Chapter 11
Donna was frustrated. Everyone on the campaign staff had been told not to take any
more of her calls. Then to add insult to injury, one of the nurses came and removed her
room phone so she ‘wouldn’t be disturbed’ when she was able to sleep. What a crock of
shit!
She missed Ben. She missed Ruth. She missed Josh and she even missed the campaign
crew. She was not meant to sit idly for hours. She just wasn’t wired for that. Now she was
going to miss the reception for Matt and Helen, after all the trouble she went to in finding a
maternity gown. It simply sucked.
Donna was having a good pity cry when there was a knock on her door. She’d barely
called out permission to come in, when two men in dark suits came in and surveyed the
room. Donna had no trouble figuring out what that meant and she tried to wipe the tears
off her face in an attempt to make herself a little more presentable when Matt and Helen
Santos came in.
“Donna!” Helen greeted her warmly and carefully embraced her former Chief of Staff.
“Ma’am, Mr. President. I never expected a visit from you tonight.” Donna told them.
“Well you should have.” Helen chastised her. “I was so worried when Josh filled us in. I feel
a little better seeing you with my own eyes.”
“I’m sure I look quite a sight. I’m not even allowed to get up to shower right now.” Donna
burst into tears at that admission and Helen held her in her arms again.
“It’s okay, Donna. Everything’s going to be fine.” Helen patted her back and exchanged a
helpless glance with her husband.
“You’re tough, chickenfighter.” Matt told her. “You’re going to get through this just fine.”
“I’m…already bored…out of my mind…” Donna explained between sniffles. “How can I
stay…on bed rest…for 3 more months?”
“We’ll find some things for you to do.” Helen promised. “Josh said nothing stressful, but I’m
sure there are plenty of things we can find to keep you busy.”
Donna nodded half-heartedly. “I guess…I wish I were going with you tonight.”
“I wish you were too.” Helen laughed. “I was counting on your presence to keep me sane.
Now what am I going to do?”
“Stick with Ainsley.” Donna advised. “She’ll be anxious with all the hoopla tonight.”
“Will do.” Helen agreed. “How about we stop and see you again before we leave tomorrow
night?”
“That would be wonderful, but I know how busy your schedule is going to be.”
“That’s the great thing about Air Force One; we never have to worry about missing our
flight.” Helen smiled.
“Take care of yourself and that little one so you can go home, Donna.” President Santos
advised as he kissed her forehead. “Josh is a wreck without you.”
*****************************
Sam surveyed the ballroom and the wealth (literally and metaphorically) surrounding him.
If you had told him 5 years ago that he would be standing here today in this capacity, he
would never have believed it.
Suddenly, a hand covered his eyes. “Guess who?” Came a male voice that was distinctly
ad odds with the female hand covering his eyes.
“Joey Lucas.” Sam grinned in earnest and pulled the hand away to hug his friend and
fellow office seeker.
“Sam Seaborn, you’re looking as dashing as ever. I thought with a new baby at home you’
d at least look tired like the rest of us mortals.” Joey said through Kenny.
“I made a deal with Satan.” Sam whispered conspiratorially.
“Not you.” Joey disagreed. “I’ve been looking around for Josh and Donna. Have they
ditched us here?”
Sam shook his head sadly. “Josh should be along shortly. He went home to check on Ben
for a bit. Donna’s been hospitalized with preeclampsia.” Joey covered her mouth in shock.
“Is she alright? The baby?” Joey wanted to know.
“So far, the baby is fine. They have Donna under observation and on bed rest.” Sam was
quick to reassure her.
“When did this happen?” Joey asked.
“Last night.” Sam filled her in on the details.
“Sir?” Billy interrupted them. “They’d like you and Ms. Lucas for pictures in the foyer with
President and Mrs. Santos.”
“We’ll be right there.” Sam told him and offered Joey his arm. He continued to scan the
room while they walked to the foyer and he could see his father holding court by the bar
and his mother sitting with another older woman at a nearby table. So far, they’d avoided
each other like the plague, but Sam really couldn’t complain about that since he’d avoided
them both since he initially greeted them when they arrived.
