Chapter 4
“This is an exceedingly bad idea.” Ainsley repeated.
“It’ll be fine.” Sam told her again.
“It’ll be fine….Me in a room full of Democratic women and you think it’ll be fine.”
“Sure it will. Donna’s a Democratic woman and she’s one of your best friends.
It’s just a roomful of Donna’s.” Sam countered.
“It’s really not.” Ainsley argued. “There’s got to be a better way to handle this
than to have me addressing this group of women. I’m going to embarrass you,
and myself, and the whole campaign.”
“Peyton, will you tell her she’s not going to embarrass anyone?” Sam
requested.
“I’d love to, but I can’t while she’s wearing that hideous suit.” Peyton shook his
head.
“What’s wrong with this suit?” Ainsley demanded.
“Nothing if you’re going to court, but you’re going to a cocktail dinner with all
the important women in the Democratic party of California. Go put on
something that will remind them all that you’re Republican sex kitten.”
Ainsley turned her anger toward Sam. “How could you tell him that story!” she
shouted.
“It was a long drive back from Sacramento.” Sam defended himself. “I was
really tired and we just started telling each other stories to stay awake.”
Ainsley just continued to glare at her husband.
“You are SO going to pay for that later.” She promised before turning back to
Peyton.
“And if you so much as think about that story in the presence of someone else,
I’ll take my daddy’s hunting knife to those beautiful leather seats in your
convertible.” Peyton drew in a shocked breath.
“You would NOT.” Peyton whispered.
“Try me.” Ainsley batted her eyelashes and sauntered out of the room.
“You have to make her promise not to touch the convertible.” Peyton implored
Sam.
“Don’t look at me. My head’s already on the chopping block.” Sam’s worried
gaze followed his wife as she went up the stairs.
“You couldn’t just marry an empty headed beach bimbo like all the other
politicians around here?” Peyton complained.
“Where would the fun be in that?” Sam smirked.
**************************************
Ainsley fiddled with the note cards in her pocket again. She felt like a Christian
being led in to the lion’s den. She was still learning her way around this type of
mine field. True, that when they had both worked in the White House, she had
attended her share of Democratic dinners, fundraisers, and strategy sessions,
but this was different. She wasn’t speaking as a White House counsel or an
attorney. She was representing her husband while he was running for
Governor. It was very different.
She was greeted at the door by a woman who had a name tag that read
“Elisabeth”.
“Goodevening, Mrs. Seaborn. We’re so glad you could join us.” Elisabeth
commented.
“Ainsley, please.” This part, Ainsley had learned to navigate. It was much
simpler to instruct people to call her Ainsley than explain that she went by
Ainsley Hayes-Seaborn. The hyphen ALWAYS started a conversation.
“I’m Elisabeth Holloway. I’m with the organizing committee. Come right this way.
Elisabeth led Ainsley down a hallway. “We were so happy that you were able to
accept the invitation to speak tonight. Your presence on the campaign trail has
certainly stirred up a lot of conversation.”
The comment was innocent enough but Ainsley caught the undertone. This
was not one of her fans.
“Some people are easily titillated.” Ainsley noted. “I was honored to be asked.”
She made the rounds of the room with Elisabeth at her side and endured the
endless chatter about clothes, children, and private schools that seemed to be
the hallmark of the moneyed politicos on both sides of the aisle.
Her short speech went smoothly since she had insisted on rehearsing it
several times, but the applause was tepid. They loved Sam around here, but
she was still considered an outsider.
She was just calculating how much longer she would have to stay before she
could make a gracious exit when she was approached by Barbara Neumann;
the wife of Congressman Grant Neumann, another Democratic candidate for
Governor.
“Ainsley Hayes-Seaborn. We finally get a chance to meet. What do you say we
get out of here for a breath of fresh air?”
“Well, I was just-“
“Take pity on me, woman. I am dying for a cigarette and Grant will kill me if I
light up in here.” Barbara said in a serious undertone that only Ainsley could
hear.
“Okay.” Ainsley agreed hesitantly and followed Barbara out onto the balcony
off the ballroom they were occupying. Barbara took a lot of heat in the press.
She had a habit of letting her comments drop from her brain to her tongue
without the benefit of any editing in between the two points. Some of the
tabloids referred to her as ‘Malibu Barbie’ due to her penchant for getting
photographed in bathing suits.
“Thank God.” Barbara blew out a nicotine filled breath. “I felt like I was
suffocating in there. Want one?” she offered a cigarette to Ainsley.
“I don’t smoke.” Ainsley refused politely.
“A North Carolina girl who doesn’t smoke?” Barbara questioned.
“Not everybody in North Carolina owns a tobacco farm.” Ainsley replied,
thinking it was odd that this woman knew where she was originally from.
“Sorry. I hear North Carolina and think tobacco. I guess that’s pretty
stereotypical, huh?”
“There’s a reason it’s a stereotype.” Ainsley allowed. “You are being
discouraged from smoking in front of the electorate?”
“Forbidden.” Barbara corrected. “Grant’s the one running. Who the hell cares
what I do with my lungs, right?”
“In theory.” Ainsley noted. “In practice, I’m finding it’s a different story.”
“For what it’s worth, I thought it was awful that they gave you such a hard time
about refusing to switch parties. Judging by these gatherings, I’ve got to
believe that Republicans are a lot more fun.” Barbara quipped.
Ainsley nearly spit out her drink. “Not really, no. In fact, I was just thinking that
these ‘gatherings’ look and feel the same on both sides of the aisle. You must
be used to this by now though. This is Grant’s 3rd term isn’t it?”
“Yes, but I’ve only been through one Congressional campaign. Wife number 1
was with him through the rest.” Barbara drawled.
