Disclaimers
Copyright:
These characters originated in the deep dark recesses of TN and Advocate's
overworked brains.
Copyright © 2001 by T. Novan, Advocate. All Rights Reserved.
Sexual Content: It's in there and it involves two women. If you're under 18 or this
type of fiction is illegal in your neck of the woods, please move on. This
story is intended for an adult audience only.
Violence:
Mild
Language:
Mild profanity
Acknowledgements: To our beta readers, Barbara Davies and Maggie Sheridan - your
assistance was invaluable! And, of course, we had a blast working together. But
we won't bore you with our mutual admiration. While we've got your attention,
we'd like to offer a special 'I love you' to our respective spouses
The Book: We
are very pleased to announce that 'Madam President' is under contract for print
publication by a brand new publishing house called Jane Doe Press (www.janedoepress.com). An announcement
concerning preordering should hit the web very soon. Also, you should know that
the print version will contain additional scenes not included in the online
version. Don't worry, the online version is a complete story. Consider the
print version a 'directors' cut'
The Book: 2005 Update: Madam President (and it's sequel First Lady) are now available
from Cavalier Press http://www.cavalierpress.com/
Comments/Feedback: Tnovan@aol.com and
advocate8704@yahoo.com
Madam President
By
T. Novan and Advocate (Blayne Cooper)
Prologue
November 2020
Friday, November 6th
Her iron, slightly sweaty grip on the
chair's armrests clamped down even harder, causing white knuckles to stand out
in vivid relief against the dark blue vinyl. She would have chewed her lower
lip in consternation if she could have. But she couldn't. Right now all she
could do was pray. I'm gonna be okay. I am. I can do this. Children do this,
for Christ's sake! Her head snapped to one side, wrinkling the white, paper
bib tied round her neck, and gray eyes went impossibly wide at the sound of
footsteps. Oh, no. Someone's coming. It'll be him!
"Hello? Anybody
home?" A cheerful voice chuckled for just a split second before a balding
head, wreathed with white hair, peeked around the slightly open door. "Hi
there!" The man smiled amiably at the frightened woman and marched happily
into the room. "I'm Doctor Cardozo. So that means you must be..." He
discreetly peeked at his patient's chart, having forgotten the name already, as
he slipped into a pair of rubber gloves. Snapping the second glove loudly, he
scanned for the pertinent information that his assistant had emphasized with
hot pink highlighter.
Lauren Strayer
Blood diseases: None
reported
Last checkup:
Patient Assessment:
Complains of chronic pain in....
He glanced up from the chart
and at Lauren. "Ms. Strayer, I think when you were here the last time you
must have misunderstood one of my colleague's instructions. Checkup time comes
around every six months. Not every six years." He shook his head sadly.
His voice was mildly
chastising, and Lauren nodded but rolled her eyes. Asshole, she thought
tartly. I only come here because you're close to my apartment. One more
snotty comment, and I'm moving.
Dr. Cardozo scanned the
small diagram of the human mouth where an 'X' was placed on the lower left
wisdom tooth. He pursed his lips for a moment then set the chart down, pulling
up a stool next to Lauren.
"Well now, let's
see what we have." He grabbed a shiny silver pick from a tray full of
instruments and pointed it at Lauren's mouth, which was already being held open
by the jaw spreader that had been inserted by the dental assistant who had
prepped her. One look, and the assistant had known that tooth was coming out...
today.
Round, apprehensive eyes
followed the instrument as it moved closer to its target. When it got within an
inch or two of Lauren's mouth, she jerked her head away in pure reaction.
The dentist exhaled
tiredly. "Come on now, Ms. Strayer. This is just a probe." He held
out the pick for her to see. "I know you must be hurting. Your cheek is
all pink and swollen." A cold finger poked the body part in question and
Lauren winced, grunting her agreement.
She glared at him
evilly, but, knowing he was right, dutifully turned her head and presented him
with her wide-open mouth. Not that I have a choice with this thing holding
my mouth open like the catch of the day. He immediately made a hissing
noise that she correctly assumed meant something bad. Very bad.
"Needs to come
out," he informed her bluntly. And, while he didn't do what he was about
to do very often, he thought with this patient he'd make an exception. It was
the reason he still kept the old machine around. "This will help." He
reached over and turned a nozzle, then fiddled with a mask for a moment before
placing it over Lauren's nose and mouth. "Just breathe normally."
She looked startled for
a second, but then remembered getting laughing gas once as a child. Nice
bedside manner. You could have at least explained what you were doing first. Lauren
thought hard. Would they need to use the... she gulped... laser to extract a
tooth? She couldn't imagine why. And with that self-serving conclusion, the
woman felt her painfully ridged body begin to relax.
"You hold
this." The dentist pried Lauren's fingers from one of the armrests and
moved her hand to the mask. "I'll be back in a minute, and we'll fix you
right up. Would you like to watch television while you wait?"
Lauren nodded
gratefully. She would do anything to keep her mind off what was about to
happen.
"TV on," he
commanded. Three tiny, flat, gray boxes, each mounted strategically on a
different wall, shot angled beams that, when combined, formed a stunning,
three- dimensional picture whose edges simply fuzzed away into reality. Filling
the space in the corner of the room there was now a handsome anchorman and his
large paper-covered desk. 'Election 2020' was written in red, white and blue
block letters and hovered over his left shoulder.
Lauren groaned loudly,
but it was too late. Dr. Cardozo had already scuttled out of the room,
presumably to attend to his next victim. Irritably, she pulled the mask away
from her face and tried to give the voice command 'change channel' but the
current state of her mouth made it impossible, her efforts serving only to drip
saliva down her chin. Then she tried to curse, but that didn't work either.
Which only made her want to curse some more. Finally, she simply gave up and
pressed the gas mask tightly against her face. Inhaling deeply, she prayed
she'd be so stoned in a few seconds that she would miss the Ken doll-like
anchorman droning on and on about President-elect Marlowe.
The election music cued
up and, in the blink of an eye, Devlyn Marlowe, at her podium on the steps of
the Governor's mansion in
"Oh, God!" Not
her again! Every day. Day after day after day after day... The buzzing from
the room's fluorescent lights began to grow louder and louder, and Lauren felt
her body began to magically sink into the chair as a lovely sense of
dislocation overtook her. She stared at the charismatic woman dressed in a
long, black trench coat who appeared oblivious to the light drizzle dampening
her head and coat.
"How are you
feeling, Ms. Strayer?" Dr. Cardozo reappeared at her side, and she blinked
dazedly at him, not having heard him come in. He looked at her and grinned
knowingly, quite certain she was feeling no pain at the moment. "I think
we're finished with this now." The man gently pulled away Lauren's mask.
"Don't you just love her?" He motioned over his shoulder with an
instrument.
Lauren furrowed her
brow. Love her? Nooooooo. I'm sick of her and this entire election. She
allowed President-elect Marlowe's acceptance speech to roll right over her, the
low tone of the dark-haired woman's voice soothing her further. But even so,
her gaze remained focused on Marlowe's image. She's sure easy on the eyes.
Nice hair, tall, her mind rambled as the dentist began rooting around in
her mouth.
After a few moments, the
dentist began flushing Lauren's mouth with water and suctioning it back out,
the noise preventing him from hearing the television. "Volume up
two," he ordered absently.
Lauren jumped a little,
shocked back to the moment when Marlowe's voice suddenly grew too loud to
ignore.
Devlyn Marlowe leaned
forward on the podium, her hands resting on its edges. Although she was
physically exhausted from what had been a grueling campaign, one whose final
numbers were the closest since the Gore/Bush fiasco twenty years prior, she fed
off the crowd's energy, soaking up their excitement, the palpable charge in the
air reinvigorating frazzled nerves. "We did it!" She raised a fist in
victory, and the crowd roared.
The President-elect
laughed warmly, then raised her palms to quiet them so she could continue
speaking. Devlyn looked up and flashed a charismatic, heart-stopping smile at
someone in the crowd. And Lauren sucked in a breath; her drug-induced stupor
further adding to the feeling that Devlyn was smiling directly at her. Wow.
Marlowe's gaze dropped
from Lauren's, and she stuck her wet hands in her coat pockets, stepping down
several stairs so she could speak more directly to the crowd. A flurry of
activity around her made it clear that that move wasn't expected by the Secret
Service agents flanking the edge of the steps. And several of them moved
smoothly into new positions before disappearing from view. "As one of my
favorite authors wrote, 'When faced with what seems like an insurmountable
challenge, you have but one choice... to dig deeper within yourself than you
ever believed possible... to question the dedication and worthiness of your
very soul... and then to throw caution to the winds and take your fate in your
own two hands.' "
Lauren began choking
wildly, gasping for air, her flailing arms knocking into the instrument tray
and sending several tools onto her lap. Oh, my God!
The crowd had gone
respectfully silent, but exploded once again when Devlyn added, "We did
that, folks... and we made history in the process!" Her voice was drowned
out by the cheering masses, and the anchorman broke in to add his own
commentary.
"Dammit!" Dr.
Cardozo clumsily yanked his hand out of the convulsing woman's mouth, her tooth
trapped between the bloody tips of his shaking forceps. Thank God she didn't
swallow it. My malpractice insurance is already hell. "What's wrong?
Are you hurt?"
"Cu... Cu...
Cu...!!!"
"What? What?"
he asked desperately, beginning to panic over Lauren's agitated state. Maybe
she'd sue him anyway. He practically threw down the forceps onto the askew
tray, sending Lauren's wisdom tooth bouncing across the carpet.
Without warning, the
woman leaned over to a small porcelain basin and carelessly ripped the jaw
spreader from her mouth, spitting and hacking several times in the process. Her
lips were numb, and she could barely form the words. "Cu... Cu..."
She swallowed and smacked her unresponsive cheeks and lips with her hands.
"Lord have mercy,
girl. What is it?"
Lauren extended her
finger toward the image of the anchorman who was still chatting away happily. A
still head shot of Devlyn's was floating disembodied above him as election
result percentages ran in a continuous stream just below her neck, disappearing
into the area where Dr. Cardozo's coat rack stood.
"She cu...
cu..."
Dr. Cardozo stared at
her expectantly.
"She quoted
me!" Lauren was finally able to blurt out. She frowned and wiped away a
long string of saliva that was dangling freely from her chin.
The man rubbed his
forehead, starting to suspect that Lauren's revelation didn't have anything to
do with dentistry. "Huh?"
Lauren blinked in
confusion, the laughing gas making her tongue feel thick, and her senses dull.
"I'm the... the author." She ran a hand through wavy,
shoulder-length, blonde hair. "Sweet Jesus," she drawled, the words
taking on a slur at the end. "I didn't even vote for the Yankee!"
A glimpse of color
caught her eye, and Lauren suddenly peered down at her paper bib, which was
speckled with red dots and several good sized crimson smears. Her eyes widened,
and the color drained from her face. "Is that blo... bloo?"
"Blood," Dr.
Cardozo finished, looking down at Lauren's limp form which was lying peacefully
in the dental chair. "Shit." Stepping around the unconscious woman's
feet, he walked over to the doorway and motioned over the receptionist. "I
need a phone number."
The receptionist peered
inside the exam room. "Your lawyer?"
"My lawyer,"
he confirmed with a scowl.
* * *
Lauren pulled into her
designated parking space outside her apartment complex, shutting down the
engine with the voice command 'engine off' followed by '4213' which happened to
be the last four digits of her social security number. In an effort to make her
life simple, she used the same four numbers for every code she had, knowing
full well that any thief with minimal brainstem activity could wipe her out
financially in a heartbeat. Then again, she never got locked out of her
apartment or accidentally routed her grocery bill to the phone company. Simple
was good, she decided.
The fair-haired woman
slipped off small, silver, wire-framed glasses and leaned over, resting her
forehead against the steering wheel. After she had woken up at the dentist's
office, it had taken nearly thirty minutes to convince the man that she wasn't
going to sue him. She explained that passing out or throwing up was her typical
reaction to the sight of her own blood. Nothing like making a total and
complete fool of myself to start the day off right.
Lauren groaned slightly,
her jaw feeling like she'd been hit in the face with a two-by-four. She plucked
a small bottle of prescription pain pills she'd picked up on the way home out
of her jacket pocket. Squinting, she studied the label, then shook her head and
relented, sliding her glasses back into place. Three more hours until I can
take another one. Just great. Her head felt like it was going to explode
this very minute.
Stuffing the bottle back
in her pocket, she exited her car and slowly made her way up the outdoor
staircase to her second floor apartment. With one hand, she closed the lapels
of her suede jacket to ward off the chill. November in
She rounded a blind
corner to her apartment, digging in her purse for the keys she'd already put
away without thinking. When she glanced up, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Three slightly shivering men, two dressed in suits and one in khakis and a
sport coat, appeared to be waiting for her outside her apartment door.
The oldest of the trio,
a heavy-set man in his late fifties with a slightly graying goatee, caught
sight of Lauren and visibly relaxed. "Lauren! I'm glad we caught you. I
tried to call you, but I kept getting your service."
Lauren scrunched up her
face as she narrowed her eyes. "
"Damn, I need to
adjust the color on my machine. You're much more of a blonde than a
redhead." His eyes twinkled happily. "Hiya, sweetheart. Oooo... how
does the other guy look?" He grazed her slightly black and blue cheek with
his fingertips.
Lauren didn't bother to
answer his question. Instead, she grinned as much as her mouth packed with
cotton swabs would allow. His rapid speech and nasal,
He smiled back in
response and felt himself pulled into a tight, heartfelt hug, wishing, as he
had many times over the years, that he were young enough to turn this pretty
woman's head.
Lauren caught a whiff of
peppermint, and a light crunching sound near her ear confirmed that he was
chewing a piece of hard candy. "What are you doing here?" she asked
curiously, her hands grasping his biceps so she could push back and look him
over again. "I sent you those contract revisions three days ago. There was
no need to come all the way out here for that." She smacked his arm
lightly.
Remembering that there
were two strangers standing only a few feet away, Lauren's gaze traveled to the
other men who were both wearing navy blue, three-piece suits, and gray
overcoats. She frowned and stopped talking, pressing her lips against
At the word 'mob' the
two other men's ears seemed to perk up like a curious German Shepherd's.
"Kidding,"
* * *
"No."
Arching a pale, slender
eyebrow, Lauren crossed her arms over her chest. "It's a simple word,
"Please let
President-elect Marlowe know that I'm flattered beyond words that she wants me
to do her biography. But that I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline. I'm
sorry you had to come all the way to
Michael Oaks, one of
Devlyn's most trusted aides, and soon-to-be Social Secretary for the new
administration, reluctantly shook Lauren's hand, more than a little pissed off
that he'd flown from
But Michael knew his
boss would expect him to give Strayer the full court press, no matter how he
personally felt about the task. His dark eyes went serious. "Why, Ms.
Strayer? Why won't you consider President-elect Marlowe's request? This is an
unparalleled honor. Surely you don't have a better offer pending?" He
looked over at Wayne, who wildly shook his head 'no'.
The writer smiled
sweetly and did her best to hold her tongue. Honor, my ass. This is one of
those jobs where they tell you what to write, and then you slap your name on
the book cover. No, thanks... she can find herself another propaganda puppet. "I'm
simply not interested." Her tone was polite but cooling quickly.
"The compensation
offer is more than generous, but still negotiable. We consulted several major
publishing companies who indicated what we are offering is well above what
their highest paid historians and biographers command."
"I'm sure it is.
But the answer is still 'no'," she insisted. I don't respond well to
overly aggressive, buddy. And you've already crossed that line.
The young black man
tried again. "But-"
Lauren lifted her hands
in forestallment. "First of all, I don't specialize in politicians."
"If I'm not
mistaken, your last biography was of Cardinal James O'Roarke. Are you going to
stand here and tell me that the Catholic Church isn't a political
institution?" His voice was rising in volume and had taken on a slightly
sarcastic edge.
Lauren felt her temper
beginning to rise. Who did he think he was? The man next to him, who might as
well have had 'Secret Service' tattooed on his forehead, stepped closer to her,
invading her private space and looking at her with disapproving eyes. But she
refused to back down. Am I supposed to be intimidated by 'no neck'? I think
not. I can see how you operate, Devlyn Marlowe! "I've only been home
for a few months after spending nearly two years in
"It's important to
the nation that..." Mr. Oaks continued, not stopping when Lauren tried to
get a word in edgewise several times.
Wayne noticed the
woman's face turning pink, then, finally, a bright red. He crunched down a new
mint nervously. Oh, no. Here it comes. The IRS is going to audit
Starlight Publishing, and me personally, every single year from now until the
end of time! "Lauren, please. I know you had your heart set on Maya
Angelou. But this is the President of the United States for God's sake!"
"No means no,"
Lauren ground out forcefully, her temper snapping. She marched over to the
front door and flung it open with a loud bang. She automatically bent over and
used one arm to keep her rambunctious Pug, Gremlin, from escaping. "This
conversation is over."
Sunday, November 8th
The sedan slowed.
Actually, several sedans slowed. To the casual observer, they could've been
mistaken for a procession carrying a family mourning the loss of someone it
loved. And if it weren't for the identity of one of the people in the third
car, that might have been true. Before her car had even come to a complete
stop, men in dark suits surrounded it; the men who protected the life of the
President-elect. With a quick but thorough check, the area was deemed secure,
and two long legs appeared from behind an automobile door as Devlyn Marlowe
began to climb out of the car.
She leaned over, spoke
to the other occupants, and retrieved a bouquet of roses before slowly walking
to the stone that sat some thirty feet way. The men assigned to guard her were
dutiful, but extremely respectful of her privacy at this moment, keeping as far
away as safety permitted. She adjusted her scarf and tugged on the collar of
her coat, raising it over the back of her neck. Dev gripped the roses and
brought them to her nose, but most of their sweet, spicy fragrance was swept
away by the cold autumn air.
She settled down in
front of the gravestone, the damp, leaf-strewn grass soaking the knees of her
slacks. Devlyn placed the flowers in a ceramic vase attached to the stone and
brushed away a few twigs and leaves that had clustered around the base of the
headstone. "Hiya, beautiful. I had to come today because things are going
to get very nuts for me very shortly." Dev gave a slight chuckle as she
intently studied a bright orange leaf with gloved hands. "Look who I'm
trying to kid. Things are already nuts for me."
Dev let go of the leaf
and watched the wind carry it away. She leaned forward so her fingers could
trace the outline of the letters carved in stone. "I miss you. Sometimes
at night, I still wake up and reach for you." She smiled and her hand
dropped away. "I've been thinking about you a lot lately. I wouldn't be
where I am if it hadn't been for you. I wish we could be together now."
Her smile turned
wistful. "You'd make a great First Lady." Dev settled back on her
bottom, resting with her legs stretched before her. She crossed her ankles.
"Wonder how they would have handled that? At least I think they would have
called you First Lady." She sighed, shaking her head. "Doesn't
matter. You were, and always will be, my first lady, and that's what is
important."
"I don't think I'll
be coming back, Samantha. I'll bring the kids, of course. Anytime they
want," she quickly added. "But I think... for me... I need to try and
focus on the future for a while." She was silent for a long moment,
listening to the faint howl of the wind and the sound of passing cars in the distance.
"Yeah." She sighed and nodded a little. "I knew you'd
understand."
Dev glanced back to the
caravan and signaled. One of the agents opened the door to Dev's car, and
three, small children climbed out. Ashley, the dark-haired seven-year-old,
patiently waited for her little brothers to make their way out of the back seat
before carefully taking their hands.
The tall woman smiled
affectionately as the children walked toward her. She turned back to face the
stone. "You'd be so proud of all of them. They're very special. Aaron has
a picture of you on his nightstand. He kisses you goodnight before bed."
Her voice shook a little as she spoke. "I've made sure they know you. They
know both their Moms." She chuckled suddenly. "Ashley, bless her, has
learned to roll her eyes at me the same way you used to."
The children joined her,
and Aaron, the youngest at four, settled himself into Dev's lap, snuggling
round her neck, while the older two placed tiny bouquets of flowers on the
grass in front of the grave.
"Hi, Mommy,"
Ashley greeted easily, taking a seat Indian style. "I got an 'A' in math
today. Mom says I'm doing real good in math now."
On impulse,
five-year-old Christopher gave the cold stone a little kiss, then joined his
brother in Dev's lap. At five, the fair-haired little boy was by far the
quietest of the three kids. Ashley and Aaron seemed to take their monthly
visits in stride. But Christopher seemed to have as difficult a time as Dev
herself. Even though he never complained, she wondered if she should stop
bringing him.
But Devlyn knew it was
important to make these wonderful children understand that they had, indeed,
had two parents who loved them very much. Even if one had been cruelly ripped
away from them by a drunk driver just a few weeks after Aaron was born. It hurt
Devlyn's soul that none of them could really remember much about Samantha. Only
Ashley even had the smallest hint of remembrance. And Dev wasn't sure if those
were genuine or a product of their many family photos.
The family spent a few
more minutes together, then the President-elect sent the children back to the
car. She stood, leaning over to leave a soft kiss on the stone just as her son
had done. "I love you, Samantha. You'll be in my prayers. Just like
always." She took a deep breath and turned for the car. She didn't cry
anymore as she walked away, and she knew that was a good thing.
