Chapter 9
“Carol said you were free. Have you got a minute?” Amy asked solicitously.
‘Sure. What’s up?” Josh asked without looking up from his work.
“Nelson wants a one on one with you about the ed bill. He’ll be calling you shortly.” Amy
announced.
“Nelson’s a putz.” Josh noted. “What’s he want?”
“He wants a meeting with the Chief of Staff.” Amy replied.
Josh blew out a breath. Amy switched on Josh’s television which was highlighting coverage of
the First Lady’s trip to California.
“The First Lady’s trip is getting good press. Donna’s doing well with her.”
“Uh-huh.” Josh answered non-commitally. Things had been going fine with Amy lately. He
wasn’t prepared to rock that boat with talk about Donna.
Just as Amy opened her mouth to comment further, Sam strode purposefully into the office.
“Goodevening, Samuel.” Josh greeted him.
“That weasel Nelson, is going to be calling here in a minute demanding time with you.” Sam
took another breath. “If you let him within 50 feet of this office, I quit.”
“So…your recommendation is that I should NOT meet with him.” Josh deadpanned.
“He’s the ticket to 5 yea votes on ed reform.” Amy reminded them.
“I don’t give a shit if he’s got 50 yea votes; he screwed with us on Baker and he’s jerking me
around for sport.” Sam yelled.
Carol stepped into the doorway. “Josh, Senator Nelson on line 2 for you.”
Sam kept his gaze pointedly on Josh. “Well?”
“It’s your call.” Josh replied and motioned toward the phone.
Sam’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but then he took another breath and picked up the
phone.
“I was very specific when I said you’d get no time with Josh, do you have some kind of hearing
problem?...Then don’t bother calling his office anymore. He won’t be taking your calls. You
deal with me on this or you can kiss your White House access goodbye…The hell with your
five votes, Nelson. I’ll get them from your colleagues, pass this bill, and shove a signed copy
of it up your ass. You won’t get into this building on a guided pubic tour and if you think I’m
not organizing a search committee to find your replacement as soon as I’m off this phone, you’
re even more of an idiot than I earlier suspected.” Sam hung up, slamming the phone down in
his anger.
“I am SICK and TIRED of people walking over me to get to you!’ He complained.
“I think you may have just taken care of that.” Josh smirked. “But I think you stole the whole
‘up your ass’ line from me.”
“I borrowed it! And used it in a different context.” Sam shot back.
“There is really only one context, pal, and-“
“Why is Santiago giving a press conference?” Amy asked idly from her vantage point by the
television.
“No idea.” Josh was still laughing until Amy turned up the volume and they heard what she as
saying.
“…with the active support of the First Lady, First Steps will be enacted into law nationally and
affect millions of Americans.” Santiago was announcing.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding- CAROL!” Josh bellowed.
“Get Donna, Annabeth, or Helen Santos on the line RIGHT NOW!” He ordered.
“I can do that, but sit com wants you in the situation room right away. There’s been an
incident in Kazakhstan. The President is already on his way down there.”
“Shit.” Josh grabbed his jacket off his chair and slipped it on. “Find out what the hell is going
on in California, Sam, and…you know, fix it or something.” Josh ordered on his way out.
“Good luck with that.” Amy whistled on her way out.
***************************************************
“Sorry, Donna, he’s in the sit room, but I think Sam would like to talk to you.” Carol
deadpanned as Sam made motions to take the phone. “One minute, I’ll transfer you into Josh’
s office so he can speak with you IN PRIVATE.” Carol emphasized and transferred the call
while giving Sam a dirty look.
Sam ran back into Josh’s office and picked up the ringing phone. “Donna? Hi, it’s Sam. How’s
California? Nice weather? Good…Now what the hell are you doing over there?!”
“This wasn’t from us. Santiago went way off the reservation.” Donna was quick to explain.
“Then you need to explain that.” Sam said pointedly.
“We made another statement at the evening event that this was just fact finding, but…”
“But WHAT Donna?”
“Can I just speak to Josh please?”
“He’s in the sit room, Donna, spit it out.” Sam was losing patience.
“I think the horses may have left the barn already. Santiago made her announcement, Lee
said he’d support it and things escalated from there.”
“Right…” Sam ran his hand through his hair. “You need to come back. Now.”
