Chapter 9
“You improvised again.” Toby complained.
“A paragraph or two; that’s all.” Sam pointed out.
“These are carefully crafted messages. You can’t just improvise in the middle of
the thing!”
“I actually think I can as evidenced by the fact that I did.” Sam replied hotly and
Toby took a long pause.
“Everything alright over there?” Toby was in the Southern California office while
Sam and Josh were in the Northern California office.
“Yes…No.” Sam coughed up the truthful answer. “I lost my temper with Josh and
he offered his resignation.”
“No shit?”
“No shit.” Sam confirmed.
“I know Josh can be an annoying, egotistical jackass, but that’s never bothered
you before, so I have to assume this was something else entirely.”
“He set up a new poll without discussing it with me and when I told him I wanted
the polls cleared through me in the future, he refused.” Sam was getting stirred
up again just talking to Toby about it on his cell phone.
“You don’t want a piece of that, Sam.” Toby admonished him.
“Yeah, I really do. This is my campaign.”
“And you chose Josh to run your campaign. In fact, he took a leave of absence
and moved his family across country to do that very thing for you. Let him do his
job.” Toby advised.
“Even if I disagree with how he’s doing it?” Sam questioned.
“Especially then.” Toby confirmed. “You’re a great candidate, but as a political
operative…Look, Josh is going to have to say things and do things that you
simply can’t. Part of the campaign manager’s job is to wallow in the mud so the
candidate can stay clean. Let him do his job… and quit improvising during my
masterpieces.” Toby added for good measure and made Sam chuckle.
“The ego’s I have on my staff are really quite extraordinary.” Sam said.
“There are good reasons for that.” Toby told him. “Go back and work it out with
Josh. He’ll blow it off. Did you see you got a four point bump after Modesto?”
“Josh is right again.” Sam sighed and said goodbye before hanging up. He hated
eating crow…
“Billy, where’s Josh?” Sam asked when he returned to the office a couple hours
later.
“He had a meeting. He should be back soon. Can I help with something?”
“No. No, thanks. Just tell him I’m looking for him, will you?”
“Sure.” Billy watched Sam retreat from the conference room. He couldn’t help but
wonder if there was going to be a shake up around here. He’d like to bounce
some ideas off Donna, but she’d gone home for the afternoon. He could email
her; he knew she kept her laptop up and running, but he didn’t want to bother her
unless it was important.
When Josh got back, Billy moved to intercept him. “Josh? Sam is looking for you.”
“Okay. Donna said you’ve started on debate prep?”
“Yeah, but if there’s something else you want me working on…”
“No. Debate prep is fine. If Sam wants you on something else, he’ll say so.”
Billy didn’t ask why Sam would be directing his work, but he got a bad feeling in
his stomach.
“Come in.” Sam called when Josh knocked.
“You wanted to see me?” Josh asked.
“Yeah. Can we have the room, please?” Sam asked the rest of the staff gathered
in his office. “How’d the meeting go?”
“You’re going to be getting an endorsement from the Sacramento Bee.” Josh
reported.
“That’s…great; really great.” Sam said sincerely. “I saw we got the 4 point bump
you predicted too.”
Josh looked closely at his friend, trying to determine if Sam was attempting a
subtle apology or giving him a last compliment before he cut Josh loose.
“Yeah, and the voter registration drive in Modesto bumped up the number of
Democrats and Independents registered in Taylor’s district.” Josh relayed.
Sam dipped his head and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry…about before.”
“Feeling a little out of control?” Josh guessed and Sam blinked in surprise.
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“Donna clued me in.” Josh admitted and Sam gave him a genuine laugh.
“That figures.” Sam replied. “Where would we be without Donna and Ainsley?”
“I shudder to think.” Josh said honestly. “You can’t keep your fingers on
everything, Sam. That state is too big and there’s too much to do.”
“Okay, but I don’t want you sheltering me from stuff.” Sam countered.
“That’s my job; as your friend and as your campaign manager.” Josh reminded
him.
“I don’t want to feel out of the loop.” Sam explained and Josh nodded.
“I can keep you apprised of the decisions made, but you can’t micromanage.”
“Fair enough.” Sam agreed.
“In the interest of full disclosure, I was contacted by Kevin Kahn about debates.”
Josh told him.
“Is that supposed to shake me up? Make me nervous?” Sam asked.
“I think it’s meant to knock you off your game, yes. Will it?” Josh inquired.
“I don’t make those kinds of decision. It’s up to my campaign manager.” Sam
smiled.
“I’m thinking of letting Fred take debate negotiations.” Josh mentioned.
“You mean…Billy?” Sam said pointedly.
