It wasn’t so much that I was surprised when the wedding invitation arrived, after all they were destined to end up together, it was more that Zoey wanted me to attend. I mean we had kept in touch over the years. She sent me long letters about the White House antics and I sent postcards from wherever I was working, most recently from California where I was on the Governor’s detail. I just assumed that with all her friends and family there wouldn’t be room for me.

There wasn’t any question that I would go. After all, I had a little hand in getting them together or at least ensuring she didn’t dump him the first time he screwed up. However there was one problem. It was Zoey’s wedding, her father was the President, or rather former President, and Leo was his best friend.

I left because I was starting to have feelings for him, feelings that would interfere with my ability to do my job. Now I was going to see him again. It’s been six years and I haven’t been pining for him, well not to the extent that I haven’t dated, but I must admit to a flutter of trepidation about seeing him again. It’s my first crush from High School all over again. What will he look like? Will he think I’ve changed? Will it be awkward? Will I want to melt into his arms?

I guess in a few weeks I’m going to find out.

*~*~*~*

The kid’s getting married. Which probably explains why I was roused from sleep at four o’clock this morning by a rather highly strung Jed. We’ve been friends for over forty years but I’ve never seen him quite this jittery. I’m not sure whether Abbey sent him or whether he just decided I should be the one he tortured. Either way, I didn’t need it. For the last three hours I’ve been sitting on the veranda listening, and trying not to fall asleep, while he practises his speech. Or maybe that should be writes his speech. Now I know why the rest of the guys chose to stay in town.

“Do you think I ought to add a few more antidotes about her childhood?” Jed asks and I rub my eyes wearily.

“Um, we have Zoey Bartlet the baby years, the toddler years, the High School years and not to forget the White House Years, what’s left?” I groan.

Jed raises his eyebrows and gives me The Look. “Leo?”

Hell, I said that a loud. That’s what you get for very little sleep and no coffee. Pulling my robe tightly around my waist, I stand and move around the porch. It may be summer but it’s cold, then I don’t remember a time when I’ve been to New Hampshire and not had to wear a sweater. “Why don’t you give Toby a call?” Surely with Toby’s help, he could have this thing finished in a matter of minutes.

“I can write my own father of the bride speech, Leo.”

All evidence to the contrary.

The moment is interrupted by the arrival of Zoey, Mallory trailing in her wake. She looks beautiful, they both do, then I may be biased. I haven’t seen the outfits they’ll be walking down the aisle in, but I know they’ll look even more stunning.

The wedding itself is at the church; the reception is on the lawn to the south of the house. All day yesterday contractors were constructing the marquee and bringing in flowers and tables and God knows what else. The wedding must be costing the equivalent of the national debt, I’m only surprised Jed hasn’t tapped me for a loan. I’m really not as rich as he makes out.

“Hey, Dad. Hey, Leo,” Zoey says.

As she bounces across to kiss Jed, I see the kid who used to climb trees. I find it hard to believe she’s old enough to get married, and then I have to remember Mallory is a mother. The girls are no longer kids. They’re women and I think that scares me more.

“Going for a walk?” I ask, hugging Mal, which is a rarity these days.

“Gina and CJ are driving up, so we’re going to get some fresh air before Mom cooks breakfast,” Zoey answers for her and it’s then I notice she hasn’t stood still since she arrived. The kid is so nervous it’s funny.

At the mention of food, or maybe Gina’s name, my stomach flips. Since I arrived yesterday I don’t think we’ve gone more than two hours between meals. I’m not sure my suit will even fit later today.

Gina. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard her name. She left in such a hurry I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye. I didn’t know Zoey had kept in touch with her. Gina and I were colleagues, bordering on friends, at least we were until that fateful night. I admit I’d been attracted to her, but it would never have gone anywhere. At least I wasn’t in a position to let it go anywhere. Did I miss her? Yes, for a few minutes, then there had been other things to occupy my time. Which sounds harsh, but when the world as you know it is falling apart, relationships and friendships tend to fall by the wayside.

“Leo?”

I gather from the tone in his voice it’s not the first time he’s tried to attract my attention. When I turn around the girls have gone and Jed is once more working on the speech.

“I need coffee,” I state before heading into the kitchen. The wedding isn’t for a few hours yet but I don’t think I can take much more of Jed’s speech writing.

My relationships, or lack of, are something I don’t discuss with Jed. He always wants to fix me up. Which is how I ended up with Jordan and that turned into a disaster. Then there was Abbey’s friend, Miranda, the memory of which is best left to lay to rest. If I mentioned a crush from six years ago, we’d be sitting together at dinner and Jed would be giving the woman the fourth degree. Not exactly what I want to happen when I see Gina for the first time in years. Not that I’m entirely sure what I do want to happen.

