Chapter 22
“Are you sure that’s not her?” Josh asked again.
“Yes, I’m sure.” Donna replied AGAIN. “Try to get some sleep.”
“I can’t. I’m too wired.” Josh sat up and turned on the TV. “She wakes up every
night around this time. Why doesn’t she wake up on the one night I actually want
her to?”
“Well, you could go in and wake her.” Donna suggested while trying to block the
light from the TV with a pillow.
There was a slight pause, then she felt the bed shift. “Joshua Lyman, don’t you
dare wake that child.”
“Fine. I’m going downstairs to get a snack.” He announced.
Josh rummaged around in the kitchen, but nothing looked particularly appetizing.
He ended up getting a beer and some chips while he paced around the kitchen.
“My God, Joshua, are you always this distraught on the night before an election?”
Ruth asked from the doorway. “It’s a wonder Donna hasn’t smothered you with a
pillow.”
Josh gave a short laugh. “She’s exceedingly tolerant of me.” He popped a couple
more chips in his mouth.
“I’m in the mood for some eggs.” Ruth decided and got some ingredients out.
“Would you like some?”
“Sure, why not?” Josh replied easily but kept pacing.
“Then get me some eggs out of the frig and I’ll make you some.”
Josh’s eyebrow quirked but he got the eggs out and handed them to his mother.
“Tom and Anna sure enjoyed the time here.” Ruth began.
“I know. It meant a lot to Donna that they came too.” Josh replied.
Ruth started stirring everything together in her bowl. “You never answered me
before. Are you like this the night before every election you work on?”
“Usually I’m much worse.” Josh admitted. “If you’d seen me on the first Santos
campaign you’d have had me committed. It was a razor tight race. At least this
time, I’m spared that type of stress.”
“Okay, then what are you stressed about?”
“Sam is about to make me an offer I’ll have to refuse.” Josh explained rubbing his
hand across his face.
“You think he’ll want you on staff here.”
“I know he does.”
“And you’ll have to refuse that offer?” Ruth confirmed.
“Yeah….”
“Because…”
“Well, first and foremost, California isn’t the place for our family. We all miss home
and life in D.C. We’ve been here for months. It’s time to go home.”
“What’s the other reason?” Ruth asked while she scrambled the eggs.
“These are new waters that Sam is wading into. We’ve always done the political
stuff together. He doesn’t think there’s any other way. I can’t give him the kind of
help he’s going to need as Governor. He needs a California native who knows the
players and the territory. And most of all, he needs to know he can do this without
me. His political career isn’t going to end as Governor of California.”
“Why haven’t you told him that?” Ruth prodded as she scooped half the eggs onto
a plate and handed it to her son.
“Because he’d freak, and he doesn’t need to freak going into Election Day.” Josh
explained. “We’ll talk once all this is through. Mmmm…these are good, Mom.”
Ruth got her plate and indicated he should sit down at the table with her. He rolled
his eyes but sat down nonetheless.
“Then what’s the great Joshua Lyman plan once you return to D.C?”
“We’re going to just take some down time for awhile. Stay home and play with the
kids. I really don’t have a desire to go back to the Chief of Staff position.”
Ruth looked at him pointedly. “Then what’s after that? You always have a next step
planned.”
“I honestly don’t know, Mom.” Josh admitted. “I’ve had offers to write a book, teach
political science, and run for office. None of them feel right.”
“You’ve been a very busy man for a lot of years, Josh. I think things will be clearer
to you when you and your family are back where you belong.” Ruth told him. “As
for me, I’m going to take a vacation too. My friends from Synagogue, Kitty and
Frances, are taking a cruise and have asked me along.”
“Just when did you decide this?” Josh asked sullenly.
“A few weeks ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me then?”
“Because you’d freak out and you don’t need to be freaking out before Election
Day.” Ruth shot his own words back at him.
“I hate it when you do that.” Josh said with his famous smirk. “There’s no way we
can tell you how much we appreciate all your help, Mom. You should have fun with
your friends and have time on your own. You’ll still visit right?”
“Visit? Are you kicking me out, Joshua?”
“No, of course not, I just thought-“
“You think too much.” Ruth admonished him. “I’m going to take some time with my
friends, while you take some time with your beautiful family. Then I’ll come back
and you’ll have decided what’s next.”