* * *
Devlyn settled down in
her padded seat at the head of the dining room table with the children and
their nanny. Emma was a godsend. Samantha had hired her right after Devlyn had
Ashley. And she had been right there to lend a hand when Samantha had
Christopher and Aaron. Dev's career kept her so busy that she never seemed to
have as much time to spend with the children as she wanted. Emma had helped
take up even more slack after Samantha's death, and Dev wasn't sure whether she
or the children would have made it without her.
Emma Drysdale was
exactly what you'd want a nanny to be. Dedicated and loving. Her generous smile
and heart were appreciated by all who knew her. She was a tiny woman, with a
fierce personality, ample hips and a matronly bosom. She had a thick head of
golden/gray hair and was as quick with a hug as she was to scold. Emma was more
of a grandmother to the Marlowe children than a paid employee. And that suited
Devlyn just fine. She was one of the family, and the older woman's wrath was
nearly as legendary as her chocolate chip cookies.
"Don't you dare
think you're gonna get up from this table until you've eaten every last bite on
your plate."
Dev looked at each of
the children, wondering which was in trouble. Then she glanced at her own
plate, and she knew who was in Dutch. "I'm eating, Emma," she
protested uselessly.
"You're too skinny
as it is." Emma tsked her and pinched at a broad shoulder that was
anything but skinny. "And you're not eating. You're pushing your food
around to make it look like you're eating." Emma raised a gray brow,
glancing down at the seated woman even as she moved over to Ashley and buttered
another roll for the child. "You don't want to make a bad impression on
your children now, do you?"
"You know,"
Dev stabbed a helpless stalk of asparagus, "I hate it when you do
that."
"I know." The
nanny nodded and refilled Aaron's milk. "That's why I do it."
"Sit down,
Emma," she groaned. "The kids are fine. Eat something yourself."
Dev shook her head and leaned back in her chair, knowing her protest would go
ignored on this night, just as it had on every other night. At least until Emma
was ready to sit down.
She wasn't mistaken.
Ashley giggled and
turned her large brown eyes on her mother. "Mom?"
"Yes,
sweetheart?" Dev decided to make an effort to eat her dinner, even though
she was so tired the only thought that really appealed to her was going
straight to bed.
"Do I have to take
her with me to the zoo tomorrow?"
"Huh?" Dev's
forehead creased as she tried to figure out who her was. "Oh, you mean
Agent Hamlin?"
Ashley scowled and Dev
blinked, startled to see herself so clearly in her daughter's expression.
"I'll take that as
a yes. And I'm afraid you will, sweetheart."
With her fork, the
little girl angrily smashed into the lava river she had created with her mashed
potatoes and gravy. "None of the other kids have to."
"I know, honey.
But...I'll tell you what, we'll tell her to wear jeans and a sweatshirt,
okay?"
Ashley thought about
that for a moment. It couldn't hurt, she figured. "Fine."
Christopher and Aaron
stopped eating so they could listen intently to this conversation. They both
had new bodyguards as well.
"You might as well
get used to Agent Hamlin and try to make friends with her. She's probably going
to be with you for the next four years."
"What about
Amy?"
"Look, Moppet. Amy
was a State Trooper. She took care of you before I was elected President. Now
it's going to be a Secret Service agent and it's going to be Agent
Hamlin." She patted the girl's hand and noticed that Christopher and Aaron
didn't look any more pleased with the prospect than Ashley. Her eyes softened,
and she smiled reassuringly. "You'll get to like her as much as you liked
Amy. I'm sure of it."
"'Kay," the
little girl muttered.
"Mom, can I go
too?" Christopher piped up from his spot directly on Dev's right. "I
want to go to the zoo."
"I'm sure you do,
buddy, but this is a class trip that Moppet is taking." She grasped his
small hand in hers. "But I'll tell you what, I'll try to arrange a trip
for you and Aaron, okay?"
"Yes," Aaron
and Chris cried simultaneously. The brothers gave each other the high five.
Unfortunately, Aaron's aim was a little low, and he ended up smacking Chris in
the head. Chris immediately struck back, and a mini slapping war ensued with
the boys laughing and yelling.
"All right. Time to
get ready for bed." Emma moved from her place at the end of the table and
began herding the children toward the stairs.
Dev stood up as well,
but sat back down like a chastised child when the older woman gave her a
disapproving look.
"I am the
President-elect you know!" the tall woman protested with a fake pout.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm very impressed, Madam President-elect." Emma pointed to the full
plate. "Now eat your dinner."
"Am I ever going to
do anything that impresses you?!" Dev called to the retreating form.
"You already have.
They're named Ashley, Christopher and Aaron. Now eat."
* * *
It was nearly three more
hours before Dev was finally finished for the day and wearily began climbing
the stairs toward her bedroom. An aide caught her before her foot landed on the
top step.
"Governor?"
She let her head drop.
"Yes?"
"The Secret Service
just brought this file in for you. They said you wanted it immediately."
It's just a file.
Thank you, God! I may get to bed yet tonight. "Thanks." She took it and
gave the index a quick glance. "Strayer, Lauren Anna. Lauren not Loren,
huh?" I figured 'L. Strayer' had to be a woman. The picture she drew in
my mind....
"Governor?"
The aide looked confused.
"Oh, nothing.
Sorry. Good night."
"Good night,
ma'am."
Devlyn made her way into
Ashley's room first. It was a typical little girl's room. Filled with stuffed
animals, doll houses and all the frills. The little canopy bed only served to
remind Dev how precious her first born truly was.
"Hey, Moppet,"
she whispered into the darkness. "You asleep yet?"
"No, ma'am."
The little girl rolled over, her soft, dark eyes glinting from the light coming
from the hallway.
The tall woman took a
seat on the bed, tucking the file under her arm. She studied her little girl,
brushing messy bangs that needed trimming. "I know you don't understand
everything that's going on right now, and it's kinda scary for you."
Ashley nodded.
"But I need you to
trust me, okay? This is all a very good thing."
"My teacher says
that you're gonna be the most powerful woman in the world. Is that true?"
Startled pale eyes
blinked. "Well..."
"Even more powerful
than Wonder Woman?" The little girl popped up in her bed.
Dev looked into her
daughter's round, brown eyes. "No. No way. Wonder Woman would kick my
butt. Besides she's got that great invisible jet," Dev reminded, giving
her daughter a friendly poke in the tummy.
Ashley nodded. "And
the golden lasso."
"Right." She
gently laid her little girl back down until her shoulders sank into her fluffy
pillow. Then she leaned over, and they rubbed noses. "But you trust me...
right, Moppet?"
"Always and forever."
Little arms tightened around her neck.
They held each other for
a long moment. "Did you tell Mommy good night?"
"Yes, ma'am. Right
after my prayers."
"Good girl."
"You really miss
her, don't you?"
Devlyn frowned. Today at
the cemetery had been very hard for her, and her astute daughter had obviously
picked up on that fact. She'd been trying to say goodbye to Samantha for over
three years, and she was never very good at goodbye. Especially when it came to
people she loved. "Sure, I do."
A pensive look crossed
Ashley's face. "Maybe sometime you'll find a new mommy for us."
A lump formed in Dev's
throat, and it took her several seconds to speak around it. "Maybe,
Moppet," she conceded doubtfully. "But your Mommy was very special.
And I loved her very much."
"So did I... I... I
think."
She tucked her daughter
in, smoothing the covers underneath her chin. "I know you did. And Mommy
knows you did, too. I'm sure of it."
Ashley yawned. "Do
you think she's lonely, like you?"
The innocent words
pierced Dev's heart, and she felt the beginnings of tears. "No, sweetie.
She's happy up in heaven with grandma and grandpa. She's never lonely."
"'Kay." Sleepy
eyes slipped shut.
Dev placed a kiss on her
forehead. "Love you, Ash," she said softly, watching as the girl's
breathing grew deep and even. "Sweet dreams." On her way out of the
room she clicked on a tiny night-light that cast the space in a muted blue
glow.
Next, Dev quietly padded
to the room the boys shared where they lay asleep, tucked down in matching
racecar beds. She knelt between the beds and felt the tears come in earnest.
These boys, with their blond hair and blue eyes, were the spitting image of the
woman who had given birth to them. And neither would ever know the mother who
loved them so much.
"Dammit,
Samantha," she growled under her breath. Dev angrily sprang to her feet.
"How could you just leave us?" She covered her face with trembling
hands, immediately ashamed of her outburst. She wiped away the tears. "I'm
sorry. I didn't mean it." The tired woman forced the tears to stop, wiping
the last of them away with the sleeve of her shirt. "I love you. I didn't
mean it."
She bent over and gave
each boy a soft kiss on the cheek. "Great adventures to you both tonight.
I love you."
Closing the door gently
behind her, she made her way to her own room. She tossed the file down on a
desk near the stone fireplace. Where, true to Mrs. Drysdale's mothering nature,
there was a sandwich and a glass of milk, waiting for the President-elect.
She snorted and threw
herself into a large recliner. She hoisted the milk to her lips, then paused to
take a moment and offer a toast. "To Emma Drysdale, I wouldn't get through
the days or nights without you." She leaned over, flipping open the file
as she sipped the creamy beverage.
"Well, well, Lauren
Strayer. Aren't you just the cutest thing?" There were several pictures of
the young woman, and she held up a 5" X 7" candid shot of Lauren in
the park with her dog. The blonde was wearing a baseball cap, and a short, wavy
ponytail was poking out the back. She had on gray sweats and a bright orange
and white,
Dev examined the date on
the back of the picture and confirmed it was taken only two weeks ago. She
flipped to the next photograph. In this one, Lauren was wearing a linen suit
with a fitted skirt that stopped a few inches above her knees. The more sophisticated
clothing made the writer look older, Dev considered. Lauren's suit jacket was
draped over her shoulder and tanned arms peeked out from beneath a sleeveless,
pale blue silk blouse. She was descending the steps of some office building and
talking to a woman alongside her. The writer's hand had been caught in mid-air
as she gestured. A smile edged its way across Devlyn's lips as she took a good
long moment to enjoy Lauren's youthful good looks, devastating gray eyes and a
smile that she was sure would melt butter.
The President-elect
lifted the last picture, which was obviously Lauren's drivers' license photo.
Making a face, she shivered and pushed a button on the edge of her desk. The
silent room was suddenly filled with a quiet hum. With one last grimace, she
slid the enlarged photo into a paper-thin slot that ran along the corner of the
desk, nodding happily as her shredder obliterated the unflattering shot.
She retrieved the
picture of Lauren in the park and spoke to it. "They'll retake it if you
ask them nicely, Lauren," she chuckled. Tossing down the photo, she picked
up the neatly typed report and glanced at the bio coversheet, but the words
began to blur. She rubbed her eyes, knowing she still had several hours of
pressing work ahead of her. Hell, they told you she passed the security
check last week, Dev. The rest can wait until tomorrow.
"Well, Lauren
Strayer, I don't need this file to tell me I want your help. I already knew
that."
Dev finished her milk,
ate her sandwich, and dug into a report on Chinese trade negotiations. She
finally dropped into bed shortly after
Monday, November 9th
"No? What do you
mean 'no'?" Dev scrawled her name at the bottom of a piece of paper and
handed it to one aide while another was briefing her about her next three
appointments.
Michael Oaks shook his
head, wishing he could say to President-elect Marlowe what Lauren had told her
publisher the day before. "She doesn't want the job, Dev." He
shrugged. "It's as simple as that."
Dev shot him a look.
"Nothing is ever 'as simple as that'. And you know it." She nodded
absently to her secretary, who was going around the room and taking coffee
orders from her staff. "Why doesn't she want it? No..." she told her
secretary. "That day is bad. Can we push it up to the twenty-first?"
Michael took a seat next
to the tall woman. "Strayer gave me a few lame reasons, but I think it
comes down to the fact that she just wasn't interested in writing your
biography."
"Then we need to
get her interested."
"Dev, what does it
matter? We can get someone else. Someone better. I know you love her work, but
the woman didn't even vote for you, for God's sake!"
Now that got
Dev's attention, and she looked up from her electronic organizer.
Her customary smile slid
from her face. "What do you mean she didn't vote for me? Why not?"
Michael nodded his
thanks when a pot of coffee was set down in front of him and Dev, then moved
his elbows to make room for a mammoth stack of papers. "Didn't you read
the report on her?" He poured Dev a cup, then one for himself, drawing in
a deep, appreciative sniff of the strong aroma.
"I looked at
it," Dev said, her brow furrowing. Okay, I looked at her picture.
Shit.. "Jane?" Blue eyes scanned the crowded room.
"Here it is,
Dev." Jane, Dev's personal secretary, thrust a manila folder into Dev's
hand.
Twin eyebrows rose.
"You frighten me sometimes, Jane. You do realize this, don't you?"
The plump woman smiled
and winked. "After fifteen years, I know you better than you know
yourself, Devlyn Marlowe." Her grin broadened. "And I can't wait to
be President of the
The room exploded in
laughter, with Dev joining in. "And a wonderful President you'll make,
too. Just give a me a little bump if I ever get in your way."
Dev took a sip of hot
coffee and plucked a blueberry bagel from a loaded tray that was now circling
the room. She opened the file. Who are you, Lauren Strayer? And why did you
turn me down? The room faded away as she began to concentrate on the words
before her. She speed read the coversheet bio before tackling the report in
toto.
Subject: Lauren Anna
Strayer
D.O.B.:
Ht.: 5'6" Wt.: 124
Eyes: Gray Hair: Blonde
Dev's eyes scanned
beyond the address, non-remarkable medical history, lack of criminal history
and employment information.
Marital Status: Divorced
(dates of marriage
Family: No children, no
siblings, no significant other, parents: still living
Her thoughts stopped
there for a moment. Sounds lonely.
Education: BA in
History, minor in English Literature,
Devlyn laughed as she
read about the eleven outstanding parking tickets the City of
She flipped to the back
of the file for the supplemental information she knew would be there, quickly
examining a photograph of Lauren's ex-husband, Judd Radison, an architect
living in Chicago who had remarried two months after his divorce from Lauren.
He now had a two-and-a-half-year-old-son. Dev did the math and stifled a curse.
Cheating rat bastard. She decided to shred his picture later, too.
She frowned when there
were no photographs of Lauren's parents, but the brief report indicated Howard
Strayer was a retired plumber and 45-year member, and former Union Steward, for
the American Plumbers'
When Dev looked up from
her reading, ten minutes later, she was alone in the conference room. Empty
cups were everywhere, paper plates were strewn around the room and for the
first time she noticed the ticking beeping of an alarm that had been set to
remind her of her first appointment. Her coffee was cold, and she pushed the
cup away with distaste.
Devlyn shuffled back to
the first page of the file and, taking a large bite of her bagel, she picked up
her phone.
* * *
Lauren began rooting
around in her purse, finally finding a small mirror. "Auto drive on.
Preset destination number 12. 4213." Lauren dropped her hand from the
wheel and pushed her seat back as the car signaled and made a smooth lane
change. She glanced at her watch. She was already late. "Increase speed by
10 miles per hour. 4213." She waited for the expected warning beep, then
overrode the automatic speed control system with a voice command. "Speed
override approved. 4213."
Holding up a small hand
mirror, she applied a light coat of pale lipstick. She jumped when her phone
rang, causing her to smear her chin with a streak of pink. "Uck." She
snagged a tissue from a holder between the seats, and let the phone continue to
ring as she wiped her face. On the fifth ring she answered, "Hello."
"Hello," a
strong but decidedly female voice burred. "Is this Ms. Lauren
Strayer?"
Lauren held the phone
away from her face and stared at it as though she'd never seen it before. I
know that voice.
"Hello? Ms.
Strayer?"
Lauren pressed the
receiver back to her ear, impressed, despite the fact that she truly didn't
want to be. "This..." She cleared her throat gently. "This is
Lauren Strayer."
Dev smiled, easily
picking up on the younger woman's surprise and instantly loving the sweet,
Southern drawl. "I'm glad to be talking with you myself. Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm..."
"The President of
the
"President-elect,
actually." Devlyn kicked her feet up on the table, wishing that her
always-ravenous staff hadn't scarfed down all the bagels. She found herself
wanting another. "You spoke with my aide, Michael Oaks, yesterday?"
Lauren nodded. "I
did." Her shock began to give way to remembered anger. "And I don't
appreciate being strong-armed," she said, her tone suddenly cool.
Dev sat up straight, her
feet sliding from the table and striking the ground with a loud thud.
"What do you mean 'strong-armed'?" What did you do, Michael?!
"Why else was Mr.
Oaks accompanied by Mighty Joe Young?"
Mighty Joe Young? Dev closed her eyes. Oh, God.
Tell me he didn't bring Francis. "Could you be referring to Francis
Davies? The very intense and unfortunate Secret Service agent, whose head
happens to grow directly out of his shoulders?"
A laugh escaped Lauren,
and she clamped down on it with the palm of her hand. A politician with a
genuine sense of humor? It's snowing in hell. "That name sounds
familiar," she offered noncommittally, not bothering to wipe the smile off
her face.
"Then please allow
me to immediately apologize. I'm certain that Francis' presence wasn't intended
to intimidate." Please don't ask me why else he was there then.
Lauren held the phone
out again and looked at it, wishing could see Devlyn Marlowe's face. She
sounded sincere enough. "Perhaps I misunderstood then," she heard
herself say.
"Ms. Strayer, your
work is both intelligent and insightful. I'm a huge fan."
Lauren was surprised
again by Dev's enthusiastic praise and felt her cheeks growing warm.
"Th... Thank you." What she didn't know was that Dev was sporting a
matching blush on the other end of the phone.
The President-elect
mentally scolded herself for sounding like a star-struck teenager. "I need
your help. I'm in a very unique position, Ms. Strayer. One that needs to be
skillfully and, more importantly, accurately recorded." Dev's alarm went
off, and she swatted at it with an irritated hand.
"I couldn't agree
more."
Dark eyebrows lifted in
surprise. "Then you'll do it?" People started filing into the
conference room.
"I didn't say
that."
Devlyn sighed in
frustration. "Please, Ms. Strayer, help me out here. I've got a meeting in
two minutes. Tell me what I need to do to get you to say yes."
Lauren's car came to a
stop outside the public library and waited dutifully for her to give the
command to kill the ignition. "I don't think there is anything you could
say," she replied honestly. "I'm flattered. Really, I am." And
curious as hell. "But I don't want to have my copy ghost written by
the Emancipation Party President. That's not the type of work I do. I'd be
happy to recommend someone..."
"What are you
talking about?"
Lauren could hear the
puzzlement in Devlyn's voice.
"That's not what I
want." What did Michael say to you?
The writer blew out a
breath, wanting to believe the other woman, but knowing better. "You say that
now. But..."
"But nothing! I
don't want a 'yes man' for the party. The party is paying you because I
couldn't see asking the taxpayers to do it. And if I paid you myself it would
call your professionalism into question, would it not?"
Lauren leaned forward,
listening intently. "Yes, it would."
"I want someone
with honesty and integrity and real talent. I want you, Ms Strayer. You'd have
free rein to write whatever you see fit." Dev waved in the woman who she
hoped would be the next head of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Cursing the time, she spoke rapidly. "I'm giving you full access to
everything and complete editorial control of the content. You're only
constraint will be working within the bounds of reasonable National Security."
Dev laughed. "And keeping up with me."
Lauren stared at the
phone for the third time, not believing what she was hearing.
Dev held up a single
finger, indicating to her people in the room she'd be just one more minute, as
the last person sat down at the table and Jane closed the conference room door.
The dark-haired woman turned her back to her guests and crossed her fingers.
"Was that what you needed to hear, Ms. Strayer?"
Lauren nodded dumbly. Full
access? Editorial control? And a 'subject' who is making history with
every thing she does? "Yeah." She swallowed hard. "That was
what I needed to hear."
~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter
I
January
2021
Thursday, January 21st
Dev took a deep breath and looked at
David McMillian, her oldest and most trusted friend, and the new White House
Chief of Staff. She'd known him since her undergraduate days at Harvard. They'd
studied and even roomed together for a semester, before Dev meet Samantha.
Their time together cemented a friendship that had become a permanent fixture
in both their lives.
While Devlyn's political
aspirations put her squarely in the spotlight, David was more than content to
play behind the scenes, where he often, and only half-jokingly, reminded Dev,
the realpower lay.
Dev reached out and
grasped the cool metal knob, an astonished smile playing on her lips. "We
did it."
"Yes, we did, Madam
President."
"Cut that
out." She scoffed at the title coming from him. They were beyond things
like that, at least in private. And David knew it. But still, she was fun to
tweak. "Or I'll make you call me Wonder Woman."
The tall, red-haired man
scratched his jaw, and his tobacco brown eyes went slightly round.
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
It was just after dawn,
and the offices were empty, an almost haunting quiet surrounding them. This was
just the way Dev had wanted it to be the first time she and David entered the
Oval Office as the President and the Chief of Staff. It had taken a horde of
people to get her here. But without the support of her best friend she never
would have made it. It was only appropriate that they should savor this moment
alone together.
She pushed the door open
but didn't step inside. David smiled broadly and gestured. "After you,
Wonder Woman."
"Smartass."
She stepped into the
office and took a deep breath, stopping in the middle of the room to enjoy
every crazy emotion, soaking in the pure thrill of it all. An almost giddy
laugh worked its way up from her chest. She turned around and found David
standing behind 'the chair'.
He gave her a grin and
patted the soft leather. "Come on. Try it out."
"I'm almost afraid
to," she admitted. "It's like, if I try to sit in that chair, I'll
wake up from the dream, and it'll all be gone."
"Nah. It's real.
