There's been a lot going on, which means writing and posting time has been short recently, but I'm slowly coming out of it. Longtime readers will know about my cat, Fitz. He crossed the rainbow bridge in September and left me devastated. But he sent me a pair of siblings to mend my broken heart. Lance and Queenie have settled in nicely and I'm now contending with twice the kitten energy I had a decade and a half ago.
Rough outline for the rest of this story has us saying goodbye somewhere around Chapter 35, we'll see if that holds firm. With the continued issues with ffn, remember all updates and story information can be found in my FB group, AgoodWITCH Writes.
Chapter 24When the president and her team returned to the White House, they were greeted with congratulations and support.
However, in the days that followed, there were also quite a few meetings for Alice to take regarding staffing. While she spoke with all of them and mapped out exits and notices that worked for the individual staffers, she needed to make Bella aware of the hiring spree to come.
"How bad is it?" Bella asked as they went over her itinerary for meetings the next few weeks.
"It isn't great, but not nearly as bad as when we took over for Harry. A lot of new opportunities, and very few abrupt departures. A few people in the press office, but considering we'll need someone to write speeches for Edward, it'll be easier to hire for all of those positions at once. My office is also going through some changes and Elise is looking to retire."
"I'm sorry that we're losing Elise. She's been a godsend."
Alice nodded as she tapped on her tablet. "She has, but she had an idea that I think you'll like."
"What's that?" Bella eyed her friend shrewdly.
"Dawn has been doing very well with all the logistics for the wedding. She has been working with Liam as a liaison between ideas she has and your protective detail. And she takes their concerns seriously when it comes to her planning. Garrett is a fan."
"That's great news. Have you broached it with Dawn yet?"
"No. I wanted to speak with you first. If you're on board, I'll ask her if she's interested in the position of White House Social Secretary. If she is, Elise has offered to stay on through your inauguration. They'll go over everything she's planned for the State Dinner, how she handles the various holidays we decorate for and celebrate here, and they'll work side by side until then."
"I guess it is a blessing the events around the inauguration aren't under their purview."
"It is. Though the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is beginning the work now."
"Please tell me John Caius hasn't found a way onto it," Bella nearly growled.
"No. He elected a junior representative to take what would be his likely spot, since he believed his victory was inevitable. But as an outgoing representative, he'll have to find a hobby."
"Hopefully back in Oklahoma." Bella sighed. She looked at her watch and knew she had to move on. "Do you have any other pressing business?"
"No. By the way, Virna is hard at work in our home. She truly is a wonder. Garrett trusts her, so we can approve things and her team is hard at work while we're not there."
"Have you moved in yet?"
"No. Garrett got a storage unit for what he was keeping and moved into my place. We're month to month until November 30th. Virna has promised we'll be able to move in by Thanksgiving, so that's all I'm concerned about."
"I'm glad everything is working out there."
"Me too. As for the rest of it, I'll have Teeny schedule a meeting tomorrow afternoon so I can update you. I'm hoping it will mean less turnover now that I'm fully back to work."
"There's a lot more stress in the West Wing than people reasonably expect, and that's saying something."
Work continued as it always did. Hiring began in earnest, including Dawn's acceptance of the role of Social Secretary. Alice was interviewing for a junior Deputy Chief of Staff and had a few promising candidates.
She was in her second round of interviews when one candidate began to stand out. Carlotta Taylor was younger than most of the other candidates, but she certainly didn't lack drive. She'd graduated from Georgetown with an Honors in Government degree. That was of great interest to Alice, and she asked Carlotta endless questions about her choosing that major.
"My mother was a lawyer and my father is a career military man. I grew up seeing them work within the system, but I was always fascinated by the chance to make changes from the inside. Really making a difference. My parents divorced when I was in high school, and by then my father had retired from the military and was working in DC, so I looked at colleges that would keep me close to him. It was during a campus tour at Georgetown that I learned about the major. Between my childhood as an army brat and my mother being an Italian citizen when she met my father, I didn't push to study abroad, and the honors program offered the chance to elevate myself.
"I knew I'd be starting at the bottom when I graduated, but I was lucky to be hired by a lobbying firm that had a lot of associates. It wasn't long before one of the principals realized I was good at managing people from watching me in the office. He put me in charge of some of the staffers so we could route the information we needed to the principal who requested it, which enabled them to handle the work on Capitol Hill." At the end of her explanation, Carlotta brushed her long chestnut hair behind her ear.
When they made eye contact, something about her looked familiar.
"Why are you considering leaving?"
"In the four years I've been there, I've made myself invaluable to them. The problem with that is I've been passed over for other opportunities because they would need to wrangle their own staffers again."
"So you're looking for upward mobility?" Alice asked.
"I'm looking for something that will challenge me. I have no doubt this job will do just that. I believe I could be of value to you, Ms. Brandon, but if you don't agree, it might be better that I didn't mention this opportunity to my father."
