Thanksgiving

By: chipmunk and Imp

Category: Romance

Pairing: hinting at Leo and Margaret

Characters: Leo, Margaret and Mallory calls

Rating: TEEN – P&SC (See Rating Chart Below)

Beta By: Lynn Warning! I’m rushing this out to post it for the holiday. Lynn has done her best to keep my mistakes under control, but I’m running amuck, while she’s busy trying to finish her end of the quarter papers. Random commas and overrun sentences may be still included. Read at your own risk! ;-D

Thanks to Lynn (Imp) for the idea and the brainstorming to get my muse going again! Thanks to Bev (adoreleo) for encouraging me to just start writing! And for help with DC area directions!!

Archived at:

http://www.geocities.com/chipmunkswhimseys/StandAloneMain.html

Disclaimer:

The characters are from the NBC, WB, Bravo, A John Wells Prod.,

TV show, 'The West Wing'.

They own them; therefore, they do not belong to us.

They are the creation of Aaron Sorkin. We only borrowed them.

No copyright infringement is intended.

No monetary benefit is received or anticipated.

A 'grateful' and 'enormous' thanks, to the actors and actresses,

who portray the characters 'brilliantly'

and who brings them to life in our heads.

Feedback: We’d love it hear your opinion!  PLEASE!

It helps to improve our writing!

Note: This stand alone fic and is NOT connects to any of my prior series !!

Summary: A forgotten memo and a sleepy Leo start an unusual Saturday. A brisk autumn afternoon and a walk in the falling leaves, lets Leo and Margaret relax for once and possibly move closer to each other! Thanksgiving finds them together in a place that neither anticipated.

*****

It’s that fall time of the year in DC again and the heat and humidity of summer have long vanished. The air is now cool and crisp, with an earthy scent from the multi-hued leaves that crunched wonderfully underfoot. Margaret thoughtfully remembered enjoying her walk home last night, taking advantage of the fact that Leo sent her home early. If you can call just before 8 pm early? But that’s still almost three hours after dark. Daylight till dark is just not enough working time in the White House, especially after switching back to Standard Time.

It’s now the wee hours of the morning and Margaret awakes, bolting up in bed, remembering that she forgot to retype a memo for Leo last night. Glancing to the alarm clock she discovers it’s just 4 AM, but with actually getting to bed early, she’s already had her normal five hours of sleep.

She really had meant to retype the memo yesterday that Leo needs today for his Saturday morning meeting. He rushed her out so early last night that she totally forgot that she was planning on doing it in the quiet of the evening, once the White House finished the regular business day.

Swinging her legs to the floor, she’s thinking ~I can get it done in no time with it being a quiet Saturday morning. Leo’s meeting is not till 10 AM and he promised me that we would not need to come into the office till 9AM. I can slip in early and get my typing done without Leo knowing that I fudged and arrived early. I can take a page from his book and sneak in early to the White House. He better not try it himself today. He needs to get some real sleep once in awhile. At least that was his persuading point last night for us leaving the office early.~

All during this rationalizing in her head, Margaret is hurrying to dress. She is so glad that she indulged in a relaxing bubble bath the evening before, which is helping to save her some time now. Margaret has a mission to complete with a dead line of 9AM, when Leo will come striding in, ready to take on the world, or worse, a few grumpy Republicans.

*****

Rushing in to work, Margaret arrives just before 5AM, briskly opening her office by flipping on a few lights and turning on her computer to boot it up for the day. While waiting for her security prompt to appear, Margaret unlocks her filing cabinet and reaches in for the memo that she left lying in the front for easy access, knowing it would be needed today. She’s surprised to find that it’s not there. ~Leo Thomas McGarry! You were in my files again! I have a rule about that.~

Narrowing her eyes, she glares around behind her at Leo’s closed office door. She has her suspicions as to where she can find the memo. Leo must have retrieved it from her files after she left last night after Leo had given her the distinct impression that he was leaving right behind her.

She quietly slides the drawer shut, no sense disturbing the peace and quiet of the Saturday morning by slamming it. With the obvious place to look being in his office and with her office keys still in her hand, Margaret steps to his door and gets a second surprise ~His door is unlocked! I’m going to crown him royally for forgetting to lock it and God help him, he better not be in there working. I never thought to ask security at check-in if he was in the White House ahead of me, like I usually do!~

The first thing she’s aware of, as she opens the door, is the soft glow of the lamps in his office. Her eyes immediately lock onto his desk, prepared to see him sitting in there reading the memo.

Instead, she finds him fast asleep at his desk, his head resting down on his folded arms, with his face away from her. The angry rant on the tip of her tongue swiftly dissolves. His whole body is slumped in weariness, she observes as she quietly moves over behind his desk. Now that she’s inside his office, she notices some classical music playing quietly in the background, something soft and relaxing, probably what lulled him to sleep.

She moves around behind his chair and places a hand on his shoulder, crouching down closer to view his face. It looks so different in slumber, so relaxed and has a softer, younger look to it. A look that the rest of the world never gets to see. Only she and a few others at the White House have ever been privy to him like this.

She sighs sadly, knowing he has not been home at all last night, recognizing the suit he’s wearing, as the one he had on yesterday. She raises her hand and softly runs her fingers through his hair, admitting to herself that not all of his worry lines disappear in sleep any longer. This tremendous job that he does for the President has aged him. But then again, it has aged all of them and more than just physically.

She has found over the years that Leo is a very sound sleeper, once he actually manages to get into a deep sleep. Power sleeping she calls it. This is a time that she can be more personal and caring with him, not that she wants her feelings for him to be known, but she can indulge in a gentle touch to the man she more than admires. Her eyes sweep over his head, beneath her caressing fingers, noting the silvering hair still has a touch of the reddish gold that she remembers from their first years together.

Margaret then shifts her eyes to watch the soft movement of his body, as he breathes slowly and deeply in his sleep. She knows that she really needs to get him up and moved to his sofa. How he is positioned now, at his desk, is not going to be very restful, as it’s a result of exhaustion.

Before she wakes him, she first moves to close the doors to his office and turns down the lights and deciding to leave the soft music playing. This way, if Leo wakes enough while moving to open his eyes, he’ll think it’s still nighttime. This is not her first time of walking a sleeping Leo to a sofa or a bed.

Once Margaret is done preparing the room, she returns to his side and whispers in his ear "Leo. Leo.” She gives his shoulder a tiny shake and she gets a small ‘humph’ from him in response, “Leo, lets move you to the sofa. Up you go.” With a hand under his arm she encourages him to rise, “You’ll sleep better lying down."

Leo, still mostly asleep, allows her to lead him over to the sofa and is mumbling in his sleep on the way, “Whatever you say, Margaret. Thanks, you always take such good care of me. It’s no wonder I love…mmm.”