You're here. And it's never gonna be the same again. You've already made
history, Madam President. Now let's give 'em four years they'll never
forget."
Devlyn took another
slightly shaky breath and made her way to the chair, sinking into the soft
leather with an inaudible sigh. She spread her hands over the desk in front of
her, feeling the cool, smooth surface under her palms. "I am the President
of the
"Yes, you are."
David sucked in a breath, biting the edge of his thick red mustache, fully
aware of the power of the moment.
She blinked and stared
across the room with unseeing eyes. "I've lost my mind."
"Yes, you
have." David cleared his throat. "I'll leave you now, so that you can
get your personal things out." He gestured as he moved back to the door.
"They're in those two white boxes in the corner."
"Thanks,
David." She looked up. "Hey, if we don't hate this too much, are we
going for eight?"
"Ask me in two years.
Have a good day, Madam President."
"David!" she
called after him.
He poked his head back
around the door. "Yes?"
"Thank you for
getting me here."
"We did it
together, Dev." Her friend gave her a smile and left the office.
Monday, January 25th
Dev had quickly adjusted
to the flock of people that always seemed to be on her heels no matter where
she was going. It was a lot like being Governor only to the nth degree.
Luckily, she had long ago learned to listen to everyone at once. Now, if
someone could scare me up a good corned beef on rye without my having to fly
back to
"You have a meeting
with the Secretary of Energy at
Dev had learned early in
her political career never to wear a watch. People read way too much into the
gesture of glancing at the timepiece, which she tended to do often if she wore
one. "What time is it now?" Dev eyed the door to the Oval Office,
which was growing larger and larger with every step. She hoped to make it
inside before someone declared war.
"
"Remind me about
the meeting at
"Yes, ma'am. You
have an appointment now as well. With Lauren Strayer."
The President stopped
dead in her tracks, turning to the young woman on her heels who nearly crashed
into her. "Is that today?"
"Yes, ma'am. It was
set for
Dev winced, and then
suddenly became very aware of her appearance. "Damn." She gave
herself a quick once over, straightening her jacket and smoothing back long,
ebony locks. "Do I look all right?"
The young woman's mind
derailed at the sudden change of topic. "Umm... of course," she
stammered. "I mean... yes, ma'am. You look fine."
"Good." She
handed all the files back to Liza, then wiped her palms on her slacks, chiding
herself for her nervousness. "How long is this scheduled to go?"
"Half an hour,
ma'am."
Dev pursed her lips.
That simply wouldn't do. "Push everything back and give me an hour here.
I'm gonna need it."
"Yes, ma'am."
Liza opened her notebook. This was only her second day, and she'd already
figured out that the President was always going to need some wiggle room in her
schedule. "That means you won't get back to the residence until sometime
after
"If I'm
lucky," Dev grumbled as she stood in front of the door to her office and
waited for an immaculately dressed man to let her in. She wondered if she'd
ever become accustomed to people whose sole purpose appeared to be to open
doors for her. Okay. There's nothing to be nervous about. You respect her
work. All right... you love her work. So what? You've met accomplished people
before. Dev drew in a deep breath. She was an expert at burying how she
felt. "I'll be ready to move on in an hour." She reached over and
tugged on Liza's sleeve. "Do me a favor and find me a corned beef
sandwich, huh? The food they served at the luncheon wasn't even close to
edible."
"Right away. What
about...?" Liza gestured to the door.
"Oh, yeah." Where
are my manners? "Hold on." Dev squared her shoulders and walked
into the Oval Office, pushing aside the immediate thrill she felt just from
entering the room. That's when the dark-haired woman got her first real life
glimpse of Lauren Strayer. Wow. Not just cute. Dev mentally amended her
assessment of Lauren's looks, based on her photograph. Beautiful. Dev
cleared her throat gently, and the writer's head turned, slate gray eyes
fastening on Dev's face. Dev's lips immediately curled into a smile, and she
greeted Lauren warmly while remaining at the door. "Hi. I've been looking
forward to meeting you. I'll be right with you, I promise. I'm just making sure
I get enough sustenance to keep from passing out." She stopped and took a
breath. Okay, I usually don't talk that quickly. "Would you like a
sandwich?"
Lauren practically
jumped to her feet. She hadn't even heard President Marlowe come in. It had
taken her all of two seconds to commit her first breach of White House etiquette.
"Hi." God, television does not do her justice.
Devlyn was wearing
fashionably wide-legged, worsted wool trousers in the darkest of greens.
Underneath a jacket that matched the slacks was a sleek-looking metallic silver
turtleneck that complemented Dev's lightly tanned complexion and glossy black
hair. She had the body of a track star, long and lean, with endless legs.
Lauren's eyes widened as she realized she hadn't heard a word past 'Hi.' Her
mind raced frantically. Shit! I know her lips were moving!
Devlyn wondered at the
sudden look of confusion coloring the younger woman's face. "
Right. That was it. "No, thank you, Madam
President. I already had lunch." The few bites that the bat-sized
butterflies in my stomach would allow, that is.
Sweet Southern
accent. "Do you mind if I indulge? The NRA failed in its attempt to poison
me over lunch. And I'm..."
"Of course,
Madam President." Lauren smiled and tucked a strand of pale behind her
ear. She slid off her glasses and began absently gnawing on the tip of one
earpiece as Dev turned around.
Just like Christopher
wears, the President mused. The boy was always fiddling with his glasses. Dev
smiled again. He'd like knowing someone else who wore them too. A lot. Glasses
were unusual nowadays, and she knew Chris hated wearing them, despite the fact
that the lenses would actually correct his near-sightedness, so that he
wouldn't have to wear them at all in a few years.
"Thanks,"
Dev said over her shoulder, breathing a slight sigh of relief. Yes! She's not
mad that I'm late. "I swear, I'll be right back." With that, Dev
pulled the door closed and stepped back out into the outer office. "One
sandwich and one hour," she told Liza, who was now explaining some White
House protocol to Jane Shultz, Dev's longtime secretary. The President gave
Jane a small wave and received a sympathetic smile in return.
"One sandwich,
fifty-six minutes." Liza grinned tentatively and tapped her large-faced,
gold watch.
Dev raised an
eyebrow, glad, and a little surprised, that the young woman was already growing
more at ease with her. Everyone had begun this new administration in a way that
was almost painfully formal, and although it was to be expected, and wholly
appropriate, it wasn't making her own adjustment any easier.
"Right.
Thanks." Dev re-entered her office. Leaning her shoulders against the door
to close it, her eyes slid shut and she exhaled a long, slow breath. The breath
turned into a happy whimper when the heavy door clicked shut, effectively
locking away the rest of a very demanding world for another fifty-five minutes.
Lauren, who stood
behind one of the rich leather chairs that sat in the center of the room,
looked appropriately amused. Her hands restlessly rubbed at the back of the
chair, and it looked as though she was trying very hard to stifle a laugh.
Dev stood up
straight, intent on recovering at least a shred of her Presidential demeanor.
But one look into understanding, even slightly indulgent eyes, and she gave up
instantly, grinning as she slumped back against the door. "Tell you what,
let's make a deal right now. You let me be myself when we're alone, and we both
might make it through the next few years without going insane." She smiled
at Lauren's intently interested look. "Besides, if I have to be the
President of the United States all of the time, the book's gonna be crap, and
we both know it."
"Deal."
Lauren was grinning now, but her smile quickly faded. "Does 'you' being
'you' equal 'off the record'?" Oh, boy. Here it comes. The biographer
instantly chastised herself for not listening to her first instincts and
turning down this assignment.
Dev pushed away from
the door. Padding over to the leather sofa across from Lauren, she gracelessly
dropped into it, sighing with satisfaction. "Nope," she replied
blithely, gesturing for Lauren to retake her seat. "The good, the bad, and
the ugly of my life are an open book to you, Ms. Strayer." Unexpectedly,
the President's voice grew serious, and she leveled a frank stare at the
writer; one that caused her to lean forward as she listened. "My children,
however..."
"You don't have
to be concerned about that, Madam President," Lauren interrupted urgently.
"I would never invade their privacy. As far as your biography is
concerned, they are only relevant in the ways that they directly affect
you."
Dev looked at her
curiously and barked out a tiny laugh. "Well, that would be in just about
every way, wouldn't it?"
Lauren was about to
disagree, but stopped herself. Shut up, Lauren. It's not like you have kids.
Well, at least ones that don't occasionally drink from the toilet. No
assumptions, remember?
The writer's first
biography had been of Karina Jacobs, the star of the 2016 Olympics who had been
born in
Lauren's second
biography had been of Peter Orlosky, the mega-nerd who had brought down the
Microsoft empire with his single, non-proprietary operating system. It could
handle everything from the desktop computer to the largest global networks –
instantly resolving the problems of interoperability that had plagued computer
and network operations people for years. Not only was he unmarried and childless,
but Lauren was pretty damned sure he'd never even had sex. With another human
being, that is. But ultimately that tidbit didn't make it into his biography
because she figured everyone could figure that out just by looking at or
listening to Peter. She certainly didn't need to tell them.
And, finally, her
most recent biographical subject had been Cardinal O'Roarke. While she was
certain that he and his long time male secretary, Andre Ricardo, had a very
up-close and personal relationship... as far as she could tell, he had never,
literally, fathered any children. So how exactly could she know how President
Marlowe's children affected her?
"Let me rephrase
that..." Lauren tried again, her tone every bit as serious as Devlyn's.
But unconsciously her gaze had softened. "You can trust me to know what's
private in your children's lives... and what could hurt them. I promise,"
she swore intently.
Dev nodded. "If
I weren't already certain of that, you wouldn't be here, Ms. Strayer. I don't
take chances with the well being of my babies."
Lauren smiled
engagingly, slightly taken aback by the President's choice of words. 'My
babies'... so personal. Maternal. For some reason, I didn't think she'd be that
way. "But I'd be pleased if you felt like you could be relaxed and be
yourself around me, despite my job." She raised a playful eyebrow at the
woman who was comfortably reclining in front of her, with pleasure so complete
it bordered on sensual... "I can see how hard that will be for you,"
Lauren teased gently.
Dev laughed, glad
that her genuine nervousness didn't appear to be showing. "Good. Because
this," she laid her hand on her abdomen and, as if on cue, it growled
ferociously, "is me... tired, hungry," she glanced at one of the
several clocks mounted on the wall, her eyes quickly finding the one showing
the correct time zone, "and a little late."
She's a talker. Thank
you, God!
"I really wanted
to make a good first impression. But being late kinda blew that, didn't
it?" Dev inquired sheepishly.
She wanted to impress
me? Lauren cocked her head slightly to the side as she regarded the leader of
the free world with ever-growing curiosity. "Some would say so." But
I wouldn't happen to be among them. You make a charming first impression,
President Devlyn Marlowe. But I'll bet you already knew that.
"Then I guess
all I can do is say I'm sorry, and hope you can find it in your heart to
forgive me." A flash of white teeth brought Dev's face to life.
The writer's mind was
already spinning, weaving a tapestry with words that would eventually form a
picture of Devlyn herself. And there was one word that Lauren could already see
was going to pop up again and again when it came to President Devlyn Marlowe.
Charisma... in spades. It fairly oozed from the tall woman's pores. But it was
in an understated kind of way that was both compelling and alluring. "I
think under the circumstances, I can forgive you, Madam President."
"Thanks."
The tall woman scooted forward a little on the sofa and leaned forward, her
arms resting on her thighs with her fingers interlaced. What she really wanted
to do was ask the writer about some of her work... especially a few pieces that
had been written under the pseudonym Lauren Gallager.
But now wasn't the
time to be a goofy fan. There was still one major wrinkle to iron out that Dev
had saved for a face to face discussion. Something she hoped would give this
biography a sense of intimacy and candor that she found lacking in so many
others. Just ask her Dev. The worst she can say is 'no'. Well, that's not quite
true. She could laugh, accuse you of being insane and wanting to micromanage
her work, and then say 'no'. "You just arrived in town this morning?"
the Dev began casually.
Lauren shook her
head. "Last night. The Emancipation Party is putting me up at the
Hay-Adams Hotel."
"And your room
is nice? You like it there, I mean?"
A wry smile wanted to
twitch at Lauren's lips, but she felt a tiny kernel of worry germinate in her
belly. Where is she going with this? "Well, it's Italian Renaissance. Not
exactly the Motel-6, but somehow I'm making do," she said drolly.
"Good...
good." Dev missed the joke. She was too wrapped up in what she was about
to ask. "I, um... well, actually, I had something a little closer in mind.
I mean, if you're going to follow me around on anything like a regular basis,
you'll need to be close." That was brilliant. Duh.
Pale eyebrows lifted.
"The Hay-Adams is less than 3 blocks away. Any closer and I'd be residing
in your back pocket."
"Hmm...
true..." Shut up, Dev. God, don't scare her off now. "Okay, maybe not
my back pocket, but how about in residence with me and my family?"
Lauren's jaw sagged.
"Inside the White House?"
Dev grinned.
"I've found inside the White House to be far more comfortable than outside
the White House. The park benches around here suck." When Lauren didn't
answer Dev pressed on. "Look, if you really want to get to know me and
understand what I do, you're going to have to tag along after me. And you can't
very well do that from the Hay-Adams Hotel. I don't exactly keep regular hours,
and there simply isn't enough time in the day for a lot of one-on-one research
discussions." And, while that was true, Dev knew instantly that if Lauren
Strayer asked, she'd make time for her anytime she wanted.
"I, umm... Madam
President, I don't know what to say," she admitted honestly. Sure it would
make things interesting, but Lauren knew she needed her privacy. She wasn't at
all sure that she could stand living in more of a fish bowl than she was already
subjecting herself to.
"Living here is
the only way to really know what I do," she said reasonably. "It
doesn't have to be for the entire term. Just until you feel like you've got a
good handle on my day-to-day life." C'mon, Lauren, say yes. Lauren's head
began to sway slightly, and Dev knew she was considering it. She went in for
the kill. "I want a totally honest and accurate accounting of the first
term of office for the first female, American President. I don't take my legacy
lightly, Ms. Strayer. The easiest way for me to give you full access is to have
you nearby. I don't want to pull any punches."
"Do you really
want that?" Lauren asked curiously. Giving her editorial control of the
book was an enormous risk, and she knew it.
Sky blue eyes
fastened on Lauren's with an almost painful honesty. "Yes. I really
do."
Lauren found it
nearly impossible to disbelieve the President's words. Damn, I'll bet that
comes in handy in her profession. But a tiny part of the writer still found
this opportunity too good to be true. "And no one is going to be
whispering in my ear, telling me what to write?"
The President smiled.
Don't even go there, Dev. Keep your mouth shut. "I promise you I won't
censure you in any way. And once the book is done, as long as nothing concerning
national security is revealed, I won't ask you to make any changes. There may
be a few others that make requests of you... but you can take them on as you
see fit."
"You'll back me
up?"
"One hundred
percent." It wasn't lost on Devlyn that Lauren hadn't agreed to move into
residence yet. But she was thinking about it. And something inside the
President told her that this was a woman who didn't respond well to being
pushed.
There was a gentle
knock on the door, and Dev dragged her gaze away from her guest.
"Come in."
A lunch table for two
was rolled in and quickly set up. "Anything else, Madam President?" a
young blond waiter asked, managing to sneak a peek at Lauren while he prepared
the table.
"No. I think
we're all set." Dev looked over at Liza, who was grinning. It was obvious
the assistant had ordered lunch for two. The President gave her a smile and a
wink. She nodded, and the small group left the room, once again leaving the two
women alone. "Are you sure you won't join me? I can see that my first executive
order for one sandwich was completely ignored." She laughed. "There's
plenty. Everyone around here has been trying to feed me for days."
Dev took a large bite
and groaned with undisguised ecstasy.
Lauren swallowed
hastily. "Well, if you insist."
Devlyn waved toward
the other sandwich and took another bite, the smell of corned beef and
horseradish wafting up to her nose. She drew in a deep, satisfied sniff. Liza
is getting a raise already. I'm in heaven.
The writer took a
bite, and immediately mimicked Dev's reaction with a happy groan. "Oh,
god," she mumbled, licking the corners of her lips. "This is so
good."
Lauren's mind firmly
told her living in the White House would give her fabulous access to the
President, but would wreak havoc on her ability to keep a professional distance
from her subject. She firmly told her mind to shut up. She held up half a
sandwich. "Will I get more of these if I say yes?"
Dev suddenly stopped
chewing and glanced up from her plate. "As many as you want," she
promised seriously.
Lauren picked up her
napkin and slid it over her knees. "Then set me up with a room, Madam
President. It's looks like you'll be having a guest for a while."
"Excellent!"
Dev's honest pleasure was written all over her face. "And my name is Devlyn
or Dev, not Madam President."
Unaccountably, the
blonde woman felt a blush rising to her cheeks. "Then please call me
Lauren."
Dev extended her hand
and when Lauren's found hers, she squeezed firmly, absorbing its warmth with
idle pleasure. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lauren."
"The pleasure is
mine, Devlyn." Lauren exhaled and refocused on her sandwich as a knot that
she didn't even know existed, unraveled in her guts. "So... I know you
must have nearly as many questions for me as I do for you."
Dev smirked and
picked up a crunchy, cold pickle. "Yeah. How does someone rack up eleven
parking tickets in two days?"
This time Lauren's
blush was pronounced. "How... how did you know about that?" she
mumbled in embarrassment.
Twin dark eyebrows
lifted. Dev took a bite of pickle, enjoying its salty, tart flavor. "Do I
really need to answer that?"
Lauren scratched just
above her brow. "No, I guess you really don't. Let's just say it started
with a really bad day."
"That ended two
days later?"
Lauren chuckled.
"Something like that." She picked up the bottle of spring water that
was resting in a small bucket of ice and poured it into a crystal glass.
"I had a day
like that once. It lasted for almost a week." Dev reached for a coffee
carafe that was much closer to Lauren than her, and the smaller woman
immediately intercepted Dev's hands with her own.
"Let me do
that." She picked up the carafe and poured two cups, deciding she could
probably use some as well. "How do you take it?"
"Black. And I'm
praying it's strong. Thank you," Dev said as she took the cup from
Lauren's outstretched hand. "How about you? How do you take your coffee? I
want to know in case I need to get you a cup sometime."
"Cream and two
sugars." Lauren poured in a little cream and began hunting for a teaspoon,
which magically appeared right in front of her face. "Thanks." She
smiled and plucked the spoon from Dev's fingers. "But somehow I can't see
the President of the
"Hmm..."
Dev begrudgingly nodded. "You're right, the President probably wouldn't.
But Dev Marlowe will."
Tuesday, January 26th
The early morning
meeting with her staff was just about ready to break up when Devlyn remembered
something very important. "By the way," she straightened in her
wingback, "I met with Lauren Strayer yesterday afternoon, and from now on
she'll be attending these meetings. For those of you who don't know
already..." Every set of eyes in the room turned downward, and Dev sighed
loudly, mildly annoyed but not surprised. "Okay, you gossip hounds already
know this, but I'm announcing it anyway. Ms. Strayer is going to be chronicling
this term in office and will be moving into the residence today. Isn't that
right, Michael?" Dev arched a challenging eyebrow in the direction of
Michael Oaks, who nodded resignedly.
He'd tried to talk
the President out of it. But the stubborn woman wasn't budging. There was
something about Lauren Strayer he simply didn't like. Not only had she
arrogantly refused his offer in
Dev took her last sip
of coffee and carefully sat her cup back on its china saucer. "Ms. Strayer
will be starting her assignment today. She has full privileges and complete
access. Please be kind to her." This last part was delivered with a joking
tone, but no one in the room doubted the sincerity of the request. The
President looked around at the staff. "Anything else?"
The Chief of Staff
glanced around the various faces in the room. Some were new to both him and
Dev, but a few were loyal friends.
"We should do an
announcement about Ms. Strayer being hired to write your memoirs," Press
Secretary Sharon Allen stated firmly, opening her notebook and jotting down a
few preliminary ideas. The fact that she didn't look thrilled about the
prospect wasn't lost on Dev. It wasn't that Lauren wasn't qualified. True, she
was God awful young. Her work, however, was well respected. But that didn't
mean she had to live in the residence. Press Secretary Allen began to get
slightly dizzy from the horrific scenarios that were playing out in her head.
Someone older and fatter would have been a much safer choice.
"Ooo... I'm thirty-eight,
not eighty-eight. And that makes me sound as old as the hills." Dev
shifted in her chair, regretting the fact that she'd chosen a skirt instead of
slacks today. "Biography has a less ancient ring to it, don't you
think?" She gave Press Secretary Allen a pleading look.
The room filled with
easy laughter, and Jane, who was standing against the back wall, shook her
head. Dev was such a pain in the butt sometimes. God love her.
"Let's just call
it a biography,
Everyone stood up
when the President did and began to file out of the room, ready to start their
incredibly busy days. The door closed, leaving behind Dev, Liza and the Chief
of Staff. David looked at the young woman and silently asked for a moment alone
with the boss.
David smiled when she
tapped her watch. Dev had a breakfast meeting with several members of the
Democratic and Republican Parties, including the ultra-conservative Speaker of
the House, this morning. He almost felt sorry for her. She had the unparalleled
pleasure of facing two parties that resented and distrusted her. But that's the
price she paid when she willingly joined a third party. David had always
thought life would have been much easier if Dev had just stayed a Democrat.
Liza slipped out of
the office quietly.
"Madam
President?"
