King of the Mountain:
Part 26


Lynn Jepsen


Donnatella,

Things are off to a wonderful start as always. I've come to the
conclusion that election years in the Seaborn family are awful. Yeah, I
know, not the most astute deduction I've made, but hey, I'm having an off
day. This is one of those rare days, you know, the kind where I'm glad
you're not around. I suppose that requires some explanation... I'll give
you some too, except it might be in person if I'm not careful.

Right, one explanation coming up. I guess I'm finally starting to
understand what Leo had to put up with. If Lisa wasn't here for buffer,
I'm pretty sure Toby or I would have strangled Sam by now. Anyway, I
suppose I've been under a bit of stress for the last couple months -
actually the last couple of years, but campaign pace is, well, rushed.
Here it is April already and I feel like we've barely started. Of course,
part of that feeling might come from being flat on my back in a hospital
bed. I'm sure you remember what I'm like under those conditions.

I know I have some explaining to do, but honestly I didn't think anything
was wrong - according to CJ "I didn't think" is the operative part of
that sentence, and what Lisa has to say on the subject is mostly
unprintable, but nevertheless, I still don't think I'm all that wrong
here. You agree with me, right? Just, you know, smite my enemies or
something and I'll take that as a sign. Saint Donnatella. Quite a ring to
it. I can hear you laughing at me right now. Funny how you remember the
sound of things years after you last hear them....

I'm beating around the bush here, so to get to the point, apparently
having major blood vessels patched batch together puts you at risk for
heart problems. Go figure. Throw in a healthy political career, and an
assistant who doesn't steal my french fries and I guess I'm just asking
for trouble. I'm under orders to exercise more, cut out the french fries,
and not work more hours than Toby.

You know, the one thing I've missed in Sacramento is our standing Sunday
afternoon get together. I'm getting out of here tomorrow, and then I
think Toby and I are going to the Hill to appease Reynolds (you remember
him, you called him "Hoynes lite"), and I thought I would stop by. God,
Donna, I miss you. All that higher power crap Leo and Lisa are so fond of
telling me about sucks. I mean, it's a horrible replacement for a person,
you know?

Okay, I'm going to end this before I start to get all philosophical, but
I'll be by on Sunday afternoon.

Joshua.

PS. I was never Deputy Downer. Deputy Dufus maybe, but not Deputy Downer.

------------------------------------
Wiping my eyes, I fold the letter back into the envelope, and stick it
into the plastic thingy that's supposed to hold a card before stuffing
the roses into the stone vase. It's cold for April. It's almost as cold
as it was that January, and I can't quite remember why we buried her
here, but I'm sort of glad too. Wisconsin would be even colder.

The wind blows my tie back over my left shoulder, and I pull it back into
place and try and straighten it. This isn't one of my many talents.
"Josh." Tilting my head to the side, I acknowledge Toby, but just barely.
You know, Donna, if we make it back to the White House, I'll try to make
it over here more often. "Josh." His hand rests on my arm then, and I
shrug. Time to go make friends.

*

That didn't go well. Toby's still muttering under his breath, and we left
Reynolds behind over an hour ago. Of course, I would imagine half his
grumpiness is because CJ hasn't been sleeping well, and if CJ is anything
like Lisa, is she can't sleep, he can't sleep. Sam whined for the entire
nine months, at least Toby's keeping it to himself.

Speaking of Sam.... No, I won't call him yet. With the time difference
it'll be after midnight there, and I would hope he's on enough
painkillers to sleep. CJ's telling the press it was a freak sailing
mishap, but I don't know how many of them are actually buying that. Of
course, no one's about to mention that the Governor of the great state of
California and Presidential candidate was beat up by a ten year old. I
mean, who knew the girl played full contact football?

Sarah's been fussing over Laurel all week, and I suppose I should be
grateful, except, that leaves the rest of us with Sam, and Sam, when
whining, is a very unpleasant person to be around. Other than that, and
the pesky buzzing in my ear that is Mark Reynolds, life is good. True,
I'm not thrilled with the goodwill mission Toby and I were forced to make
to the House, but I'll live. I'm trying not to, you know, stress
unnecessarily. It hardly ever works, but I do try.

Leaving Toby at the bar, I step outside, and take deep breaths, trying to
force the smell of his cigars from my lungs.

"Josh? Josh Lyman? My God, it is you!" I get a chance to almost turn to
see who's calling my name before I get mauled. It's moments like this I
wonder if I have a psycho stalker fan in the club. When she pulls back, I
have to do a double take. Ginger has a couple gray hairs, and there are a
few lines that I don't really remember, but hell, I didn't pay that much
attention back then, and she's grinning. "It's been forever. I thought
you'd be in California with Sam." Yeah, well, we made a mercy mission to
the Hill. She wrinkles her nose, and nods knowingly. "Reynolds is a pain,
isn't he?" How did you know.... "I'm working for him now." Oh you poor
dear.

"I heard about CJ. Tell her and Toby congratulations for me." Tell Toby
yourself. He's inside. She squeals then, and I can't imagine why anyone
would be that eager to see the ogre. Quite frankly, if he didn't have the
hotel key..... She disappears inside, and I contemplate following her
when my phone rings. Hey Claudia Jean! "I'm going to hurt him!" Who did
what? Oh, well, yeah, I'd hurt him too. "I mean, just because I've got a
rubber band holding my pants together does not mean..... I'm going to
hurt him." Sam, you just need to hide under the bed for a while. "He's
impossible today. I mean, I realize getting slammed by a ten year old is
demoralizing, but he cannot be in enough pain to justify whining like
that."

Okay, so talking to Toby isn't that bad.

King of the Mountain: Part 27

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