She smiles at his soft murmurs and feels a deep warming glow inside her. He’s her Leo and he really does appreciate what she does for him. His subconscious is telling her that now.

Margaret carefully maneuvers her sleepwalker around the end of coffee table and Leo continues with his mumbling, even softer to himself with the next breath, “Maybe I’m not suppose to really say that last part, but…?” His brain refuses to work enough to help him to figure it out. He trusts her totally to do what’s best for him and he obeys her easily in his sleep.

Margaret thinks her gruff Leo McGarry is so cute when he’s half awake and so manageable. She slowly walks behind him, guiding him by holding him at one upper arm and a hand at his waist, as he tends to sway a little to one side, with every other step.

Margaret finally gets him successfully around the coffee table and avoids allowing him to make a try for his favorite chair, by putting her body between him and it. She glances around him at his sofa, noting that his throw cushions are still propped conveniently in the corner. She hesitates for a moment as she reaches behind her to grab his Air Force blanket.

In doing so, she briefly lets go of his arm allowing Leo to smoothly glide from her hold at his waist and he sinks sleepily down onto the couch. He instinctively tucks a cushion under his head, lying on his side and facing out to her. His eyes may have never opened during the journey and they are definitely closed now.

She settles him down to sleep on the sofa, by gently placing his blanket over him. She steps to the end of the sofa where his feet are dangling off the edge and slips his shoes off, tucking the blanket around his feet. She turns to check his face to see if he’s comfortable. Bending close, she makes a few minor adjustments to finish smoothing out the blanket over his shoulder. She can’t resist reassuring him with as soft whisper, “There you go, Leo. All tucked in. Sleep well.”

He can just smell a whiff of her perfume and he thinks it’s a lovely dream. Being nearly asleep, he slightly turns his head upwards and puckers up his lips, begging for a kiss, as if to thank her for her acts of kindness.

She almost laughs out loud at him wanting a kiss to finalize the tucking in, but she leans over and just kisses his forehead, wise enough not risk placing her lips close to his.

Tucking his chin down to his chest, he mumbles softly one last time, rambling, as sleep reclaims him, "Margaret, can we go out to breakfast later? You know it’s my favorite meal of the day to eat out.”

She wonders what he’s dreaming about already, with him talking about food. ~Maybe he’s hungry. Did he eat at all last night? ~ She straightens the edge of the blanket and when her knuckles brush against his hand underneath, he instinctively clasps it, giving it just the hint of a kiss, before tucking it against his chest.

What woman could resist such a touching gesture? Margaret sits on the coffee table and indulges him and herself for a few minutes. Leaning toward him, resting her chin on her hand, she watches him fall back into a deeper and more restful sleep. She starts to relax, while he holds her hand clasped in his against his body. She can feel him breathe slowly in and out. When his breathing tells her he’s fully asleep, she grudgingly slips her hand out of his, needing to get back to the business she came in for early this morning. To finish typing the memo that he needs for the meeting.

*****

As she leaves him to get some real sleep, Margaret’s mind starts on a plan. It’s still early and he can get three more hours, before he has to get ready for the meeting. Margaret knows he’ll grumble a bit when he wakes after so short of a night, but she plans on having coffee waiting for him as soon as his eyes open. After his first cup, she can send him to shower and that should finally wake him up.

She makes a pit stop on her way out to glance in his closet and check by the dim lighting that he’ll be able to change into a fresh suit or maybe she can convince him that he should opt for the more casual clothes from his overnight bag that he keeps there for his last minute visits to Mallory’s.

*****

Margaret reenters Leo’s office when it is time to wake him up. First she opens the blinds slightly and turns on the lamp. Moving back over to his closet she gathers his fresh clothing, selecting the casual ones she did find stored there, hoping that he’ll not growl too much about them. Taking his clothes, his loafers and his shower kit, she lays them on his conference table.

Knowing that she has let him sleep as long as possible, she again sits on the coffee table. He hasn’t moved since she left him there, and he looks so much younger, so relaxed and sleeping so trustingly.

When she shakes his shoulder, he again instinctively seeks her hand, as he hears her voice in his sleep. Leo tucks her hand that’s clasped with his, back to his chest. He was sleeping so wonderfully and he is still so very sleepy.

For once he doesn't want to wake up. Her hand is curled to rest over his heart and he won't let go. He snuggles his face down to their joined hands and his lips touch a tiny kiss to her hand in his sleepy state. His mind is wavering between sleep and slumber. Since that is all of her he can hold right now, he snuggles down and back into a deeper sleep.

She tries again to gently wake him. “Leo, it’s 8AM. You need to wake up.”

He again only wakes partially and then he tries to gently pull her down with him to cuddle.

As much as she would love to, she knows that can’t happen in the office or anywhere else really. Margaret is so glad she’s not sitting on the edge of the couch or she might have given in to his wanting her to lie with him. She can still smell his cologne from yesterday. It’s definitely safer for her to remain on the coffee table. But her heart is touched that in his uninhibited sleep he wants to hold her close.

Sitting on the coffee table, with her long legs, her knees are resting against the front of the couch. Leo’s elbow brushes on her knee. He pulls his knees up to touch hers and he keeps them there, as if to snuggle up again hers, while still holding her hand. Only Leo could work out a way to cuddle with her and not even have her on the couch with him!

As much as she hates to end his much needed sleep and loving his unique way to be closer to her, she knows that she’s going to have to be firm with him or he’ll not have time to get ready and have his breakfast before his meeting. And he damn well is having something to eat this morning, or her name is not Margaret. Her smile softens, knowing he’ll love the surprise breakfast the she planning for him.

“Leo, it really is time to get up.” At his mumbling that he wants to stay where he is, she sighs knowing she has to be drastic. “Leo! Time to get up or you’ll be late. The President is counting on you!”

Well… that got the needed response, as Leo’s body immediately pops up into a sitting position, with his socked feet on the floor. His leg is still touching hers and he had unknowingly dropped her hand when his eyes flew open.

She hands him the coffee mug that she had brought in for him, with a sad apologetic smile to him for using his love of the President to get the result that was needed.

Leo rubs some of the sleep from his eyes with a quick swipe, as he scans the room with tired eyes, “You know, Margaret, one of these days I might just have to cheerfully choke you for using dirty tactics like that.”

“I learned from the best, Leo!” Margaret smirks, as she watches him take his first tentative slips of coffee. Watching the shift in his facial expression to bliss, as it starts the waking up process for him. He so enjoys his coffee, especially the first one of the day. Just one of the reasons she keeps him a constant mug going, not that it’s good for him, but she has to choose her battles.