"Yes,
David." Dev sighed, resting her head in her hand.
"I've got to
tell you, I think Ms. Strayer being in residence is going to cause problems for
you, Dev. Once the press gets wind of it, she's going to become more than an
employee hired to write a book."
"You sound like
Michael now. And I don't intend to tell the press she's in residence here. If
it becomes an issue, we'll deal with it then."
David rolled his
eyes. "It'll take the press all of one or two days to figure it out. If
that," he snorted. "And trust me, it will be an issue. A single,
openly lesbian President moves in an attractive, single, female
biographer..."
"You forgot very
'straight', single, well-respected biographer."
David put his hands
on his hips. "And just how do you know she's straight? Did you ask
her?"
"Uhh... buu...
ahh..." Dev's mouth worked, but no words came out. "What?!"
"Because I read
that report, Dev. And I don't recall it mentioning any particular sexual
orientation."
"But she was
married to a man!" Dev blurted out a millisecond before covering her eyes
with the palms of both hands. She shook her head furiously. "God, I can't
believe I just said that."
David laughed.
"Dev, whether Ms. Strayer is, in actuality, straight or gay isn't really
the issue. Assumptions will be made. And you're both single, and you've got
three kids. You know what the conservatives will do when they..."
"Fuck the
conservatives!" Dev hissed, suddenly angry. She had long ago grown tired
of their painting her as the worst mother since Joan Crawford. "You know I
don't give a shit about them."
"But you
should," David insisted. He'd lost this argument a hundred times, but he
never stopped trying. "They're out there, and they're not going
away."
Dev leaned back
against the edge of the table. "Besides, I may be single, but I'm also
still in mourning over my murdered spouse..."
David's brown eyes
softened. "I know, Dev. But we're talking about perceptions, not
reality." He swallowed, wondering if he should go further. "Umm...
you know Samantha wouldn't want you to mourn her forever."
Dev's shoulders
slumped, and her voice dropped to an anguished whisper. "I know."
David moved over to
the tall woman and sat alongside her. "Look, I don't want to argue. I know
how important it is to you that this book be done right... but when this comes
back to bite you in the ass... and it will," he smirked a little, "I'm
going to be right here to say 'I told you so'."
"Like
always?" Dev teased weakly.
"Exactly."
He patted her thigh, a little surprised to feel skin. Why is she wearing a
skirt? She hates skirts.
"Well, if moving
Lauren into the residence, so she can work, is the worst thing to come back and
bite me in the ass, I'll consider this a very successful month."
"It won't take a
month."
Dev ignored David's
pessimism and turned around, pulling over a couple of documents Liza had set in
front of her earlier. She felt around in her blazer pockets, and David deftly
handed her a shiny, metal pen. "We're talking legitimate press. The
Inquisitor and the other scandal sheets don't count, David."
"The legit press
will pick it up if it's hot enough. And we all know that if three of the
scandal sheets pick up the story of Lauren living in the residence at the same
time, it must be true. It's a law... like gravity or Murphy's."
Dev laughed to
herself and stuffed David's pen into her pocket, rubbing her thumb along the
warm metal. "It is true, Mr. Smarty Pants. Try to remember that."
* * *
Lauren sat down on
her new bed, in her new room, in her new house... the White House.
"Wow." She shook her head in amazement, allowing herself to absorb
where she was and what she had gotten herself into.
Since November, she'd
been on a continuous, whirlwind publicity tour for her last biography, making
the big push to drive up holiday sales and keep her publisher very, very happy.
That had left her with no time to even scratch the surface of who Devlyn
Marlowe was. And it left her feeling unusually insecure, slightly disconcerted
even, like the college student who had blown off studying for the big exam and
was now getting ready to pay the piper.
Lauren chided herself
for her worries. It's not like you don't know anything about her... Hell, her
face and those annoying, endless sound bites have been plastered all over your
TV for the past six months. But the writer did admit to herself that the
President was a lot more palatable when she wasn't being crammed down your
throat. Okay, more than palatable. Nice, really.
She exhaled slowly.
Lauren had finally been left alone for more than ten seconds at a stretch, her
curious gaze unhampered by Secret Service agents and the milling, ever-present
White House staff. It gave her a moment to order the mental snapshots she'd
been taking since she met Devlyn. Although she itched to get her hands on her
camera.
The thrill here, in
this place, was the same she'd gotten when she was permitted inside some of the
most private, holy areas of the Vatican while doing Cardinal O'Roarke's
biography. Her stomach fluttered in a cross between nervousness and raw
excitement, her palms moist and cool even as her keen intellect began
cataloging information. But her tour of the
Her gaze glided
across gleaming, Colonial style, cherry wood furnishings and the rich oil
paintings of previous Presidents in heavy wooden frames that adorned the walls.
The room was nearly as big as her entire apartment back home. And while it
didn't have a kitchen or laundry room, it did have what amounted to a full
bedroom, a well-stocked bar, and sitting area, complete with two small sofas
that faced each other across a short, delicate-looking coffee table.
The bed was so tall
that Lauren's feet barely touched the floor when she sat on the edge of the
firm mattress. Predictably, it was a four-poster model made from the same
cherry wood that dominated the room. Its deep, rich shine was so brilliant that
Lauren could see her distorted reflection winking back at her when she looked
at it. She immediately lifted her hand and ran her finger across it, smudging
it with the same weird delight a kid gets when he rolls around in a pristine
bank of even, white snow, happily making his mark by destroying its almost
unnatural perfection.
A slender, matching
dresser, nightstand with brass handles, and massive armoire flanked the bed. On
the nightstand, in a cut crystal vase, sat two dozen long-stemmed, yellow
roses, their gentle fragrance filling the room and mingling with the scent of
wood polish. Long, cream-colored curtains that matched the impossibly soft
comforter had been pulled open a few feet and tied with a gold sash, allowing
the early evening's moonlight to spill in through the frosty glass.
Her few boxes had
been unpacked by White House staffers, after, of course, everything had been
properly inspected, X-rayed, sniffed and scanned... and that included her Pug,
Gremlin, who was scampering around her feet, trying furiously to jump up onto
the too tall bed. Lauren was actually surprised the little dog didn't glow by
now.
"I must be
dreaming, Gremlin." But, God, talk about pressure. "I hope I'm this
good." Lauren blew pale golden hair off her forehead with a puff of warm
air. An incredulous laugh bubbled up from inside her. "This is totally
surreal." The fingertips of one hand idly grazed the satiny-soft top of
the bed's comforter, while she leaned over and scratched Gremlin behind the
ears as the dog growled in pleasure.
Slate gray eyes
flecked with blue and green widened when the woman peered down at her watch and
realized that it was already time to meet Devlyn and be introduced to the
President's children. She wondered if they'd all be lined up like the Von Trapp
family, awaiting inspection from their Commander in Chief. Ewww... I hope not.
Lauren cringed. Plus, I can't sing for crap.
She was a little
nervous. Life as an only child hadn't prepared her for dealing with kids. And
always having your nose in a book when you were a child yourself, didn't help
make you Miss Popularity. Then again, she was pretty sure she wouldn't do
something embarrassing like lift up her shirt and show her boobies in exchange
for two Hershey bars and the window seat on the school bus. Again. A grin
tugged at her lips... of course that might depend on who was asking, and how
good the candy was. She decided not to rule anything out for the time being.
The writer stood up
and straightened the belt to her russet-colored slacks, sparing a wistful
thought for the blue jeans she didn't think she'd be seeing a lot of in the
next four years. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw it. Should I? She
thought for a moment then nodded. "I think we've got a minute, Grem. Let's
call him, huh?" Lauren chuckled. "Let's just hope this doesn't give
The second shelf of
the dark nightstand slid out, forming a small table, making the phone easily
accessible from the bed, but still keeping it mostly hidden from view, so as
not to spoil the decor of the room.
The blonde woman
opened her mouth to give the voice command to 'call', but stopped when she got
a good look at the smooth machine. It didn't have a voice box on the top.
"Huh." Must be a genuine old phone. Next she picked up the receiver
and stared at the cord, pulling at it a few times and looking slightly annoyed.
"Pain in the... okay, I can do it the hard way." She lifted the
receiver and flipped it over to press the button pad, but there wasn't one. In
fact, there was no visible way to call anyone.
Suddenly, a genuine
smile lit up Lauren's face. "Hot damn, Gremlin." The dog finally took
a running jump and was able to make it onto the bed. His tail wiggled furiously
in victory, and his beady, black eyes fixed on the object in his mistress' hand.
"It's the Bat Phone!"
A light knocking
sound drew Lauren and Gremlin's attention to the door. "Time to go meet
the miniature humans. Wish me luck, boy." She waggled her finger at the
mutt. "No... you can't come." She almost ordered him off the
beautiful comforter but shrugged instead. If she was going to live here, this
would be Grem's home too. And he'd be up there for bed tonight anyway.
"Just be careful," she pleaded, straightening the pillow Gremlin had
mashed in his excitement. "Martha Washington or somebody probably made
that. And I don't want to have to take out a loan to replace it."
The dog jumped to the
edge of the bed to follow her, but hesitated when he looked down at the floor.
He whined softly.
"Uh huh. Now
you're stuck, aren't you?" Lauren laughed as she made her way to the door.
"Serves you right."
She opened the door
to find Michael Oaks standing there. Lauren was vaguely disappointed. Why was I
expecting Devlyn? She looked over the slender black man's shoulder. "What?
No reinforcements this time?"
Michael stiffened at
her reference to his visit to
"Yes.... err...
no... just one minute." Lauren dashed back to the desk perched against the
wall opposite the bed. Digging into a bag, she pulled out a camera and quickly
slid in a fresh roll of film. She waited to click the cover closed before she
spoke. "Now I'm ready."
"You
can't..." He pointed toward the camera. "That's not..." he began
to sputter.
Lauren arched an
eyebrow. "Full access, Mr. Oaks. These will be for my own research
purposes, not for publication. And I already have David McMillian's full
permission. Do you outrank him?" she asked innocently, inwardly chuckling.
"Well, umm... of
course not." Michael's frustration began to mount. "But..."
"Get over
it." She looked back down at her watch. "We're going to be late.
Shall we continue to stand here and discuss it?" Lauren was fully aware of
how much she was annoying the aide, and she was loving every minute of it.
He gave her a
thin-lipped smile. Bitch. "So we are." He extended his arm, and
Lauren brushed past him, closing the door behind her. She hadn't taken two
steps when a surprisingly loud, prolonged howl rang out from inside her room.
Gray eyes slid
closed. Not now, Grem! Lauren bit her lip and turned back around to face
Michael, who looked appalled. "I'm sorry," she apologized sincerely.
"He's not used to his surroundings yet. Let me go calm him down. Or I
could bring him? We're only going a few doors down to see the kids,
right?"
"I'll have a
cage and muzzle delivered immediately."
Lauren stopped dead
in her tracks and turned icy eyes on the well-dressed man. "You can order
those things if you'd like. But they certainly won't be for Gremlin," she
ground out harshly.
"He can't
continue to howl like that."
Lauren's hands moved
to her hips. "Actually, he can."
"That's
unacceptable."
"I agree. I
should go get him."
"No,"
Michael said flatly.
Lauren sighed. God,
she was already tired of this person, and she'd only been living here for three
hours! "The apartment I had all picked out before my plans changed,
permitted pets. Gremlin is doing the best he can here."
"This isn't an
apartment complex."
"No, it's not.
And I don't have a problem with calling the apartment manager and seeing if the
place is still available," she shot back. "Look, Mr. Oaks, it isn't
as though there are a lot of options here. Either I leave him alone, and he
howls. Or I bring him with me, and he's quiet. Or I stay in the room with him
for a little while and get him settled down, and he's quiet. " Lauren
crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. "Your call."
"Do you expect
that... that thing is going to have the run of the White House?!" Michael
was almost yelling now, his anger getting the best of him.
"No,"
Lauren answered evenly. "He'll calm down soon. He's used to traveling, but
he's only been here a few hours. Gremlin's also been poked, scanned, prodded,
and don't even get me started on that glowing, bright green liquid they made
him drink. Then they X-rayed him several times as though I had hidden a nuclear
bomb in his Dog Chow! He's only an animal. He can't be expected to endure
endless disruption and not react." With that, she marched back into the
room and sat down next to Gremlin.
"I thought we
had an appointment?" Dev poked her head into the room, acting as though she
hadn't heard the voices raised in anger. She had been waiting impatiently for
Lauren and finally came to seek her out. Michael scampered out of Devlyn's way.
Lauren jumped to her
feet. "We did... I... I'm sorry..."
"No
problem," the tall woman said casually, feeling a little guilty for her
childish impatience. But all throughout the day her mind kept drifting to
tonight. Well, tonight was here, dammit! She tilted her head toward the inside
of the room. "Can we come in?"
Lauren nodded dumbly
as Ashley, Christopher and Aaron raced in past their mother without giving the
writer a second glance. They headed straight to Gremlin, who managed to jump to
the floor with no problem whatsoever and began basking in their attention.
"Faker," the blonde woman mumbled.
"I told you I
heard a dog, Ash!" Aaron exclaimed excitedly, his hands fighting with the
other children's as Gremlin lay on his back, enjoying his belly scratching with
orgasmic delight. He even groaned.
"I hope he
didn't disturb you." Lauren approached Dev, relieved beyond measure that
she didn't seem to be angry. "He's only been here a couple of hours and
wasn't too happy about me leaving him so soon."
Dev smiled at her
kids and spoke to Lauren without turning her head. "Why didn't you just
bring him along then?" God, I know they're going to want their own dog
now. Maybe I am the meanest mother since 'Mommy Dearest'.
Lauren almost
laughed. She looked past Dev to Michael, who was still hovering in the doorway.
"Gee, what a great idea."
Michael turned on his
heel and left in a huff, but by that time no one was paying any attention to
him anyway.
"You look like
you're settling in," Dev commented. Actually, the room looked exactly the
same as it always did, except for a few boxes sitting on the desk.
Lauren glanced around
the room and gave a slight nod. "I am." She extended her hand toward
the sofas. "Won't you sit down?"
"Absolutely."
Dev flashed Lauren a smile. "You know how much I love to relax. But I
believe introductions are in order first." Both women looked down to find
the children on the floor with the dog, giggling as he licked their fingers.
Without thinking,
Lauren lifted her camera and crouched down, effortlessly snapping off several
quick shots.
"I'm
sorry." Dev sighed. "They were supposed to wait by me and be
introduced."
"Please."
Lauren waved a dismissive hand and chuckled, setting the camera on the coffee
table. "If I were them, I'd be far more interested in Gremlin, too."
Oh, I don't know
about that. You seem pretty interesting to me. "Kids?" Dev raised her
voice just a hair, and three sets of little eyes immediately snapped up.
"Uh oh,"
Ashley mumbled, pushing up to her feet. Christopher and Aaron quickly followed,
although the youngest boy's attention remained firmly divided between his
mother and the dog.
"We forgot to
wait at the door, Mom," Ashley admitted honestly, her toe twisting its way
into the carpet.
"I know you did.
We'll work on that later," Dev promised, but the words were tempered by an
indulgent smile. "Kids, this is Lauren Strayer. Ms. Strayer is going to be
writing a book about my time as President. We talked about how she's going to
be staying with us for a while."
"Nice to meet
you, Ms. Strayer," Ashley said politely, hoping she could make up for her
earlier mistake. Her brothers just nodded.
Lauren smiled.
"It's nice to meet you, too." She's a carbon copy of her mother,
except for the brown eyes. She gestured toward the floor. "And you've
already met Gremlin."
Christopher was
smiling so broadly that Dev feared he would fracture his cheeks. He
unconsciously pulled at the stems of his glasses, his gaze riveted to Lauren's
glasses.
Lauren caught his
obnoxiously pleased look and laughed gently, moving over to the children. Gray
eyes twinkled. "Yours are just like mine," she needlessly informed
Chris.
Chris nodded,
mesmerized.
Lauren chuckled again
and ruffled hair the same color as her own.
The little boy's face
turned brick red, and he suddenly ran for Devlyn, burying his head in her legs.
Lauren blinked.
"What did I...?"
"He's just a
little shy." Dev patted the boy's back. "No worries," she
assured, amused by the startled look that flickered across Lauren's face. She
hasn't been around children. Oh, boy. This is going to be interesting.
Aaron walked over to
Lauren and tugged on her pant leg, causing Lauren to drop to one knee so she
was level with his bright blue eyes. "I have a very important question to
ask you."
Lauren swallowed,
suddenly apprehensive. "You do?"
He nodded solemnly.
"Can we pet the dog again?"
Lauren burst out
laughing. "Umm..." She had barely dipped her head into a nod when the
kids, including Christopher, threw themselves down to the floor to pet Gremlin.
Bemused, the blonde woman stared at her pet. She stuck out a tongue at the
lounging dog. "Spoiled."
"I'd pay good
money to any PR firm that could get me a greeting like that," Dev
commented wryly.
"Oh, yeah."
Dev knelt down
alongside Lauren. She held her hand out to the dog. "Why, hello... Jesus
Christ!" She snatched her hand away when Gremlin growled unexpectedly,
showing two rows of tiny, uneven teeth.
"No. That name
was already taken," Lauren deadpanned.
Then, as though
Gremlin didn't have a care in the world, he yawned widely. His mouth clicked
shut, and he innocently resumed playing with the children.
Lauren's voice turned
scolding as she glared at her four-legged friend. "Gremlin!" You are
in so much trouble, you little shit. "I'm so sorry, Madam President."
"Devlyn,
remember?"
Lauren ducked her
head. "Right. And I am sorry. That's so strange." Pale brows
furrowed. "Grem loves everybody." Seeing Dev's scowl, she realized
how that must have sounded and added, "But he has had a really stressful
day. But he's totally, one hundred percent safe, I swear. He's usually afraid
of his own shadow."
Dev suddenly growled
back at the dog and he jumped, scooting under the bed with a loud yelp just as
fast as his tiny legs would take him. "Okay, I'll buy that," Dev
agreed amiably, quite pleased with herself. Mental note: consult David about
finding the best dog bribes for dogs more chicken than canine, who obviously
hate me.
Dev pushed herself to
her feet, groaning. It had been a long day. And she'd been looking forward to
relaxing. Reluctantly, she roused the kids. "I think we should give Ms.
Strayer her privacy now."
"Don't go,"
Lauren heard herself say, a little bewildered by the urgency in her own voice.
She could feel her cheeks tingling with heat.
"Okay," Dev
replied immediately, a grin forming. "Wanna chat while the kids
play?"
Lauren nodded, and
the women moved to the sofas. The younger woman sat down first, and Dev fought
the urge to plop down next to her, moving to the opposite couch instead.
"That's a pretty
skirt." Lauren's gaze swept down Dev's legs. She should wear them more
often. Fantastic legs. The thought might have been startling, but for the fact
that it was so undeniably true.
Dev's voice called
her back to the moment, and now it was the President's turn to blush as she
picked nervously at the material. "Thanks." Devlyn rooted around in
her pocket until her hand emerged holding a foil wrapper. A sweet aroma drifted
toward the writer.
"Wanna share my
Hershey Bar?" Dev passed over a piece of chocolate.
"Sure!"
Lauren reached out happily. A Hershey Bar? Oh, boy. Thank God we're not on a
bus.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter II
February 2021
Tuesday, February 23rd
Lauren paused in her writing and pushed
away from her desk. She tilted her head to the side in deep thought, her
fingers absently twirling a pen as she read over her latest journal entry. This
wasn't a private journal, although her personal thoughts were woven around her
professional observations. She would extract them later. Or not. Depending on
exactly what they were and how they related to what she was trying to convey.
This was her collection of handwritten notes about her 'subject'. And they
already filled a single, heavy-duty, three-ring binder.
The writer had to
admit that her first month as Devlyn's biographer had been little more than a
blur. A whirlwind of motion and activity. Pledges and compromises. Deals and
sacrifices.
It had taken every
single one of the last twenty-nine days for her to begin to become accustomed
to rising at five in the morning so she could start the day with Dev. Lauren
had actually groaned out loud when she found out that on Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Fridays the President and a flock of Secret Service Agents went jogging.
She smirked to herself as she began scratching out a few more thoughts. That
wasn't quite true. They didn't jog. They raced the three miles around south
lawn jogging trail as though their feet were on fire. Their blistering pace
kept press corps participation to a bare minimum, and Lauren already knew
Devlyn well enough to know that was no accident.
The President
approached her workouts with the same single-minded intensity with which she
approached everything. Dev wanted to sweat. She didn't mind if some good
conversation took place while she was doing it though, which was the only
reason Lauren could make herself attend. But President Marlowe wasn't going to
slow down to let it happen. She set the pace. And that made Lauren even more
determined than ever not to fall out. After the first week she stopped wishing
Dev were dead and started wishing she was. But then, begrudgingly, grouchily,
as the days ticked by, her body began to accept this new demand.
On Tuesdays,
Thursdays, and Saturdays Dev worked out in the White House's private gym for at
least an hour and a half, which was something Lauren found infinitely more
palatable than the running. In this arena she had even shown the President a
thing or two. Sunday was 'family day'. And Dev, 'the no good, lazy whelp' –
Lauren underlined the words, drawing a wickedly smiling devil's face, complete
with horns and flames shooting from her nose – didn't 'officially' exercise.
But the woman got twice as much of a workout as normal because she always gave
Emma the day off and took to chasing after Ashley, Chris and Aaron herself.