"What does your father have to do with this?" Alice was thoroughly confused.
Carlotta blanched. "I assumed you would have run a background check."
"One was run, but all I'm told is if you pass it or not. I'm not privy to the details."
"Oh." Carlotta blushed. "I just thought you weren't mentioning him. I wasn't sure if I should bring him up because I didn't want you to think I was expecting to be hired because of him. My father is the Secretary of Defense, Jasper Whitlock."
Alice froze. "Carlotta … Lottie. I knew those blue eyes were familiar, but I just couldn't place them."
"So, I guess I should be going." Carlotta stood.
She stopped when Alice raised her hand. "Not so fast. I applaud you for not name dropping to try to get a leg up in this process. And the truth is, I need someone who is energetic and driven enough to get the work done but won't back down when a door is slammed in their face. Because if you move on from managing staff, which is a large enough job, to eventually helping with policy, that will happen often. Will you work with us to do great things with the time the American people have given us?"
"Yes. I would love to join your staff." Lottie did a little dance in her chair as a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in," Alice called.
The women stood as Jasper Whitlock opened the door. "Ms. Brandon, I have the … Lottie?"
Alice watched a confused expression cross the Secretary of Defense's face before she spoke. "Lottie, call my office and let them know when you'll be able to start and we'll make sure everything is ready for your first day. Secretary, I'm going to take those files and give you a moment with your daughter."
An hour later, Alice wasn't surprised to see Secretary Whitlock standing in her doorway. "Ms. Brandon, may I have a moment?"
"Of course, Secretary Whitlock. Please, have a seat." Alice watched as Colonel Whitlock sat heavily in the seat across from her desk.
He shifted a few times before he spoke. "I didn't know Lottie was applying to be a staffer here. And I don't expect her maiden name to get her a position."
"Let me stop you right there, Colonel. Lottie didn't tell me you were her father. She assumed I knew due to the background check that had been run, but I only knew that she'd passed with no potential issues. I'd already decided to hire her when you came up at the end of our meeting today."
"She got hired based on her own merit?" he asked, stunned.
"Do you not think she's capable?" Alice was more than a little hurt for her newest staffer.
"I think she's an intelligent and hardworking woman who would be great at whatever position you select. But I didn't want a position to be created for my daughter, or for her to be given a job she may not be qualified for yet. Both could damage her future ambitions in very different ways."
Alice held up a hand. "Let me ease your mind, Colonel—"
"Jasper, Ms. Brandon. You can call me Jasper."
Alice smiled. "Only if you'll call me Alice. Now, the position I'm hiring for is as one of my Deputy Chiefs of Staff. I had one when Isabella was Vice President, and hired an additional one when she became President, and a third when I was diagnosed with cancer again. Now that we're entering her first full term, I want to continue the momentum since we'll also have a Democratic Congress. Vacancies in the White House happen, and it certainly isn't the first time we've faced it, but I want to maintain the numbers because it will ensure no one feels overwhelmed in the responsibilities assigned to them."
Alice's phone buzzed and she sent a quick message in response. "From her time at her current job, she showed herself to be so capable at managing her peers that she's been held back because finding a replacement for her would be a challenge. I think that's not only shortsighted on their part, but a damn shame. I was going to have Carlotta do what she did best at her current job as a way to learn how the West Wing functions. Over time, I could start to see her work with Joss and Daniel on some of the policy side of the job. If she remains here and learns from this office, the sky will be the limit to her when she moves on."
Jasper steepled his hands in front of his mouth, considering everything Alice had just said. "If that's the case, I can see why you're such an invaluable advisor to President Swan. I hope that in the coming term we'll have the opportunity to work together more. We've only interacted as members of the Cabinet, but—"
The door opened quickly and Rosalie Hale burst in before realizing she was interrupting. "I'm sorry. There wasn't anyone in the outer office, but I can come back later."
"Is something the matter?" Alice questioned.
"I've been called into a meeting with President Swan, but I don't know the nature of it."
"I should probably get going." Jasper stood, but Alice held up a hand to stop him for a moment.
"If you don't have anything on your agenda, make plans with your daughter to celebrate. As you said, I'm sure we'll have more opportunities with this new term. It was nice having a moment to chat about something other than policy."
Once Jasper had left the office, Rosalie moved towards the vacated seat, but Alice stood. "I have an appointment outside the office, then I'm off for the rest of the day. If you want to know why President Swan scheduled a meeting, I suggest you speak with her."
Rosalie sighed as she walked out of the office and down the hall to the Oval Office.
Shelley was seated at her desk when she arrived, offering her a warm smile. "President Swan is expecting you; you can go in."
Samuel opened the door and Rosalie entered to see Isabella seated at her desk with Donut sprawled across the front edge.
"Rosalie, it's been too long. Please, join me on the couch." Isabella stood and walked to the nearest couch, Donut following behind her.