“It’s that simple?” Josh asked and his mother nodded. “Okay, but just so you know,
if you ever get to the point where it’s too much-“
“I’ll tell you.” Ruth promised. “I feel so very lucky to be part of your lives. For so
long it was just you and I and we hardly ever saw each other. Now you’ve given me
a new daughter and two darling grandchildren. I can’t imagine circumstances
where I wouldn’t want to be part of this next generation on a daily basis…Finish
your eggs and go get some sleep.”
***********************************
“Did you get any sleep last night?” Donna asked.
“Not much.” Josh answered.
“There’s nothing to feel guilty about Joshua.” As usual, Donna could read his
thoughts as easily as if he’d spoken out loud. “You promised Sam you’d help him
with his campaign. That was it.”
“Then why does it feel like this?”
“Josh, do you want to stay in California?”
“Hell, no!...Wait, do you?”
“I want to go home.” Donna said simply.
“Me too.” Josh agreed. “Now I’ve just got to tell Sam.”
“It will be fine.” Donna assured him. “Get into the office and get your friend elected.
*********************************************************
“Good job at the polling place, Samuel.” Josh called out when Sam entered HQ
with Ainsley.
“Thanks, it was my first time voting, so that means a lot to me.” Sam rolled his eyes.
“You charmed all the polling volunteers and a whole swarm of coeds showed up
hoping to touch your…hand.” C.J. batted her eyes at him.
“When will we get the first exits?” Sam asked.
“We should have the first numbers in around 10, which is the same time I’ve been
telling you since yesterday.” Josh replied.
“FOX Noise wants to know if we’re going to respond to the papers filed in court by
the Taylor campaign.” Billy shouted across the room to Josh.
Josh gestured with his hand over to Sam. “Ask the candidate.”
“No, we’re not going to….wait! Here it is: We are confident that when the litigation
has been concluded there will be no doubt that this process was fair and
aboveboard.” Sam walked and talked while Billy scribbled the statement down
furiously. “That sound okay to you?” Sam asked Josh who just shrugged.
“If it works for you, it works for me.” Josh replied. Sam gave him a quizzical glance
but said nothing out loud.
“Spanky, Tobus wants you to look at both speeches again before lunch. He’s been
tweaking.” C.J. drawled.
“Can we work on you not calling me that in public? Or, you know, anywhere else?”
Sam asked.
“Sure.” C.J. consulted her watch. “It’s 9 o’clock now, I figure they’re going to call
this sucker by 10…11 at the latest. Once that happens, if your title has changed, I
will no longer call you Spanky; at least not in front of people.”
“You’re too good to me.” Sam drawled.
“Don’t I know it.” She replied. “Plus, this campaign owes me 3 round trip tickets to
Europe.”
“I don’t think the campaign can legally buy your family tickets to Europe, Ceej.”
Josh interrupted.
“See? It’s illegal! Sorry, C.J.” Sam quipped.
“Yeah, campaigns can’t finance things like that.” Josh confirmed. “Sam will have to
cut you a personal check for that.”
“Josh!” Sam protested.
“Sam!” Josh whined back. “You owe her.”
“I owe her? I didn’t even know she was coming back here. That was all your doing.”
Sam argued.
“That’s right it was….My bad.” Josh grinned and hastily retreated to his office.
The first round of exits were promising; not landslide promising, but certainly a very
positive sign. Still, Josh remained in his office on the phone with Billy scurrying
back and forth between Josh’s office and the designated area for reviewing media
coverage of the election.
“Hey, Billy, is he hibernating in there or something?” Sam asked.
“He’s on the phone. Do you need him?”
“No, I’m fine. It’s just that usually he’s everywhere on Election Day.” Sam mused.
“Maybe he’s mellowing in his old age?’ Billy suggested.
“I am SO telling him you said that.” Peyton added as he joined them. “Sam, have
you decided who you’d like to introduce you tonight after results come in?”
“I’m not sure. Let me go ask Josh.” Sam requested, but Peyton stopped him by
grabbing his arm.
“Josh told me to ask you.” Peyton told him and Sam’s eyebrows drew close
together in a suspicious face.
“Billy, Josh IS in his office, right? He didn’t skip out for a few hours at Disney?”
“No, Sam, Josh is in his office. I think he’s talking to one of the local radio stations
right now.” Billy replied.
“Peyton, I’d like you to do the introduction. Are you okay with that?” Sam asked.
“I’d be honored.” Peyton responded.