“Ah.” Ainsley didn’t know how to respond to that so she remained quiet on that
score. “Well, this is my first campaign, so I’m making all kinds of rookie
mistakes.”
“I don’t know. Eddie Cruz seems pretty concerned about you.” Barbara threw
out. Eddie Cruz was serving as Grant’s campaign manager. Ainsley blinked at
her frank talk.
“He says you’re dynamic and sharp witted. I think that’s supposed to be a dig
at me.”
“I’m sure it’s not, Barbara.” Ainsley tried to assure her.
“It’s Barb, and I’m equally sure it is. Eddie thinks I’m trying to tank the primary
run. He’s not exactly wrong; I prefer D.C. to Sacramento, but I’m not trying to
tank it for Grant either.”
“I’m not sure we should be talking about this.” Ainsley offered.
“If we can’t talk to each other, who can we talk to? Who else understands what
it’s like to be in this fishbowl?” Barb asked.
“I just don’t know if you should be sharing the opinions of your husband’s
campaign manager.”
“Speaking of which; what is the deal with Peyton Forbes? Grant nearly had
apoplexy when he found out Forbes was running Sam’s campaign.” Barb
asked as she lit her second cigarette.
“I like Peyton a lot.” Ainsley told her.
“Yes, I mean he’s a fabulous guy, and his convertible is to die for, but he’s not
exactly your traditional gubernatorial campaign manager.” Barb pointed out.
“That works out well, since Sam isn’t your traditional gubernatorial candidate.”
“I guess that’s true, too.” Barb laughed. “Oh, shit. We’re getting flagged back
in by Elisabeth. I just want this to be over. 4 more weeks until the primary. You
can do anything for 4 weeks, right?”
“Right.” Ainsley agreed and followed Barb back inside.
“Oh, Mrs. Seaborn. This is Helen Andrews from the paper of record. She
wanted a word with you about your husband’s education reform.” Elisabeth
announced. Barb rolled her eyes behind Elisabeth’s head causing Ainsley to
choke on a laugh.
*************************************
“Ains?” Sam called out to his wife.
“I’m upstairs with Caitlin.” She called back. “I’ve got Donna on speakerphone.”
Sam found his wife and daughter lying on the nursery floor. Ainsley was
chatting away with Donna.
“It’s only a few blocks from here and it’s fully furnished. Check out the website
address and you can take a virtual tour.”
“Perfect.” Donna replied. “I appreciate you doing this for us, Ainsley. I’m up to
my eyeballs over here packing up my office and the house.”
“Hey, Donna.” Sam chimed in. “How are you feeling?”
“Fat.” Donna answered. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired. California is a big state.” Sam noted.
“Yes, but you’re two weeks out and 8 points up.”
“You and I both know the real gauntlet will be in the general.” Sam told her.
“They’re waiting until I get the nomination before they start lobbing grenades
at me.”
“Josh said Kevin Kahn is packing his bags too. He’s coming on board as the
media strategist for Taylor.” Donna added.
“Josh told me.” Sam sighed. “You’d think Bartlet vs. Ritchie would be pretty old
news at this point, wouldn’t you?”
“You pretty much decimated his candidate, Sam. Josh still remembers every
one of his early campaign battles; especially the ones he lost.” Donna replied.
“He just mistakenly thinks this is payback time.”
“I guess.” Sam acknowledged. “Did I hear you two talking houses?”
“Ainsley thinks she found something for us nearby. You sure California is
ready for the Lyman invasion?”
“Can’t wait for it, in fact.” Sam promised.
“Well, just remember that when Josh’s surprise arrives tomorrow.” Donna
noted.
Sam winced. “This isn’t something that’s going to end up on a front page out
here, is it?”
“You never know.” Donna said cryptically. “I’ll talk to you both later. Bye.”
Donna hung up the phone and turned to her husband who was surveying her
half packed office in the East Wing. There were boxes everywhere.
“You’re not bringing all this home, are you?” Josh asked.
“Where else would I store it?” Donna answered his question with a question.
“We have a nuclear facility in Nevada…”
“Funny boy.” Donna patted his cheek. “How is your packing coming along?”
“Oh, you know.” Josh hedged.
“I know you’re not stupid enough to leave it all to the last minute and then
expect your pregnant wife to organize it.” Donna continued her packing.
“No, I’m not that stupid.” Josh agreed and then changed the subject, thinking
he’d better get someone on his packing. “I just got off the phone with Toby. His
flight will get into California around 4 tomorrow afternoon.”
“You sure this is going to be a good surprise?” Donna asked.
“Peyton and I have been over and over this. They’ve got nobody Sam trusts
with the speechwriting, and the stakes are about to go up dramatically.”
“I agree he needs a speechwriter. I’m just wondering if you’re sure Toby is the
right one for this campaign. With Kevin Kahn running media for Taylor, having
you and Sam and Toby together again is going to look like a Bartlet reunion.
Won’t that be like waving a red cape in front of a bull?”
“It will be fine.” Josh brushed off her concern. “Kevin Kahn doesn’t concern
me.”
“Sam seems concerned that they’re waiting to drop a house on him until after
the primary.” Donna shared.
“That’s usually how it works.” Josh agreed. “He’s had a pretty easy time of it so
far. Neumann was the only one to give him any competition at all.”
“How big a battle are we anticipating after the primary?” Donna asked.
“California is a hotly contested race; especially since the Governor and Lt.
Governor are elected separately. The two top spots are almost always split up
between the two parties. Taylor will be a formidable opponent; a moderate
Republican who’s got a family history in the state and tons of money behind
him.”
“So…pretty ugly.” Donna surmised.
“Very ugly.” Josh confirmed.