Ainsley fell into step on Sam’s other arm and greeted Joey. Ainsley and Joey had always
gotten along well and in Donna’s absence, Ainsley was happy to see another friendly face.
They all posed for pictures in the foyer and fielded the occasional question shouted their
way. This was how Josh found them when he arrived fashionably late for the reception.
“How was Donna?” Josh wasted no time asking Helen when the pictures were done.
“Tired and sad.” Helen reported. “I think the worst part for her is the boredom; she feels
pretty useless. Isn’t there something she could work on from her lap top?”
“Once the doctor clears it, sure. Right now they just want her to keep her blood pressure
consistently lower.” Josh acknowledged. “I’ll stop and see her after the thing here.”
“How’s Ben doing?” Helen asked.
“He’s pretty miserable without his mom. Luckily my mom is here and she’s a pro at
distraction.”
“Thank God for Grandma’s.” Helen pronounced.
“You’re not kidding.” Josh agreed and turned to shake the hand of President Santos.
“Good evening, sir.”
“Josh. I’m hearing good things from California.”
“We’ll do our best to send you a Congressional majority.”
“I’d appreciate it.” The President quipped. “Just don’t get so caught up in this stuff that
you forget where your priorities are.”
“No, sir, I won’t.” Josh promised. “Hey Ainsley!” Josh called out when she passed by. “Can
I speak to you a minute? Excuse me sir, ma’am.”
“What is it?” Ainsley asked when Josh led her to a quiet corner.
“How have the senior Seaborns been behaving?”
“They’ve stayed in neutral corners.” Ainsley’s frustration at the situation showed in her
tone. “I understand why Elizabeth is bitter, but can’t they play nice for one night for their
son?”
“The man had a decades long affair. I don’t think I could play nice under those
circumstances.” Josh admitted.
“At least he didn’t bring the woman tonight.” Ainsley sighed. “How much longer until we
can cut out of here?”
“Just a couple more hours.” Josh told her and rubbed her shoulders. “You look fabulous,
by the way.”
“Thanks.” Ainsley smiled and leaned her head back on Josh’s chest.
“Are you making moves on my wife just because your wife ditched you?” Sam accused
from behind them.
“You can hardly blame me. She’s very tempting.” Josh smirked.
“Well, I’m stealing her for a dance, so you’ll have to troll somewhere else for a dance
partner. Joey Lucas was looking for you earlier.” Sam took Ainsley’s hand and led her to
the dance floor.
“How are you holding up?” Sam asked his wife.
“Just fine, but it’s nice to be in your arms for awhile.” Ainsley smiled up at him.
“You do look incredible this evening.” Sam told her.
“You look very handsome yourself.” Ainsley returned the compliment. “You know, when
you win this thing, we’ll have a lot more of these things to go to.”
“I think you mean IF I win this.” Sam agreed.
“You’re not doubting yourself are you Samuel Norman?”
“Just a bit.” Sam leveled with her. “This is a huge undertaking and I’m really worried about
the toll it’s taking on all of us; especially Josh and Donna.”
“It will be okay.” Ainsley spotted Elizabeth Seaborn watching them from the sidelines. “Why
don’t you go steal a dance with your mom? It looks like she’d appreciate some time alone
with you.”
“You don’t mind?” Sam double checked.
“No. I’ll take my alone time with you a little later.” Sam kissed her soundly and walked her
to the table where Ainsley and Elizabeth changed places.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Mom?”
“It’s lovely.” Elizabeth said sincerely. “I’m so proud of you, Sam.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Not just because of all this.” She indicated the fancy ballroom and the famous people in
it. “You’re a good man; a good husband and father too. You should be very proud of
yourself.”
“I don’t know what to say to that.” Sam admitted.
“You don’t have to say anything. Just listen. When your father and I separated, I know
how angry you were with him, and I imagine part of that anger came from self doubt. Were
you like your father? Would you make the same mistakes?”
“Mom…”
“Please let me finish.” Elizabeth insisted. “It took courage to take that personal risk, Sam,
but look at the rewards. You have a wife who loves you dearly and a daughter that I’m
sure already worships you. You’re just as handsome and charming as your father was
when I met and married him, but the resemblance stops there. I love you so much.”