“OK, no letting you in the Sit room again, when I’m working on a project. You might want to take over for me. You actually do run most all of the White House from my office anyway.” He belatedly points out the exception, “Short of the Oval office.”

“Bet your Ass, Leo!” She grins at his teasing her, like he’s so worried she’ll take command the Sit room.

Lowering his head, he chuckles at her bantering with him. He leans forward and sets his coffee mug on the table in front of him. Still leaning forward, Leo yawns and rubs his face with both hands. Moaning and rubbing harder this time to get some life back into it.

Margaret can’t contain the sigh of disbelief from escaping her lips at his antics, ~No wonder he has so many lines and creases on his face, with the way he wakes himself up.~

Hearing her sound of rebuke, Leo flashes a small sleepy smile at Margaret and then bends farther over to snag his shoes from under the coffee table and slips them on. Tying them by instinct. His elbow bumps Margaret’s leg a couple times in the process, since she’s not bothering to get up out of his way, but just sitting there enjoying watching him perform the simple act. The third time he manages to bump her, she teasingly shoves back with her hand, catching him off balance.

Leo falls slightly to the side and remarking, “Hey. I’m still asleep. Are you picking on me?”

Margaret stands holding her hand out to him to indicate that it’s the time to get on his feet and go. “Well somebody’s gotta keep you in line.” She’s not sure if he’s aware that it’s the same hand he was hugging just a few minutes ago. And that’s fine. It’s just their way. They have a closeness that’s hard to define. She walks a still sleepy Leo to the door and sends him down to the locker room to shower.

After handing her his now empty coffee mug, he glances to the items she holding out to him, “Casual, Margaret? This is an official White House meeting.”

She gives him a look and informs him, “This is Saturday, Leo and it’s a committee meeting, not a group of Congressmen.” At the look of indecision on his face she hints, “When you get back, I have something nice planned for you, so don’t waste any more time. Now go on.”

Leo doesn’t protest any longer, but takes the clothes and shuffles out to find the locker room. He really did need more sleep, if he’s giving in so easily and bending his standard of protocol in the White House.

*****

While Leo is gone to shower, she calls to order a really nice breakfast for them both. She plans on it being delivered from that fancy restaurant that he loves to sneak off to, when he want to indulge his expensive palate. She knows that Leo has connections to the head chef there, because she has used it before when she would call for his reservation. The chef and Leo have become friends through their love of food preparation. The chef loves to spoil Leo and is pleased when Margaret can let him know if Leo was anticipating if a particular item would be available that night, so he could arrange it for Leo. Margaret is sure that he’ll help her this morning.

The menu she decides on from the chef’s recommendations is a fresh fruit cup, Eggs Florentine, which he lovingly describes to include eggs, spinach, cream, cheese and a hint of nutmeg. Margaret asks the chef to make it as healthy as he can. She’s hoping that he can actually out do himself and not let Leo figure out that it has low-fat cheese and low cholesterol eggs. She adds, just to round out the meal, whole-wheat toast and coffee. Of course she includes Leo’s favorite morning beverage, tomato juice.

After hanging up with the restaurant, pleased with the arrangements for delivery, Margaret starts on her next idea of maybe she can set up the table in his office with real china. Picking up the phone she quickly dials her friend Joyce down in the formal occasions coordinators department, to see if she’s in this early on Saturday morning. That department has to handle so many events on the weekends that she’s possibly there early to deal with them. She should be able to indulge Margaret and loan her two place settings and maybe a nice linen tablecloth. Margaret will let her know that she’s surprising Leo with a fancy delivered breakfast.

*****

When Leo returns after his long warm shower, he loves the surprise of a lovely table set for two and after removing the silver covers, he sees that Margaret is hovering to see if he approves. He can’t resist teasing, “what no grapefruit?” They both know Margaret and her grapefruits.

She smiles happily at him bringing up their old banter, “Leo, you said that just to get a dig at me for pushing you to eat more grapefruit. You once even resorted to fibbing to me about having half a grapefruit!”

He smiles at her, “This is wonderful, Margaret. Thank you and no I did not lie. I did eat a grapefruit that morning, just not before you asked me, much to the chagrin of the officers in the Sit Room.” He grins at her in appreciation for her thoughtfulness this morning.

Even though Margaret is getting the advantage of a nice breakfast as well, she still assumes that it will be a working breakfast. He does have a schedule this morning.

When Leo sees her tuck the yellow notepad and a couple pencils next to her plate, as he seats her at the table, he takes the liberty of transferring them easily to his desk. He knows before he even turns back to her that she’s about to protest and he nips it in the bud. “No way, Margaret. The government can just take a break, while we enjoy our meal. We’re going to give our attention to this lovely breakfast that it deserves, after you going to all the trouble of arranging it.”

Margaret nods her head smiling and quietly agrees, “Thank you, Leo. I hope you enjoy it, as much as I plan on enjoying it.”

Leo encourages her to begin their meal, “Bon appétit, Margaret.”

During the meal Leo inquires, trying to make casual conversation, “This is wonderful Margaret. Is it from my chef friend’s restaurant? You know how much I love his place.”

She just smiles her confirmation to him and he digs in more enthusiastically.

A few bites later Leo asks her, “Where are you going for the long Thanksgiving weekend coming up?”

Margaret looks at him like he’s asking a dumb question, “I’ll be right here in DC and at the office with you on Friday. Thanksgiving Day is just one day.”

Leo concedes her point and then asks her. “Well then, will you go out for a nice dinner on Thanksgiving? I imagine that there’s not much sense in anyone cooking for just one, or are you going over to a friend’s place.”

Margaret lights up at his interest and reveals her plans with joy, “I’m working with the church, on the holidays again this year. I’m volunteering to serve at the community dinner for the homeless and the needy.” Margaret drops in, “Since I don’t have any immediate family or relatives in DC.” She continues to explain more about the dinner. “They have so many attend and they can use all the helping hands they can get.” She switches gears and asks him in return, “I thought you were going to be here at the White House with the First Family for dinner?”

He reveals some information that that the President just gave him this morning, when he had stopped by on the way back and checked in with him, “The First Family’s plans have changed and they’re now going to Manchester, because all the girls were able to arrange to be there now.”

“I could go along of course, but I really don’t want to intrude on their private family dinner.” Margaret gives a concerned look at his confession.

Leo sighs and knows he should explain why he doesn’t want to celebrate the holiday with his best friend and family. “You know how it will be... This will be one of the few times that ‘just the Bartlet’s’ can be together this year. It’s family time and I know they all love me as family and they did tell me to extend their invitation to Mallory, but she’s going to be with her mother in Europe on Thanksgiving. So… I’ll end up being the only extra person there. I don’t want to intrude on the few real family moments they get.” He stops his impression of her rambling and at her nod of understanding, they continue to enjoy the fine food.