Abbey is obviously up and about because the coffee pot is on and the table is laid for breakfast when I enter the kitchen.

After making myself a hasty cup of coffee and waving Jed off, I head upstairs to take a shower. I’ve always been fastidious about my appearance, but I don’t think I’ve ever set aside four hours to get ready. For some reason today, I have a desperate need to look more presentable than usual. Which is crazy and pathetic, and I have no explanation for why a rational person would act this way.

*~*~*~*

I saw Zoey this morning. Four of us went for a walk around her father’s property, trying I assume to calm her down. It didn’t work. She was babbling nineteen to the dozen as the rest of us just listened. We went from politics to Charlie’s suit in a matter of seconds and surprise - surprise she started ranting about Leo and his wedding gift. Which was about the only time I paid attention. Nerves don’t come anywhere close to describing how she was acting. I think at one point CJ was debating whether to call for a straight-jacket. No wonder she’s gone down two dress sizes since the engagement. I can only hope her mother had more luck than we did. Of course the nerves could also be due to her asking Mallory for marriage advice. I imagine being married to Josh Lyman is anything but normal. As usual I digress.

CJ has offered me a lift to the wedding, in twenty minutes to be precise, and I’m sitting on my bed, my own bundle of nerves. I’d like to say they’re for Zoey, but it’s really anticipation of seeing Leo again. It’s silly for a woman of my age to get so worked up about seeing someone I knew for less than a year, and then not that well. I swear I’ve repined my hair six times and I still have these really annoying wispy bits. The dress is hanging over the door. It’s the only one I own. I debated wearing a suit or my work clothes, but my feminine side, the one I suppress at every opportunity, won over. Hence the dress, a royal blue silk shift that stops just above the knee. It’s flattering and simple, which is good because I don’t want anyone to think I’m trying too hard. Although I would like Leo to appreciate my legs. See, I’m losing the plot again. He probably won’t even notice I’m there.

Sighing, I toss the brush across the bed and lift the dress from the hanger, slipping it over my head.

Picking up my wrap I head downstairs, my stomach in knots. It’s no good, I’m a mess. Whether he notices me or not, I’m going to see him and probably make a complete fool of myself.

*~*~*~*

The church is half full when I arrive. Well it would be. Jed Bartlet’s baby is getting married and he’s invited practically everyone he’s ever met, which considering how hard it is to like Jed Bartlet, seem to number in the hundreds. I guess there are those, who like Jed or not, would turn up anyway. At least there are a few familiar faces that I can talk to later.

I take my seat in the second row of pews. Well, Jed always refers to me as his brother, which I might add Jonathan is less than impressed about, so I get to sit with the family.

Josh and Sam have yet to arrive, but then time-keeping never was their strong suit. With Mallory in the wedding party and Sam’s wife taking care of the children, the two of them have been left to their own devices. God help them if they miss the ceremony. Abbey will probably have them hung, drawn and quartered.

Every few seconds I turn around and search for them. Not that I’m feeling slightly uncomfortable, sitting here alone.

I spot Margaret and Donna, looking every inch the professional young women I know, and Toby’s here, also alone. After Andi married a fellow congressman, Toby finally gave up on proposing. At least he gets to be a hands-on father. It’s then that I see CJ, and just behind her is the striking young woman I haven’t stopped thinking about since this morning.

Gina is wearing blue; a color I’ve always liked on her and her hair is up. I prefer it down personally, tumbling across her shoulders and framing her face. She’s brushing stray strands of hair from her eyes and looks uncomfortable. I’d tell her to relax but then she’d probably tell me to take my own advice. I watch as she nervously looks from side to side and slips into a row near the back. Now why didn’t I think of that?

CJ, unsurprisingly takes a pew next to Toby and I do believe he smiles. I don’t think they realize how obvious they are anymore. She’s crazy about him, he’s in love with her and for some reason it takes family occasions for them to even hook up. Abbey really is slipping.

There’s noise at the back of the church and the Hardy boys arrive. As they take their seats, the organ begins and the show starts.

*~*~*~*

I see Leo out of the corner of my eye as I follow CJ through the doors to the cathedral. I’m not very religious. In fact the last time I went to church it was my sister’s wedding and that was two years ago. So I’m more than a little uncomfortable being here.

Leo looks good. Damn him. He’s wearing a navy double-breasted suit, which looks like it was made for him and a crisp white shirt. Even from this distance I catch the small smile he gives CJ. Of course it could be for me, but that’s a stretch of the imagination. So naturally my stomach is all of a flutter again.