“Whatever. You got a problem with that?”
“Not as long as you don’t.” Sam replied.
“Good.” Josh got up to leave. “I’ve got the D triple C dinner thing, and I’ll probably
go straight home after that. If you need me for anything, call my cell.
“I’m hoping to make it an early night myself. I’ll see you tomorrow.
*************************************
When he heard a key turn in the lock of the campaign office, Billy went out to the
lobby to see who it was and was surprised to see Donna.
“What are you doing back here?” Billy asked.
“I forgot some stuff I’m going to need for tomorrow.” Donna said rolling her eyes.
“Another byproduct of pregnancy is memory problems. Aren’t you glad you’ll
never have to go through this, Billy?”
“Hell, yes.” Billy said fervently.
“What are you doing here so late?” Donna turned the question back on him.
“Josh is sending me to debate negotiations. I’m trying to get ready for it.” Billy
replied.
“Debate negotiations? You’ve hit the big time. Billy. Josh doesn’t hand that off to
just anybody.” Donna smiled when Billy flushed.
“Which is why I’m here. I don’t want to screw this up.” Billy admitted. “I don’t
suppose you could take a quick look at what I’ve got so far?”
“A quick look. I’ve got a splitting headache.”
“It can wait.” Billy quickly amended.
“I’m here now, and it’s quiet in here for a change.” Donna noted. “Show me what
you got.”
Billy led her to the conference room, but paused when he noticed Donna
stumble. “Are you okay?”
“Just a little dizzy. I think I need some food. My stomach’s been bothering me.”
“I’ll grab some crackers from the kitchen.” Billy offered.
“Thanks, would you grab a bottle of water too?”
“No problem.” Billy went into the kitchen to retrieve the water and crackers
wondering what he was doing taking care of a pregnant woman. He should send
her home, but he was worried about her driving when she was feeling dizzy. Josh
always told him to start with the end result you wanted and then work backwards
so when he got back to the conference room, he had a plan worked out.
“Donna, why don’t you let me drive you home?” He began. “I can show you what I’
ve got there and hang out until Josh gets- Donna?”
Donna got violently ill into the conference room wastebasket before dropping to
her knees. “Help…” she whispered before she threw up again. “Something’s
wrong.”
“Jesus…” Billy called 911 from the conference phone and told the operator what
was going on.
“Sir, we can send an ambulance, but from your location it would be faster if you
could drive her to the hospital. Do you have a vehicle?”
“Yes, I’ll take her right now.” Billy promised.
“I’ll have someone waiting for you at the emergency room entrance. Do you know
how to get to the hospital?”
“Yes, we’ll be right there.” Billy repeated before hanging up. “Come on Donna.
Nice and easy. I’m going to take you to the emergency room.” He held Donna up
with one hand and kept the wastebasket in front of her with the other hand. It
took precious minutes to get her into the car, but once he had her safely
strapped in, he took off like a bat out of hell. Once he was on the road, he tried
Josh’s cell, but got voice mail. Frustrated, he scrolled through his contacts for the
next number he could try.
“Sam? It’s Billy. I need some help. I’m taking Donna to the hospital…”
************************************
“Where is she?” Josh demanded.
“She’s okay, Josh.” Sam reassured him.
“Where is Donna?” Josh said a little louder.
“I’ll take you to her.” Sam promised. “Just calm down, okay? She doesn’t need
you busting in there and pumping up her blood pressure.”
“I’ll calm down as soon as I see my wife.” Josh replied, getting more worked up as
the seconds ticked past. Sam blew out an exasperated breath and took Josh by
the arm to the room Donna was in.
Josh rushed in and took his first deep breath since he got the call telling him
Donna had been brought in to the emergency room. Donna appeared to be
sleeping peacefully. The monitor next to her bed beeped in a steady rhythm and
he could see the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed in and out.
Josh reached out and gently stroked her hand.
“I want to talk to her Doctor.” Josh said quietly to the nurse who had appeared at
his side.
“She’s on her way, Mr. Lyman.” The nurse obviously knew who both the men who’
d appeared on her ward were. “Dr. Bachman is our top OB/GYN. She’s taking
good care of both your girls.”
Josh startled at the nurse’s statement. He and Donna had only recently found out
they were having a girl. How had the nurse known-
“Your wife told us you’re expecting a baby girl.” The nurse answered his
unspoken question.
“She was conscious? When she was brought in she was talking?” Josh confirmed.
“I wasn’t there when she was brought in, but when she was brought up here she
was conscious and talking coherently.” The nurse answered him and started to
check Donna’s vitals again.