His mind is still on the upcoming weekend. ~This is my first year of being on my own for Thanksgiving and I really want to be near the White House with the President gone. I know it will ease his mind to know that I am close by, if anything arises that needs attention next weekend.~ Glancing to Margaret he contemplates, ~maybe I’ll try to find time out where she’ll be volunteering.~

Margaret knows that Leo has a way of handling the President that most of them find bewildering, but she still has a question about his possibly not accepting their invitation to Manchester for Thanksgiving. “Leo, just how are you going to manage to decline the Presidents invitation? I assume he has not made it an order yet, for you to attend. So what are your tactics? I hope you have a good plan.”

Leo’s spirits lift at her seeing right to his next problem. “Well, I may try pure reason and logic on him, by pointing out that Josh will be gone to visit with his mom and we can’t ask him to stay here and cover the White House, as it’s not been that long since his dad died and the holidays are still tough for his mom and him. CJ is going to Ohio to be with her Dad for the first time in about a year and Toby is most likely going to be Toby and to disappear for the weekend. I personally think he follows Andi back to Maryland. I’m sure that I’ll have to promise to take all of Thursday off and not darken the door of the White House unless Canada invades.”

Margaret nods her head in agreement. “Good plan! That just might work, Leo. You know the President worries about all of the senior staff getting to see their families in a timely manner, especially for the holidays.”

Leo is happy that she approves of his tactics to get out of going to Manchester. “Yeah, I should stay here and hold down the fort for the weekend. After Thanksgiving Day, do you want to come help me run the White House all by ourselves?” He has that twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

Margaret knows Leo must have broken a lot of hearts when he was young and carefree. And God help her, he still ‘has it’. She would follow him to Hell and back for a vacation, if he asks her with his charm at full volume. ~Like he had to ask!~ “Sure, Leo. Where you go, I go. As long as I don’t have to do any press briefings.”

Leo laughs at her tacking on a condition. They have both been too long working in Politics.

*****

After breakfast Leo settles in to read his memos that she finished while he slept. He looks so different behind his desk in casual clothes and not his usual crisp and dapper suit, but Leo still has that essence of authority and power no matter his manner of dress or surroundings. It still makes Margaret’s breath catch softly at his rugged good looks in soft clothes, not that she would let him catch her doing so.

*****

Leo’s meeting goes well and is actually shorter than any of them had hoped. Leo and Margaret make short work of his after meeting notes, calls, letters and any adjustments to their ‘to do’ lists for Monday. They are surprisingly done by one o’clock.

It has for once been a quiet day at the White House and the prospect of it continuing quiet is for once quite possible. Nothing is rumbling on the international front. Leo glances out the window longingly at the overcast day and can tell it’s a little brisk outside. “How about sneaking out for a stroll around the monuments to clear our heads?”

The joy on Margaret’s face, at the prospect of spending time outdoors, is all the answer he needs or gets, as she rushes from his office to close hers up, hopefully for the weekend, and to grab her coat, fearing that something will arise to steal their treat, before they can escape the building.

It’s a good afternoon for a fall walk and the cool breeze is raining the last of the colorful leaves down on them. The air has the spice of fall in it, smelling of a mix of leaves, damp earth and a cleanness that is hard to name.

Outside the White House grounds, Leo has a suggestion that he hopes Margaret will agree to, “Care for a dog?” He nods his head to the vendor nearby.

She looks at Leo with surprise and a happy smile at Leo getting into the mood of a free autumn afternoon. She still can’t resist giving a protest anyway. “Leo, do you know what they put in hotdogs, let alone think of their fat content?”

He gives her a look of exasperation, “Margaret, like I care! It’s just a simple hotdog. People eat them all the time.”

She points out his inconsistency. “Leo, you ate an elegant and nutritious meal this morning and now you want a hotdog?”

He grins and honestly admits, “What can I say? I’m just a man of my simple roots, after all.”

She grins back at him and replies, “And I love that you are, Leo. It’s one of the things that keeps you human, with your feet firmly planted on the ground.” She looks back at the building they had just exited, knowing that they should never take where they are, as being commonplace.

“So, you want to join me and have a dog?” He pointedly asks her.

Margaret surprises him, “You, bet your ass I will. Ask for everything on it. I might as well be hung for a sheep, as a lamb!”

Just to tease her, he looks behind him with a smirk, as if to see the backside of himself, “You know, that’s twice today you’ve referred to my ass.”

She bluntly points out, “I cover it for you! So I’m allowed! Now, go get our dogs, since you have me hungry for it now.”

They munch their snack, as they walk around the Ellipse. She has a habit of leaning her head close to his, as she talks to him and he nods his to the side in agreement. Both have an arm gesturing as they walk and talk. It’s just their way.

*******************

Crossing Constitution Avenue, Leo and Margaret continue on to pass the Washington Monument on the west side. As they walk along, Leo knows better than to hold her hand, but he really has to fight the urge to take hers in his, on this autumn afternoon. But he can put a hand to the small of her back, as they pass by other people walking or on benches. He reluctantly drops his hand afterwards. They then keep making their way south toward the tidal basin.

Leo asks, “Margaret, you warm enough?” She nods in affirmation. He can tell she loves the fall weather, with her wind blushed cheeks and a sparkle in her eyes from the snap in the air. She looks striking in her long forest green, suede coat with a black velvet collar. Her hair moves softly at times in the breeze. She is so beautiful at this moment. His breath catches and anyone could see the loving admiration that’s written all over his face. He glances quickly away before Margaret can see his secret.

They stop to rest on a bench at the north end of the Tidal Basin and enjoy the panoramic view of the basin area. They see at the south end that the basin surrounds the Jefferson Memorial and the FDR Memorial is next to it.

Needing to move again, Margaret suggests, “Let’s go west to the Lincoln Memorial. We can walk along the south side of the Reflecting Pool.” Margaret likes having a plan. She then stands up to get them started again and recommends, “It feels as if the temperature is dropping some more. We better walk at a good pace now, to get some heat going to keep warm.”

At her words Leo tilts his head up to her, wearing a small smirk, keeping his thoughts to himself about her last words, as he rises to join her. He walks briskly beside her, with his cocky city swagger making his long black wool coat swing slightly around his legs.

Margaret hesitates in her step just enough to fall one step behind him, to sneak a good look at the debonair man beside her. He really is unaware of the charisma that surrounds him, as she notes the eyes of the people they pass follow him.

Leo realizes that Margaret has fallen into her usual respectful position of how they normally walk the halls of the White House, just behind his shoulder. He turns to reach for her arm to slip it through his, so she will again walk beside him. He wants her beside him, as an equal outside of work and it ‘is’ the gentlemanly thing to do, or so he rationalizes to himself, as long as it has the desired effect of her snug again him, as they walk in sync, in complete harmony.

