My Funny Valentine
Cara
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My funny Valentine
Sweet comic Valentine
You make me smile in my heart
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Oh, my God. I don't believe this day is actually *here.* Six months. Today is my six month anniversary. August 14th, my six month anniversary. Six months ago was Valentine's Day, when I went out with Sam for the first time. I check my calendar to be sure. Yep, there it is. Circled in red ink. Red for Valentines.
I was so scared then. But now I know that he wouldn't let it happen, would he? I tell myself that Sam Seaborn is not in his current position because of a lack of brains, although sometimes he displays a startling lack of common sense. Still, he's thought this through, *we've* thought this through, and we're going through with it, dammit. This past six months has been the absolute best.
I just don't ever want to lose him the way I've seen friends lose their men. Late night screaming matches, and sounds of slamming doors are not those that I want to permeate my dreams. I'd rather have laughing, joking, hell, maybe even sounds of passionate sex, but please don't let Sam go the way of the others. We've become so close it's like we're one mind. Sometimes he'll finish my sentences. And then we'll look at each other and laugh.
The others have taken it well. At first everyone was freaking out, of course, and then Sam and I showed them that we meant business. Josh in particular I wanted to kill. But that worked out, he came around. Josh said he was lonely, and we've addressed that. Sam and I have tried to include him. He really did have a point, when I think about it. We've always been the Three Musketeers, so to speak. If the other two musketeers left me out I'd be pretty pissed off myself. But Sam and I have shown Josh that just because two of us are dating doesn't mean the third is left in the dust.
Speaking of, here's the man himself. He looks pretty happy. I take that to mean he and Donna are over their fight. I never saw a couple more suited to each other than Josh and his assistant. Leo raised holy hell, but even he was struck by how connected they are. While Sam and I finish each other's sentences, Donna knows what Josh is going to say long before he says it.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Your looks aren't laughable
So photographable
And you're my favourite work of art
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And yet, I smile to myself. Sam is a perfect match for me, better than many would believe. As clichéd as it sounds, the old “opposites attract” is really perfect in this situation. I'm the first to acknowledge that I have a real cynical streak in me. It comes from years of Washington politics, as is only natural. If there's something good about to happen, my first thought isn't “oh yay.” It's “What's the catch here.” It happens far too often.
Yet Sam has been in law and politics as long as, if not longer than me, and he still has that naïve idealism. He honestly wakes up in the morning looking to do good for others, and it shows. It drives Toby mad. To a point it annoys me. But at the very heart of the man is goodness and purity. While in the workplace this is a burden, and often something to be dealt with – it's a little unrealistic. But at home it makes for one of the most sensitive, caring men I've ever met.
He makes me laugh. That's important. It's often unintentional and it sometimes results in embarrassment, but he has enough self-confidence now to know that in the long run it doesn't matter. Besides, he can afford it. After all the messes he's gotten himself into, Sam has a reputation as a liability, but at the very least he's *our* liability. We watch over him, pray for him, help him, and in turn he gives us brilliant speeches and the ability, by watching him, to laugh at ourselves.
Now Cathy comes over to hand me a note from her boss, requesting my presence at his place tonight. I happily accept. All the White House women, the First Lady included, have been so supportive. She was the one who got Leo to deal with the press, and to avoid yelling at the two of us. It isn't that Leo is so hard-hearted, it's just that he thinks in strictly political mode. Besides, I secretly think he wonders how the two of us can possibly be together. It's not the match everyone would think of, that's for sure.
I wonder how Sam is doing right now.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak, are you smart?
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
The thing I truly love about Sam is that he makes no secret about his vulnerability. Other men, my best friend Josh included, tend to act as if the slightest ounce of femininity was the kiss of death. And acting like being a woman is a bad thing isn't likely to endear a guy to us chicks. But Sam knows very well that even if he doesn't understand women, he understands that I am a woman. Underneath this shell of competence and pseudo-masculinity, part of me likes candles, and soft sheets and curling up at night to watch old movies on TV. It happens. And Sam knows and respects that side. One of the many reasons I love him.
I wonder where Danny is today. Normally he's bugging me for stories over anything and everything. I do think about him. It's not good for my ego to think about the look on his face when I told him I was dating Sam. I hurt him, I know, and I've invested quite a few mea culpa's on that score. Still, I like to think I don't have that kind of effect on men. At least I hope I don't. He hasn't said too much. Yet I keep waiting for a bomb to drop or something. Danny isn't the type of person to give up easily, and yet I keep telling myself that he sees I'm happy, and that's enough. I hope he's this happy, whatever he's doing.
Sam once told me that he fell in love with me in the space of days. We were friends, and then that one day in Maryland apparently got to both of us. The next day in the White House … I still remember wanting to kill Donna. The same Donna who is now one of my best friends. We've shored each other up through this all. Dating the Deputy Chief of Staff and the Deputy Communications Director has made us kindreds of a sort. Josh and Sam are so in tune that it only makes sense their girlfriends would be the same way. Bit by bit I discover things about Donna that I never knew. I guess that's the way it goes.
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But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay, little Valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day …
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Still, I think this will work out all right. Hopefully the next six months will pass as happily and harmoniously, if not more so. And maybe the press will leave us alone. There are more important things to worry about. Like terrorism, and poverty. But somehow, somewhere, I think we'll find a way to help that. Not get rid of it – I don't think that can truly be done. But we'll find a way.
See? Some of Sam's idealism just rubbed off on me.
She's Always a Woman
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