Sam was visibly moved by his mother’s words. “I love you too, Mom. That really means a
lot to me.”
“Honestly, I’m just sucking up so I can steal my granddaughter away from you tomorrow.”
Elizabeth broke the tension with a joke and Sam chuckled.
“I bet that can be arranged.” Sam smiled. When the dance ended he brought his mother
over to a group of his staff and made the introductions. After making sure she was in
good hands, he made the rounds of the room again. He found his footsteps slowing down
as he approached his father, surrounded by a group of men who were listening with rapt
attention to every word Norman Seaborn uttered. Once his father spotted him, he broke
off mid-sentence.
“And I- There he is; the man of the hour. Gentlemen, this is my son, Sam Seaborn.”
Norman made introductions before excusing his son and himself from the group.
“Buy the old man a drink?” Norman asked hopefully.
“That should be easy enough considering there’s an open bar tonight.” Sam noted dryly.
Once the bartender handed them their drinks, Norman struggled to find a conversational
foothold with his son.
“It looks like the campaign is going well.”
“We’re gaining on Taylor.” Sam agreed. “But it’s still an uphill battle.”
“I’m proud of you, son.” Norman told him and Sam wondered how the same words from his
mother could choke him up with emotion, but coming from his father, they felt cold and
dispassionate. “Thank you for the invitation tonight.”
“No problem. I’m glad you were able to come.” Sam forced the words out.
Norman chuckled. “Sure you are. I know things are still…awkward between us, but I still
appreciate the effort you made to include me.”
“You’re welcome.” Sam said more sincerely.
“There you are.” Ainsley called when she found them in a corner talking. “You snuck off
on me.”
“Any man would have to be a fool to leave your side at all.” Norman declared.
“Thank you, Norman.” Ainsley said graciously. “I was glad to hear you would be here
tonight. It’s been too long.”
“Yes. How’s our little Caitlin?”
“Growing every day.” Ainsley told him. “You should stop by and see her while you’re in
town.”
“I’d love to.” Norman replied. “I’ll be here for the next couple days on business.”
“Then we’ll set something up.” Ainsley promised. “Sam, Josh wants to introduce you to an
old friend from home.”
Sam smiled his appreciation to his wife. “Then lead on. I’ll talk to you later, Dad.”
They hadn’t gotten 10 feet before Sam leaned in to whisper into his wife’s ear. “You are a
perceptive woman, Ainsley Hayes-Seaborn. I’m very impressed with your skill and
subtlety.”
“I got more where that came from.” She teased.
***************************************
Ainsley was taking a much deserved breather outside when she spotted a familiar, friendly
face.
“Barb?” Ainsley called to her and Barb quickly stomped out the cigarette in a panic.
“Oh, Ainsley, it’s you!” Barb put her hand to her ample chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
“I thought you were the dragon.”
“The dragon?” Ainsley chuckled. Barb Neumann always provided some much needed
comic relief.
“Jessica Gordon; my husband’s new media consultant. She has been all over me. I swear
to God Ainsley and I’m ready to lose my mind. ‘Don’t wear that to meet the President,
Barbara’. ‘You really MUST stop that deplorable habit, Barbara.’ I thought once Grant lost
the nomination, things would ease up, but then he went out and hired the dragon…”
“I’m sorry. There’s a lot of pressure, I’m sure.” Ainsley said sincerely.
“Don’t you feel it?” Barb asked in return.
“I get more pressure about issues and my political beliefs. Nobody but Peyton seems to
care what I wear.” Ainsley watched bemused, as Barb lit up another cigarette. “Where is
Grant? I don’t think I’ve seen him here tonight.”
“Unavoidably detained.” Barb smiled wryly. “His new ‘assistant’ called and said he’d be
late.”
“Election years are chaotic, Barb.” Ainsley began.
“Sure they are.” Barb agreed. “However, when I called his office, they told me he’d left an
hour ago for this event.”
“Maybe there’s a logical explanation for it?” Ainsley offered.