“Sam, it’s Donna.” Ainsley said as she held out the phone to him.
“Will you tell her I’ll call her back shortly? I need to check with Josh about
something.” Sam requested and Ainsley reluctantly nodded and made his excuses.
Sam knocked twice quickly and opened Josh’s door. His old friend looked up as
Sam entered but continued with his phone interview.
“…we’ve seen a lot of movement in the last week, especially in the 25-35 year old
demographics….Well, yes, his numbers among women are very…encouraging. I’m
sure they’re very impressed with his policy initiatives… We remain cautiously
optimistic about the results today…No, usually my arrogance will make wide,
sweeping predictions of victory in an election, but we have several superstitious
staff members that would hang me out the 20th story window and watch me fall if I
did that today. So you see, it’s really just self preservation on my part…Your
welcome, thanks for having me. Remind your listeners to get to the polls and
vote…Thank you.” Josh hung up and looked over at Sam.
“What do you need, my friend?” Josh asked.
“Nothing, really, I just haven’t seen you for awhile.” Sam noted.
“Didja miss me?” Josh teased.
“A little bit, yeah.” Sam replied honestly. “You’ve been holed up in here and people
are throwing questions at me.”
“You can handle it, Sam.”
“So you keep saying.” Sam scoffed. “According to your numbers, I’m about to
become the Governor of California.”
“Go outside, turn around 3 times, spit and curse.” Josh teased again.
Sam just rolled his eyes and sat down across from Josh. “Why are you distancing
yourself from me today?”
Josh regarded his friend for a minute. He really didn’t want to have this
conversation; but it needed to be said now, today. It was the reason Josh had
made himself conspicuously absent so much of the day so far.
“You don’t need me for this stuff today.” Josh countered.
“It’s Election Day. We spend Election Day together. It’s tradition.”
“Yeah, when we’re running someone else’s campaign. This is your campaign.”
Josh pointed out. “People need to stop looking at me for answers and directions.
They need to take their cues from you.”
‘They are!” Sam protested.
“They’re beginning to and you’ve stepped into the role very well. It’s part of the
reason I know you’re going to be so good at this.” Josh smiled, but it had more
than a tinge of sadness to it.
“Why we’ll be so good at this.” Sam corrected him.
Josh shook his head but kept his eyes on Sam. “I can’t do this with you, Sam. Part
of me really wishes I could, but you don’t need me. Deep down I think you already
knew that. It’s the reason why you haven’t mentioned a word about transition or
staffing to me.”
“It’s bad luck to talk about it before it’s called.” Sam insisted and made Josh
chuckle. “Fine, let’s talk about it then. Where should I start?”
“With a Chief of Staff.” Josh answered simply.
“I already have the person I want in that job.” Sam held his eyes.
“It can’t be me. You know it can’t. I don’t know the players here well enough, and I
don’t belong in California. There’s too much…sun and air around here.”
“It’s mostly filled with smog though.” Sam countered.
“You’ll fix that.” Josh assured him. “We’ve been on the same path for a long time. It
will be different after tonight, but it will be better in some ways too.”
“I highly doubt that.” Sam muttered. “I feel like I’m being dumped. You plant this
idea in my head. You leave your job at the White House to get me here, and then
you just pack your bags and leave?”
“Samuel, you know I love you, but you knew from the start we’d only have these
short, few months together. I belong to another.” Josh went into melodrama mode.
Sam rolled his eyes and laid his head back against the chair.
“What is wrong with you?” Sam asked rhetorically.
“I don’t think they have an official diagnosis.” Josh got up from behind his desk and
sat down in the chair next to Sam. “I know you’re ready for this, the team knows
you’re ready for this, and the California electorate knows you’re ready for this. The
only one left to convince is you. It’s been great watching you through this
campaign. I can’t wait to see you do your magic as Governor. But I’ll be watching it
from D.C.”
Sam considered what his friend was saying. “Ben and Ally would really love to live
here is all I’m saying. There’s the ocean, the Disney resorts, and when Ben gets a
little older, there are the bikini clad women everywhere.” Sam offered.
“We’ll be out to visit…often, I promise.” Josh told him.
“Then you have to help me with one last thing. Help me find a Chief of Staff.” Sam
requested. Josh smiled and stood up. He walked to his door, opened it wide, and
shouted.
“PEYTON!” Josh cocked his head waiting for the reply.
