Hey so I have to shout out Boris Yeltsin for giving me Dussander for my secretary of state.
Chapter 8
Jade and Beck sat together in the living room, the tension palpable as they prepared to deliver the difficult news to their children. Hazel and Ivy, both sixteen, sat side by side on the couch, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Luke, just four years old, played with a toy truck on the carpet, blissfully unaware of the gravity of the situation.
Jade took a deep breath and looked at Beck, who gave her a reassuring nod. She began, her voice steady but tinged with emotion.
"Kids, we need to talk to you about something important," Jade said, her eyes moving from Hazel and Ivy to Luke. "Your dad and I have decided to get a divorce."
Hazel and Ivy exchanged glances, while Luke looked up, his little brow furrowed in confusion.
"What does that mean?" Luke asked, his small voice filled with innocence.
Beck leaned forward, his tone gentle. "It means that Mommy and I won't be married anymore, buddy. But we'll still both be here for you."
The twins, however, had more pressing questions. Ivy, always the more outspoken of the two, spoke up first.
"Where is Dad going to live? And where are we going to live?"
Jade sighed, knowing this question would come. "Dad is going to find a place nearby so he can be close to you. And as for where you live, that's up to you. You and Hazel are old enough to decide if you want to stay with me or with Dad."
Hazel, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "Why now? Why are you getting divorced now?"
Jade exchanged a glance with Beck before answering. "Sometimes, even when two people care about each other, they realize they're better off as friends. Your dad and I will always be best friends, but we need to make this change for ourselves and for you."
Luke, still trying to understand, looked at his parents with wide eyes. "Will I still see you both?"
"Of course, buddy," Beck said, reaching over to ruffle Luke's hair. "You'll see both of us all the time. When Mommy is traveling, you'll stay with me, and when she's back, you'll see her too."
Jade took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what she was about to say. "And there's one more thing. I'm going to run for reelection."
The room fell silent as the twins absorbed this information. Ivy was the first to speak again.
"Does this mean you'll be gone a lot?"
"Yes, it does," Jade admitted. "But it also means I'll be working to make things better for everyone, including you. I need your support to do this."
Hazel, ever the pragmatist, asked, "What if we don't want you to run?"
Jade's heart ached at the question, but she answered honestly. "Then I would have to reconsider. Your feelings are important to me. But I hope you'll understand why this is important to me and support my decision."
The twins were silent for a moment, processing everything. Finally, Ivy nodded. "Okay. We understand."
Luke, still trying to make sense of it all, looked up at Jade and Beck. "So, we still get to see both of you and play together?"
"Absolutely," Beck said, pulling Luke into a hug. "We're still a family, no matter what."
Jade joined the hug, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. "We love you all so much, and that will never change."
A few days later, Ivy made her way to the Oval Office, her mind racing with worries. Despite her mother's assurances, the impending divorce loomed large, casting a shadow over their usually close-knit family. As she approached Jade's desk, her mother looked up from a stack of papers, her face lighting up with a warm smile.
"Ivy, it's so good to see you," Jade said, rising from her chair to give her daughter a hug. "What brings you here today?"
Ivy returned the hug but didn't let go immediately. When she finally pulled back, she looked her mother in the eyes, her expression serious. "Mom, I'm really worried about the divorce. I know you and Dad said everything would be okay, but it feels like everything is changing. I'm scared we're going to lose you to all this presidential stuff."
Jade's heart ached at the concern in Ivy's voice. She led her daughter to a sofa and sat down with her, holding her hands. "Ivy, I understand how you feel. It's a lot to take in, and I promise you that nothing is more important to me than you, Hazel, and Luke."
"But how can we be sure?" Ivy asked, her voice trembling slightly. "You're going to be so busy. What if we need you and you're not there?"
Jade thought for a moment, then smiled as an idea formed. "How about this? What if we set a specific time each day just for us? A time when we can talk about anything and everything, no matter how busy things get. We can call it the 'Tiny Cabinet' meeting."
Ivy's eyes lit up. "Tiny Cabinet? Like a mini version of your real cabinet meetings?"
"Exactly," Jade said, squeezing her daughter's hands. "It will be our special time that won't move unless there's an emergency or I have to travel. We can meet every day at four o'clock. Does that sound good to you?"
Ivy nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds perfect, Mom. Can we start today?"
"Absolutely," Jade replied, reaching for the intercom on her desk. "Let's make it official."
She pressed the button and spoke into the intercom. "Samantha, please put a Tiny Cabinet meeting on my schedule for every day at four o'clock, starting today."
"Yes, Madam President," Samantha's voice crackled through the speaker.
Ivy grinned. "I'll go get Hazel and Luke and be back in an hour for our first meeting. Can I pick a snack for us to share?"
"Of course," Jade said, smiling. "Why don't you surprise us with something you think we'll all enjoy?"
Ivy jumped up, excitement replacing her earlier worry. "Okay! I'll be back soon."