“Ainsley, you can NOT be that naïve.” Barb replied. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not the first
time. I’m the man’s 3rd wife for God’s sake. I say we go get a glass of champagne and
have a toast to the superiority of women.”
“I know just the person to join us for that toast. Come with me.” Ainsley took Barb by the
arm and walked her inside until she caught sight of the First Lady.
“Mrs. Santos, I’d like you to meet Barb Neumann. Barb is a friend of mine.” Ainsley
introduced them.
“Mrs. Santos…I’m so honored to meet you.” Barb nearly gushed and Helen smiled.
“It’s nice to meet you, Barb.” Helen returned and gratefully accepted the glass of
champagne Ainsley snatched off the tray of a passing waiter. “Just what I was looking for.”
“To all the women who know the pain of campaigning for their man!” Ainsley toasted.
“Here, here.” Barb endorsed the toast heartily and downed the champagne in one gulp.
Helen nearly choked on her more demure sip.
“Sorry, I guess that wasn’t very ladylike.” Barb said quietly. “Oh, shit, here comes the
dragon…Guess that wasn’t very ladylike either, was it?”
“Dragon?” Helen turned to Ainsley.
“Media consultant.” Ainsley muttered right before the dragon in question reached them.
“Mrs. Santos, it’s such a pleasure to meet. I’m Jessica Gordon, with Grant Neumann’s
Congressional campaign. I’m wondering if we might impose on you to stand for a picture
or two with Mrs. Neumann?”
“I would, Ms. Gordon is it? But Barb and Ainsley and I are on a mission to replenish Barb’s
glass at the moment; maybe later. Ladies?” Helen turned to walk away with all the
assurance in the world that Barb and Ainsley were following here. Barb turned to Ainsley
as they continued in the wake of the First Lady.
“That was SO incredible! The dragon’s mouth is still hanging open.” Barb whispered to
Ainsley.
“Mrs. Santos really doesn’t care for media consultants.” Ainsley tossed back the rest of
her champagne and then grabbed an entire bottle for them on their way out.
They spent the next 30 minutes in relative peace from the mob of people at the event
while Barb regaled them with humorous anecdotes and horrible gossip about every
person that passed by.
“There you are, darling.” Grant placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder and Barb pointedly
shook it off. “I’m sorry I’m late. It couldn’t be avoided.”
“It must have been an emergency that came up on your way here since your office had no
idea where you were.” Barb replied.
“Yes, it came up very suddenly. Mrs. Santos? I’m Grant Neumann. We’re so pleased to be
included this evening.”
“I’m sure.” Helen Santos gave a non-committal reply. The undercurrents were very
apparent to the First Lady and she made no attempt to conceal the fact. Helen Santos
knew there had been rumors about her husband, just as she knew they were unfounded,
but this situation seemed to be something else entirely.
“Helen?” The President, along with his ever present entourage of Secret Service and
hangers on entered the scene. “We should probably make our goodnights. We’re going
to be up and out early tomorrow.”
“That sounds good to me; I’m exhausted.” Helen answered and took her husband’s hand.
She gave it a squeeze in appreciation for the fact that he had never done to her what
Grant Neumann appeared to be doing to his wife. Matt gave her a puzzled look, but she
just smiled and kissed his cheek. “I’m ready to go.”
***************************************
“Hey, Sleeping Beauty, wake up.” Josh whispered.
“Joshua?” Donna figured she must be dreaming. “What time is it?”
“Almost midnight.” Josh slipped onto the bed next to her. “I brought you some dessert
from the thing.”
Tears pooled up in Donna’s eyes. “Hey, come on now. Don’t do that.” Josh hung his head.
“You said you wanted me to go tonight.”
“I did. I do.” Donna sniffled. “I was so awful to you all day and you sent Matt and Helen
here to cheer me up.”
“That was Sam’s idea.” Josh tried.
“No, it wasn’t.” Donna continued to cry.
“No, it wasn’t.” Josh admitted and handed her the Kleenex. “You need to stop crying,
Donna. You can’t be getting upset. It’s not good for you or the baby.”
“I can’t do this, Josh.” Donna wiped her eyes. “I couldn’t even go one day without
stressing out. I’ll never make it for 3 months.”