Dev even slept in
until
The blonde woman
quickly discovered that Devlyn was always working, even when she wasn't. And
while Lauren could sneak back to the privacy of her room and collapse on her
bed, Dev was always in a series of meetings or just one more phone call away
from a little time to herself. Many nights Lauren would lay awake in bed,
listening for Devlyn's quiet footsteps as she slowly padded her way from her
office to her bedroom... well after
But, despite what
she'd come to call the 'grind', there were still a heaping handful of pleasant
memories that stood out in her mind and made her smile just to recall them. She
had discovered that Dev was at her most Presidential away from the White House.
Lauren got a
surprising thrill when she traveled with Devlyn in the Presidential motorcade.
It wasn't the motorcade itself. Well, okay, she admitted privately, it is a
great ego trip to feel like the world is spinning just for you. But what was
even better, was that it gave her the opportunity to sneak a few moments alone
with Devlyn. And although she wasn't positive, she suspected that Devlyn felt
the same way. The older woman's sly grin, as she would shuffle them toward the
waiting car, gave her away.
It was at times like
these, alone in the back of Dev's limousine, that they enjoyed some of their
best conversations. In the past, Lauren had always prepared questions on note
cards for her other subjects, stuffing them into her pockets to be used at a
moment's notice. So far, with Devlyn, she hadn't even bothered. Dev was always
willing to talk. She was honest and funny, and Lauren wasn't sure how it
happened, but one day she heard herself laughing and telling Devlyn about her
own college days, her research long forgotten in the wake of genuine smiles and
a growing camaraderie.
They were becoming
friends. Lauren could feel it. And while professionally she was certain this
was a bad idea, personally she couldn't dredge up a single drop of will power
to fight against it. She liked Devlyn Marlowe. And the more she got to know
her, the more she wanted to know.
During the times she
wasn't trailing after the President like a wayward puppy, Lauren was
researching Devlyn's family tree, consulting several well-known genealogists
and even a cultural geographer. While Devlyn's lineage wasn't going to be the
focus of the biography any more than the campaign was, most readers seemed to
appreciate it if you started at the beginning. Though, on occasion, Lauren
would skip around chronologically and focus on the present day, trying to fit
pieces of information with other bits and scraps of knowledge that would
ultimately paint a portrait of an American President and a truly unique woman.
Lauren had already
turned up at least one interesting tidbit that had required considerable
digging. All evidence pointed to the fact that Devlyn's great, great, great
Grandfather was a Native American. Chippewa to be precise. And the biographer
suspected that Devlyn could trace her dark hair, lightly tanned complexion, and
angular bone structure back to this side of her family. It was likely that this
information had never come to light before because, by the early 1800s, the
Marlowe family had evolved from French fur trappers into society bluebloods.
And in 19th century
Lauren turned the
page in her notebook. She dropped her pen when the newest pile of photographs
she'd taken caught her eye. One in particular captured her attention, and she
pulled it from the stack.
It was of Dev and the
kids, stretched out on the floor of the residence living room. Dev was sprawled
on her back, holding a book slightly above her face, and the children were all
lying on her, their heads each resting on a different body part. It was a
fairytale, Lauren recalled. She had been invited to spend the evening with the
family and remembered enjoying the story nearly as much as the children. Dev
looked younger, her face relaxed and happy. Dark hair spilled onto the
light-colored carpet, and her blue eyes stood out vividly against the shadows
created by the book and the fireplace.
The writer sighed
audibly as she traced the photograph carefully, lingering over Devlyn's face.
She has such interesting eyes and lips. So expressive.
It was a beautiful
picture. A portrait of domestic bliss that, to Lauren, looked as alien as it
did comforting. For the most part, her own childhood had been unremarkable.
While not overly loving, it wasn't abusive either and was characterized more by
simple indifference than anything else.
Her parents were
stuck in their roles as 'provider' and 'keeper of the house', and she always
considered them in a never-ending rut. Each living out his and her lot in life
with a stoic acceptance of their place in the world and an almost intentional
blind eye to their own happiness or the happiness of those around them.
Lauren's own dreams
of travel and education were neither encouraged nor discouraged. And she
learned very early on that she was expected to make her own way in life,
unburdened by the sentimentality and support of family. Still, she loved them,
and felt that love timidly returned in the form of actions, if not words.
There were sporadic
moments of harshness amidst the general blandness of her youth, but she didn't
dwell on them. She had grown up and gotten out, saving most of her contact with
her parents for her monthly telephone calls home and short visits home at the
holidays. Lauren glanced at the photograph again, and a bittersweet smile
flickered across her lips before disappearing completely. No. She shook her
head a little. Her childhood hadn't been anything like that.
She compared the
photo in her hand to several others where Dev was in full Chief Executive mode,
exuding power, intellect, and an unsurpassed determination. Lauren grinned in
amazement. Each picture perfectly suited a different aspect of the President's
personality. She was never 'in' or 'out' of character as so many people were.
These were all Devlyn. Every last one.
At first, four years
studying Devlyn and her life sounded like more of a prison sentence than an
opportunity.
Now Lauren wondered
whether four would be nearly enough.
Friday, February 19th
"Well,"
David stood directly in front of the boss' desk, a thick stack of newspapers in
his arms. "Twenty four days isn't quite a month."
Dev didn't even
bother to look up; she just sighed and extended her hand. "What?" she
asked in a voice that wavered somewhere between amused and annoyed.
"I." He
dropped a copy of the
Dev picked through
them until she found The
"Top half of the
front page, Madam Smartass." David flipped the paper over and pinned it to
the desk with a long, ruddy finger. He gestured with his chin.
Devlyn made a show of
squinting at the page. "You mean that tiny, little one column, barely two
inches long announcement that a biographer has been hired?" She snorted.
"Big deal."
"That one is
nice to you because it's your home state, and you know it. The
She grinned rakishly.
"No, but you can call the AMA and let them know I wouldn't mind playing
doctor..." Dev instantly bit down on her tongue and chanced another glance
up into David's wide, practically bulging, brown eyes. "You didn't hear
that." She shook her finger at David. "I didn't say that!"
"Oh, yes, I did!
And, oh, yes, you did!" He nervously tugged at his tie. This was not good.
No. Actually, this was outright bad. "Deeeeeeev," he drew out her
name menacingly.
"What happened
to Madam President? Hell, I even liked Wonder Woman better than
Deeeeeeeev." She imitated his worried tone perfectly.
"What aren't you
telling me here?"
His voice was low and
stern, and Dev felt like a child caught with her hand firmly entrenched in the
cookie jar. "Nothing, I swear." She crossed her heart. "Nothing
is going on; nothing will be going on." Dev frowned, unable to keep how
she felt about that prospect from showing on her face. "She's writing a
book, and I'm the subject of that book. End of story."
"Me thinks thou
doth protest too much." David pushed aside Dev's steaming mug of coffee
and leaned forward. "Something is going on between you and Lauren Strayer,
isn't it?"
"No." She
looked him straight in the eye.
He searched her face.
She was telling the truth. So far. "Do you want something to be going on
between you and Lauren Strayer?" David carefully enunciated the words, not
giving her a way out.
Devlyn's eyes went
slightly round. She wasn't expecting that. Damn you, David. "No."
Then she shook her head, knowing that was a bald-faced lie. "I mean
'yes'." But that wasn't quite the truth either. "Shit! I mean,
'maybe'." Jesus Christ, I sound like a hard core Democrat. "I don't
know, David."
David's eyes softened
at the look of distress and confusion on his friend's face. He backed off a
little, sitting on the edge of the desk and dropping his hands to his lap as he
waited for Devlyn to continue.
"I know that
when I'm in the room with her, I feel like a giddy teenager. I find myself
thinking about her all the time. Wondering what she's doing. What she's
thinking." Why she always smells so nice and what she's wearing, she added
privately. Dev stood, turning around to stare out the window and into the
dingy, gray, winter sky. "I think I've been alone so long that I'd
forgotten what it's like to spend time with someone new, where it felt easy...
comfortable."
"Lauren doesn't
want anything from me except for me to talk and be myself. I mean... I know
she's just doing her job." She shrugged one shoulder. "But it feels
like more. Like she really cares about what I think and feel. Not like I'm
under her microscope."
He blew out a
frustrated breath. David didn't want to see his friend hurt. And Lauren could
devastate both her career and her heart. But it was time that Devlyn started
living again. Samantha had been the love of her life. But that life was over.
And Dev had embarked on a new one the moment her wife had died. David was more
than anxious to acknowledge that it was okay to feel again... even if the
timing and circumstances sucked great big donkey balls. "Feels good,
doesn't it?"
She nodded without
turning around, but he caught her weak smile in the window's reflection.
"Yeah," she admittedly softly. A pause. "It really does."
David allowed the
conversation to dwindle down, which was never very hard to do when Dev was
working through something in her mind. The tall woman was prone to lapse into
long moments of silence as she thought, even if it was in the middle of a
conversation. He chewed at his mustache for a moment, and just as he was about
to speak again, there was a knock on the door, and Liza entered the office.
"I'm sorry for
the interruption, Madam President." Liza gave her watch a perfunctory
glance – the eighth one in the past five minutes. "It's time for your
press conference."
"Don't make that
girl use a cattle prod," Jane called from somewhere behind Liza.
Liza smothered a
smile. Jane would say anything to her boss, and, to Liza, President Marlowe's
secretary from
Dev rolled her eyes,
properly chastised by Jane. "Right. Of course." She turned and
retrieved her jacket from the coat rack, handing it to David. As per their
ritual, he held it for her, and she shrugged into it, buttoning all the buttons
as he smoothed the shoulders. It was simple and intimate in a way that spoke of
their affection and true friendship. Dev had done the same thing for him on
many occasions.
The President picked
an imaginary piece of lint off the black, wool blazer. "Send copies of
those to Lauren." She motioned toward the stack of newspapers. "I
don't want her blindsided. And could you... umm... tell her I'm sorry about all
this?"
David nodded.
"I've already done it. And I asked her to skip the press conference today,
too. I told her you'd call her right after."
"Good man. I
knew there was a reason I kept you."
"Yeah, my
charming personality and good looks."
Dev burst out
laughing. She punched David in the gut, making him instantly regret stopping at
the McDonald's drive-thru for breakfast. "No, it's because you're the best
damn handler in the business, and we both know it." Dev reached out and
took the note cards from Liza and placed them in her left pocket.
"Are you saying
I'm not good looking?" He squared his shoulders indignantly and wrinkled
his slightly pug nose.
Devlyn grinned.
"I'd never say that. Your wife would kick my butt."
"Madam
President, we really need to go," Liza reminded, already walking to the
door.
"Cattle prod
time!" was heard from somewhere in the distance.
* * *
Lauren opened the
folded paper, her mouth still hanging open from the last article she had read.
Impossibly her face turned a darker shade of red as she scanned the words.
"Playing house? The President's little blonde toy? Hanky Panky
She crumpled the
paper and tossed it onto the pile of balled-up newspapers on the floor by her
bed. "Arrrggghhhhhh! You—slimy—sons of bitches!" Then she read the
byline and snorted angrily, tearing the article with her name and horrific
college yearbook photo right out of the paper. "You were an asshole in
college, Marjorie. And you're still one!"
Gremlin whined and
buried himself under Lauren's pillow.
A toneless but
soothing female voice rang out in Lauren's room. "Estimated time to press
conference, one minute. Activate image feed."
"Activation
authorized... umm... um... crap... 186... um... 1868... ugh! Pause
activation."
She tried valiantly
to remember the number, her hands flailing the entire time. Michael Oaks had
informed her that the last four digits of her social security number were an
unacceptable password and had insisted she come up with another one. Lauren
agreed just so he would shut up and leave her room. She'd been sorry ever
since.
Grabbing Gremlin by
his back legs, she pulled the pooch out from under her pillow.
"Get...," she snatched a squirming leg and gave another tug as he tried
to scramble back under her pillow, "...get out of there, you coward! I'm
not mad at you!"
Once she freed him,
she flipped him over and peered down at his dog collar, the shiny tags
reflecting off her glasses. She raised her voice and read aloud his license
number. "Activation authorized 18686GH89ZDC." Let someone figure out
that code! she thought defiantly.
The video image
popped into being, and a life-size Devlyn was now standing next to Press
Secretary Allen, a few feet from her podium in the press room, and in front of
Lauren's desk. The writer's first thought was that the image that had once
seemed so vivid and intense, paled in comparison to the real woman. Of course,
I was stoned at the time.
Gremlin began to
growl at the dark-haired women. Though even in the best of circumstances, he
couldn't quite muster 'ferocious'.
"Hush!"
Lauren wrapped her palm around Gremlin's slightly damp mouth and pulled him
into her lap. "And for the last time, you can't bite that... it's just an
image."
He gave a hopeful
whine, wiggling his bottom as he got comfortable.
Lauren rolled her
eyes. "You can't bite the real thing either. It's about to start...
quiet." She absently kissed the top of his head and folded her legs up
underneath her Indian style, staring intently. "Devlyn will take care of
this." Lauren nodded. "They won't know what hit 'em."
Dev shifted back and
forth, waiting for the Press Secretary to introduce her. She couldn't help but
wonder how Lauren was taking this news. Lauren is a reasonable, mature woman.
She'll understand that this was inevitable and really couldn't be helped.
"Tear 'em to
shreds, Dev!" Lauren crowed eagerly.
"Ladies and
gentlemen, President Marlowe will now take a few questions on the topics we've
covered this morning." Press Secretary Allen adjusted the microphone on
the podium so that it was more suitable for the President's height.
Dev stepped out, and
the cameras were turned on her. When she took her place, her gaze immediately
drifted to where Lauren usually stood. Holding in the sigh, and hoping the
disappointment didn't show on her face, Devlyn greeted the press. "Good
morning."
Murmurs of 'Madam
President' and 'Mornin'' answered her.
Devlyn shuffled her
notes on the podium. "Let's start with the DNA Registration Act, shall we?"
She pointed to a man in the front row and smiled. "Let's have it, Bill. I
know you're dying to get into this."
The balding reporter
from the
Lauren all but
snarled. "Set him straight, Dev."
Dev's expression
hardened just a bit, but she answered smoothly, "She's a very talented
biographer, and I'm delighted she's agreed to write mine."
"What?"
Lauren exclaimed to Dev's image. She released Gremlin, who stuck his
non-existent nose under the edge of the comforter and scooted underneath it to
hide again. "That's it?" The writer's tone was incredulous.
"That's all you're going to say?"
Dev gestured to a
woman in the middle of the room. "C'mon, Kathleen. I'm sure you can do
better than that."
The correspondent
from CNN rose to her feet, pushing a lock of hair from her eyes. "I don't
know about that, Madam President. Maybe you could fill us in on the details,
like when did Ms. Strayer move into the White House, and why wasn't she put in
VIP quarters? Why the residence? There was no press release to that effect.
What are you hiding?"
"Nothing, you
moron! We're hiding nothing!" Lauren tore her glasses from her face and
tossed them onto the bed.
Dev raised a sharp
eyebrow at the CNN reporter. "Just because I don't disclose every detail
of my private life to the press, does not mean I'm hiding anything," Dev
growled.
"Oh, my
God," Lauren muttered, covering her face with her hands.
Press Secretary
Allen, who was waiting in the wings, closed her eyes briefly as she let out a
long string of expletives under her breath. She turned to David. "Tell me
she didn't use the word 'private'."
David threw his hands
in the air. "I don't think she meant it like it sounded." He shook
his head. "Out of the frying pan, into the fire, my friend."
Dev immediately knew
she had misspoken, and it wasn't just because the room exploded with questions.
"Where did you
meet Ms. Strayer?
"How long have
you known her?"
"What's it like
trying to go out on a date as the President of the
"Is she a real
blonde?"
Two pale eyebrows
disappeared into Lauren's hairline. "You'll never have the pleasure of
knowing, buddy," she answered tartly.
Dev silently endured
the barrage of questions. She did consider what happened in her private
residence to be private, despite the fact that Lauren was there on a
professional basis. But why do I think the press isn't going to take it that
way? Shit!
"How do your
children like her, and how do they feel about her living with you?"
With that question,
the color rose to Dev's cheeks, and she drew in a deep, calming breath before
speaking. "Ladies and gentleman, I know Press Secretary Allen came out
here and gave you a full briefing about five very important pieces of
legislation I'm working on. I came here to answer questions about those and
other important issues facing our nation."
Lauren's eyes were
drawn to Dev's white-knuckled grip on the podium.
"I did not come
here to answer questions about something that is of no significance at
all."
"No
significance?" Lauren sprang to her feet, knocking her glasses onto the
carpet. "I've just been crucified in every major newspaper in the country,
and it's not significant?!" she shouted at Dev's hologram. "Thanks so
much!"
A chorus of voices
protested, and Dev raised her hands to silence them. "I'm sure, overall,
that the American public is far more interested in how I intend to make sure
every child has adequate health care, and whether or not there will be a social
security program at the end of my time in office."
Press Secretary Allen
and David looked at each other, rolling knowing eyes simultaneously.
"And when you're
ready to talk about those, you let Press Secretary Allen know, and I'll be
back. Your current line of questioning is a waste of my time, and, therefore,
the public's money. Good day, ladies and gentlemen."
And with that, she
left the room. I need to see Lauren.
* * *
Lauren sat on her bed
with her head in her hands. Her career was dying on the vine. What good was an
historian and biographer who couldn't be trusted to be objective and honest?
None. Jesus, I'm going to end up doing Ricky Martin's life story. I know it.
The blonde woman
heard a light rapping on her door. "Go away."
Devlyn pressed her
forehead against Lauren's door, not caring who saw her. "Lauren, please
give me a moment."
"You had your
moment. And, if I recall, you decided to go with 'no comment'." But,
despite herself, she was drawn to the door. She took several steps toward it,
but decided she wasn't ready to see Devlyn yet. Instead, she gracelessly
plopped down on the coffee table, only to have it collapse under her weight.
Devlyn pounded on the
door several more times, but waved away a Secret Service agent who had jumped
to her assistance. When he was back at his post she called softly, "Are
you all right?" God, she's stubborn. "C'mon, please let me in. At
least let me apologize to you face to face."
Lauren pushed up from
the rubble. Great. There go my next ten pay checks. I hope Gremlin can learn to
appreciate generic dog food. Her gaze traveled to the door. Dev sounded sincere
enough. Brushing off her pants, she reluctantly crossed the room and pulled the
door open just a crack. "Yes?"
Now that they were
face-to-face Dev found herself a little tongue-tied. But one look into flashing
gray eyes and she got over it quickly. "I'm sorry."
Lauren felt a pang in
her chest at the look of regret etched across Dev's face and fought the urge to
accept Devlyn's apology on the spot. But the words from the press conference
were still too fresh in the writer's mind. She turned her back on the President
and moved deeper into her room with Dev trailing behind her, the door left open
just a crack. "Why are you sorry about such an insignificant little thing
as the career I've worked my ass off for, President Marlowe?"
Devlyn flinched at
Lauren's icy tone and the use of her title. Not to mention that she didn't
particularly enjoy having her own words thrown back at her. Patience.
"Yeah." She sighed. "I know that came out wrong. Lauren, I
didn't mean to say, or even imply, that you or your career were insignificant.
I just meant that this was something the public didn't need to concern itself
with. I am sorry."
Lauren shook her
head. Apologies were all well and good, but Devlyn didn't seem to grasp what
this meant for both of them. "I record. I observe. I can't be the subject
of speculation!" How blind am I, that I didn't even see this coming?
"You had one chance to nip this in the bud, and you didn't do it. You
promised you'd go to bat for me, and you didn't. If I'm not credible, I'm
worthless as your biographer." And anyone else's.
The President
straightened as Lauren's accusations hit home. "You are not worthless, and
you never will be! Lauren, if I take the time to address this issue, it won't
just go away. The best thing to do is let it run its course, and let it die a
slow, quiet death. Trust me. Tomorrow," she paused. "Okay, maybe not
tomorrow, but next week or next month, this will just be a memory, and the
world will move on to other pieces of gossip."
Devlyn ignored the
slumped set of Lauren's shoulders and pressed on when all she really wanted to
do was give the woman a hug. "Haven't you been paying attention these last
few weeks? Haven't you watched me jump from one issue to the next so quickly
that sometimes I feel like a trick pony? If you haven't, then maybe you aren't
the person for the job after all."
The dark-haired
woman's jaw worked for a few seconds, and she let out an explosive breath. She
didn't want to say the next part, but she knew she had to. She stared at the
wall beyond Lauren with unseeing eyes. "We're not involved and... well...
of course... you're not a prisoner. You're free to leave anytime you like with
the highest recommendation I can offer."
Lauren's shoulders
dropped further, and Devlyn felt her guts twist into a solid knot with the
knowledge that she was the cause. This was all her idea. "Just know that
I'm sorry for what happened. I would never intentionally cause you pain,
Lauren." Please believe me.
The shorter woman
closed her eyes at Devlyn's words. She never blamed Dev for this happening,
only for not handling it differently. Or am I just upset that she didn't handle
it my way? "Leave?" she whispered weakly. Did she want to leave? No.
She wanted the day to start itself over again and to not have a stack of
newspapers, and a room full of reporters, questioning her morals and professionalism
and Devlyn's good sense.
Her anger began to
drain away, and when she turned around and peered up into concerned blue eyes,
her own filled with tears. "But we didn't do anything wrong. It's not
fair!" She knew how naive that sounded. But at that moment, she didn't
care. It was the truth.