Rosalie tentatively took a seat on the other end of the couch and turned fully towards the president. "You asked to see me?"
"Yes. I'd expected you to seek me out in the week and a half since the election, but you've made no effort outside of Cabinet meetings, so I thought I'd better make the first move."
"Ma'am, I'm sorry if you feel like I was being deceitful, or hiding things from you. That wasn't my intention. But we were keeping the relationship low-key in the beginning."
Bella heaved a sigh, and Donut pawed at her knee. She tapped her lap and allowed him to jump up, aware that petting a cat during this conversation made her look more than a little like a Bond villain. "Rosalie, I have a few questions, and I'd like you to answer them truthfully. I'd also like you to cut out the Ma'am bullshit for a minute."
"Okay," she answered.
"Do you love Emmett?"
Rosalie opened and closed her mouth several times, shocked that this had been the first question. "Yes."
"Have you met Henry yet?"
"I have. He's a sweet little boy."
Bella couldn't help but smile at the indulgent look on Rosalie's face. She was as smitten with Henry as she was with his father. "And how long has this been going on?"
"I met him the first time he sat in on a Cabinet meeting for you, not long after he'd been confirmed as your VP. He's a handsome man, you have to admit that, even with you only having eyes for Edward."
"He does have an appeal; though, he's not quite my type. Go on."
"Jasper, God love him, was extolling the virtues of something the Joint Chiefs were pushing, but I didn't agree. Considering where we were a decade ago on the world stage, we're in a much better position as far as foreign politics go. But during that time, our very democracy was under attack with the assassination of President Clearwater and the continued potential threat against you. To divert defense spending from Homeland Security was dangerous and I was less than gracious in my explanation. Once the meeting had ended, Emmett was still taking notes. I don't know if you've noticed, but he's shit at shorthand."
"I have seen that." Bella chuckled.
"I didn't want to disturb him, so I packed up to leave. When I walked behind him, he told me, 'What happened isn't your fault.' It was like he could tell that I'd blamed myself for the DHS not catching this threat before they had successfully carried out their attack. Then he asked if I was willing to bring him up to speed on the DHS and I agreed. I felt like I might have an active ally at the table finally. I'd always respected you, but to be honest, I didn't know how to approach you at first. It wasn't until that day I helped you with your wedding dress that I'd felt like I had found a way to be relatable."
"Was that a performance? The friendship we'd formed?"
"No, Bella. I'm not the best at being friendly with women. I come off as too strong and standoffish, but in reality, I'm too intense, too focused to keep female friends. When I started to open up to you, and Alice by association, it was a relief. You're both so focused on your jobs, but you balance it with the softness you show towards the people you care about. It showed me how I could achieve that balance. So all of that was completely real for me."
Bella shut her eyes as the emotions overwhelmed her. "I'm glad to hear that. So many people put on a show for me, I had been concerned that I'd been so starved for a new friend that I'd been mistaken. So thank you for telling me I hadn't been wrong."
"Never, Bella. My biggest fear around telling you about my relationship with Emmett was that you might think I hadn't been honest. In the beginning, we had wanted to see if there was a real connection before letting people in. Then, when you had to announce your relationship with Edward, we held off longer because we didn't want to steal your thunder."
"How long have you been dating?"
"November eighth was our first anniversary. So that early morning phone call where you found out was just before midnight on what was a year for us."
"Can I make a request of you?"
"Sure," Rosalie answered.
"Sometime in December, make your relationship public. And I don't care if it is at the State Dinner, or something more intimate and personal. That way when you're his date to the Inauguration Ball, it is old news and you'll be able to enjoy yourselves."
"Really? You're okay with us going public before your wedding?" Rosalie sat up straighter.
"If you thought I would make you wait another six months to be happy, then you're crazy. I want you both to be happy. That is what's important to me."
Rosalie jumped up and rushed to Bella, barely giving Donut enough time to vacate her lap before she embraced her, a sob escaping her throat. "Thank you, Bella."
"Of course. I want you and Emmett to pick a day this week to come over for dinner. Then we can have a double date in the Residence."
"I'll talk with him about the best time to make that happen."
"Good. Now, the fact that we haven't been interrupted is a modern miracle, so let me walk you out and I can finish up my day."
The end of that day turned into the end of the month before Isabella knew it. The dinner with Emmett and Rosalie was lovely, and gave the couples a chance to enjoy a social outing, even if it was within the walls of the White House.
The relationship between Vice President McCarty and Secretary Hale was revealed when they went on a very public date the day after Thanksgiving.
When asked about it, Isabella responded that she was happy for her friends and colleagues, and that she'd been aware of the relationship before the photos were published.
In the beginning of December, the eyes of the nation were all poised to see how the State Dinner would go for more than the political ramifications. It was also about the two young couples who would be gracing the world's stage for the first time in that capacity.