A FUTURE WORTH LIVING FOR
"It sometimes happens, even in the best of families, that a baby is
born. This is not necessarily cause for alarm. The important thing is
to keep your wits about you and borrow some money." ~ Elinor Goulding
Smith
�Ginger!� Josh yelled for his assistant when he was done with Sam�s memo.
�What do you want?� Ginger yelled back.
Josh noticed the strategy and padded to the door of his office. Ginger was typing something. Well, since he had a secretary for the everyday typing this must be something important, that Josh acknowledged.
�I won�t use the intercom,� he stated then.
�It�s okay, I�m used to the bellowing,� Ginger said, without even looking up. �But I won�t use the intercom either.�
�It�s okay, I�m used to the yelling back,� Josh retorted.
�What did you want?� she asked, finally looking up.
�Did you clear an hour for me?�
�Next Tuesday, that was the closest,� Ginger said apologetically.
�That not exactly fits the �in the next couple of days� requirement,� Josh remarked.
�No, I guess it doesn�t,� Ginger answered absent-mindedly.
�It would be really important,� Josh said, his tone bordering on whining.
�I guessed that much, considering that you sent the e-mail late at night,� Ginger said, typing away.
�Yeah. Nothing closer?�
�You are out of the building around 8 tonight, baring any emergency, of course.� Ginger looked up.
�I kinda need an hour in the nine-to-five time span,� Josh said.
�Why?� Ginger asked, and Josh knew he made a strategic mistake.
�Never mind, just make sure that I have that hour next Tuesday,� Josh said, planning on a quick withdrawal.
�You want to go shopping?� Ginger asked him.
�Yeah,� Josh gave in.
�Anything you need help with?� Ginger asked.
�I guess I could use the help, but we can�t be out of office at the same time, so you are not a candidate,� Josh told her with a smirk, Ginger�s face fell. �Okay, I�m sorry. But it�s also true. If I�m not in the office you have to be here, Ginger. If you are away, I have to be here.�
�Why?�
�Because it�s the Chief of Staff�s office,� Josh said. �And the office comes equipped with a Chief of Staff and an assistant. In the coming years, it�s gonna be you and me.�
�Okay, but try not to mess with your schedule when I�m not here,� Ginger said resigned. �Should I ask Lou to accompany you on this shopping spree?�
�You don�t really know Lou, right?� Josh asked after he let out a snort.
�No, not really,� Ginger admitted. �Oh, you need manly advice?�
�Lou could help me with that,� Josh said with a wink. �Okay, that was mean. But really, I need womanly advice.�
�Maybe you should ask Donna,� Ginger said.
�Yeah, where would the surprise be in that?� Josh murmured.
�You want to surprise Donna?� Ginger asked, perking up.
�Yeah, and I would be forever grateful if this conversation never made its way to the East Wing,� Josh warned her in a friendly manner.
�Okay, boss, my lips are sealed,� Ginger promised.
�Yeah, well, I think I should ask Annabeth. And before I forget,� Josh started. �Clear half an hour for Annabeth once a week.�
�Lunch?�
�I have lunch with Donna. Every day, in case you forgot,� Josh said in a slightly admonishing tone.
�Yeah, sorry. Okay, brunch?� Ginger asked, making Josh think. He vaguely remembered that pregnant women tended to get what they called �morning sickness�, so maybe brunch wasn�t the best idea.
�What�s the thing in the afternoon?� he asked Ginger.
�What kind of thing?� she asked back perplexed.
�Oh, you know, if the thing after breakfast is called brunch, what�s the thing called in the afternoon?�
�I don�t know, linner, maybe?� Ginger quipped with a grin.
�That was a good one,� Josh said with a grin on his own. �Anyway, see that I get half an hour off once a week in the afternoon, I�ll call Annabeth to see if it�s okay for her to meet on that day.�
�Is this some kind of project you�ll be working on?�
�Yeah, it�s a project kind of thing,� Josh admitted and contemplated to call Mallory then and there. But he still didn�t know how to broach the subject and he decided not to call her until he had some kind of strategy, or really the beginning of a strategy.
�Oh, and Ginger, Donna won�t be in today, so if you need my lunch time, you can schedule something instead,� he told before stepping back into his office.
�What do you mean �not in�? I met her on my way to Sam�s office,� Ginger said.
�What?!� Josh shouted and crossed the room in three strides. He picked up his phone and dialed the familiar extension.
�Donna Moss.�
�What are you doing here?� Josh asked her.
�I work here, Joshua,� Donna said.
�Don�t get cute with me, Donatella,� Josh warned her. �You are sick, you should be at home; drinking your chamomile tea, wearing flannel pajama pants and cute little tank tops.�
�In case you didn�t notice, I wear a Make-A-Wish T-Shirt,� Donna told him.
�Whatever, Donna. You are sick, you belong to bed,� Josh insisted.
�Josh, really, I feel so much better today and I don�t have fever and I promise you I�ll go home the moment I feel sick,� Donna said.
�Okay, let me know, and Ollie can drive you home,� Josh agreed.
�Sure. Are we on for lunch?� she asked then, and Josh could hear her smile.
�You bet. You�ll have some chicken broth, and I will have a chicken salad,� Josh said.
�Will you eat the salad too or just pick out the meat?� Donna asked teasingly.
�If you eat the broth I will eat the green parts too,� Josh promised with a grin.
�That will be a sight to see, Joshua. See you later.�
�See you later,� Josh said and hung up.
Needless to say, Josh ate the greens in his salad too. After lunch both of them returned to their work, Josh slightly relieved that Donna didn�t look so sick anymore. The President retired to the Residence at six-thirty, but Josh still had to stay, he had some sensitive material to read that he couldn�t take out of the building. He sent Ginger home around seven, and he was just planning on leaving when Sam barreled into his office.