Not really sure where to sit, and not knowing that many people, I find an empty pew at the rear of the church. There is method in my madness. I don’t have to make conversation with anyone and from here I can watch him unobserved. It may only be the back of his head but it’s better than nothing.

The wedding march starts and I stand.

*~*~*~*

There’s something about watching your daughter walk down the aisle that brings tears to your eyes. Mallory looks so beautiful in the green, well it’s probably called sea form or emerald or something, don’t ask me, dress and it takes me back to her wedding day, walking her down the aisle and handing her over to Josh. Part way down the aisle I considered turning around and running. Really, I’m sure any guy faced with the prospect of their only daughter marrying Josh would feel the same way. But memories of him in surgery erased those thoughts. He had fallen for my daughter, courted her and asked for my permission to marry her. Since then he’s given me no reason to regret my decision.

As Mallory passes him, her eyes light up and I know she is thinking the same thing. They are so much in love that it is rather sickening at times. Who’d have thought Josh would morph into a hopeless romantic.

Ellie and Annie are behind her in matching gowns and looking very much like young ladies, rather than the tomboys that Jed complains about so often.

It’s then I catch sight of Zoey. My first glimpse of the ivory silk gown and trailing bouquet is that she’s not a kid anymore, she’s a woman. I guess it’s something that’s happened under my very eyes since Rosslyn, but it’s taken her getting married for me to realize it.

The service itself is beautiful and I can see Abbey and Jed’s influence in not only the traditional vows, but also the truth and sincerity with which the couple exchange them. Charlie had been patient, watching as she briefly dated other guys, but his joy at her coming back to him was clearly evident. They were meant to be together, in a way, I now know Jenny and I weren’t. These two have the same goals and foundations built on the worse kind of tragedy. Which is why they are so sure this is what they want. It isn’t until that second that I realize that’s what I want. It isn’t a case of not liking being alone. I want to share that sort of love with someone.

I can honestly say that there isn’t a dry eye in the building as they exchange rings, not even mine. Who would have thought the once most powerful, well in theory, men in Washington, could be reduced to sap.

*~*~*~*

I work for the Secret Service, I’m military trained and yet tears are streaming down my face as I watch the kids exchange rings. The tears quickly dissipate as they lean towards each other and kiss. Now I’m a little bit embarrassed watching them. From my pew I can only see the back of the President’s head, but I can imagine the look on his face. Pride and love mixed with a little fear that his baby is now a grown up woman.

Leo is probably beaming with pride. God knows he loves Zoey. They have a great relationship and he loves Charlie like a son. Liked - sorry, it’s been so long I know nothing about him now. If things had been different I might have learned more about him, but I chose to leave. Now I guess it’s too late.

The congregation are rising to their feet so I guess I missed the signing of the register. I was too busy day-dreaming about Leo and the man I fell in love with. See, it’s a wedding and I’m allowed to have these sorts of thoughts. Any other time and I’d have to see a therapist.

It’s only as I turn to watch Zoey, giving her a smile, that I see Leo again. His smile, especially aimed directly at me, is enough to send shivers down my spine. I wonder if he has any clue the effect he has, and not just on me. It’s with more than a little curiosity that I check to see if he’s with anyone. I sigh in relief when I note he isn’t.

As the church continues to empty, I fall into line and head outside. My heart is thumping as I cross the lawn and mingle with the guests.

As the wedding party pose for photographs, I see Leo again. He is chatting with people, slowly working his way towards me, unintentionally I’m sure. My palms are damp and I swear I’m suddenly running a temperature. And I know it’s crazy and foolish and it’s been six years but I can’t convince my body of that.

“Hey Gina.”

See, now I’m gonna melt into a puddle of goo.

*~*~*~*

“Hey, Leo,” she says and smiles.

I didn’t realize how much I missed her company until just then. Our Friday meetings were always enjoyable, that easy way we exchanged details about ourselves and managed to combine the personal and the professional. Of course in the weeks following Rosslyn, I wouldn’t have had much time to sit and chat, not with Josh in the hospital, midterms and Toby on a crusade.

“So you’re on the governor’s detail?” That sounded really lame.

Gina grins and I respond in kind. “I get to sleep in my own room, and he doesn’t have a boyfriend, at least not that I’m aware of.”

It’s a joke of course, well who knows in the world we live in today. It takes me back to the first time we met when I asked if she liked being on Zoey’s detail. She had said yes, which is why her sudden departure was such a shock. Now isn’t really the time to press the issue, I guess.