The maple trees lining each side of the pool are quickly shedding their leaves. Still, the trees are dressed in a range of color from rich gold in the lower branches, then up to bright orange, to deep red near the tops. Their reflections in the pool, even on this overcast day, make a breathtaking view down the third of a mile long pool.

Once at the Lincoln Memorial they stroll to the front and when they reach the wide steps up to the portico, where the famous statue of President Lincoln sitting in a massive chair is located, Leo stops her and asks, “You want to go up and see the memorial up close?”

She gives him an apologetic smile, “No, not today, Thanks. I’ve seen it close up before. Actually, Leo, the best time to see it is at night. It’s so inspiring to view it all lit up.”

The breeze is picking up and Leo, with his hand in his coat pocket, offers out his elbow to her to grasp again and agrees, “Yeah, your right, Margaret. At night is the best. Once you see it lit up, it’s just not the same during the day.” At her look of inquiry, he chuckles and explains, “Who do you think had to bring me here, right after we took up residence in the White House, when I admitted that I had not seen the Memorials at night? Not that anyone could miss the Washington Memorial.”

“Oh, Leo, that must have been fun. And it was so nice that the President wanted you to have that experience and that he just had to show you himself.” Margaret knows, as well as the rest of the West Wing, the President’s passion for the national park system and he now has one right in his own backyard.

Looking at his feet as they walk on, he softly admits, as he reflects back to that night, “Yeah, it really was nice. Ron set it up for us to come out here at 11 PM one night. Ron seems to be a man that loves a challenge. I’m sure it made the Secret Service crazy, but they secured them off one at a time.”

He glances up to her face and eagerly continues to express his feelings, “It was a special night for both of us. I loved that we could walk around a bit in the secure areas, just the two of us. We had such a great discussion that night on the how our government has evolved. Debating back and forth. It went on for hours, even after we returned to the West Wing.” Just talking about it has him both passionate and energized. Easily showing why he is so committed to his work and why he loves to serve the President.

The temperature is still dropping, Margaret notices as he talks that she can now see wisps of his breath.

When he falls silent with his thoughts, Margaret comments, “Leo, I’m so glad that you and the President had that special night to remember. When it gets bad at work you have it to reflect on to keep you focused. A special night for the best of friends!”

He glances to her in appreciation for her understanding, but she does know him so well. He knew she would get it.

They walk a bit more going north now toward a memorial that Leo knows all too well, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. When Margaret spots it up ahead she squeezes his arm tighter to her side and he takes his other hand out of his pocket to pat her arm softly in gratitude for her understanding.

They stop at the intersection to the sidewalk that runs in front of the wall. As they silently look over, Leo now has both of his hands jammed into his coat pockets, with a hard sad look on his face and Margaret has now clasped both of hers around one of his wrists in compassion. From the overview at this distance they silently pay homage to the wall and the mix of visitors there.

They both want to move on and return to the enjoyment of their walk. He then steers her to continue their walk to the path to the west side of it, still going northward, as if to circle back to the Ellipse, by way of Constitution Avenue.

Margaret knows that when they finish their walk that Leo will just go back to the office and find something to do, instead of going to his hotel, even though he stayed the night there. Hoping to give him the hint that they should call it a day and not return to the office, she speaks up when they reach 17^th Street and regrettably removes her hand from under his elbow, “Leo, unless you need me at the office this evening, I think I’ll just cut up here and catch a cab in front of the OEOB and go home for the night.”

“Margaret,” Leo growls in a low warning voice to let her know his disapproval of her decision. “I wasn’t planning on having you work in the office tonight, but you don’t have to take a cab. Come back to the White House and let my driver take you home.”

Margaret gets a determined look on her face, as she squares off with him, “Leo, we had this debate before. So don’t there. I’m not about to use your driver for a ride home.”

“Not even if it’s as he takes me to my hotel?” Leo hopes to try one more time to reverse her decision.

“Leo, your hotel is west of here and my apartment is north. That’s not ‘on the way’. I can just take a cab. It’s not too far to get to my place, so it’ll just be a short ride. You know it’s just on the other side of George Washington University. If it’ll reassure you, I’ll even wash my hands when I get home, after using public transportation.” She knows that she’s right about not abusing the use of the driver on the taxpayer’s dollar and she her final remark lets him know that her mind is made up.

Leo sighs and surrenders, “OK, at least let me walk you there and check out the cabdriver.”

She agrees to his compromise, “OK, Leo.”

Turning left up 17^th street they start the final leg of their afternoon walk. Both of them are feeling some sadness that it’s almost over. They have both again jammed their hands into their coat pockets attempting to keep warm.

Leo flags her a cab and then informs her, “Margaret, I’ll just ride along with you and the cab can take me to the hotel after you’re dropped off. It’ll save my driver from having to take either of us home today.”

She nods her head at his logic, “That would be nice, Leo. Thanks! You’re a true gentleman to see me home.” She’s smiling again, as he hands her into the cab and watching him slip in beside her, she sees the small satisfied smile on his face.

*****

As the cab stops, Margaret invites him, “Leo, come in and warm up. It’ll only take a minute to make us some coffee.” When he hesitates to answer, but gives the impression that he really wants to accept, she prompts him, “Leo, we both need to thaw our hands and warm our ears, as we neither of us ever have enough sense to wear a hat.”

Leo bows his head a moment, smiling, as he can’t fault her honest words. His hands are in his pockets of his coat, not only to hopefully get them to warm up, but also to keep them to himself. His hand to her waist earlier, to assist her during their autumn afternoon walk, was quickly getting to be a habit that he could have easily enjoyed longer. “He looks up and sees her anticipating his answer, “Sure, Margaret. That would be nice, if it’s no problem.” He leans across her to open the door handle for her.

She nods and exits the cab, waiting on the curb for him with the wind softly flapping the bottom of her coat.

He pays the driver and crawls out of the cab, and they quickly climb the steps to the nice building that her apartment is in. Both of them are encouraged to hurry by the thought of the warmth awaiting them inside the doors. Leo again finds a good reason to touch her waist, as he escorts her through the threshold.

*****

Once inside Margaret’s apartment, Leo helps her off with her coat and while he’s taking care of hanging their outerwear on the coat tree, she moves into the kitchen to start preparing the promised hot coffee. They both need it and soon, just to return the warmth to their hands. It was a bit nippier out than they expected, but it was an invigorating afternoon.