Devlyn's lips curved
into a sad smile. "I know what's true, and so do you. That's all that
matters today, because tomorrow we're old news," she cocked her head to
the side, "remember?" Then her forehead creased. She bit her lip, but
couldn't stop the question that was on the tip of her tongue. "Would it be
so horrible? People thinking that there was something between us. If it weren't
for the job, I mean." That was smooth, Marlowe. Even I'm confused about
what I just asked.
Lauren shook her head
as a few unshed tears spilled over. She wiped them away angrily, hating that
when she was upset her first reaction was to yell, her temper boiling over. Her
second was to cry. And, to her embarrassment, Devlyn had just been treated to
both. "I... um...." Her brows furrowed. Was Devlyn asking if it
bothered her because they were both women? She wasn't quite sure so she
guessed. "It's not that."
Devlyn's voice was
softer now, and she crossed the final steps to Lauren, not stopping until she
was close enough to get a good look at the crystal scattering of tears in pale
lashes. "It's hard to have everything you are put under a microscope.
Trust me, I know. I just need you to believe that I'm sorry."
She swallowed hard,
morbidly picking at what she immediately recognized as a sore spot. "If
you want to resign, I'll understand. And I'll make sure that
Their eyes locked,
and Lauren found herself unable to break Dev's intense gaze. "Is that... I
mean... do you want me to resign?" She had never stood quite this close to
Dev before and she felt a slight, inexplicable yearning to move even closer.
Dev shook her head
gravely. "No. That's the last thing I want. What I want is for you to be
happy and comfortable here."
Lauren nodded. She
didn't know if that was still possible. But she was bound and determined to
try. The writer lifted her chin. "I'm no quitter, Devlyn." She
blinked away her remaining tears, splashing a salty drop on her cheek.
Dev reached out
tentatively, her hand moving so slowly that Lauren could detect its faint
trembling. "I know you're not." Devlyn chuckled softly. "Why do
you think I wanted you in the first place?"
Lauren smiled when
soft fingertips grazed her cheeks, gently brushing away her tears. She laughed
nervously, unconsciously leaning into Dev's touch.
"Are we done
arguing?"
A quick bob of the
head.
"Good. Because I
just discovered that I really hate arguing with you." Dev smiled, the
relief coursing through her nearly enough to make her dizzy.
They stood there
awkwardly for a moment, and Dev dropped her hand from Lauren's cheek.
"Sometimes, after fussing with a friend, a hug can feel really nice,"
she offered gingerly, still not sure she was on solid footing with the
biographer.
Lauren needed no
further invitation. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Dev's solid,
lanky form, sighing with relief when Dev mirrored her actions and squeezed her
gently but firmly. Her face was pressed against Dev's shirt, and her heart was
thumping double time, she realized. But she could feel Devlyn's pounding pulse
in return. She pulled in a deep, comforting breath, catching the faintest whiff
of the President's perfume.
Oh, God. Devlyn
pressed her face into Lauren's soft, wavy hair, praying – hoping – that the
smaller woman couldn't feel her heart, which was about ready to pound out of
her chest. She squeezed a little tighter, then realized that her friendly two
or three seconds were up, and she'd have to release Lauren. Dev was about to
speak when Lauren's door opened, and she looked up to find Christopher and
Aaron staring back at her.
Lauren's gaze flicked
to the door, and she affected a deer in the headlights look as the boys watched
on, oblivious to the room's mounting tension.
"The dog,"
Dev whispered in Lauren's ear, her warm breath causing a slight tremor in the
writer. "They're here for him."
Lauren suddenly
whistled, and Gremlin poked his head out from under the bed where he was
hiding. He saw Devlyn and immediately growled, baring tiny crooked teeth.
"Gremlin!"
the boys shouted happily.
The dog bounded
across the room. But not before stopping in front of Devlyn and offering
another short growl. Then he ran over to the boys, who immediately began
playing with him, forgetting all about the fact that their mother and Lauren
were still wrapped in a loose embrace.
Lauren stared for a
moment. "That's amazing. Gremlin hypnotizes them."
"It's true. My
children are slaves to the cult of Gremlin."
They both burst out
laughing and reluctantly disentangled themselves from each other.
Dev spied the broken
coffee table. "Next time you get mad at me, you might want to hit me. I
doubt I'm worth as much as that table."
"Sweet
Jesus," Lauren drawled, her Southern accent popping out in full force. She
examined the shards of wood scattered on the carpet and gulped. "How much
was it worth?" Not that I really want to know. But I'm sure Michael Oaks
is running me a tab, so I might as well hear it now.
Devlyn crossed her
arms. "Dunno. It was made for Andrew Jackson. It's a one of a kind
historical piece. Completely irreplaceable." I will not laugh. I will not.
Lauren's eyes grew
wide as her voice grew weak. "It was," she uttered glumly. I so
should have stayed in bed this morning. Well, except for that hug. I'd get out
of bed for one of those any day of the week.
"Yeah. It
was," Dev commiserated. "I heard they had appraisals done on it last
year, from both Christie's and Lloyds of
Lauren could hear the
smile in Dev's voice, and she glanced up from the coffee table to see twinkling
eyes. "Lloyds of London, huh?" Her tone was skeptical.
Dev laughed.
"Okay, would it make you feel any better to know that I bought it at a
yard sale in college, paid four bucks for it, and refinished it myself? It came
with me from
"You rat!"
She made a mock angry face, but still said a small prayer of thanks. "Does
this mean I don't have to sell a kidney?"
"No
kidney." Dev arched a droll brow. "But you owe me four bucks."
* * *
"C'mon in."
Lauren opened the door to her quarters, a soft, yellow light from the lamp
she'd left on spilling into the hallway. "You're going to love this
picture. I just developed it over lunch. She was giving a speech to
Congress."
Dev's eyebrows hiked
up behind her bangs. "Ashley?" Please tell me she wasn't a
Republican.
The women stopped in
front of Lauren's desk. The shorter woman grinned and handed Devlyn the
picture. "Uh huh."
Dev chuckled and held
the photo at eye level. "So that's why she's wearing my blazer." The
navy jacket hung nearly to the floor on the seven-year-old, its broad shoulders
making her head appear tiny. "She's so cute."
"She looks just
like you."
Devlyn felt a flush
working its way up her neck. "I suppose so," she admitted sheepishly,
although Lauren could still hear the pride in her voice. "Samantha always
told me the same thing." Dev suddenly paused as though she'd said
something wrong. She felt a twinge of guilt, and her throat began to close.
With a start, she realized that she hadn't thought of Samantha in days...
hadn't said her name in weeks. Tears filled her eyes, coming so fast she
couldn't stop them.
Lauren laid a gentle
hand on Devlyn's arm. "You miss her a lot, I'm sure." She smiled
sympathetically, at a total loss as to what else she could say.
By the time Lauren
had divorced her ex-husband, there were no tears of grief for her; not that
there had been many to begin with. She had been more upset by her own failure
to make the marriage work than by losing him. And, by the bitter end, she was
more than ready for it to all be over and to let go. Looking at the older
woman, Lauren felt a little ashamed that she hadn't ever mirrored the stinging
loss that was so evident in Dev's face.
Dev nodded weakly.
"She was a very special person. But the world does keep spinning."
Even if it took me a long time to really believe it. Her eyes fastened on
Lauren's. "I don't think I was meant to walk through life alone." A
wistful smile touched her face. "It's much more fun with somebody
else."
"Depends on the
somebody," Lauren said seriously.
Dev's voice was just
as serious. "I guess it does."
A smooth, female
voice interrupted the room's silence, and Lauren tore her gaze away from the
riveting blue. "Incoming call from (865) 555-9537. Call forwarded from
cell phone. Status: emergency."
Lauren sucked in a
breath. Calls designated as emergencies didn't ring on the phone. An automated
voice system kicked in instead. And she'd had her cell phone off all day. While
she called home once a month, she had never, ever received a long distance
phone call from her parents. Not caring that Devlyn was still in the room, she
took the call. "Call accepted."
"Lauri?" a
deep, male voice boomed in an accent that was far more pronounced than
Lauren's.
"What's wrong,
Daddy? Is it Mama?"
Dev wrapped her arm
around Lauren's waist, bracing them both for bad news. Don't let someone be
dead, Dev thought hastily.
There was a long
pause and then a sigh. "She's been in bed all week. You know her."
Lauren looked
concerned, and Devlyn wanted to ask about her mother, but Lauren's father spoke
before she could.
"Holy hell,
girl! I've been trying to get a hold of you since this morning. Do you know
what time it is?"
"I know it's
late. I just got back to my bedroom."
"Doesn't that
lady President let you sleep?"
This, coming from a
man who got up every morning at
"I'll tell you
what's wrong." He quoted The Revealer at length, and both women cringed.
That was the tabloid rag that had used the phrase 'brainy sex kitten'.
"Everybody is talking about it! Our phone has been ringing off the hook. I
had to unplug the damned thing. And now there are a bunch of news people parked
on our front lawn, and they won't leave!"
"Oh, Daddy, I'm
so sorry. We never meant for that to happen. And for the millionth time, tell
Mama to stop reading that trash." Not that the 'respectable' papers were
much better, she thought sourly.
"We?" The
word was said with as much rancor as the man could muster. This couldn't
possibly be true, could it? "Who exactly is 'we'?"
"Ummm..."
Lauren fumbled for something to say, suddenly feeling very guilty despite the
fact that she and Dev hadn't done anything wrong.
"Girl, are you
living there? In the White House?"
"Surprise,"
she teased listlessly. "I was going to tell you next weekend when I
called."
"You didn't tell
them?!" Dev whispered harshly in Lauren's ear.
Lauren shrugged a
little defensively as she pulled away from Dev. She had been abroad for nearly
two years when she did Cardinal O'Roarke's biography. And her parents never
inquired once about her exact whereabouts. Never asked her for her address.
They were content to have her phone number, which they never used. It hadn't
occurred to her to let them know anything other than the fact that she'd be in
There was a pause
while Howard Strayer covered the receiver with his palm. "I told you to
get away from those bushes, God dammit!"
Lauren looked at
Devlyn in panic when she heard the unmistakable sounds of her father's shotgun
being loaded.
"Mr. Strayer,
this is Devlyn Marlowe," Dev jumped in. "Please don't shoot the
press. I'll make sure your local police keep them from trespassing on your
lawn."
Lauren turned and
looked at Dev, her jaw sagging. What are you doing, Devlyn?
"Yeah,
right!" the man snorted. "And I'm the King of
Lauren covered her
mouth, stifling a sudden laugh.
"I um... but I
am Devlyn Marlowe!" Dev persisted indignantly.
"Girl, this is
no laughing matter. And stop making your voice all deep and gravely like a
man's. I should think you're too old for such nonsense."
Two sable eyebrows
curved upwards. Dev put her hands on her hips and mouthed "Like a
man?" to Lauren, who was now doubled over with laughter.
"Daddy, this
really is President Marlowe," Lauren finally choked out when she caught
her breath. She motioned to Dev. "Say something while I'm talking, so
he'll believe me."
"Mr. Strayer, it
really is me." Devlyn spoke over Lauren's renewed laughter.
"No shit?"
"No shit."
Dev replied smoothly, now smiling herself.
"Well then,
Madam President, I only have one question for you."
Dev tilted her head
toward the intercom. "Yes?"
"What in the Sam
Hill are you doing in my daughter's room at
Dev's eyes widened at
the scolding, parental tone. Could someone else's father ground you?
"Uhh..."
Oh, boy.
Sunday, February 21st
The writer liked
Sundays. This fourth Sunday in the White House was quiet and nearly what an
ordinary person would call normal. Why would anyone want this job? There was
never really any time to rest. Even today, Dev was called into a meeting over a
brewing crisis in the
Lauren's plan was to
stay in and write. Though she knew she needed to take Gremlin for a walk soon.
Lauren was craving some time outside herself. Gray eyes slid over to her little
companion, who was curled in a tight ball at her feet.
A noise drew her
attention outside the window next to her bed, where she could see Christopher
and Aaron and their Secret Service agents romping in the snow and having a good
time, squealing as they pelted each other with soggy snowballs. The two young agents
who were assigned to them were honestly playing, and looked to be having nearly
as good a time as the children. She noticed several other agents standing in
the background, drinking steaming beverages and keeping a watchful eye over the
snowball fight.
The blonde woman
stood up to get a better view of the winter mayhem and wondered where Ashley
was in the melee. Her eyes searched the lawn, pale brows drawing together when
she realized the little girl wasn't there. "Come on, Gremlin, let's go for
a walk."
Gremlin jumped up as
though he hadn't been snoring only seconds before. He was ready to go in an
instant, bouncing wildly at Lauren's feet, circling her madly as she gathered
up her jacket and his leash. She shook her head and laughed at the dog's antics.
"Crazy." Bringing along Grem's leash was more a habit than anything
else. Here at the White House he wasn't required to be on his lead.
There were faster
ways for Lauren to get to the lawn, but she strolled along the route that took
her by the kids' bedrooms and the President's living room. Sitting in the hall
outside the living room was Agent Hamlin. As she and the dog approached,
Gremlin darted into the living room ahead of her. Lauren laughed to herself.
I'm going to have to leave you here when I'm finished with this assignment,
aren't I, Grem?
At the doorway the
writer paused, leaning on the frame and watching the dark-haired little girl,
who had a few coloring books laid out in front of her. Her jacket and cap were
balled up on the table next to her crayons.
Gremlin gave a little
bark and Ashley immediately perked up, wiggling herself out of her chair and
flopping onto the carpet to give him a loving scratching. Gremlin was purring
as though he were a fat cat. He was clearly in canine heaven, and Lauren
wondered what she could do in this life to insure coming back as a spoiled
pooch in her next.
The woman took off
her glasses and stuffed them into her jacket pocket, knowing they'd just get so
steamy outside they'd be of no use anyway. Besides, they were bifocals and she
really only needed them for reading and writing, but it was just easier to
leave them on all day and not worry about it. She pushed off from the
doorframe. "Hey, we're just about to go out for a walk. Would you like to
go with us?"
Ashley looked up and
gave her a little shake of her head. But the profoundly sad look in the little
girl's eyes said more than most of the words the writer had ever put on paper.
She stepped into the room and knelt down next to Gremlin.
"You sure?"
she asked gently. "Your brothers are having a ball. Why aren't you out
with them?"
Ashley glanced to the
door but didn't say anything. Lauren sighed. "C'mon," she coaxed.
"I think Gremlin wants to play. And I'm sort of tired this morning. You'd
be doing me a big favor if you'd play with him for a while and wear him
out."
"Really?"
she asked interestedly, allowing the dog to lick her hand.
"Sure."
"But isn't it
cold out?"
Lauren pursed her
lips. Since when did a kid care about the temperature when it came to playing
outside? "Well, I suppose. But you'll be bundled up, right? And we can
always come back inside if it gets too chilly."
"Kay." The
girl immediately brightened.
"Good."
Lauren nodded. "You put on your coat and gloves and..." She looked at
the big pile of clothes on the table. "And whatever else is in that pile,
and I'll let Agent Hamlin know."
Ashley didn't
bothering answering; she was already tugging on her boots.
Lauren marched
purposefully to the door. Leaning out, she spoke very quietly. "Get your
ass up out of that chair and get ready to go out. Ashley and I are taking
Gremlin for a walk. It is not too cold to have a little fun outside. What do
you think her brothers are doing at this very moment?" God, no wonder
Ashley wasn't hitting it off with the agent. The woman acted like she was an
old lady! Wasn't Emma enough for any household?
"But..."
The agent looked into a pair of very unamused, slate-gray eyes, and her protest
died on her lips.
The blonde turned
back to see Ashley and Gremlin happily bounding toward her. As they stepped
into the hall Lauren heard Agent Hamlin speaking behind them. "Princess
and Mighty Mouse are on the move. We're headed out to walk the dog."
Mighty Mouse? Mighty
Mouse! Oooo, Devlyn Marlowe, they had better not have gotten that moniker from
you. Then she laughed at what David had covertly suggested the Secret Service
call Devlyn. As Lauren followed behind Ashley and Gremlin she hoped her name
didn't fit as well as Devlyn's. A wry smile pulled at her lips. Hope your
meetings are going okay, Wonder Woman.
Friday, February 26th
They were sitting in
Devlyn's living room. Exhausted. Lauren looked at her watch. It was almost
Dev shoved a plate of
cookies at Lauren. She sighed and propped her feet on the coffee table. The
fireplace was gently glowing, but Dev didn't think the flames were responsible
for the dark shadows under Lauren's eyes. It had been a bear of a day, and she
herself was drained to the bone. "Tired?" she asked needlessly.
Lauren looked at her
like she was crazy, but answered the rhetorical question anyway. "Heck,
yeah. I'm dead." The writer stared into her glass of milk with mild
distaste. She hadn't drunk milk since she was a little girl. What was Emma's
obsession with the white liquid? When they'd walked into the living room the
older woman, with her hair up in rollers that had to be antiques, simply
pressed the cold glasses into their hands and then marched off to bed without
another word. Weird.
"I don't know
how you do it day in and day out. I don't know how I follow you day in and day
out." The shorter woman yawned. "And I'm not sure how we're going to
survive four years." She picked up several double-stuffed Oreos and sat
them in her lap, not giving a rat's ass about the black crumbs on her
crème-colored skirt. That's why God invented dry cleaning. She passed the plate
back to Dev.
"Today actually
got a little out of hand, and you know it." Blue eyes rolled. "That
little fit the Secretary of Defense threw was quite unexpected, and it totally
FUBARed my schedule."
"That man,"
Lauren plucked up a hapless Oreo and twisted it apart, digging out the
impossibly sweet, creamy filling with her teeth, "is an ass."
Dev shrugged, dunking
her own cookie in her milk until is was properly soaked. "He hates
me."
"Then he's a
bigger ass than I thought. Why does he hate you?" Lauren moaned a little
as she sipped her milk. It was actually good. Who knew?
"Because,"
Devlyn quickly popped the soggy cookie in her mouth, sucking out the milk
before swallowing, "and these are his words, not mine –," Dev
affected a heavy Bostonian accent, "– 'She's queer as a three dollar
bill'."
"All that fuss
today was because you're gay?"
The tall woman
snorted. "Lots of people hate me because I'm gay." She sipped her
milk as an evil grin crossed her lips, nearly causing the milk to drip out of
her mouth. Dev leaned forward just a bit and whispered in a conspiratorial
tone, "I want the Federal Treasury to print three dollar bills just to
piss him off."
Lauren burst out
laughing, and was only able to keep from spraying Devlyn with cookie crumbs by
slapping her palm over her mouth. An impish smile twitched at her lips.
"You might not want to start out with something so drastic. Maybe you
could start small? Like with a Devlyn Marlowe rainbow postage stamp?" I
know I'd buy a book. Then Lauren's face grew serious. "Why have a cabinet
member who hates you?" She glanced down enviously at Dev's feet.
Dev made a show of
wiggling her happy, socked toes. "Please do. And, by the way, you have to
be dead before they put you on a stamp. I don't want to give him that much
satisfaction."
Somewhat hesitantly,
Lauren pushed off her low-heeled pumps. She sighed with relief at the feeling
of the soft, cool carpet against her nylon-covered toes.
"C'mon,"
Dev encouraged, wiggling her feet again. "It's always better on the coffee
table."
"You're
sure?"
"Oh, please.
This one didn't belong to George Washington either." She reached down and
wrapped her fingers around Lauren's ankles.
The younger woman
yelped at the unexpectedly cold hands.
"Sorry."
Dev gestured at the glass of icy milk she'd been holding. "My fingers
aren't normally cold."
Lauren remembered
their hug from the week before. "I know."
"Now, back to
your question." Dev smiled, looking at their feet sitting side-by-side on
the coffee table. She has cute feet.
"Yes?"
Lauren prompted, wondering why Dev was staring at her feet.
"Right. Why have
cabinet members who hate me? Well, it took a lot, and I mean a lot, of dealing
to get me here. I agreed to put people in important positions in return for
support within the Emancipation Party itself. It got me the Presidential
nomination and then four years of putting up with assholes like Secretary of
Defense Brendwell. It's a political game. And that's how it's played." She
drowned another cookie.
"I see,"
Lauren answered thoughtfully. But she didn't really. At least not until that
very moment. "So, you're not only fighting the Democrats and the
Republicans... you have to worry about your own people too?"
"Well, sort of.
My party supports me now. It would be stupid for them not to. A lot of
sacrifices were made along the way. I've got a lot more enemies around here
than friends. The friends I do have are the key. David, for example. He's a
Democrat," she sighed. "So he's my deal man. He can cross party lines
and not look like a total phony. I also trust him with my life."
Lauren mumbled her
agreement. If the public knew how much influence David, and even Jane, really
had,
Dev stopped mid-bite.
"What?"
"You don't ever
have to watch your weight, do you?" she asked enviously. "I think I
hate you."
Given the
opportunity, Dev gave Lauren's toned body a thorough once-over. "I don't
think you have anything to be complaining about, Ms. Strayer," she teased,
but had to drag her eyes back up to meet Lauren's. "Trust me, with the way
we move around, very soon you will learn to eat anything and everything that is
put before you. And you won't gain an ounce. In fact, you've lost a little
already, haven't you?"
Lauren blinked.
"Only five pounds." She arched an eyebrow. "Are you spying on my
scale?"