“We can’t do that, Sam.” Donna replied. “We have a full schedule tomorrow and if we duck
out it will look like we’ve lost control.”
“You have lost control.” Sam reminded her.
“This wasn’t us!” Donna snapped. “We’re keeping our schedule and we’ll do our best to
deflect this issue.”
“Deflection left the building, Donna.” Sam said sarcastically.
“Thanks for your encouragement, Samuel Norman.”
“You need to come home, Donna. That’s the only way to derail this. Staying there is only
going to fuel things more.”
“I’ll discuss it with Mrs. Santos.” Donna compromised.
“You will tell Mrs. Santos she’s coming back.” Sam countered.
“I don’t work for you Sam, I work for Mrs. Santos and in my professional opinion, she ought to
stay and complete her schedule here, but I will express your concerns to her as well.” Donna’
s clipped voice should have been enough of a clue to Sam to drop it but he wasn’t as well
versed in Donna’s tones as Josh was and pressed further.
“It’s already a mess, Donna. And we’re going to need Lester to clean it up with the press.
Come back and regroup.”
“So the west wing can step in and fix it?” Donna asked. “It’s my job. I’ll fix it.”
Sam found himself listening to a dial tone. “Well…shit.”
**********************************************
Donna didn’t say another word to anyone until she and Mrs. Santos were in the relative
privacy of the Santos suite.
“…so they feel the best solution is for us to return to Washington first thing in the morning.”
Donna concluded.
“What about the rest of the schedule?”
“We’d have to scrap it.” Donna answered.
“But you said the Girl Scout Troups were literally camping overnight to meet with us
tomorrow. And we have back to back events until late in the evening. What do we tell all
those people?”
“We make an excuse and apology and try to reschedule in the future.”
“And this is your recommendation? On our first solo trip?”
“No, Ma’am it’s not.” Donna shook her head no. “We pivot on this the best we can, ignore the
rest, and hold our head up so we can finish our schedule.”
“Good. I thought you were flaking out on me.” Helen sat down heavily. “Do I need to make a
phone call?”
“No, Ma’am, not unless you want to. I already took care of it.” Donna explained. “Sam and I
discussed our options in detail.”
“Sam? Not Josh, Donna?”
“Josh was in the situation room, which leads me to believe that the President is too.” Donna
punctuated her statement with flipping the television on to CNN which was reporting American
casualties in Kazakhstan as ‘Breaking News’. “Yeah, they’re a little busy at the moment. We
may have lucked out here. This is going to dominate the news for the next little while.”
“I’ll send Matt an email update and ask him to call when he can.” Helen decided.
“Get some sleep. We’ll touch base in the morning, unless you need me before then. I’m right
next door.”
“Thanks Donna.” Helen said warmly and walked her to the door. As soon as Donna stepped
out, the Secret Service agent spoke to her.
“Ms. Moss? Senator Lee is downstairs asking to see you.”
“Oh, I’d very much like to see him.” Donna muttered. “Can he come up or do I need to go
down?”
In reply, the agent spoke into his wrist unit. “Send Senator up to meet Ms. Moss…He’ll be up
in a few minutes.”
“Thanks, send him in will you?” Donna left her door propped open with the security tab. She
hurried into the bathroom to change into more comfortable clothing. Nylons sucked; but
nylons left on for over 12 hours were just disgusting.
**********************************************
“So, they’re coming back?” Josh asked his Deputy.
“I told her in no uncertain terms that they should; that she needed to tell Mrs. Santos exactly
that.” Sam replied.
“Which she then ignored?”
“She wasn’t clear on that. She did say that she would explain our position to Mrs. Santos.”
“Then we’re all good.” Josh said sarcastically. Then he spotted Amy waiting for him. “Tell me
you’re hanging out to share a beer with me and Sam.”
“Sure.” Amy smiled. “I’d love to.”
“But that’s not why you’re here.” He guessed.
“I’ve gotten 23 calls from members of Congress who want to know when First Steps is being
introduced and why weren’t they invited to sponsor it.” Amy concluded.
“I…I can’t deal with this now. We have honest to God casualties to deal with and this…work
with Sam to minimize the damage.”
“Okay, but that’s going to involve calling Donna and I’m not sure she wants to hear from me
right now.” Sam told him.
“Don’t look at me.” Amy held her hands out in front of her. “I’m the LAST person she’ll want to
hear from.”