While building the coffee maker, Margaret gets a plan. She hopes to cook some comfort food for him, as she can’t pass up a chance to get some decent food into him. Before she can chicken out, she quickly asks him using her own brand of logic, while trying to sound casual, “Leo, I can fix us a bite to eat. The cool weather and walking made short work of the hotdogs we enjoyed, after leaving the White House. It won’t take a minute. Just something quick and simple to go with our coffee.”

Grinning at her, he hints that her logic is tempting him, “It was brisk. Yeah, I guess we did walk for a couple of hours.” He pauses just to play with her patience. “So, what did you have in mind for a quick bite?” He knows it’ll be something warm and healthy. She worries about what he eats.

“Tomato soup and sandwiches.” Answering, she flashes him a smile and turns to get started, before he changes his mind or the White House calls his cell with an emergency.

He gives a happy chuckle and can’t help exclaiming, “Great! Just my kind of meal! I have been craving tomato soup and a grilled cheese for a long time.” Leo adds his hint for the sandwich selection, since one goes with the other to him. He hasn’t had the opportunity lately, to indulge himself with them at the White House mess.

She gives him a semi–pointed look over her shoulder at his mention of ‘grilled’ cheese, but seeing the smile he has on his face, she relents, “OK.”

Leo is feeling so content and comfortable sitting at the kitchen counter, still warming his hands on the mug of coffee. He can feel his body actually relax, as he watches Margaret going about making them a small and simple meal. He enjoys this relaxed setting, just as much as the elegant table she had set for them in his office this morning. ~Spending time with her away from work and just the two of us is…(he finds the right word)…cozy. ~

*****

While they’re sipping the first cup of coffee and waiting for the soup to heat they are both pleasantly silent, just savoring the moment in the cozy kitchen. They warm not only their hands, but also the steam rising from the hot coffee warms their faces.

Margaret has a thought and she sits up straighter, glancing toward the front door, not that she needs visual verification. ~Hey! Leo doesn’t have his briefcase with him. He actually forgot it at the office. ~ This thought really warms her heart. That taking a walk with her overruled his natural reflex to grab work to take out with him, like he does every time he leaves the White House. She has Leo captive without any work to do!

It’s still really early, even if it is growing dark and no one at the White House has called yet needing him. ~So, how about I try to persuade him to stay for a movie and some hot cocoa this evening? Just to ward off the misty night that is developing outside the window.~ Margaret bobs her head at her own reasoning.

“Leo, it’s early evening still. Would you like to stay and watch a movie or do you need to get on? I mean…. That is… if you don’t have plans. We can snack on some popcorn, just like at a movie. Not that any of us have had time away from the White House to go to an actual theatre. Is there anything that the President will need you for tonight? That’s about the best I can do for junk food for you. I think it would be nice to relax for a while. If we can actually remember how to do that?” She just knows that he’ll just find his way back to the office tonight, if nothing else other than to keep himself busy.

Her rambling kinda scrambles her words, but he gets her meaning. Leo loves how her mind works and to have some fun with her, he jokes back, “Relax? Relax? It sounds interesting.” He stops and looks thoughtful. “I don’t know about a movie? Still. Maybe I should call my assistant to see if I have anything scheduled for tonight, she runs my life.”

When Leo waits a beat to see if she takes the bait, but he has trouble containing his smile when he notes her short intake of breath to scold him, but he can tell she’s holding her tongue with anxious effort.

He pauses fully this time to make her really fidget. They both love a challenge. He draws it out as long as he can and when she’s just about to assume he’s turning down her kind offer, he continues with a grin, “Yeah, I’d really like to stay here for a while longer this evening. Thanks, Margaret.”

*****

Margaret lets him choose the movie for the night and Leo is surprised to find that she has several videotapes and DVD’s in her collection. She likes some romantic ones, but she also likes the more male macho ones, as she was raised with brothers who out voted her when it came to picking the movie they got to watch. Leo wonders if they might even have time for two if they’re short enough. He smiles happily when he finds a few of his favorites like, ‘Casablanca’, ‘The Great Escape’ and his pick for the evening, ‘Strategic Air Command’. It’s an old Jimmy Stewart Air Force movie in black and white from the late 1950’s, also starring June Allyson. He remembers seeing it in the theater when he was just a kid and knows that’s when he first dreamed of being a pilot. He’s knows he going to enjoy this evening relaxing with Margaret.

Once the movie is started, Margaret is encamped on her sofa and she has Leo set up in the recliner, with his feet up. It was probably silly, but she actually insisted he use the footrest up. Hoping that maybe he would be less apt to get up and to run to the office to work. Plus looking at his socked feet up in the air is so cute to her, especially at her place.

By halfway through the movie both of their mugs of hot cocoa are empty and also the matching bowls of popcorn. Both Leo and Margaret are now each covered with a throw blanket from the couch. As the weather outside is developing into a blustery night.

Margaret has been thinking and she just has to know something, before the day is over. “Leo, can you remember what time you fell asleep at the office last night?” She wants to know so she can figure out how much sleep he got. Margaret is always figuring things out. In her quest to try and take care of him better.

Leo glances to her to gage her mood, as he confesses, “Maybe 2 AM when I ah…must have gave into sleep. I just meant to put my head down a few minutes to rest my eyes. The next thing I sorta remember is you waking me to go and change clothes, but I have a sense of somehow getting to the sofa. I guess you were responsible for getting me there?”

Leo is right to assume her motive. Head bobbing Margaret confirms it for him, as she’s already is figuring that he would have gotten three hours at his desk and she got him three more on the sofa. Adding both together, that’s more sleep than he gets more nights than she cares to remember.

With a pleased ‘humph’ sound of satisfaction, at knowing his Margaret, Leo returns his attention to the movie, as he hugs the throw blanket closer under his chin and snuggles deeper into the recliner.

Later in the movie, Margaret looks over and finds Leo sleeping. The short night last night and the long walk in the cold this afternoon, plus the comforting meal and then laying to watch a familiar movie has taken its toll on him. She turns down the sound on the movie a touch, so that the louder scenes don’t wake him. She’s so pleased that he feels so comfortable at her home. It has turned out to be a lovely afternoon and evening, relaxing together.

The movie is just getting over when Leo’s his cell phone starts to ring. He had placed it on the coffee table when they were getting settled in for the movie. Leo wakes immediately and his eyes scan around, as a conditioned response of urgency, looking for his cell phone. At the same time, Leo is automatically closing the footrest with his heels to set himself up.

Margaret reaches for the phone, to hand it to him.

Leo leans forward with the throw blanket bunched in his lap to take the phone. With a nod of thanks to Margaret, he immediately checks the caller ID for the number displayed. With a sigh he leans back in the chair and answer the call, “Hey, Baby!”

“Hey, Dad. I wanted to touch base with you, before I leave tonight.” Mallory’s voice is one he never minds waking up to hear.