�Lou is coming,� he announced, still out of breath.
�What�s wrong?� Josh asked, looking at his friend and deputy with furrowed brows.
�A story is going to broke over night,� Sam said. �But I don�t know more. I just finished a memo when Otto barged into my office and told me to head over here.�
�Hope it�s really important, I kinda promised Donna a quiet evening together,� Josh said.
�How is it going?� Sam asked, sounding genuinely interested.
�It�s great. We have some lingering issues, but we are working on it,� Josh admitted.
�Ever thought of marriage?� Sam asked him in a quiet voice.
�As a matter of fact, I did. I�m going ring-shopping next Tuesday,� Josh boasted a bit.
�Really? She said yes?� Sam asked.
�I haven�t asked yet, Sam,� Josh said.
�Josh, free advice, do talk about it before you go ring-shopping,� Sam said.
�I thought I would just pop the question, she would smile and kiss me, then I would ask again just to be sure, and she would say yes.�
�Yeah, that�s how it works in romance novels and chick flicks, Josh,� Sam said, his tone a bit admonishing. �With you and Donna, not so much. Remember what you told me after you came back from your vacation?�
�Which part do you refer to?� Josh asked, sounding a bit defensive.
�No need to bring out the passive-aggressive for me, Josh. It�s me, Sam, I know you. You should talk to Donna before dashing off to ring-shopping. You told me after coming back that you two promised each other to talk about things, not wanting any misdirection or miscommunication to stand in the way of your happiness.�
�What about?�
�Excuse me?�
�What should we talk about?� Josh clarified.
�Marriage is a thing that kinda has a lot of issues riding on its coattails,� Sam said.
�Yeah.�
�I mean, kids, a house, college fund, life insurance. Future plans, since this job won�t be there in eight years,� Sam listed. �A wedding, for starters. I wouldn�t shop for a ring unless you are clear about those issues, both with yourself and with Donna.�
�Okay,� Josh said with a nod. �Thanks, Sam.�
�No problem. I just hope that Lou appears soon, Anna is waiting for me,� Sam said.
�You called her?�
�Yeah, she is a real trooper,� Sam said.
�Listen, Sam, I��
�No need for that, Josh. It was my decision,� Sam cut him off. �It�s service to the President, plus, I missed my best friends,� he added with a smile.
�We missed you too,� Josh admitted and then Lou stormed into his office. She smashed a newspaper onto his desk, pointing at the picture under the fold. �Playing House�, it read above the pictures, and made Josh shiver at the bad double entendre. It showed Josh and Donna kissing on his stoop, and then it showed Sam and Anna doing pretty much the same in front of Sam�s brownstone. Josh didn�t really need to read the whole article; the title was a dead giveaway what he would find. He read it nonetheless. The words were quickly burnt into his mind; he looked over at Sam and nodded. Yeah, it was every bit the bad thing they envisioned upon seeing the pictures.
�What�s this?� Josh asked Lou, his voice dangerously quiet.
�It�s a right-wing newspaper with a circulation of 2000, Josh. Nevertheless, that�s how it will look like tomorrow morning,� Lou said.
�You got an advance copy?� Sam asked.
�Delivered to me personally,� Lou said.
�I want you to call them, Lou, and tell them that��
�Josh, there is nothing to threaten with,� Lou said in a low voice. �They don�t need our cooperation, we cannot offer them anything.�
�Okay then, get me the editor on the phone,� Josh said.
�Josh, I don�t think you��
�And when he is done I�ll to talk to him too,� Sam joined them.
�Sam, Josh, I understand that you are upset but��
�Lou, look at me! Do I look like upset?� Josh asked Lou, looking straight into her eyes.
�No, you look like one of the Furies, but, you know, without the snake-hair,� Lou tried to lighten the mood. It was lame, but Josh couldn�t help but grin. �Josh, let me take care of this,� Lou said.
�What are you planning to do?�
�Nothing,� Lou said. �At least not tonight.�
�I don�t like this plan,� Sam inserted.
�I�m no fan of my own plan either, Sam, but you know we can�t fight this,� Lou said. �You are two successful men who have beautiful girlfriends, fianc�es, whatever. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I�ll prep Lester tomorrow first thing in the morning. You two go home and tell Donna and Anna.�
Josh found himself deep in thoughts again. He surprised even himself, because he wasn�t thinking about those pictures; no, he was thinking about Sam�s words. Was he really ready to take on all the responsibility that came with marriage? Did he want a house? The answer was a tentative yes. He wanted one, just not right away. He enjoyed his apartment with Donna there, it was cozy. A house would maybe keep them apart, he reasoned. But he knew if Donna wanted it, he would move into a house the second she uttered her wish. Because he took nothing more seriously than making his beautiful girlfriend happy. He smiled at that thought, and that�s when he arrived at his brownstone.
�Sir?� Ollie asked him.
�Give me a moment, Ollie,� Josh asked his driver and then thought about his future plans. What would he do once they are done in the White House? One thing was sure he wouldn�t direct another presidential campaign, he was done with campaigns altogether. Of course, Donna might want to run a campaign (presidential or otherwise), and then he would join her. If she wanted, of course. Otherwise he would wait for her in their new house, taking care of their kids. That he knew with hundred percent certainty. He wanted kids. He realized that Sam was right. He needed to talk to Donna about these things, simply because his plans depended on her plans, starting with the fact that he couldn�t have kids without her. He let out a grin and then climbed out of the car.
GO TO PART THREE