“I’ll call Donna. You two figure out a legislative response to this mess and then the First Lady’
s office will respond accordingly.” Josh ordered. “Carol, can you get Donna on the phone
please.” Josh was very proud of himself for using the intercom and remembering to say
please. It had been a very long day for her as well.
“I can’t get an answer on her cell. I’ll try her hotel room.” Carol replied.
“Wait! I’ve got that number on this nice little itinerary she left me. I’ll do it, Carol.” Josh had
never guessed when he stuffed the paper in his pocket this morning that he would be calling
her under these circumstances.
He dialed the California number and was about to hang up when Donna picked it up,
seemingly out of breath.
“Donna Moss.”
“Just the person I was looking for. You sound all out of breath.”
“I was changing clothes when I heard the phone ringing. I barely got to it in time.” Donna
explained. “I hear you’re having quite a day.”
“I am. So make it a little easier and bring the First Lady home tomorrow morning.” Josh asked.
“Josh…” Donna closed her eyes.
“It’s very simple Donna.” Josh closed his own eyes and tilted his head back until it hit the back
of his chair. “You tell the First Lady that this has gotten away from you and you need to come
home tomorrow morning. She’ll do it if you tell her to.”
“It has gotten away from us, but I can pull it back.” Donna insisted. “I discussed it with Mrs.
Santos and we agree that staying through her schedule is the right thing to do.”
“Right for who!” Josh shouted. “I’m serious Donna, we’re dealing with heavy duty shit over
here.”
“And I’m not oblivious to that. We have CNN here too, you know.” Donna shouted back as the
door swung open to allow Senator Lee entrance.
“Then do this for the President. Do this for me. We’re getting calls already from Senators and
Congress members. Bring the First Lady back here.”
“Would you like me to step out?” Michael indicated the doorway.
Donna shook her head ‘no’.
“Who is that?” Josh asked.
Donna paused. She could get away with a lie. She was much better at them than he was and
he’d never know the difference. She just couldn’t do it. “Senator Lee.”
“Senator Lee.” Josh repeated. “Senator Lee just hangs out in your hotel room while you’re
changing clothes? While we’re having this discussion? How much does SENATOR LEE have
to do with your decision to stay in California?”
Donna decided to ignore the first two parts of the question and focus on the third. “Absolutely
nothing. It was a decision Mrs. Santos and I made independently of anything and anyone
else.”
Josh let out a short laugh. “Obviously.”
“Josh, please.” Donna dropped her voice.
Carol dropped a note in front of Josh.
“I’ve got to go back downstairs.” Josh said quietly and hung up.
Donna put the phone down with a frustrated shove.
“I’m sorry, the agent said to come right in.” Senator Lee explained.
Donna held a hand up and shook her head to negate the apology. “That’s not your fault.”
“I can’t help but feel that it is.”
“No, your fault, your responsibility comes in with that unplanned, unprepared statement you
made on behalf of a national bill we’d agreed wouldn’t be introduced during this trip!” Donna
went toe to toe with him.
“I didn’t introduce it!” Lee rebutted. “Talk to Congresswoman Santiago!”
“Oh, I intend to. But strangely, she isn’t returning my calls right now.” Donna noted.
“I imagine she has quite a few calls to return given her announcement earlier.” Lee replied.
“Yes, that was quite the announcement.” Donna agreed. “Whatever could have prompted her
to make such a statement?”
“Maybe she saw all the support and publicity this trip was garnering and decided to capitalize
on it. I’m not in her inner circle.” Lee protested.
“You’ve worked together; on First Steps, on other programs.”
“Of course. We both represent California. We work on lots of things together. That doesn’t
mean we’re connected at the hip or that I’m privy to her thinking or plans.”
“Whose plans are you privy to Michael?” Donna asked pointedly.
“I’m not sure what you’re asking me Donna.”
“Yes, you are.” Donna took a walk over to her mini fridge and took out a beer. She didn’t
offer one to Michael. “You didn’t know me. You didn’t know the First Lady. You supported
Hoynes in the primary.”
“That’s old news. I supported Santos from the moment he got the nomination.”
“So did the entire Democratic Party. That’s how it works. But it did get me thinking about
other people we might have had in common; other Washington people who have worked in
California.”