“Keep your pants on, Josh! I’m doing real work out here, not slacking in my office
like some I could name.” Peyton shot back.
“He really has spent too much time with Donna and Ainsley.” Josh shook his head
and made Sam laugh.
*******************************************
“Next round of exits are in.” Donna called from Josh’s doorway.
“Bring them to me.” Josh replied.
“Excuse me?”
“Donna, it’s Election Day. Cut me a little slack.”
Donna just stood in the doorway with her arms crossed waiting. The papers Josh
desperately wanted to look at in her hand. Josh got up from his desk and walked
over to his wife. Her face was very stern, but her eyes were twinkling.
“Let me just take this opportunity to say how glad I am that you’re here with me
today.” He kissed her forehead, then continued to bestow kisses across her face.
When he reached her mouth, her face was tilted up towards his and her eyes were
closed. His hands started massaging her shoulders then moved to stroke her arms
while continuing to plunder her mouth. Josh pulled back a few inches to see her
face then pulled her back into a tight embrace and rested his head on her
shoulder.
“That was very nice.” Donna whispered into his ear.
“No way is Taylor even with us in Marin County. FRED!” Donna looked over her
shoulder to see that while her husband was making moves on her he had
surreptitiously removed the exit numbers from her hand and was looking at them
over her shoulder. Her mouth dropped in mock shock and anger. She started
punching him in the gut and pummeling his shoulders.
“Cut it out!” Josh laughed while trying to capture her hands.
“You bellowed, Obiwan?” Billy asked from the doorway while he perused his own
copy of the exits.
“Hold on, Billy. I’m going to kill Obiwan, and then we can go out for lunch, you and
me.” Donna told him while continuing to alternately punch and tickle her husband.
“Sounds good.” Billy replied without looking up. “Hey, something’s wonky in Marin
County.”
“This is what I’m saying.” Josh called to him. “Get on it will you?”
“Sure.”
“And don’t use the word wonky around me again. It’s just wrong.” Josh instructed
when he was finally able to restrain Donna’s hands. He maneuvered her
backwards until her legs hit the couch then gave her a final push so she ended up
lying on the couch. Josh lay right on top of her and continued what he’d started
earlier, just kicking it up a notch.
He heard her moan and he felt his body react to her. God, he loved this woman so
much. He was so engrossed in his task that he didn’t hear the door open again.
“Oh, for God’s sake.” Toby whined. “Don’t be doin that stuff in here!”
“It’s my office, Toby and you didn’t knock. Now go away so I can ravish my wife.”
Josh returned his mouth to Donna’s.
“I’ve got both speeches for you to look at.” Toby persisted.
“Show them to Sam.” Donna suggested as enjoyed Josh kissing her neck.
“This is how one of the country’s best political operatives works?” Toby tried
appealing to Josh’s professionalism. He might as well have saved his breath.
“It’s how I work best.” Josh returned. “Stick around and you can see all my
techniques.”
Toby immediately locked the door and shut it behind him when he left.
“Poor Toby.” Donna chuckled.
“Let’s just concentrate on poor Josh for right now, okay?” Josh requested. “Poor
Josh who hasn’t had made love with his wife for months.”
“Poor Josh who isn’t going to get to make love with his wife today, either. I haven’t
had my six week check yet.”
Josh dropped his forehead onto Donna’s. “Is that REALLY necessary?”
“I’m afraid so.” Donna said, but Josh noted she didn’t look very sorry.
“I got precinct by precinct numbers for Marin County.” Billy called and rattled the
doorknob. “Open the damn door.”
“Don’t go in there son, you’re much too young to see what’s going on in there.”
They heard Toby tell Billy.
“I’ll open the door, but you might want to take a seat BEHIND your desk first.”
Donna whispered.
***************************
Sam was on the floor playing with Caitlin while CNN, muted, played in the
background.
“Come on Miss Caitlin; time for your lunch.” Ainsley told her daughter. Sam picked
her up, even though she was crawling all over the place these days, and brought
her to the kitchen where he deposited her in her highchair.
“Sure you don’t want anything, Sam?” Ainsley asked yet again.
“I’m fine; stop hovering. If I change my mind I am perfectly capable of fixing food for
myself.”