As Ivy left the Oval Office, Jade felt a sense of relief and pride. She knew there would be challenges ahead, but moments like these reminded her why she fought so hard for her family and her country. The Tiny Cabinet meetings would be a way to keep her bond with her children strong, no matter what the future held.
An hour later, Jade was on the phone with the Secretary of State Dussander, a Former senator from Maryland, and friend to the Vice president. Jade's firm yet diplomatic as they discussed the ongoing situation with Yerba.
"Madam President, Yerba has applied to attend the Environmental Summit in Europe. They are requesting amnesty on the environmental sanctions and want to present a new plan," the Secretary of State explained.
Jade sighed, rubbing her temple. "Congress will never approve lifting the sanctions completely, especially given the severity of Yerba's environmental violations. The best I can offer is to suspend the sanctions temporarily, just long enough for them to present their plan. We need to ensure they are serious about their reforms."
"Understood, Madam President. I'll relay that information to the appropriate channels," the Secretary of State replied.
Just then, the door to the Oval Office opened, and Ivy, Hazel, and Luke walked in, their faces lit with anticipation. Jade smiled, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her.
"Secretary, I have an important meeting I need to attend. Thank you for the update," Jade said, ending the call.
She turned to her children, her smile widening. "Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me."
With a sense of ceremony, Jade led her Tiny Cabinet to the conference room adjacent to her office. The room had been prepared earlier, with a spread of cookies, milk, and other snacks laid out on the table.
"Welcome to our first Tiny Cabinet meeting," Jade said, gesturing for them to take their seats. "Let's dig in and talk about whatever's on your minds."
The children eagerly sat down, reaching for the snacks. Ivy was the first to speak. "Mom, this is awesome! Thanks for doing this."
Jade smiled, taking a cookie herself. "You're welcome, Ivy. This is our special time. What's on everyone's mind today?"
Hazel looked thoughtful. "I've been wondering about what will happen with school and stuff, with the divorce and all."
Luke, too young to fully grasp the situation, looked up at his mom with wide eyes. "Mommy, are we still gonna have storytime?"
Jade's heart swelled with love and a touch of sadness. "Of course, Luke. Storytime will always be a part of our routine. And Hazel, we'll work everything out together. You and Ivy can decide where you want to be, and we'll make sure it all works smoothly."
Ivy nodded, looking reassured. "And Dad?"
"Your dad and I are still the best of friends," Jade said, her voice steady. "We'll make sure this transition is as smooth as possible for all of us."
They spent the rest of the meeting talking about school, friends, and their favorite activities, the tension easing with each passing minute. Jade felt a sense of accomplishment and relief. Despite the challenges, she was determined to keep her family close and connected.
As the meeting wrapped up, she hugged each of her children tightly. "I love you all so much. Remember, this time is ours, no matter what."
They left the conference room with smiles on their faces, and Jade felt a renewed sense of purpose.
Jade stepped out of the conference room, her mind still buzzing from the Tiny Cabinet meeting. As she walked down the hallway, she saw Beck engaged in conversation with Eliza. Their interaction was friendly, but Jade noticed Eliza's hand lingering on Beck's lapel before she abruptly pulled it back as Jade approached. Blushing, Eliza quickly made an excuse and headed in the opposite direction.
Jade raised an eyebrow, giving Beck a questioning look. She gestured toward the Rose Garden, and Beck nodded, following her outside.
Once they were in the tranquil space of the garden, surrounded by blooming roses, Jade turned to Beck. "So, are you dating my staff now?"
Beck looked taken aback. "What? No, Jade, I'm not dating anyone. Besides, I'm always at the White House. Where else would I find someone I like?"
Jade smirked. "Touché."
Beck sighed and looked at her with concern. "Do you think you'll ever find someone? I mean, it's gotta be tough with all the fame and restrictions."
Jade shrugged a touch of sadness in her eyes. "Probably not. I'm too famous and too restricted. It's hard to be with anyone who's not in the same world."
Beck stepped closer, pulling her into a warm hug. "Well, I wish you could find happiness, Jade. You deserve it."
Jade smiled softly, feeling comforted by the gesture. "Thank you, Beck."
They lingered in the hug for a moment before stepping back and resuming their conversation.
"So, where are you planning to live?" Jade asked, changing the subject.
Beck looked thoughtful. "I'm moving to Virginia. An apartment in Arlington. It's a bit of a change, but it'll be good."
Jade nodded approvingly. "Sounds like a nice place. I'm sure you'll like it."
As they continued talking, Jade shared more about the Tiny Cabinet meetings. Her pride was evident as she described how she had set up daily meetings with her children to stay connected with them during the divorce.
Beck's eyes lit up. "That sounds really awesome. I'm impressed, Jade. It's great that you're making time for them like that."
Jade's smile widened. "I'm really proud of it. It's been good for all of us."
Beck patted her on the back. "Well, keep it up. You're doing great."
Jade appreciated the encouragement, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.