“Hormone raged?” Because right this second I am, especially as she folds her arms across her chest and pushes, accidentally I’m sure, her cleavage up.

“No, we have a red light policy.”

They have that in the military but it doesn’t seem to have had much effect. Although I‘m sure if the governor as much as laid a finger anywhere on Gina, he‘d find himself on his backside on the ground. “How are you getting to the reception?”

“CJ,” she offers, looking around for her.

There’s a moment of silence while I debate whether or not to offer. I’m still attracted to her, I guess even more so now that’s she’s older. Gina is thirty-three, why that would make a relationship between us more respectable I don’t know, which is jumping ahead I guess. I blame it on the wedding. “Why don’t you ride with me?” I could go on and explain that Toby will be in the car with CJ, but I don’t like thinking about those two as a couple, let alone voicing it.

You can see her contemplating it, her face scrunching up in consternation as she weighs up something.

“I’m not that bad a driver,” I joke in the seconds it takes her to decide.

Her smile is enough to give me confidence. I may come across as being in charge, full of myself, but really when it comes to women; I’m out of my depth. Not as clueless as Josh or as naïve as Sam, or even as useless as Toby, but getting a date has never been easy for me.

“Okay,” she says, oblivious to what’s running through my head. “Let me find CJ and I’ll be back.”

I nod mutely, because really, I’m still on the fact she’s agreed to ride with me. It hadn’t even occurred to me that we will have to make conversation in the car.

*~*~*~*

Leo has offered me a ride to the farm and I have to admit I’m looking forward to the twenty-minute journey with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. Excitement that we get time alone to talk, anticipation because I’m sure I’m going to say something stupid.

My entrance into the car is less than ladylike. The skirt rides up my thighs as I twist to lift my legs inside, giving him a rather lengthy view of my legs, not that he’s interested.

When I close the door and turn to look at him, he’s grinning inanely. So maybe he did notice, after all. He has a grin for every occasion, I swear, the sexy grin, the sardonic grin and the goofy grin. It’s slightly disconcerting.

So Leo starts the car and we’re driving out of town in silence. It’s not an uncomfortable silence; I mean I don’t have a desire to jump out of the car. It can only be described as companionable. That is until he slows down and clucks his tongue. I turn to look at him and follow his gaze. Sure enough CJ’s car is pulled off the road, only the trunk visible, but with her licence plate it’s hard to miss.

Leo looks at me, I look at him and we both start laughing.

“Glad to see CJ’s making the most of the opportunity,” Leo deadpans, returning his attention to the road.

“Well, if you feel that way, there’s a picnic spot coming up on the right.” It slips out before I can stop it and I have to look out of the window to prevent him from seeing me turn the various shades of pink I know I will.

I hear him clear his throat then quietly ask, “On the right, you say?”

After a second while my brain comprehends what he’s just said, I turn from the window to stare at him.

Leo’s still watching the road, one eye on me, and a very silly grin on his face.

I must let out a sigh because he suddenly says, “I’m sorry that was inappropriate.”

Longing to say, hell no, CJ’s got the right idea, I smile weakly. My relief isn’t so much because he’s joking, but more for the goosebumps breaking out all over my skin and the weird flip my stomach did at the suggestion. I’m sure it would have gone well under those circumstances.

“Gina?” he asks and I can hear the concern in his voice.

“Why use the car when I have a perfectly good hotel room in town?” I offer flippantly and he looks at me and I look at him and I can see it, even feel it, the sudden charge of electricity. Leo likes me.

*~*~*~*

It’s a twenty-minute drive, that’s how long I have to be alone in a car with Gina. Now I’m not Jed so you’d think I could manage not to say something inappropriate. Hell no. She was teasing me about, well I guess making out, in the car and I have to turn it into a serious question. I wouldn’t be able to promise there wouldn’t be fumbling and mistakes but that’s a different story. Put it down to a crush. There was all this attraction, lust, and now I still want to know what it would be like to kiss her, age difference be damned.

Gina’s gone all silent on me, probably wondering whether she should just jump out and run. I wouldn’t blame her.

Then she speaks and the tone in her voice is emotionless but deeply serious, the same tone she used when she used to talk about her family. There is something unmistakable in her eyes that causes me to swallow hard. For the first time since I saw her again I realize that this thing isn’t one sided. And I have to resist the urge to pull off the road and test the theory.

“Leo?” she says softly and I can feel her hand on my arm as I steal a glance at the road.

Thankfully we haven’t hit anything while I’ve been distracted. Although if her fingertips continue to stroke my arm like that we most definitely will. I can see the house and I’m disappointed. “We’re here,” and I can hear the sigh escape her lips. What can I say; I’m inept at this whole dating/relationship thing.