“Donna?” Josh took her hand and sat next to her on the bed. “I’m here, baby. I
got here as fast as I could; no stopping for red lights.” Josh’s voice choked and
Sam had to look away from the intensity of the scene in front of him. Donna made
no response in movement or sound. Josh let out another frustrated breath.
“Mr. Lyman? I’m Dr. Bachman.” An older woman introduced herself to Josh.
“What’s going on with Donna? What’s wrong?” Josh demanded.
Dr. Bachman spared a glance and a smile for Sam. “Would you like to discuss
this in private, Mr. Lyman?”
“Just tell us what’s wrong!” Josh said, his desperation for answers very clear
“Your wife presented to the emergency room with abdominal pain, vomiting,
dizziness, and severe headache. When we began taking vitals, we noted that her
blood pressure was unusually high. Has that been a persistent problem during
her pregnancy?”
“No, she had a lot more morning sickness this time, but otherwise she’s been
healthy.” Josh recounted, pacing back and forth. “What does all that mean? Is
the baby okay?”
“The baby is fine.” The Doctor said quickly. “That monitor there is tracking the
baby’s heart rate and it’s well within the normal range.”
Josh nodded his head impatiently but gestured to Donna. “Then what’s wrong
with Donna?!”
“We ran a few tests and have been able to confirm a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.”
Dr. Bachman explained and handed him a sheet of paper. “I’ve brought some
information for you to read so you can familiarize yourself with the symptoms, but
the most important items are that her blood pressure is too high and that this
condition can sometimes prevent the placenta from getting enough blood. If the
placenta isn’t getting enough blood, the baby is getting decreased oxygen and
food.”
“That sounds bad.” Josh got suddenly still.
“It can be. But it doesn’t have to be.” Dr. Bachman continued.
“How do we fix it?” Josh asked and handed the paper he’d been given to Sam.
“We deliver your baby.”
“You can’t. She’s only 6 months pregnant.” Josh practically shouted, then
remembered where he was and brought his volume down. “6 months isn’t enough
time for the baby.”
“Right now, it wouldn’t be my first choice.” Dr. Bachman admitted. “Delivering a
baby at 24 weeks is problematic to say the least. Nonetheless, delivery is the only
‘cure’ for preeclampsia.”
“So you’re saying I have to choose between Donna and the baby?” Josh asked
incredulously and sat down heavily in the chair next to Donna.
“No, Mr. Lyman, not at all. I just want you to understand that this can be a
dangerous condition and it will not be alleviated until after she gives birth. Her
symptoms are serious enough to warrant complete bed rest at this point. She’s
going to require careful monitoring and frequent medical checks. Who is her
regular OB/GYN?”
“We just recently moved out here. She was referred to a Doctor here but she
hasn’t seen him yet.” Josh told her. “I can’t remember his name. I’m sorry…Donna
keeps track of all that stuff.”
“Can you tell me who she used to see before you moved? It would be very helpful
to have her recent medical records.” Dr. Bachman said.
“Dr. Elton. He’s in Georgetown with uh…Women’s Health Partners. Wait!” Josh
pulled out his wallet and flipped through the cards. With great relief he was able
to locate the card for Donna’s Doctor in Georgetown and give it to Dr. Bachman.
“Great. This will be a big help, Mr. Lyman.”
“Big help…right.” Josh muttered watching Donna again. “Why isn’t she awake?”
“We gave her some medication to help with her blood pressure and relieve some
pain, the side effect of which helps her sleep. She may be out for a bit, but that’s
probably for the best right now.”
“How long will she need to stay in the hospital?” Sam asked.
“That depends on how she responds to the medication and the bed rest. Let’s
take it one step at a time. I’ll be back to check on her in a few hours. We’ll know
more then. Is there anything else I can answer for you right now?”
Sam waited for Josh to answer but he just held Donna’s hand and remained silent.
“I think that’s it for now. Thank you Dr. Bachman.” Sam replied. The Doctor shook
Sam’s hand and left them alone in Donna’s room.
“Ben-“ Josh began.
“Is fine with Ainsley. Don’t worry about him right now. What can I do for you?”
Sam asked as he placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“Get Donna to wake up and yell at me about something.”
“She’s never needed me to motivate her for that.” Sam smiled. “I’m looking at this
information sheet, Josh, and preeclampsia is completely manageable.
“Great.” Josh said unenthusiastically and pulled out his cell phone.
“Uh, I don’t know if you should use that in here. It might interfere with all this
stuff.” Sam noted. Josh sighed and picked up the bedside phone, consulting his
cell for the number. “Who are you calling?”
“Someone who can give me a primer in this.” Josh told him. “Hello, I’d like to
speak to Dr. Bartlet please. This is Josh Lyman calling.”