“Donna…”
“People who might know I was eager to prove myself and looking for an issue.” Donna took a
sip of her beer and sat back in the arm chair closest to Lee. “Someone who’d know which
buttons to push and might enjoy stirring up trouble between me and Josh.”
“My only interest has been in promoting First Steps in a national campaign.” Lee maintained.
“But if that meant getting information on how to do that from someone who might have an
ulterior motive, that was just fine with you?”
Lee leaned forward. “This is politics, Donna. People never do something for one single
reason. People vote on bills for notoriety, payback, constituents, donors; any number of
reasons. People submit bills for all those reasons and more. If knowing your hot buttons
helps get an important bill passed then so be it.”
“Thanks for clearing that up.” Donna replied. “I’ve only worked in the White House for nearly
a decade and helped put two men in the Oval Office. You need to know that if it hadn’t been
for my new position, I’d never have fallen for any of your bullshit. The first time we met; alarm
bells were going off in my head. But the issue was so compelling and I was thinking just like
you; we could use each other, get an important bill passed, and it would be a win/win for
everyone involved.”
“It still could be.” Lee offered. “There’s huge momentum building.”
“So I’ve heard.” Donna scoffed.
“Josh is pissed?” he asked.
“Josh being pissed is my problem. The Chief of Staff to the President of the United States is
pissed. That’s going to be your problem. He has a lot of things on his plate right now,
including the loss of American lives overseas; he really isn’t going to have any patience for
you and your partners in crime. If I were you, I’d get on the phone and relay that message;
here in California and back in D.C…she’s still awake I’m sure.” Donna smiled grimly. “You
should go now. I have to get some sleep. We have a busy schedule for tomorrow.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
“No. No, you won’t.” Donna corrected. “With the skirmish in Kazakhstan you’re going to be
needed back in Washington, I’m sure.”
“Okay.” Lee agreed reluctantly. “If that’s the way you want it.”
“It is. Goodnight, Senator.” Donna opened her door and let him out. After she’d closed it
behind her, she leaned her head against it and was startled when the knock from outside
vibrated against her forehead.
She looked through the peephole to see Helen Santos on the other side.
“Is there something wrong, Ma’am?” Donna asked after she quickly opened the door.
“I just got off the phone with Matt. He’s pretty upset. The bomb killed 49 people.” Helen
shared once she’d sat down inside.
“Josh was pretty stressed too.” Donna noted.
“Matt served in the military. He knows what it is to risk his life for his country and to see others
lose their lives. Asking for that sacrifice from others, however, is a whole new ballgame for
him.”
“It’s an overwhelming responsibility.” Donna agreed.
“He wants us to come home in the morning.” Helen added.
“Say the word and I’ll make it happen, Ma’am.”
“Can this be one of those times when I’m just Helen?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Donna smiled. “What do you want to do, Helen?”
“I want to honor my commitments here without making any more waves for my husband.”
Helen stated simply. “Can I do that? Can we do that?”
“I believe we can, yes.” Donna nodded. “We’re going to have to be very disciplined about
staying on message tomorrow.”
“It doesn’t seem to be our team that’s having the trouble.” Helen quipped.
“No, it doesn’t. So I’ve relieved us of that burden. Senator Lee will be returning to D.C. in the
morning to take care of his very important Senate duties which must come before touring with
the First Lady.” Donna smiled sharply. “I’m going to leave one last message with
Congresswoman Santiago and then issue a statement about her bizarre behavior.”
“Someone’s been busy.” Helen smiled back.
“Someone’s been distracted.” Donna admitted. “You should know, Helen, that had I not been
so concerned about making a mark for us here, we might not have ended up in the position.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to learn from this experience, won’t we?”
“I think, that part of the reason you chose me was because I was familiar with Washington
and I could help you avoid these pitfalls.”
“That’s true. But I never imagined either one of us would be perfect at this out of the gate.”
Helen explained. “And we’re going to fix this right?”
“Damn right.”
“Then what’s next?” Helen asked, unaware of the visceral thrill that phrase sent through
Donna.
“Next, you get some sleep. We’re going to have a busy day tomorrow. I’m going to notify
scheduling to push everything back by a half hour tomorrow. We need to have a short staff
meeting before we head out.”
“Okay. That’s it?” Helen confirmed.
“For you it is.” Donna agreed. “Me? I have to wait for a decent hour to call Manchester and
beg for a little help.”