The agents on the gate wave us through and there is an eerie silence as I park on the driveway and switch off the engine. Before I can say anything she is climbing out of the car, her skirt riding up her thigh and I’m memorized by the tanned flesh.

”Thanks for the ride, Leo.”

It’s the second I need to recover. “Can I give you a ride back to the hotel, later?” I resist the urge to say please. Gina has probably realized what a loser I am and any spark she felt just now is probably gone.

Gina nibbles her lip and glances between the guests and the inside of the car. “Sure.”

With that she’s striding off into the distance, leaving me in desperate need of dutch courage.

*~*~*~*

When one of Jed’s babies gets married, he tends to go overboard. Zoey’s big day is no exception.

We start with champagne and canapés, I stick to water, and a little teasing of Toby and CJ. That is when they finally arrive, looking flushed and well, like they’ve been doing exactly what they have been doing. Toby looks embarrassed, CJ on the other hand is practically glowing.

There are more photos. It’s a chance to mill around and talk, and to observe Gina. She’s chatting with CJ mostly; I guess they knew each other from before because both of them seem fairly relaxed. Gina waves her champagne glass around as she talks and her eyes scan the expense of lawn. I hope she’s looking for me. It may be wishful thinking but a man has to have dreams. However I’m tucked away between Jed and his brother and she doesn’t see me. Finally she returns to the conversation at hand.

It’s only later as everyone is seated for dinner, a meal that I might add, was caught, killed and produced in New Hampshire, I see her again, surrounded by Donna and Margaret. Better them than my dinner companions. That’s not really fair, CJ is fun and Sam’s wife is charming, it’s the three idiots, sorry spin boys, that are hard to take. If you think they’re bad enough with beer, wine is even worse.

The real upside is my granddaughter, Amelia. She has her mother’s red hair and her father’s dimples, quite a combination I might add. I love her more than I ever though I could love anything, which is probably why she’s as spoilt as she is.

I place her on my knee as Jed rises to his feet to give the speech. Part way through, he pauses and I see something fleetingly in Abbey’s eyes that resembles panic before he continues. It’s only later that I discover what happened. He glanced at his daughter then at Abbey and his long-winded speech went out the window as he started to speak from the heart.

The two speechwriters nodded appreciatively as Amelia destroyed the mints from coffee.

After dinner, and the tables are cleared, the evening entertainment begins.

It’s one of those occasions when I end up dancing with every female there including the bride.

It’s only later as the bride and groom are trying to slip unnoticed from the room that I find myself alone on the dance floor. Actually I’m propping up a pillar. Gina is sitting at her table, nursing a glass and grinning. In a split second we lock eyes and I head towards her.

She looks up at me, still smiling, something glinting in her eyes.

“Would you like to dance?” As if by divine intervention or maybe it has something to do with Toby, who is loitering by the band, they begin to play something slow.

Gina’s eyes flutter as if she’s trying to be coy, or maybe she’s drunk. It’s a look I haven’t seen before and one I could happily see again. She extends her hand to mine and I pull her to her feet, enjoying the brief moment she presses against me and I can feel the heat from her body. All too soon it’s over and she steps back.

As we begin to move to the music, it’s professional and awkward, unaided by the slight inequality in height. Then just as quickly and without preamble, I tug her closer to me and I can practically feel her heartbeat. The lack of resistance tells me it was the right thing to do.

It’s three songs later that I realize it’s her breath against my ear and her fingers stroking the base of my neck.

Across the dance floor CJ is giving me a sardonic smile or maybe she’s smirking, I’m not really sure. All I know is that I no longer want to be here, in front of everyone.

“I’d like to get out of here,” I mutter unconsciously and I can feel Gina squeeze my hand and smile against my cheek.

“My thoughts exactly,” she whispers and I pull away.

As if by telepathy we leave the dance floor, pausing at her table. And for once, I have no concerns about what will undoubtedly happen.

*~*~*~*

As I grab my purse and follow Leo towards the entrance, my eyes are appraising him and I must admit the years have been good. I’m not sure whether he can sense it, but he turns and gives me that grin. My legs turn to jelly and right there I want to fall into his arms.

He’s taking me back to my hotel and however forward it might sound I’m going to invite him up. After all it’s a wedding, and things are meant to happen, or maybe that‘s just if you‘re the bridesmaid. Anyway, I’m going to throw caution to the wind.

Besides if I regret it tomorrow, I need never see him again. But there’s something in the way he pauses, smiles at me and takes my hand that tells me I won’t have any regrets.

The End