A CHANGE OF SCENERY
TO: [email protected]
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: phone
DATE: Sat 17 Dec 9:12:45 -0500
Hey, what’s up with your Blackberry, I’ve been trying to call you. Who is on the phone? Should I be worried? Please call me ASAP.
xxx,
Josh
TO: [email protected]
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: RE: phone
DATE: Sat 17 Dec 9:45:01 -0500
What did I tell you about buying similar phones, Josh? You pocketed my Blackberry this morning, so I’d be forever grateful if you could send Tom over with it, Hannah should be awake for another two hours. Oh, and buy milk on your way home. I expect you no later than five o’clock, after that I’m calling Helen.
CJ called me, she sounded horrible, but I think she will be okay. I just wish she would tell me what happened. I feel so helpless not being able to help her. I mean one day they are together and the next day I hear she got the divorce papers?
Anyway, Hannah and I miss you, so hurry up, Lyman!
xxx,
Donna
TO: [email protected]
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: RE : phone
DATE: Sat 17 Dec 10:12:45 -0500
I know you wanted ME to pick up milk on the way home but I sent Tommy. You can scold with me later about that.
I’m sorry about Danny and CJ, I hope CJ gets better and I really hope next time we meet Danny you let me hit him. And Donna, you are helping her, you are there for her, she knows she can always call you and you’ll listen. You are her best friend right now, and I know she appreciates that. Believe me, she will tell you when she is ready. You know how dysfunctional we Bartleteers are, you are the only exception. You have first hand experience with me, Sam and Toby. Although I never thought CJ would join us in our dysfunctionality. And it’s a word, live with it! ;)
I’m sorry I had to come in today, but with Sam gone there is really no one who could have handled this. I’ll be home around 4. Is there anything else you need?
xxx,
Josh
TO: [email protected]
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: Me
DATE: Sat 17 Dec 13:32:23 -0800
Hi Donna!
I’m still somewhat drunk (no, not hung over, but drunk). I got your email, and I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier. It’s just too damn hard to talk about it. Thanks for the call this morning though, I think I needed to hear a friendly voice, I stopped drinking right away. Thanks for being such a good friend. I won’t read back the email because then I wouldn’t send it and I want you to know what happened.
I couldn’t (or can’t) tell you this over the phone but the reason I’m so down is that I feel I failed this relationship just as Danny did. I mean it always takes two. It just hurts that he ended it. I tried so hard, Donna! I tried so hard, I even repressed the little voice within when it questioned whether it’s worth or not. I wanted it to be worth.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Hell, I didn’t want easy! Danny fought for this relationship until we were out of the White House; I felt I should fight for it after that. I fought for it even when it became clear that it’s not working. I wanted it to work so desperately, Donna! I wanted a normal life, I wanted a life with a loving husband, I wanted a life with family gatherings, with turkeys for Thanksgiving and the anniversaries in cheesy restaurants with the usual jewelry and watch as a gift. I wanted this so bad, Donna. But I know now that I can’t have it because I know now that I’m not a normal person. I don’t know what made me think that I could be one. I just thought… Was that such an impossible thing; was it foolish of me to think that it could happen to me? Was it bad of me to want it to work even when I thought it wasn’t worth the effort?
You know what? When I first met Josh, Sam and Toby I always thought that Josh would be that politico who would never marry and always have girlfriends to show up with at party functions. I thought Sam would marry a sweet girl and have a dozen kids, all little clones of him and her. Toby I knew. I knew if he could get it together with Andie he would have a great life despite his grumpiness. I always knew he would be a great father. And I thought about myself and I always saw myself with a man on my side, maybe one or two kids, but not necessarily. I never imagined I would be Chief of Staff to that unknown Governor of New Hampshire.
I’m glad that Josh and you got together, and I’m so glad to see him as a father. He is such a great father, Donna. I would have never imagined, but I bet you did. Every time we met I felt envious of what you have with Josh. I want you to know this because I think we should be frank to each other, being friends and all. I really wanted to have a kid one day; I guess that’s not in there for me anymore. There were times I imagined them ginger-haired and blue-eyed, but there came a time when I ceased to imagine them altogether.
I think I’m gonna be sick right now, so give Hannah and Josh a kiss from me,
CJ
TO: [email protected]
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: Thank you for registering
DATE: Sat 17 Dec 15:24:22 -0800
Dear CJ!
Thank you for registering with us today. We all welcome you to our website A Change of Scenery. We hope that you’ll find what you are looking for. After processing your preferences, we are happy to tell you that we found you some rather intriguing places to consider. Click on the pictures and you can immediately see what we are talking about.
Tarmac Lodge
Botsford
Connecticut
Zane House
Redding
Connecticut
Oakridge
Tashua
Connecticut
Good luck!
The A Change of Scenery-Team
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