“You don’t have to. The doctor said you can do some work from home; just nothing that
will raise the blood pressure.”
“It’s a gubernatorial campaign, Josh. What part of that doesn’t have stress?” Donna
challenged him.
“We’ll find some things, I promise.” Josh stroked her hair and pulled her head to his chest.
“And you can do anything, Donnatella. If you can manage me, anything else is a walk in
the park.”
“You should go home and get some sleep. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.” Donna
said wearily.
“I brought a change of clothes with me. I thought if you’d let me use your shower in the
morning, I could sleep right here with you and Ladonna.” It was a testament to Josh’s skill
at misdirection that even the mention of the shower she wanted so badly didn’t start his
wife’s tears again.
“We are not naming this child ‘Ladonna’.” Donna answered without moving her head from
Josh’s chest.
“It’s perfect!” Josh protested. “It’s an elongated form of Donna and it’s Italian. Your mother
will love it.”
“She would, but we’re not naming our daughter Ladonna Lyman.” Donna’s protest was a
little weaker, but Josh figured that was because of her exhaustion not because her dislike
of the name had lessened. He kicked off his shoes and maneuvered until they were both
lying, spoon style on the bed. He had read that it was better for her to lie on her left side,
so that’s how he positioned them. He hadn’t lived with Donna all these years without
learning a thing or two about research.
Truth be told, he didn’t give a damn what name they picked, he just wanted them both
healthy in his arms. The name debate did serve an important purpose, however. It kept
Donna’s focus on something other than bed rest and pregnancy complications. God help
him he still loved to argue with her, and for the moment, that was a win/win for everybody.
**************************************************
“Shouldn’t you be at the hospital with your wife?’ President Santos asked his former Chief
of Staff the following morning. “Or at least bothering Sam and Helen?”
“It’s good to see you too, sir.” Josh smiled grimly. “I just assumed you’d want me with you,
Mr. President.”
President Santos laughed. “Where have you got us going today?”
Josh handed Ainsley the President an updated schedule. “This has all the latest changes.
We’re starting with a breakfast speech and we’re not stopping until 11 PM when you get
back on Air Force One.”
“I really thought the advantage in not running in the mid-terms was that I wouldn’t have to
campaign so much.” The President groused.
“Well, you knew that was bullshit, sir. We’ve done mid-terms before.” Josh shot back.
“How is Donna this morning?” Ainsley tried for some distraction of her own.
“Better. They’re going to release her tomorrow afternoon if she’s able to keep her blood
pressure down, so she asked me to leave.”
“Hard to believe, really.” Ainsley sympathized.
“She greatly appreciated your visit last night, sir.” Josh noted.
“We were glad to see her. She’s going to be fine, Josh, and that baby will be too.” The
President promised. “Have you got any names picked out?”
“Nothing we can agree on, sir.” Josh grinned at his inside joke.
“Matthew is a good solid, name.” President Matthew Santos offered.
“I’m pretty sure Donna won’t agree to name our daughter Matthew, Mr. President.”
“It’s a girl?” Santos asked, delighted.
“Yeah, we found out right before we came out here.” Josh explained.
“Oh, I can’t wait to see this.” Santos rubbed his hands together.
“Can’t wait to see what, Mr. President?” Ainsley asked.
“Josh in an overprotective father-of-a-daughter role.” Santos laughed.
“Just what exactly do you think is so different about having a daughter, sir?”
“It’s just different; you’ll see.” President Santos declared. “I think it may have something to
do with young men wanting to go out with her.”
Josh barked out a laugh. “She isn’t even born yet, sir!”
“Doesn’t matter…You’ll see.” Santos continued to smile at Josh until Josh finally got on
the phone and was able to ignore the leader of the free world.
*****************************
“Hey Donna, how are you holding up over there?” Ainsley asked via her cell phone.
“Better now that the doctor said they’d release me tomorrow.” Donna related. “I have to
take a daily blood pressure reading and stick to bed rest, but at least I’ll be home with
Ruth and Ben.”