“I’m just saying that you didn’t really eat much lunch and you’ve still got a long
evening ahead of you.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Ainsley raised an eyebrow in a silent question. “It seems to me, that you may have,
more on your mind than just the election, Samuel.” He shrugged in reply but
Ainsley just handed him Caitlin’s food and waited for him to elaborate.
“I haven’t heard a word from either of my parents. Not an email, not a phone call,
nothing.”
“Maybe they’re waiting for the election to be called?” Ainsley suggested.
Sam smirked. “Their only child is running for Governor and they don’t think to call
and say ‘good luck’ or ‘you’ve done well’?”
Ainsley sat in his lap while he fed Caitlin. “You have done well and you don’t need
luck for this. I’m so proud of you and how you’ve handled this campaign. If I could
do something to fix this for you I would, but it’s not something either of us can fix.”
“Yeah.”
“You’ve been broody since lunch. It’s not just your parents.” Ainsley guessed.
“Josh told me they’re not staying if we win.” Sam confessed.
“Of course they’re not.” Ainsley chided him. “That was never the plan. Why would
you expect that had changed?”
“Because it was a long shot before. Now that it could actually happen, I thought
they might-“
“Sam…”
“They could have changed their minds. They found a great home, they’d both be
employed…”
“Sam…” Ainsley got a little more exasperated. “They left their jobs at the White
House and came out here to run your campaign. Donna was pregnant and still
they came. Don’t turn this into a test of your friendship because your parents are
too immature to think of their son before themselves.”
“Is that what I’m doing?” Sam asked honestly.
“I strongly believe it is. Donna, Josh, Ben, and Ally are our family. They’ll still be
our family when they’re in D.C. Plus now we’ve adopted Peyton and Billy.”
“I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that analogy.” Sam drawled. Caitlin squealed
her protest since her father had stopped feeding her to talk to her mother.
“I hear you.” Sam laughed and got another mouthful of food on his spoon for her.
“She CAN do that herself you know.” Ainsley teased.
“I know. But I like doing it and she’s still letting me so…” He deposited his spoon in
her mouth. “We’ll finish lunch, take a nice long nap, and then head over to the
hotel.”
“Are you sure you want to bring her to the hotel? It’s going to be a long night with
lots of people and noise.”
“She is absolutely going with us to the hotel. This is a big night and our daughter is
going to be included.” Sam was firm on that score, so Ainsley let it go.
“Once you two are done destroying the kitchen and you get this one down for a
nap, come find me and I’ll nap with you.”
“That’s a deal.” Sam promised.
************************************************
The suite was buzzing with energy. The adults were gathered in one room and the
adjoining bedroom was filled with children and their sitters. It was hard to determine
which group was having more fun.
There was an air of expectation that you could feel the minute you stepped inside.
Sam seemed to be relaxed and enjoying the gathering of friends and staff. Billy,
Josh, Peyton, and C.J. were still running back and forth giving information to the
media and getting the latest numbers. The polls were closing in 30 minutes and
Sam was leading by 4 points according to the exits.
Donna was nursing Ally in the kid’s room when Ainsley caught up with her.
“You look gorgeous, Ains.” Donna complimented her.
“I think I got dressed to early. I’ll be wilted by the time we go out there.” Ainsley
stroked A.J.’s head. “You must be looking forward to getting this precious one
home.”
“I am, but we’ll miss the Seaborn family a lot.” Donna smiled wanly.
“Likewise.” Ainsley replied. “Sam was having a bit of a nutty about trying to
convince Josh to stay.”
“Josh was having a bit of a nutty thinking about how to tell his best friend ‘no’.”
Donna shot back. “Are you ready for this?”
“You know? I really am. This is going to open up all kinds of opportunities and I’m
ready to do something with that.” Ainsley smiled. “Sacramento Ayn’t gonna know
what hit ‘em.” She drawled.
“Go Ainsley.” Donna put Ally on her shoulder to burp her as Josh came in.
“Come on, Donna. It’s my turn to hold her.” Josh whined.
“I just finished feeding her, Josh.” Donna scolded him. “Where is Ben?”
“Ben?” Josh looked wide eyed and innocent as he tried to remember where and
with whom he’d left Ben.
“Yes, your son; your first born child.” Donna reminded him.
“He’s around…” Josh waved vaguely into the other room.
“Oh, Joshua…” Donna sighed.
“I was asked for a quote and Ben was squirming…”
“Yes…?” Donna prompted.