"No," Dev
laughed. I'm just noticing everything about you. "But that's the cool part
about being here. Suddenly, all food is good for you. You'll need all the extra
energy you can find to get through marathon days like this one." She
popped another cookie into her mouth, along with another deep swallow of milk.
"Besides, I don't have to bother keeping track of my weight. All of
Lauren made a face.
"Well, all
Dev grinned. "I
wouldn't say that." In a heartbeat, her faced flushed a deep red, and she
covered her eyes with her hands. "I'm... ah... I..." Dev scrubbed her
face, trying to erase the blush. "I cer... certainly didn't mean to say
something as out of line as that." She shook her head. "Sometimes I
wonder how I made it this far. David's right; open mouth, insert foot."
Worriedly, she peeked between her fingers and saw Lauren's indulgent smile.
"I'm sorry." Dev really wanted to kick her own ass right now. God, I
can't remember ever being this embarrassed!
Lauren just laughed,
enjoying the rosy tint of Dev's cheeks. Was the woman actually flirting?
"It's all right, Dev. Just a little slip of the tongue, right?"
Dev's eyes widened
slightly, and her blush deepened. "Yeah," she croaked, bringing her
glass to her lips.
How am I even going
to maintain the pretense of any professional distance from you, Devlyn? Jesus,
just look at us now! They were sitting so close together their thighs were
nearly touching. And Lauren's brain nearly seized up on the spot when she found
herself leaning a little closer, willingly losing herself in sky-blue eyes. I
am in so much trouble.
Dev offered her the
last Oreo by way of a peace offering, and Lauren chuckled. "A bribe?"
"Well, we are in
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter III
March 2021
Wednesday, March 3rd
The writer smiled at
the vase of fresh-cut, yellow roses that brightened her desk. Every evening
when she made her way to her room, a fresh bouquet was there to greet her. At
first, she assumed that they were delivered to every room in the residence as a
matter of course. Then she realized she hadn't seen them anywhere but her room.
She had asked David McMillian about it, and the man just snorted, never really
answering her question.
This sunny morning,
the President was in a meeting with her National Security Advisor, and Lauren
took the time to start researching a topic that had been niggling at her for
weeks. She had thought Devlyn might discuss it with her herself. But the few
times that it naturally came up in the conversation, Devlyn looked tense, angry
perhaps. Unable to bear the shadows of pain behind Dev's eyes, Lauren steered
the conversation into different waters, despite the fact that Dev appeared
willing to press forward. Thankfully, this part of the President's past had
already been very well publicized.
With a series of
quick commands, Lauren fired up her computer and logged on.
"Good morning,
Ms. Strayer," the soft computer voice greeted her.
"Good
morning." She laughed at her response. She always answered the greeting,
even though it was a machine. It somehow just seemed rude not to. "Search
files. Marlowe, Devlyn."
"Searching.
Files located. Directory?"
Lauren leaned back in
her chair and removed her glasses, rubbing the bridge of her nose as the
earpiece found its way into her mouth. "Sub-directory: Marlowe, Samantha.
Source: All available."
"Searching.
Files located. Directory?"
"Open all files.
Most recent first. Current directory."
"File name:
Sentencing Hearing. Harris, Theodore, 5/17/2017"
A three-dimensional
video image cued up, and Lauren replaced her glasses, sliding her chair back a
foot or two to maximize the resolution of the image. Dev was in a wood- paneled
courtroom, and the mere sight of her caused Lauren to suck in an unexpected
breath. The dark-haired woman was standing alongside a podium, her face drawn
and tired looking, dark circles ringing normally bright eyes.She looks like
she's been to hell and back.
"If it pleases
the Court," Dev paused and took a sip of water. "I stand here before
you today, not as the Governor of the state of
Dev's eyes flashed,
and Lauren could see a barely suppressed rage mingled with a profound sadness,
both begging to be released. "I spent nearly fifteen years with Samantha
and intended to spend many more." Her penetrating gaze flicked sideways,
and her face hardened. "Except that that man," she pointed to a
bearded, frazzled-looking man who appeared to be in his early thirties,
"decided to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking all night. As has
already been proven, he was speeding along in a drunken stupor when he
broadsided the car that Samantha was driving. Mind you, his car was fully
equipped with auto-drive. And that would have prevented the accident. If he had
bothered to turn it on!"
Lauren leaned
forward, watching intently as Devlyn paused again, fighting to keep her
emotions in check. Her chest felt tight, Dev's tension making it hard for her
to breathe.
"The defendant
left that crash scene with barely a scratch to show for it. And while Samantha
Marlowe layblebleed bleeding and dying, trapped in her car, he continued on his
merry way to the liquor store to buy more booze!"
The image quickly
shifted to the defendant, whose head was now in his hands, before panning back
to Devlyn. Lauren recognized Jane in the gallery.
"It took the
fire department nearly an hour to tear apart the car and get her out. And and
by that time she was already." Dev's voice dropped to a whisper, "she
was dead."
The sound of weeping
could be heard in the background, and Lauren wondered whether it was a friend
or family member of Samantha's or the defendant himself.
Dev's jaw worked for
a moment, and she stepped back around behind the podium. Her eyes dropped down
to look at the notes she had spread out on the slanted wooden surface. They
were crinkled and tattered, and Dev suddenly pushed them away, as though
deciding not to use them after all.
Lauren looked from
the papers to Dev.It was too personal to be read in open court, wasn't it?
"She left behind
three beautiful children," a tiny smile edged her lips, and Lauren smiled
back sadly. No matter what the circumstances, Dev always smiled when she
mentioned her kids. "Our three-year-old daughter, Ashley, whom Samantha
adopted as soon as I had her. Our son, Christopher, who is one. He um... he
took his first steps the day after Samantha was killed." Sniffles joined
the sound of muted weeping in the background. "And our youngest baby,
Aaron, who was barely four weeks old when she was killed."
Dev's composure began
to crack, and hot tears slowly crept down her cheeks, plunking lightly onto the
papers in front of her. Lauren closed her eyes briefly, her stomach churning.
She didn't want to see anymore, but she knew she had to.
"These three
bright and wonderful children will never know the love of this woman who took
care of them, and in the case of Chris and Aaron, carried them in her body,
gave them the very lives they live today. Because of his carelessness his
recklessness his indifference and disregard for human life" Devlyn spat.
"Because of his refusal to seek treatment after hisprevious twoDWIs, I
have lost my partner and my best friend. He destroyed my family," Dev
stopped, completely unable to continue.
She won't even say
his name,Lauren thought.
Dev took a deep
breath and stilled her shaking hands, making firm eye contact with the judge.
"I request that this Court do the right thing and sentence this man to the
maximum time allowed by
David suddenly
entered the picture, wrapping a strong arm around Devlyn's waist as she
appeared to falter for just a second.
"Halt
image." Lauren reached under the lens of her glasses, catching a salty
tear just as it began to fall. She'd had enough. "Computer, tell me the
sentencing of one," she glanced down at the handwritten notes in her lap,
"Teddy or Theodore E. Harris. Convicted of aggravated vehicular
manslaughter in
"Searching. File
located. No visual."
The writer stared at
the frozen image on the screen, looking directly at Dev's shell-shocked face.
"Open," she said quietly.
"Harris,
Theodore, a k a, Harris, Teddy, case number 12843CR17, sentenced on
Lauren's jaw dropped.
"Two years?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Two lousy
years!"
The computer
continued, unfazed by the woman's outburst. "Paroled on
"My God,"
Lauren whispered. She took off her glasses and disgustedly tossed them onto the
desk, rubbing her watery eyes.
The phone on her desk
startled her from her thoughts. "Computer off." She wiped her eyes
once more and reached over, tapping the video feature on the phone. She was
immediately greeted by Dev's smiling face.
"Hi there."
The President leaned
back in her chair, and Lauren could tell by the background that Dev was in the
Oval Office. "How was your meeting?"
"Top
secret." Dev grinned and wrinkled her nose in a way Lauren found
impossibly endearing.
It would be nice to
watch laugh lines form around those baby blues. I'll bet Samantha was looking
forward to that."Of course. I'm sorry."
"No problem.
Listen, it just so happens that I'm sort of free for lunch. If you don't mind
eating in my office, that is. I can sign my name, talk to you and eat my lunch
at the same time." The smile slipped from Devlyn's face, and she eyed
Lauren worriedly, idly noting the absence of her glasses. "Is um are you
okay, Lauren? You look a little upset."
Lauren smiled softly,
and made a conscious effort to brighten her somber mood. "I'm fine. And
you can do all those things at the same time?" Her voice was playful.
"My, my, you are multitalented."
Hush, Dev.But she
couldn't keep a charming, slightly mischievous grin from stretching across her
face. "Years of experience. How about it?"
"Dunno,"
the blonde teased. "Lemme check my calendar and see if the Prime Minister
of
"Hardy har
har."
Lauren chuckled.
"I'll be right down."
* * *
"I don't give a
good goddamn!" Dev slammed her fist against her desk.
Lauren heard the
jarring thud and winced at its intensity as she quietly closed the door. The
entire White House didn't need to hear this. When she turned, Dev was on her
feet, the receiver pressed tightly against her ear. "What do you mean they
changed their minds? They're only allowed to do that when they disagree with
well me! Get those votes back. I won't lose this because some lame ass
Democrats can't decide which side of the fence to stand on!"
The biographer
couldn't resist. She brought her camera up and began clicking off several
frames.Damn, Dev, you do have a temper, don't you?Lauren smiled inwardly.That
pulsing vein on your forehead would make an impressive book cover shot.
"Find them! And
don't call me back until you do." She slammed the phone down and then hit
the intercom switch. She took a deep breath, purposely calming herself before
speaking. "Jane"
"The Chief of
Staff is already on his way, Madam President. He was at a meeting on the Hill,
but he's coming now. I put the call in as soon as the Deputy Chief of Staff
phoned you."
"God bless you,
Jane." Dev leaned against her desk with her palms against the flat
surface. "Thank you." She sighed. "Are you having fun being
President yet?"
Jane laughed.
"Uh huh. and you're welcome."
The President
switched off the intercom and sheepishly glanced up at Lauren.
"Hold it!"
Lauren commanded, crouching down and changing the angle of the picture, and
focusing the lens.
Dev shook her head and
burst out laughing. She moved around the desk and leaned on its edge, crossing
her long, silk covered-arms across her chest. "Suddenly I feel like a
fashion model." She struck a pose, causing Lauren to giggle.
"You could have
done that, you know been a model. The camera loves you." Lauren lowered
her camera. "Do I want to know what's got you so upset?"
Dev pursed her lips
unhappily. "Ah, my DNA Registration legislation is meeting with some last
minute and very unexpected resistance."
"I knew that was
gonna happen," Lauren said absent-mindedly as she fussed with her camera
lens.
Twin eyebrows jumped.
Lauren shrugged.
"During that meeting last week, well, they just didn't seem like they'd
made up their minds. I didn't believe them when they said they'd support you.
It was those Yankees from
"Well, next time
feel free to warn me, okay?" Dev chuckled. "Speaking of lunch, looks
like I'm skipping it today. There is a little bipartisan butt that needs
kicking." For once the Emancipation Party seemed to unite behind an
issue.It's really not a good idea for you boys to stab me in the back like
that. Time a few people found that out.
"No
problem." Lauren waved a dismissive hand, bringing the camera to her ear
to listen to the film rewind. There were easier ways to take pictures. But she
loved this old camera, enjoying that she had to think to use it. "Want a
spectator? It's been, ooooooh" she put her fingertip to her chin,
pretending to think, "at least a week since I've seen a bipartisan butt
kicking. I need my fix." The writer grinned.
"I'd be honored,
madam." The President jumped down and bowed slightly at the waist before
retaking her perch. "I'll even be your escort." Dev stopped speaking
for a moment and stared intently at Lauren. "Would you vote
‘yes' for my bill? You've heard more than enough about it to make a
well-informed decision."
Lauren sighed
resignedly.Why did Devlyn always do this?She winced then drew in a deep breath.
"Well um"
"Lauren."
Dev's impatient voice dropped an octave.
"No."
"No?!" Dev
exploded off the desk and marched over to other woman.
Lauren shook her head
firmly, adopting a more stubborn pose as Devlyn approached. "No."
"No?"
"Nope."
"You're
joking."
The younger woman
just waited.
Devlyn threw her
hands in the air. "But why? I rejected the Republican proposal requiring
every person to submit a DNA sample at birth."
Lauren lifted a sassy
eyebrow, letting Dev know exactly how she felt about the little suggestion made
by the Speaker of the House.
"My proposal
only registers people when they're arrested. Isn't there asingleDemocrat who
will see reason?"
"Apparently not.
And innocent people get arrested every day," Lauren said reasonably,
opening the door to Dev's office. "It's invasive and creepy. Like Big
Brother or something."
Dev motioned with her
hands as they walked. She was in full ‘persuasion' mode. "We
already fingerprint people when they're arrested. And this will ultimately save
lives and help solve future crimes."
The younger woman
stopped walking. "Fingerprints are not" Lauren shivered and said her
next word with so much distaste that Dev nearly laughed, "blood. You can't
clone people from their fingerprints. And what if someone decided to do
something hinky with all those samples, huh?" Okay, she was half-teasing
about that last part. But she knew Devlyn would bite.
"Arrrrrghhhh! I
don't want to clone anyone! God," Dev rolled her eyes as they turned the
corner and made their way down the hallway leading toward the Green Room.
"They'restillshowing those damned "X-Files" reruns on
television, aren't they?"
Round, gray eyes were
the picture of innocence as the women continued on their way.
Thursday, March 4th
"So," from
the door of Lauren's room, Dev grinned over her mug of coffee, "you want
to take a trip with me?"
"Business or
personal?" The blonde smiled back as she looked up from her journal and at
the President.
"Does it really
matter?"
"I'll need to
know what to pack."
Dev rolled her
shoulders, and with her free hand unbuttoned her blazer, leaving it on.
"It's business. Our protocol specialist, Mrs. Baldridge, will help you
with what to take." She took another sip, then set her ruby red mug on a
coaster on the corner of Lauren's second coffee table. Silently, she gestured
at the couch.
Lauren nodded her
approval and snagged a stack of mail from her desk as she joined the President.
Dev settled down across
from Lauren, bouncing a little on the springy cushion. She looked around
covertly for Gremlin, the Devil Dog. "Your room smells nice," she
commented idly.
"It's the
flowers."
"Umm, nice"
Dev figured Gremlin was hiding someplace and would jump out and growl at her
later. But for now, she'd focus on Grem's mistress. "Lauren, I'd love for
you to come, of course. But I'll understand if you need a break." Though
she didn't like the idea of not seeing the writer every day, Dev did appreciate
that the daily grind could be oppressive at times. "We've been at this for
nearly two solid months. Surely you're getting tired of me."
"Nah."
Lauren stretched. "Compared to Supergeek, who spoke computer gibberish
most of the time, and Cardinal O'Roarke, who napped from
Dev bit the inside of
her cheek. "Gee, thanks."
Lauren laughed softly
as she sorted through her mail. Most of it was junk, which she left unopened,
but she did retain a thick manila envelope that was from Starlight Publishing.
She was certain it was an advance copy of her latest book, but she was slightly
embarrassed by the notion of Dev's seeing this particular piece of work. Lauren
dragged her eyes up from her envelope.
"You're very
dedicated. I appreciate that," Dev commented sincerely.
Lauren flushed with
pleasure. Coming from a true workaholic, that was a big compliment. "So,
where are we going, Madam President?"
"We're going to
the
Lauren gave Dev a
confused look, still fingering the envelope in her hand. "Diplomatic
issues?"
Dev grunted her
agreement. "The whole ‘she's a woman and a demon lesbian'
diplomatic issue." She smiled wryly. "In the Embassy we're
technically on American soil. And what is punishable by death in their country,
is, well, it will be begrudgingly accepted at the
"Sneaky."
Lauren was continually impressed by the way that Dev worked around the
limitations placed on her by her gender and sexual orientation.
Dev chuckled.
"Thank David. That's why he gets the big bucks and bigger headaches."
She gestured at Lauren's hands. "You gonna open that, or would you rather
I leave first?" Dev didn't want to leave at all. But she couldn't take
another second of Lauren picking at that envelope. She was nearly ready to
reach over and rip it open herself.But,she conceded inwardly,that would be just
a tad difficult to explain.
"No!"Okay,
that was way too quick.Lauren cleared her throat awkwardly. "I um you
don't have to leave. I mean, you don't have a meeting or anything, right?"
she asked hopefully.
"Not a single
one, and it's only
Lauren moved to get
up, clutching the envelope. "Let me just put this away. I'm sure it's
nothing"
"Aw, c'mon,
Lauren." Dev smiled charmingly and poked at the slightly dingy, golden
paper. "I'm dying to see what happens next to the intrepid, female
explorer, Adrienne Nash. Or do I have to call you Ms. Gallager when I talk
about your series?"
Lauren looked at Dev
blankly, thinking she must have heard her wrong. She couldn't mean "You
you read these?" The younger woman waved the envelope.
"Oh, yeah!
Devour is more like it. I've read all of them. Been waiting like an idiot for
the new one."
Lauren fell back onto
the sofa limply. "You knew and youstillhired me?"Duh!Of course she
knew. She's the President of the United Friggin' States of
Dev scoffed at the
question. "Your biographies are the best I've ever read. And your
credentials as a biographer and historian are impeccable." Dev picked up
her mug again and took a healthy swallow. "I never have understood the
notion that writers couldn't do both fiction and non-fiction, and still be
respected in each field. Plus... well um..."
"Plus, I use a
pen name for my fiction so I can still ‘pass' as respectable because nobody
knows?" Lauren's voice was resigned, but tinged with sarcasm.
Dev stiffened.
"I control a lot of things. But I don't set the standards of acceptability
for the publishing industry."
Lauren's gaze dropped
to her shoes.Quit being such a bitch about it. It's not her fault you can't own
up to most of the writing you do."Of course you don't. I'm sorry." A
thought occurred to her, and she smiled tentatively, hoping to make up for her
misdirected anger. She handed the envelope to Dev. "Here, enjoy it. A gift
from me to you; the first copy of Lauren Gallager's newest tale."
Devlyn snatched the
book like a little kid who had just been handed her first present on Christmas
morning. She practically squealed with delight. "Ooo, neat!"
Lauren burst out
laughing as Dev tore open the envelope with abandon. The tall woman looked up
as she slipped the book out. "What?" she complained somewhat
bashfully. "You gave it to me. Don't laugh at me now."
Lauren blinked as
Devlyn flipped the book over in her hands, examining it from every angle and
running her fingers over its shiny cover. Then she looked up at her with eyes
so filled with innocent pleasure that they immediately brought to mind
Ashley's, despite the difference in color.
A slow blush worked
its way across Dev's cheeks. "Don't suppose you'd autograph it for
me?"
Mutely, Lauren bobbed
her head.Wow.I can't believe this."I'd be happy to. Let me get a
pen." Before she could move, Dev was seated next to her, eagerly handing
her the book and a pen. "Umm... wow, that was fast. Okay, any particular
way you want this signed?"
"No." Dev
shook her head as she tapped her knees excitedly. "Just think of me as
your biggest, geekiest fan."
Lauren chuckled as
she took the book back, opening it carefully. She'd lay money on the fact that
Devlyn Marlowe didn't break the bindings on books. The tip of her tongue
appeared for just a second as she thought of what to write. Then she quickly
inscribed the book and handed it back. "You're all set."
Dev gingerly opened
the novel, peeking at the inside cover. "To Wonder Woman: Please enjoy it,
my geeky friend. Lauren Gallager." Dev shook her head. "Cute,"
she snorted. "Veeery cute." The President was loving this and it
showed in the sparkle of her eyes and the bright smile that creased her cheeks.
"Well, now I have something to read on the plane."
"Holy
shit!"
Dev jumped, fumbling
with the book as it threatened to fly out of her hands. "What? What is
it?" She searched Lauren's face.
"We'll be taking
the Bat Plane, won't we?"
Dev blew out a relieved
breath, her eyebrow twitching in amused annoyance. "I'm thirty-eight years
old. One more unexpected exclamation like that, and I won't see
thirty-nine." She clutched her chest for effect, and Lauren rolled her
eyes. "And, yes, we'll be aboard Air Force One, if that's what you mean.
And Lauren?"
A pale head tilted.
A reckless grin made
Dev feel like a kid again. "It's so much better than the Bat Plane."
Friday, March 5th
"Come on now,
give me a hug." Dev was on her knees with the children.
The looks of
disappointment on their faces tore at Lauren in a way she never thought
possible.Sweet Jesus, is it always like this? I'd never be able to go anywhere!
"You gonna be
gone long?" Chris asked, his face buried in Dev's long, glossy hair.
"I'll only be
gone as long as I have to, pal. You know that. I'll be back as soon as I
can."
"Miss you."
Aaron gave her a kiss on the cheek as Dev wrapped her other arm around him.
"I'll miss all
you guys. And I promise, when I come home, we'll do pizza and Disney movies all
day on my first Sunday back, okay?"
"Can Lauren and
Grem watch movies and eat pizza too?" Chris asked, pushing his glasses up
his nose, looking at Lauren with a bashful grin.
Dev glanced up at the
writer, giving her a tiny smile.So, you've bewitched my children too,
huh?"If she wants to." Her eyes flicked to Lauren's and held the same
look of adoration that Christopher was currently sporting. " But you'll
have to ask her yourself."
