mrs. Sam Seaborn!"
He raises his glass and we all join him- "To Mr. and Mrs. Sam Seaborn!" I'm pleased that my glass is filled with ginger ale.
"Reverend Jamison will now say grace."
The minister makes his way to the microphone and gives a general blessing over the meal. And then we all sit down. At last. I know that it's completely inappropriate, but I kick my shoes off. I'm pretty sure my feet are swelling. Josh looks a little surprised, but smiles at me when I shoot him a pleading look to keep my secret.
Our meals are served fairly quickly to my great relief. I'm so hungry. I practically inhale my salad. Hope they bring the entrée soon. Josh passes his half-finished salad to me and I eat that as well.
"When do you give your speech?" I ask him.
"After the main course."
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Did Toby write it?"
"No."
I look to Toby for confirmation and he nods. Well, this should be interesting.
A few minutes later the entrees are served. I got the eggplant parmesan. Josh has fried chicken. I 'm glad he got his southern cooking. I wonder if he's going to eat all of it.
"Here goes nothing." Josh mutters as he stands up, tapping his glass with a spoon. I smile at him. I'm sure he'll be fine.
"Hi everyone. I'm Josh Lyman. You know when Sam asked me to be his best man, he knew it would mean me giving this speech, so I'm not sure why he didn't ask Toby."
"Me neither." Toby mutters and everyone twitters. Josh continues on.
"Sam and I served as legislative aides shortly out of law school, and became lifelong friends. Sam defected from government service a few times, to go make boat loads of money, but he always comes back when I need him."
He pauses to give Sam a very warm smile, and mouths "thank you." Sam mouths back "you're welcome."
"Sam's support through the years has meant so much to me. He's given me great advice, including suggesting a vacation that changed my life. We've had some really good times, and some really bad times. Most of which have made the nightly news." There is more laughter.
"One that you probably haven't heard about was when the heat went out in the White House and we started a fire in a fireplace that had been closed for a hundred years."
"I knew it was them!" President Bartlet exclaims from his table and everyone laughs. Charlie gives them a disgruntled look.
"But the best story from our early White House years, is the day that Sam appeared on Capitol Beat and got his ass kicked by a young, leggy, blonde, Republican.
"Ainsley, you really do bring out the best in Sam. Donna and I have come to value your friendship as much as his. And we are looking forward to generations of closeness. We wish you all the joy and happiness in the world."
He turns back to the crowd. "To Sam and Ainsley!" He toasts.
"To Sam and Ainsley!" Everyone echoes.
Josh sits down with a sigh. Sam claps him on the back. "Thanks, man."
"Good job." Toby mutters.
"Are you going to eat your mashed potatoes?" I ask him.
He gives me a quick kiss and pushes the plate my way. I manage a few more bites before Brinley stands up.
She rambles for a few minutes, but I'm not really listening. The speeches will be over in a few minutes, then there will be dancing, and I can't find my shoes. I'm trying to discretely locate them with my foot so that I can slip them back on undetected, but it's not working. I lean back and stretch my leg out, then try to sweep it in a semi-circle. Toby's eyebrows go up as I make contact with his shin.
"Sorry." I mutter under my breath.
"What the hell are you doing?" He mutters back. That causes Josh's eyebrows to go up. He gives Toby a look.
"Your wife is playing footsie with me."
"Toby!" I whisper in shock. How could he say that?
Josh tilts his head and smirks at me. Meanwhile Brinley just keeps yammering on. Something about Ainsley getting the doll she wanted for Christmas when they were in elementary school.
I sweep my foot in the other direction and make contact with Josh's ankle. He grins at me.
"Much better." He whispers.
Brinley finally brings her speech in for a landing and we all toast the happy couple.
"Now," Josh asks in regular volume, "what's the problem?"
"I can't find my shoes!"
"You're kidding?!"
"Josh, do I look like I'm kidding?"
"No."
"Please help me."
He grins again and then bends down to look under the table. "How the hell'd they get all the way back there?" He stands up, then squats down beside me and leans forward and fishes out my shoes. Then he tries to slip them on my feet. It's no easy task. My feet are definitely swollen.
As "What a Wonderful World" begins to play, Sam and Ainsley take the dance floor again. A few seconds later, the DJ breaks in-
"Now joining Sam and Ainsley on the Dance Floor, Best Man & Bridesmaid Josh and Donna Lyman."
Josh snickers. "That kind of made it sound like I'm both the Best man and a Bridesmaid."
A few more seconds go by. "Matron of Honor Brinley and Jeff Jackson." Then the announcer introduces "Groomsman Toby Ziegler and CJ Cregg" It was nice of CJ to fill in since Andy didn't make the trip. I give them a grin. It's good to see the two of them together. I can't wait to chat with CJ. Nine months is a long time.