“That’s wonderful news!” Ainsley happily replied. “We won’t get back until after midnight
tonight, but I promise I’ll be in to see you tomorrow morning, okay?”
“Don’t push it, Ains.” Donna advised. “You’re going to be pretty wiped after the reception
last night and the full day and night you’re doing today.”
“All the more reason to take a breath and visit my friend.”
“Well, I’d love to see you. I miss all of you like crazy. How was the reception? Did Helen get
through it all okay?” Donna asked.
“She was terrific; and she looked amazing.” Ainsley reported. “But the hit of the evening
was Barb Neumann.”
“Barbie?” Donna asked.
“Uh-huh. She knows all the people in California Democratic politics and she had wicked
stories about each and every one of them. Helen nearly blew champagne through her
nose a couple times.”
“She sounds like a blast.” Donna noted feeling more than a little jealous that she missed
out on the whole thing.
“It was until her husband showed up.” Ainsley shared confidentially. “Barb is his third wife
and I don’t think he’s settled down yet.”
“That is so awful.” Donna sympathized with Barbie now.
“Yeah, he’s been making late appearances at events and nobody can tell her where he’s
been, but mysteriously he’s always in the company of his assistant.” Ainsley drawled.
“Why is it that so many politicians have issues with fidelity?”
“You think it’s just politicians?” Donna pondered. “Look at Sam’s father.”
“I guess you’re right. It just seems that a lot of politicians get so used to the attention and
the fawning masses that they expect that in their personal life too.” Ainsley deduced.
“They start to want that adoration from someone besides their wife; sometimes that scares
me.”
“Sam would never do that to you, Ainsley; he is completely devoted to you and Caitlin.”
Donna assured her. “Besides, he saw what his dad’s affair did to their family and that had
a huge impact on him.”
“Nobody is immune, Donna.” Ainsley stated.
“Many not immune, but Sam certainly doesn’t have a pre-disposition for it either.” Donna
argued.
“No.” Ainsley agreed. “I’m just saying that when you’re getting tons of attention from the
press and thousands of people clamoring for you at rally’s, it’s hard to come down from
that when you get home and have to take out the garbage and change the diapers.”
“Well this is an uplifting conversation.” Donna drawled.
“I can cheer you up. Josh is getting tons of grief from President Santos. The President
keeps talking about boys coming to date your daughter. I think the Secret Service is all
that’s protecting the President at this point.” Ainsley chuckled.
“That’s something I guess.” Donna laughed along with her friend. “Tell him I miss him,
okay?”
“Why don’t you call him and tell him yourself?” Ainsley inquired.
“He doesn’t want me on the phone getting ‘worked up’.” Donna explained.
“Right, because that’s his job.” Ainsley quipped and had Donna chuckling again. “You
take it easy and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Thanks, Ainsley. Bye.” Ainsley heard the disconnection and closed her cell. “Joshua
Lyman!” she shouted above the din in the crowded room. Josh’s head swung around with
a questioning glance and she motioned for him to come to her. He rolled his eyes in
response, but he did as she requested.
“Your wife needs you to call her.” Ainsley said as quietly as she could and still be heard
over the crowd.
“What’s wrong?” Josh looked immediately alarmed and pulled out his cell. “She didn’t call
me.”
“No, Josh; nothing’s wrong.” Ainsley instantly regretted not making that clear first. “She’s
just lonesome and wants to hear your voice.”
“I didn’t want to call and risk waking her.”
“I’m pretty sure she’s awake now.” Ainsley hinted.
“She called you?” Josh’s eyebrows shot up.
“Uh…no?” Ainsley lied unconvincingly and Josh leaned closer so he was right next to her
ear.
“You’re really blowing one of my foundational beliefs, Ainsley.” He whispered.
“Which foundational belief is that?”
“That Republicans are consummate liars.” Josh smirked.
“I really don’t know what she sees in you.” Ainsley shot back.
“Neither do I, but as long as SHE does…” He trailed off and Ainsley watched in
amusement while he hit the number one on his speed dial. “Donnatella. Are you yearning
for me already?” Josh smiled at her response and turned away for some privacy. Ainsley
considered it a job well done.