“Thanks for calling, Mallory. Are you all packed and ready to go? Did you double check for your passport?” He so easily falls into parental mode with his little girl.

She gives a happy chuckle at her Dad worrying for her, “Yeah, Dad. I may not have Margaret to keep me organized, but I have everything. I double-checked for my toothbrush too and you know, I could buy a new one in Europe. They do sell them over there.”

“Well, since you mentioned it, Mal. Do you have enough money with you? I’m not being nosey, but I just want you to have enough to enjoy yourself and maybe do a ‘little’ shopping.” He ends on a teasing note, knowing that she will shop.

“Dad, you’re sweet and thanks, but I have enough, even for a ‘little’ shopping. I’m just going for the week.” She loves that he knows her so well.

“Good. OK. Well… Is there anything else I can help you with, before you go?” He’s just a Dad checking one more time. Glad that she didn’t get upset at him for offering her money. She is so independent. He doesn’t need to wonder where she gets that? He chuckles softly to himself, knowing the answer.

Mallory finally relents and lets him know her dilemma. “I guess I could use your help, Dad, if you really have the time. I had planned on taking my car to the airport and leave it there, but I had to leave it at the garage for repairs while I’m gone. Now I’ll have to take a cab to the airport. I’m really not looking forward to loading and unloading my luggage in and out of the back of a cab. And that is if it arrives here when I need it.” She doesn’t ask ‘right out’ for a ride, not wanting to interrupt him if he’s working.

Leo jumps right in and offers, “Mal, I could take you, if you have a little time to wait for me? When does your flight leave? Is it still scheduled to leave on-time with the wind picking up tonight?”

“Yeah, Dad, I checked the web page of the airline and there was no delay posted.” At hearing his sound of disbelief, she assures him, “Don’t’ worry! I do plan on checking again, the last thing before going out of the door. Dad, I don’t want to call you away from something important.”

Leo doesn’t want her to think he’s unhappy or too busy for her, “No, it’s fine, Baby. I’m not working. Actually, I’m at Margaret’s.” He chuckles and asks, “Would you believe that we actually took a walk in the open air this afternoon?”

Mallory replies with a happy tone, “Dad, you two are crazy! Its been getting colder all day!” She chuckles at scolding him. Pleased that he got an afternoon out of the office and almost amazed that Margaret actually dragged him out into the fresh air.

“Leo confesses, “Yeah! We discovered that like two miles from anywhere warm! So when our cab dropped Margaret off, she invited me in for hot coffee.” He pauses a beat, “She has been feeding me and forcing me to indulge in hot cocoa and popcorn, in front of a movie, with my feet up.” He makes it sound like he has had to endure something painful, but he loves it and his happy voice gives it away.

Mallory is so glad to hear her Dad being so light hearted, “Yeah, Dad! Real torture, I can just tell.” Her mock sarcasm let’s him know that she’s not buying it.

Mallory takes them back to his offer to help, “Dad, it’s 7PM now and my flight is scheduled for 10PM, to let you know, if you think you can help me. I need to be there early, to get through security. So I won’t tie you up too long, if you need to get right back to check in with the White House.”

Leo explains his own dilemma, “Well, Baby, it will take me a little while to go to the hotel to get my car, but I don’t mind! If I won’t be cutting you too close on your flight time?”

Margaret interrupts, “Leo, you can just take my car from here. If you want company, I can ride along and drop you off at your hotel on the way back?” She’s already folding up her blanket and gathering up their bowls and glasses, while Leo continues on the phone.

Leo nods his head to Margaret in agreement. “Mallory, we have it worked out. Margaret and I will just come get you in her car. She can get me home afterwards.”

“Thanks, Dad! That would be great. Can you be here in an hour?” She giggles and teases, happy that her Dad is coming to her rescue, “And I won’t have to worry about you on the road alone and tired. Margaret will see you safely home. She takes care of you! Tell her thanks from me!”

Leo chuckles, “You two really do think I need a keeper and yeah, I’ll tell her!”

Mallory totally agrees, “Yeah, we do, Dad and I’m so glad you have your Margaret.”

Leo softly agrees, “Me too, Baby. We’ll leave here in about 30 minutes, to come pick you up. See ya then. Love you, Baby! Bye!”

He lifts the throw blanket from his lap to get up and smiles over at Margaret, while he’s folding the throw, “Mallory says to tell you thanks! Not just for the ride tonight, but for taking such good care of me.”

Leo hands her the throw and stands to head for the kitchen. He moves to walk past her with their empty glasses in one hand and their bowls in his other, he pauses to drop a kiss to her forehead, “that thanks goes for me too!” He is wearing a rare smile as he continues on to the kitchen. ~Today has been really nice. I need to thank Margaret for it too!~

*****

The first of the week, Leo does a bit of research to find out where Margaret was going to be serving Thanksgiving dinner. This is not as easy as he had hoped, as unfortunately there are lots of shelters and kitchens for the homeless in DC. He finally resorts to calling her church, St. Stephen Martyr on Pennsylvania Ave, just off 24^th street for the information. The office was able to tell him that the church members were volunteering Thanksgiving Day at Central Union Mission on R Street. He knows that both are near where she lives.

Leo sneaks in hoping to just watch Margaret at the shelter, to see what her life is like away from him and work. He hangs back to observe her from near the doorway and it’s awhile later that she sees him. Standing there smiling proudly at her, watching her helping the homeless with a friendly dignity that he would expect no less from her on this day

When she spots Leo, Margaret instantly knows he’s there for her and his smile tells her that, for once, it doesn’t involve work. She gestures to him through the people that she’s serving in front of her, for him to quit standing there like he’s holding up the wall and join her.

His smile fades and he gives a slight shake of his head, hoping she’ll pickup on the fact that he didn’t plan on disturbing her with his visit.

Margaret just waves again for him to come over to her.

Seeing that she’s not paying attention to his subtle hints, he tilts his head to the side, as if to convey to her to please not insist he interrupt the serving of the meals. He really did not expect to talk to her.

Margaret knows he has no plans for today and has probably just been rattling around with nothing to do and no one to see. She knows that he has been banned from the White House for today. She puts her fists on her hips and gives him her best pointed-look signaling that he better get his butt over there and now! ~Like he wouldn’t be welcome anywhere today, especially with me. He’s my Leo.~

Leo shoves himself off the wall with his best James Dean impression, with his hands in his pockets. Moving in a direct line to her and not catching the eyes of those he passes. Not knowing where he belongs at this gathering, as the ones enjoying the Thanksgiving Dinner do not seem to recognize him, and he’s not one of her church volunteers.