The rest of the bridal party and their dates join us and we continue dancing. Just before the song ends, the DJ invites everyone to join the dancing, and he segues into another song seamlessly. Josh and I continue dancing. My feet hurt but this is too nice to stop.
"You look fantastic!" Helen whispers as she and Matt join the dance floor near us.
"You too! Nice shoes." I tease. She's got a shimmery black cocktail dress on and she's wearing her red shoes. She got a lot of press for those shoes after the State Visit from the Queen, but most of it was complimentary. Several teen magazines put her on their best dressed of the week list. My favorite headline was"First Lady Finds Fun with Flirty Footwear."
"Nice Speech, Josh." Matt compliments.
"Thank you, sir."
"Stay away from the fireplaces."
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, Josh!" President Barlet's voice breaks through the crowd as he steers Abbey our way.
"Oh shit." Josh mumbles under his breath.
"I knew it was you. You are like the son I never had . . ."
"Thank you, sir."
"Don't interrupt Josh. I was going to say you're like the son I never had the opportunity to take out to the woodshed." But he says it with a grin so we know he's just kidding.
"Yes, Sir."
"The Truman Balcony. In. my. underwear."
"Sorry about that, Sir."
"How are you, Donna?" Dr. Bartlet asks, I assume it's just small talk until I look at her and notice the concerned look on her face. It's almost like she can tell that I don't feel quite right. I've been feeling a tightening across my abdomen. It's not very pleasant, but I wouldn't call it painful either. I've pretty much been ignoring it. I don't want to freak Josh out.
"I'm fine, Ma'am."
"Donna, you agreed to call me Abbey, remember?"
"Yes, Abbey."
The song ends and the DJ announces-
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats. Mr. and Mrs. Seaborn will be cutting the cake momentarily."
I'm really glad to get the chance to sit down. The crowd "oooohs" appreciatively when the cake is rolled out to the center of the dance floor. It's 6 tiers high. Between each tier, there are fresh flowers. Dahlia, Chrysanthemums, Gerbera, and Asiatic lilies, all in fall hues: Chili Pepper, Flame Orange, Sunflower Yellow. The florist really nailed the fall theme without resorting to cliched leaves and pumpkins. The cake is incredible too, with fine icing swirls and pearls.
Sam and Ainsley step up to cut the cake. I'm curious to see how this goes. There has been a lot of banter over the decision whether to smash the cake into each others faces or feed it nicely.
They take the knife and start to cut the cake. Everyone can immediately tell there is a problem. The knife isn't sliding through the cake. Sam looks very confused. Ainsley's Mom runs up and whispers something in his ear. He gives her a strange look, then he moves the knife up a tier. It cuts through with no problem. Soon Sam and Ainsley both have a little piece of cake and they are eyeing each other. Everyone seems to be waiting with baited breath.
"I love you, cupcake." Sam finally says, holding the piece of cake near her mouth so she can take a bite on her own. She does the same, but as he takes a bite she shoves the whole piece in his mouth and smears frosting across his lips.
"Oh, you're going to pay for that!" Sam teases back but as he tried to push his piece of cake closer to her face, a large piece falls off and goes right down the inside of the front of her dress. Her hands immediately fly up to the sweetheart neckline.
"Sam!"
"Well, I guess we'll save that bit for later." He chuckles.
As the servers wheel the cake away, Sam and Ainsley head back toward the table.
"Donna? Would you come to the bathroom with me?"
God, yes, I thought she'd never ask. I've had to pee for almost an hour!
On the way to the bathroom I have to ask, "What was the deal with the cake?"
"Oh! No one bothered to tell us the bottom later was a Styrofoam prop! Apparently it make it less likely the cake will collapse. Who knew?"
"Well, you learn something new every day."
The bathroom is really nice. There's a lounge area with several comfortable looking chairs and a large vanity. I hold Ainsley's dress while she pees. She's waiting for me after I go.
"I'm going to sit here for a few minutes. You should probably go mingle." I say as I wash my hands.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I could just use a little rest."
Ainsley gives me a funny look, but she heads out the door. I'm still feeling kind of strange. Whenever I stop moving, I feel my stomach getting hard for a little bit then relaxing.
"What's going on in there, Lulu?" She gives me a firm kick and I can't help the little yelp. That one hurt.
"Donna?" Abbey pokes her head around the corner. "Everything okay?"
"Yes." I answer through clenched teeth. She gives me a look, then squats down next to the chair. She places one hand on my stomach and lifts her other arm to look at her watch.
"How long have you been having these contractions?"