“I’m sure he’s in the suite somewhere. Here, hand me Ally and we’ll go find him.” He
held his arms out for his daughter.
“No way, I’m not giving you another child to lose until you retrieve the last one I
gave you.” Donna held Ally away from him. “The fact that I’m sure he’s in the suite
too, is the only thing that’s saving your hide right now.” Donna told him. Josh
turned away calling for his son. Sam offered to help search.
“What a pair we married.” Ainsley noted.
“Yeah. We really are pretty lucky.” Donna smiled.
“I found him!” Josh called triumphantly right before re-entering the room with a
giggling Ben being carried over his father’s shoulder like a sack of potato’s. “I’ll
trade you.”
“Sold.” Donna announced and passed Ally to Ainsley while she took Ben from
Josh. After the exchange was navigated Sam joined them to show off how his very
talented daughter was walking around. Billy watched from the doorway with mixed
emotions. These people helped get two President’s elected. C.J., Toby, and Danny
could be heard arguing about something behind him. He was surrounded by this
living history and yet he knew better than anyone these people he regarded as
heroes were all too human.
After weeks of wondering, Sam had finally brought up the subject Billy had been
waiting for. Sam had offered Billy a job in his administration. It was what Billy had
dreamed of. It was what he’d worked for. It was what he was turned down; and he
had a hard time believing that himself. Sam hadn’t seemed too shocked by his
refusal, but had only reiterated that it was a standing offer.
Josh hadn’t said where he was going or what he’d be doing next. Billy doubted
Josh had made up his mind at this point. But, wherever and whatever was next for
Josh Lyman was next for Billy Fernandez. At least that was what Billy hoped.
***************************************
The polls had been closed for 2 hours before various networks were calling the
election for Sam, but there was no word from Taylor. Sam had thought he was
getting the call a few minutes earlier, but it had been President Bartlet and his wife
who had been calling to offer their congratulations.
“That was the last local station. They’re all calling the race. Why hasn’t Taylor
conceded yet?” Billy asked.
“Because he’s a pompous windbag who doesn’t want to admit defeat. He wants to
stay in control just a little bit longer.” Josh shook his head. “Asshole.”
“Think you can work that into your speech, Tobus?” C.J. asked him.
“Nah. It lacks poetry.” Toby answered before taking another sip of his drink.
“So we just have to wait?” Billy sounded annoyed and Josh slung an arm around
his shoulder.
“Yep. We wait. And the waiting only makes Taylor look bad. Plus guess what?”
“What?” Billy asked on queue.
“Sam Seaborn is the Governor elect of California. Taylor can postpone it, but he
can’t prevent it.” Josh proclaimed.
“To Governor elect Sam Seaborn.” Josh called out. Everyone present raised their
glasses and drank to the toast. Sam felt the last bit of resentment and bitterness
about his parents leave him as he looked around this circle of friends. Ainsley was
right; what were the odds? His family was here, in these people. That’s what
mattered most to him.
It was another hour before Taylor finally deigned to make his concession call. Sam
went directly to the ballroom to greet the people who had worked so hard to help
him get elected. He was holding Caitlin in one arm, and Ainsley with the other.
Toby trailed behind him shouting out last minute instructions about the victory
speech to which Sam would occasionally call out an ‘uh-huh’ or ‘sure’ just to give
Toby the illusion he was being paid attention to.
When the Seaborn family walked out on stage, the place erupted in cheers and
applause. Sam and Ainsley waved and smiled for the cameras for a few minutes,
before Sam passed Caitlin to Ainsley and took the podium. Toby was standing
behind him and Sam turned his head toward Toby but had to yell to be heard over
the crowd.
“I’m sorry, Batman.” He shouted and turned back to the podium.
Toby looked puzzled. “Sorry? What the hell is he sorry for?’ he muttered. Josh
shrugged but couldn’t hold in the grin. “No. He is NOT going off the speech.” Toby
started to move forward but Josh held him back.
“Too late.” Josh told him.
“Thank you so much!” Sam acknowledged their applause. “I just received a call
from Senator Taylor.” Someone shouted ‘It’s about time!’ from the crowd making
Sam chuckle. “He has conceded the race.” He paused while cheers went up again.
“Everyone here, and many, many others across the state played important roles in
bringing us to this point tonight.”