He finally reaches the table where she’s serving another family and he opts to act like it was his idea to approach her, and pastes on a bright smile, hoping she’ll not kill him for being there and intruding on her day off.

Margaret can read him like a book and she was able to tell as he walked over that he seems a little backwards, like he shouldn’t be there. She also loves the glow of his face when he turns on the charm and he certainly is doing that now. Margaret returns his smile, with one of her own. She then has a wonderful idea and hopes that he’ll think so too. “Leo, would you come back here to me?”

He nods his head in agreement and slips quickly behind the counter. Glad that she’s happy to see him.

With a break in the line for the moment, Margaret quickly orders, “Leo, you’re soon going to get too warm, so put both of your coats over that chair!” She turns behind her and picks up a full size apron. Turning back to Leo, she smilingly slips it over his head. “Leo, you’re just what I need right now, an assistant.” She hopes he takes the bossing good-naturedly. She grabs one of his sleeves and proceeds to roll it to half-mast, before doing likewise to the other.

Leo blinks a beat or two and then a moment later, just starts laughing in delight. He loves it. “Your assistant? Is this payback for something I did or that I didn’t do?”

Margaret grins and hands him a large spoon for the sweet potatoes in front of him, “I’ll decide later. The people need you, Leo, and what better way than by actually serving them.”

Leo retorts smugly, “I serve them everyday, Margaret, but this is a much better way than debating with the cabinet, anytime.”

Margaret nods in agreement, as she returns to serving.

Leo is so pleased to be included in spending the afternoon helping others. Before he never would have thought about taking time to do charity works, in the city were he has taken up residence for the duration of the administration. He’s been assuming that what he does for the nation in his work was all he was capable of. And today, Margaret has shown him that just a few hours can make a difference to the citizens he helps and also to himself.

A little while later, one of the centers staff comes by and is taking pictures for the monthly newsletter of the holiday servers. Margaret and Leo lean together and hold up their spoons, wearing big smiles and slightly splattered aprons. The staffer teases them and promises that he will send them a copy of the picture. He is a little surprised when Margaret tells him to address the envelope to the COS office at the White House. Leo and her just grin at each other, at the look on his face, before waving him on.

Once the grapevine gets working down the line, some of the dinners in the line do recognize him, from seeing Leo on the TV and they wish him a Happy Thanksgiving. Some feel special that he is there serving them. When a man in line jokes about it to Leo, he teases back, “I’m always serving the people from the WH, but this will go down better.”

This brings a nice bit of good-natured roasting from the ones around him, and he grins and takes it in like spirit. The staff and volunteers continue to treat Leo just like one of them, as he makes his trips to the kitchen for refills on the items that Margaret and he are serving.

Later in the afternoon, the line of dinners is starting to slow down and the servers have been taking turns for their own chance to eat dinner.

Leo and Margaret are happily tired by this time of the day. They don’t hesitate to sit right in with the homeless and needy, who are enjoying a warm meal on this holiday.

They smile at the others at the table, as they slip in to sit at the end, on opposite sides to face each other. Margaret is happily bossing him and still taking care of him, as they sit down. Leo is having a wonderful time with her this afternoon and he obediently smiles and with mock sarcasium replies, “Yes, Dear! Anything you say, Dear!”

She grins and blushes at his teasing, knowing that if the others volunteers overheard him that they’ll tease her also, at a later date. “Oh, Leo,” she scolds, as she playfully swats his arm with her napkin.

Leo chuckles and takes a bite, looking at her with a grin at her blushing face. She’ll learn not to play games with him. Leo plays for real.

They eat for a few minutes to take off the edge off their hunger, both reflecting on the day.

Leo states to her, “This has been good today, Margaret.” At her nod of agreement, he then ads,” I needed to get in touch the people again.”

Margaret states with her fork, “I think so too, Leo. You have been cloistered too long in the White House. You need to do this more often.”

Leo grins and can’t resist, “Yes, Dear!”

She rolls her eyes at him, knowing he’s getting so much pleasure and mileage out of teasing her.

Leo gets serious, “Really, Margaret. I have so many blessings that I take for granted sometimes. I need to give back to the people, one on one. You have always been my connection to the people.”

Margaret grins, “Good! I can connect you again then. We’ll do this again for Christmas!” ~He walked right into that one,~ she smirks.

Leo groans playfully, like she’ll work him to death and asks, “Can’t I just donate?”

Margaret banters back, “You can do that too, Leo. Thanks!”

The little girl now sitting beside Leo moves over closer, “Hi, my names Susie. What’s yours?”

He smiles down at the little imp of a girl, “I’m Leo. Glad to meet you, Susie, and this nice lady with me is Margaret.” She reminds him of Mallory at that age, all eyes and ivory skin, glowing with innocence.

Susie grins at Margaret, as she says hello. She turns back to Leo, “She’s pretty! Is she your wife or your girlfriend?”

Leo steals a pleased glance at a blushing Margaret, before he answers the precocious child, “You could say we’re special friends. Do you have a special friend?”

Susie solemnly answers, “I did, her name is Cindy, but we had to move here.” Her face brightens, as she asks, “Will you be here at Christmas? Mommy says we’ll be here till after Christmas and that Santa will find me here with the other kids.”

Leo gives her a soft smile, “I plan on it, Susie. I’ll try to find you ‘especially’, to wish you a Merry Christmas.”

Margaret looks sad, knowing it’s hard on the families here at the holidays. The people here probably won't have many, if any, Christmas presents, especially the kids.

Susie is pleased with his promise and turns her attention to eating her dinner.

Leo leans forward and whispers to Margaret, “When we get to the office tomorrow, find out how we can help her Christmas. I know there’s only so much we can do, because of who we are, but a little something will help.” He knows that it could be a real ‘fiasco’ with press, if he tries to do too much for them. Which would actually not help her in the end, but he will see what he can do on the quiet.

Margaret nods in understanding, ~Ut oh, there goes Leo’s credit card~

After the little girl and her family leave the table, Margaret stands up from the table an announces, "Time for the dishes now, Leo.”

Leo groans in mock protest, but is grinning at her.

Stopping beside him leans down and whispers in his ear, “Come on, the warm water will help the arthritis in your hands.” She’s always looking after her Leo.

He scoops his empty dinnerware off the table and hurries to follow her. He walks with his trademark rolling gait, happy knowing that he will be right there beside her, for the next holiday.

The End and Happy Thanksgiving!!

blessings

chipmunk

Imp

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chipmunk aka: Betty Lou Riley [email protected]

Imp aka: Lynn Jessome [email protected]

Home web page http://www.geocities.com/chipmunkswhimseys/

Posted Nov. 27, 2004

St. Stephen Martyr church

http://www.parishes.org/stephenmartyr.html

Central Union Mission