“I am honored that the people of California have put their trust in my leadership. I
am energized by the grass roots support that made this all possible. Together we
are going to make California better, stronger, and safer. We will celebrate the
tremendous diversity we enjoy while we ensure the security of everyone who lives
here.” He had to pause again for applause and wait for the noise to die down.
“I have lived a charmed life. I was raised by two parents who had the economic
ability to feed me, clothe me, and send me to the best schools. I had health
insurance so I got preventative care, stitches when I needed them, and an
operation to remove my appendix. All these factors helped me get me to a point
where I was hired by the President of the United States. I can’t begin to tell you
what I learned from President Bartlet and President Santos about what leadership
is, I can only hope to demonstrate by example the things those fine men taught
me.”
“The people standing here with me; they’ve become my family. I owe them a debt
of gratitude I can never repay. They have put their lives on hold, worked through
many sleepless nights, and traveled the length and breadth of this state for no
other reason than their belief in me. Thank you all so very much.” Sam turned and
clapped for all of them and exchanged a few hugs.
“We are going to take tonight and celebrate, but tomorrow…tomorrow we begin.
We begin the challenging work ahead of us. We begin to bring all Californians
together to accomplish tasks way too difficult for any one of us to achieve on our
own. We begin to clean our air and water. We begin to show the nation that once
again ‘Go West’ means to be on the cutting edge of discovery; the cutting edge of
technology, the cutting edge of alternative energy and the cutting edge of inclusive
education. We begin tomorrow and we begin together!”
Josh turned raised eyebrows to Toby who shrugged. “He didn’t exactly tank.” Josh
laughed and put one arm around Toby who was actually grinning. His other arm
was around Donna whose eyes were suspiciously wet.
Ainsley and Caitlin were being pulled along with Sam as he walked through the
ballroom shaking hands. The security detail that had started with the nomination
was in full swing now and Josh imagined they would be having a word or two with
the Governor elect about his choice of exits before long.
The rest of the people on stage walked slowly back towards the suite except for
Billy. Josh told Donna he’d meet her upstairs and went to stand by the young man.
“How ya’ doing?” Josh asked bumping shoulders with Billy.
“This is incredible.” Billy said simply. “No wonder your ego is the size of Texas. You
just go pick people and make them Governor, President, whatever. How do you do
that?” Billy turned to look Josh in the eye. “I mean, I’ve watched you for years from
a distance, and for months up close and I still don’t know how you do it.” Billy
seemed frustrated by his inability to figure out this magic formula.
“You find someone who knows more than you do, who has more experience than
you do and you watch and listen and soak up as much as you can. Then, one day,
when they tell you you’re ready, you go out and find someone you believe in and
you work like a dog and if you’re extremely lucky…you help a good candidate get
elected so they can make a difference.” Josh answered without a trace of his usual
cockiness.
“What are you going to do now?” Billy asked him.
“I don’t know. You?” Josh countered.
“When you know then I’ll know.” Billy smiled.
“I’m taking a few weeks off, maybe a few months. You should take the job Sam’s
going to offer you.” Josh advised him.
“Already turned it down.” Billy shrugged. “I’ll take a break too. Then I’ll head over to
D.C. and cut your grass or sort your mail until you figure it out.”
“You would get so much experience working for Sam. You should reconsider.”
“I won’t.” Billy stated firmly.
“Why not?” Josh threw the question at him.
“After the crash was lifted, during our Presidential classroom visit? You started to
say something to me, but then you stopped yourself. What were you going to
say?” Billy asked instead of answering Josh’s question.
Josh leaned back against the side of the stage and pondered on that moment.
“What if I don’t remember?”
Billy scoffed. “What if I’m a Republican?”
Josh rolled his eyes dramatically. “What I was going to say, was that the next few
years might be…challenging, but the end result would be worth the work. The kids
that make fun of you for always studying and working on local campaigns will be
paying $1,000 a plate to sit at a table with you and the President one day. I was
just going to tell you…to keep doing what you were doing.”
Billy nodded. “That’s why I’m not reconsidering Sam’s offer. Now, however, I am
taking the rest of the night off. I promised Jennifer a celebratory drink.” Billy winked
and started walking away from Josh backwards. “And figure out what’s next, will
you?”
Josh laughed and looked out over the crowd engulfing Sam and his family. He
paused a minute thinking about all he had said to Billy. He let out a deep breath
and whispered, “Thanks, Boss” before walking upstairs to join his family for the
celebration.
Epilogue to follow…