Before Chris could
open his mouth, Lauren answered. She held Dev's penetrating gaze as she spoke.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world. I enjoy spending time with you
guys," she heard herself say.Huh. I really do. Judd would keel over from a
heart attack if he heard me say that.She glanced over to Chris and wagged her
finger in warning. "But no pizza for Grem. It makes him burp."
Dev winced at the
mention of the dog's name. "Speaking of Gremlin."The hateful little
flea bag."Lauren's gonna need someone to look after him while we're gone,
and we agreed you guys can do it if you want. What do you think?"
The boys cheered, but
Ashley, who was standing next to Emma, only shrugged noncommittally. Dev rose
and moved past the tow-headed boys to her daughter. "Now c'mon,
Moppet." Her dark head tilted in entreaty. "You're the oldest, you
have to agree too."
"‘Kay."
Ashley tried to smile, but it was weak and watery at best.
Dev leaned in and
touched noses with her daughter. "I have a surprise for you."
Despite herself,
Ashley's eyes suddenly glittered with youthful excitement. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." Dev
gave a whistle and the door opened. Gremlin came charging into the room,
followed by a
Ashley's eyes grew
wide as saucers when she saw her friend. "Amy!" She bolted past Dev,
her bothers and Lauren to grab the woman around the waist, squeezing as tightly
as she could.
Dev said a prayer of
thanks that she was finally able to do something to make Ashley smile. She knew
it had been a difficult winter for the girl.
Devlyn asked Emma,
"You're sure you're okay with dog sitting?"
"Tch. Why not?
I've been taking care of you for years. The dog might actually listen to
me." The older woman gave a playful poke to Presidential ribs.
"I really
appreciate it too, Emma," Lauren offered, delighted by the motherly
interplay between Emma and Devlyn. "I think he'd be miserable in a kennel
after all the attention he's used to getting from the kids. They love
him."
The nanny smiled
knowingly. "It's springtime." She waved her hand out in front of her.
"It's in the air."
Dev regarded the ugly
black and white dog that looked like his face had been smashed flat by a
cast-iron skillet. She just knew he was a Republican. "Hey, you little
beastie."
Grem's ears perked
up, and his tail began wagging furiously. Then he saw who called him and he
grumbled, baring crooked teeth and mottled gums.
Dev reached into her
pocket and pulled out a small zip-locked baggie. "I've got something for
you," she taunted wickedly. Dropping to the ground, she sat back on her
heels and pulled a treat from the clear plastic, pretending to eat. She moaned
and hummed ‘boy, eating this is one hell of an orgasmic experience'
sounds the entire time.
Lauren unconsciously
licked her lips.
Gremlin took a nervous
step forward, his beady eyes trained on Dev's hand.
Devlyn waved the dog
snack in front of his face, watching as his little nostrils flared with
interest.
"Now you're
bribing my dog?" Lauren's hands moved to her hips. "Good grief, have
you no shame?"
"Nope.
None." Dev shrugged lightly. "I figured if you could be bought for a
double-stuffed Oreo, Gremlin would be ripe for the taking with a few
Snausages."You'd better not make me look stupid in front of your mommy by
biting me, Gremlin!I hear NASA is looking for a few test animals for their next
mission to Mars.Devlyn was careful to hold the treat at the very tips of her
fingers as the dog sniffed it warily. "Oh, yeah. You know you want
it." Dev's eyes narrowed with a predatory glint. "C'mon take
it."
Lauren watched in
fascination as the President of the Unites States and her Pug faced off in a
battle of wills. She was taking even odds.I can't believe I'm seeing this.
But Grem broke first,
snatching the fragrant treat from extended fingers before he retreated behind
Emma's legs. Dev felt a big, satisfied smile edge its way onto her face.
"Ahhh, progress. I wish Congress were that easy." The tall woman put
her palms on her knees and pushed to her feet so she could hand the bag to
Emma. "Keep those handy in case he turns on you."
Emma nodded. "Be
careful, Devlyn Marlowe. These babies need you." She gave the President a
long hug.
"I will, Emma.
And we'll be home soon." Dev disentangled herself and opened her arms to
her children once more. "Last chance. You know just one is never enough
for me." She sighed. "I have to go before Liza has a conniption and
gets the cattle prod after me."
All the kids ran over
and hugged their mother in turn. Ash tugged her down to her level. "Thank
you, Mommy. Amy is the best present ever."
"I'm glad,
Moppet. Take good care of her. She just finished her Secret Service training,
and I think she could use a little TLC."
The girl giggled.
"I will. I promise." Then, without thought, she darted over to Lauren
and threw her arms around her.
Lauren started in
surprise but managed to gently, albeit it a little awkwardly, lower her hands
and softly rub Ashley's back. She wasn't sure what to say and felt a flood of
relief course through her when Ashley spoke first.
"I promise we'll
take good care of Grem, too."
Lauren relaxed and
returned the girl's hug with more vigor. "I know you will, Ash. Have fun
while we're gone."
* * *
Lauren tried not to
let the excitement show in her face as the limousine pulled up to the
plane.It's just a plane. It's just a plane. You've been on a plane before.Her
eyes were riveted on the enormous steel monster.Oh, man, for two Hershey bars
and a window seat on that bad boy, I'd have Dev's baby.Her face turned bright
red as the direction of her thoughts registered.
"I've arranged
for you to have your own office onboard," Dev commented casually,
oblivious to the sometimes profound, but always unique, mental machinations of
her biographer. She leaned closer to Lauren, wondering exactly when it was that
they'd gone from sitting across from each other to sitting side by side. Not
that she was complaining. "It's the office normally reserved for the First
Lady. I um I hope you like it and the plane, too. It's really nice and um...
fast," she babbled.Great, now I sound like a sixteen-year-old trying to
impress a pretty girl with a ride in my Daddy's Corvette.
"Oh, well, I'll
just have to make do. I don't know how I'll manage," Lauren drawled,
fanning herself in mock-distress and doing her best southern belle imitation.
Dev laughed.
"Well, it's only fitting that you have the First Lady's office on Air
Force One since you've been sleeping in her room in the White House." Dev
pulled Lauren's new novel from the bag at her feet and eagerly set it on her
lap. "I don't intend to work any more than I have to on this flight. I'm
going to read."
Lauren's ego
practically purred under Dev's gentle stroking. She never got to enjoy a real
live fan's reaction to her novels. "Any suggestions for the next Adrienne
Nash book? Since you've read them all?"
Dev nodded
emphatically. "Oh, absolutely. She needs a girlfriend."
Lauren crossed her
arms, drawing back from Dev. "Oh, she does, does she?"Could be
interesting. A tall, beautiful one with piercing blue eyes perhaps? That would
sure throw a few readers for a loop.
"Yup!" Dev
grinned. "She'd be much more at peace with herself. More content. And
completely satisfied."
Pale brows lifted.
"That's one hell of a girlfriend."
"Uh huh."
Lauren glanced
sideways at the President. "And what makes you think Adrienne Nash is
interested in women?"
Before Dev could
answer, the car stopped and her door was opened from the outside. She smiled
and climbed out, turning to give the waiting Press a quick wave before
extending her hand to Lauren. With a slight tug, she helped the writer out of
the car. "What makes you think she's not?" Dev asked, pressing her
hand lightly against the small of Lauren's back, giving her a nudge in the
right direction.
"Good
point."
The women were pelted
with a flurry of questions from the waiting Press, their shouts barely heard
above the general hum of car and plane engines and other airport activity. Dev
completely ignored the reporters, but noticed that Lauren's back went ramrod
straight and that her stride slowed after a particularly personal and
inappropriate question was thrown her way. The President leaned down a little
and told Lauren, "Just keep walking. Ignore it."
The blonde woman
lifted her jaw, and Dev felt a flash of worry. She could tell that Lauren was
considering doing or saying something, and Dev shivered when she imagined what
it could be. "Ahh... Lauren, I'm sure whatever you're thinking about doing
would be extremely satisfying."
Lauren nodded
tersely, kicking a pebble across the concrete as she picked up the pace.
"So very satisfying."
"But please
don't. It will only add fuel to the fire."
Dev paused, allowing
Lauren to start the climb up the stairs ahead of her. She was very well aware
of the cameras going off all around them as they boarded. At the top Lauren
paused to wait for Dev, but quickly stepped inside when Dev motioned her back.
"Go inside so they'll leave you alone." The President winked, then
turned at the top of the steps to give a final wave before stepping onboard
herself.
David met them at the
door, as did Liza, who slipped a file into Dev's hand. "We have a call
waiting for you, Madam President."
Dev's head dropped
forward and she groaned. "Of course you do. I'll take it in my office.
David, will you show Lauren to her office and make sure that her computer and
other things were deliv-"
David nodded and gave
Dev a push toward her office. "Everything is ready, and I'll be happy to
show her where she can set up."
Dev gave Lauren an
aggrieved look, then peeled off, following Liza down the hall. Before she
disappeared into her office, she turned around and tapped Lauren's novel,
yelling, "I'm telling you-"
"I'm thinking
about it," Lauren shot back with a grin.
"Thinking about
what?" David gingerly took the writer by the elbow and pointed to the
opposite end of the hallway.
"Lots of
things," the blonde admitted quietly.
David opened the door
to the office and gestured for Lauren to enter. "Wow." She took a
moment to take it all in. "This is incredible. I can't believe I'm on an
airplane."
"Well, it's not
called ‘The Flying Oval Office' for nothing. It really is amazing.
Did you know that about 238 miles of wire wind through the plane? That is more
than twice the wiring found in a typical 747. The wire protects the plane from
electromagnetic pulses generated by a thermonuclear blast. Even in a nuclear
war, we'll still be able to receive electronic signals," he enthused.
The blood drained
from Lauren's face.
"Oh! Sorry. Not
that I suspect a thermonuclear war," David offered quickly.
"Thanks for
clearing that up."
He unbuttoned his
jacket and ran a hand through his close-cropped red hair. Taking a deep breath
he asked, "Can I come in for a moment? I'd like to talk to you for a few
minutes."
Lauren eyed him
seriously, chewing her lip as she wondered if she'd done something wrong. She
and David had been getting along just fine these past few months. Lauren moved
behind her desk and dropped into a soft leather swivel chair. It forced David
to talk to her across the desk and put her in an immediate position of power.
It was a trick she'd subconsciously picked up from Dev. "Sure. Is
something wrong?"
"Truth is,"
David closed the door and took a seat on the couch, skipping over the chair in
front of the desk, "I'm not sure."
"What do you
mean? Is there a problem with the book?" Lauren had agreed to let David
read the rough notes that would form the beginning of the prologue to Dev's
biography. It was mostly background and family information and wouldn't change,
no matter what happened in the next four years. She'd never shared any part of
her preliminary work before, but, as Dev's best friend and the President's
Chief of Staff, she valued David's unique insight.
"No! Everything
looks great so far. Dev is going to love it. She'll get a big chuckle out of
the fact that one of her ancestors was a convicted horse thief. Must be where
her natural talent for politics comes from."
"Then
what?"
"It's Dev."
He looked her directly in the eye. "She's, umm, really opened up to you,
you know?"
Lauren nodded
reluctantly, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable with where this was going.
"That's true. For a biography to be good, a subject has to open up to the
writer."
"I'm not talking
about the book, Lauren. I'm talking about on a personal level. She's really
taking a chance here. In fact, I haven't seen her warm up to another person so
quickly since..." his words trailed off, and Lauren caught the
significance.
"Samantha?"
Her voice conveyed her astonishment.
David nodded. "I
can see you understand." He stood and buttoned his jacket. "I trust
you not to hurt her. You're the first person in a long time who has seemed to
make her happy." He paused. "Just don't lead her on. Please."
The man turned and quietly left the office.
Dumbfounded, Lauren
blinked several times in rapid succession.Lead her on?Coming to her senses, she
jumped up from her desk. "David, wait!"
The Chief of Staff
stopped and turned around in the hall. "Yeah?"
"You believe the
rumors, don't you?" Lauren lowered her voice, looking around a little
nervously. "The ones about Devlyn and me."
"I'm not sure
what to believe at this point." He placed his hand on the plane wall as he
felt the big machine begin to taxi down the runway. "I'm just asking you
to be careful."
"Then, just like
Devlyn, you're going to have to trust me." She could see the hesitancy in
his eyes. "I'll admit it probably wasn't the smartest professional move
I've ever made. But somewhere in the last two months, we became real friends,
David. Please know that I wouldn't do anything I thought would hurt her. I'm
not leading anyone on."
Her voice was
pleading, and he had no choice but to believe her. He hated being surrounded by
honest people. This was
"I do trust
you." He smiled softly. "And I'm glad she has you for a friend. Now,
if you'll excuse me, I have a call to make myself."
* * *
Lauren's notebook was
in her lap as she sat hunched over on the long sofa in her office aboard the
‘Flying Oval Office', scrawling away. She glanced up at the steward,
who placed the milk on the table in front of her. After so many weeks with Dev,
the writer had grown rather fond of the beverage as well, but she discovered it
had to be ice cold for her to truly enjoy it.Do I need to wonder where this
came from?"Thank you."
"My pleasure,
Ms. Strayer. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"No, I'm fine,
thanks." She pushed her glasses up, rolling her neck to work out its
tightness before taking the glass. She was amazed that it was, indeed, ice
cold.Are they all mind readers?
Lauren glanced at her
watch. They'd been in the air almost two hours, and she hadn't seen hide nor
hair of Devlyn since they parted in the hallway.Quit your whining. You're a big
girl, and you know she's busy.With a soundless sigh, she went back to her
notebook and her milk.
Dev finally showed up
outside her door almost an hour later. The President gave a light rap and heard
Lauren's answering ‘Come in'.
Blue eyes rolled at
Lauren as Dev marched into the office, arms outstretched in front of her like
Frankenstein's monster. She walked stiff-legged across the room to the couch,
where she collapsed face down. "I'm such a bad mother," she mumbled
into the cushion.
"What?!"
Lauren snorted. "No way."
Dev rolled over,
clutching a small throw pillow to her chest. "I just realized that I'm not
going to be home for Christopher's birthday next week." She folded her
arms around the pillow and tucked it under her chin, looking down the couch at
Lauren. "Maybe I can airmail him a camel."
The writer turned her
body, lifting one arm to rest it on the back of the couch. "Nah, that's
overkill. Besides, you get him a camel, and next he'll want an elephant, and
before you know it: poof! You've got rhinos eating the bushes in the Rose
Garden, and the south lawn is a petting zoo."C'mon, Dev, smile.
Dev's laughter rang
out through the plane so loudly that Lauren wondered if the Press rats, who
were housed near the rear of the plane and went along on every Air Force One
flight, could hear her. Then she got hit in the head with the pillow Dev had
been using.
"Hey, be
nice!" Lauren scolded as she confiscated Dev's pillow and pressed her face
into the soft cloth.
"I'm always
nice." Dev grinned, but the happy expression faded quickly. "I'll
figure out some way to make it up to Christopher." She stopped speaking for
a moment, and a contemplative look crossed her face. Dev's eyes went serious.
"This is the kind of thing he's never going to forget though, isn't
it?"
Lauren felt a pang
deep in her chest. It was only a birthday, right? He would eventually
understand that Dev had pressing commitments that were of global importance
things that couldn't wait for a little boy's party. Lauren smiled sadly at the
President. "No, it's not something he'll ever forget."
Dev nodded slowly and
pushed up off the couch, moving toward the door. She exhaled tiredly.
"That's pretty much what I figured."
Tuesday, March 9th
They had been at the
Embassy for three days and this was the first time that Lauren had had more
than a moment to enjoy her room's balcony. She stared out at the city that
pulsed with life. It was congested and colorful. Foreigners stood out like sore
thumbs, their business suits or touristy shorts and T-shirts clashing with the
native's traditional white robes. Car horns mixed with the angry shouts of
pedestrians and the occasionally whinny from a donkey or horse. It was a
curious mix of old and new world technology, culture, and attitudes that Lauren
found more interesting than appealing.
The writer snapped
off a few photographs, then headed back inside, stepping out of the heavy
perfume of highly seasoned, roasting meats, local pastries, and car exhaust.
She was amazed when
Dev ordered everyone to take their third day ‘in country' to rest and
relax. ‘Everyone', Lauren found out, was a relative term. David was
still working like a madman, as were several aides and advisors on foreign
policy. But most of the other staff, including Dev herself, used the day to
relax.
The President slept
away the entire day, and Lauren suspected that the dark-haired woman was still
fighting a nasty case of jet lag. While she slumbered, David had easily taken
charge, giving orders that Dev not be disturbed for anything. He made it
perfectly clear that she needed to be well rested for the upcoming meetings.
Lauren had managed to
take a nap herself, but felt restless and was up long before Dev. She took the
time to do some exploring and shot two rolls of film, but was hesitant to
venture too far from the executive quarters. There were just too many strange
faces milling about, constantly staring at her and whispering as she, or anyone
connected to Devlyn, passed. No. Lauren preferred to stick close to her
friends, especially the beautiful one who ran the most powerful nation on
earth.
The first meeting was
set for tomorrow morning at
She settled her
camera on a table and opened the door to be greeted by Dev's thousandwatt
smile. Devlyn was holding a garment bag and looking incredibly pleased with
herself. "You know," Lauren started, her hands coming to rest on her
hips, "I've known you long enough now to know that that smile is
trouble." But even as she teased, her eyes worriedly searched Dev's face,
relieved that the lines of fatigue and tension that she'd seen yesterday
appeared to be gone.
"Oh, so that's
how it is, huh? I bring you a present, and you accuse me of causing
trouble." Dev shrugged nonchalantly and threw her nose in the air.
"Fine. I'll just take this reeeeally beautiful, incredibly expensive
evening gown and find some other short, cute blonde to give it to." She
sniffed in mock indignation and turned around, barely clearing Lauren's line of
sight before an enormous grin sprang to her lips.
Lauren's arm shot
out, grabbing the back of Dev's shirt. "Waaaait just a minute, Madam
Commander and Chief!" She tugged the woman into her room and eagerly
closed the door. "Number one, I'm not short"
"You're shorter
than I am."
"Everyone
without male plumbing is shorter than you are, Stretch," Lauren defended.
Dev laughed.
"True."
"And number
two" Lauren held up two fingers.
Dev draped the
garment bag over her arm. Her eyes twinkled. "You're not gonna try and
deny that you're cute, are you?"
"Do I look
stupid?"
Dev opened her mouth,
and Lauren clamped her hand over it. "There's really no need to answer
that, Devlyn."
The President's eyes screamed,
‘Who, me?' But she prudently remained silent.
Lauren smirked and
pulled away her hand. She eyed the bag. "So are you gonna show me? Or do I
have to beg?"
Dev didn't say a
word. Her evil laugh alone was more than enough to make Lauren blush to the
roots of her hair.I love it when she does that,Dev thought affectionately.
"All right, Mighty Mouse ouch!" Dev grasped her arm and scowled.
"I bruise easily, you know!"
"Then you
shouldn't call people names," came the reasonable response.
"You know, I'm
pretty sure it's a federal crime to hit me."
Lauren lifted a brow
as she liberated the garment bag from Dev's arms, noticing it was a tad heavy
for a garment bag. "Call a cop." Her gaze flicked around the room,
looking for a place to hang it, but before she could move, Dev took it back and
held it up for Lauren's easy inspection.
The blonde carefully
unzipped the leather bag. She gasped when the dress came into view. Dev hadn't
lied.Wow."Oh, my." She fingered the black, sequined material
reverently. "It's" She swallowed emotionally. Nobody had ever given
her anything so lovely. "It's beautiful. I can't um I can't believe it's
for me." Suddenly bashful eyes tilted upward, and she gazed at Dev from
beneath pale lashes. "Thanks," she said softly.
Dev sighed
happily.God, Marlowe, she's got you hook, line, and sinker. I'm totally and
irreversibly twitter-pated."It's I mean, it's for the reception
tonight," she explained needlessly, her tongue failing to comply quickly
enough with her brain's command to start talking and stop looking like a moron.
Lauren nodded and
mercifully dropped her gaze from Dev and refocused on the dress.
Once out of the beam
of those intense gray eyes, Dev found she could think much more clearly.
"I personally thought the most beautiful woman in the room should have the
most beautiful dress."
Lauren blushed again,
unsure how she should take these compliments. Dev was as solicitous as a lover,
but surely she didn't feel that way about her. Other than a little harmless
flirting, Dev had never given Lauren any indication that she felt something
other than friendship for her. Still, she was flattered by the attention, and
the way Dev was looking at her caused her belly to flutter nervously and her
palms to go moist.
The biographer
dismissed the most obvious explanation of what she was feeling, chalking up the
sweet-talking to Dev's being well rested, in a really good mood, and charming
as hell. "You know, you're gonna spoil me if you keep this up. I mean,
gee, great big white house, a private plane, permanent dog sitters." She
grinned, scrunching up her nose and wrinkling the corners of her eyes. "I
think I'm ruined for anyone else."
Dev nearly bit her
lip through.From your lips to God's ears,Lauren.
"If I didn't
know better, I'd think you were someone awfully important."
"Nah, I'm just a
geek stalker." She laughed. "Okay, I've got a meeting and Liza is
gonna be here to drag me downstairs by my ear any moment. She has learned too
much from Jane, I tell you, but I'll be back to get you at about six and we'll
go down for the reception. I'd invite you to join me for the meeting, but it
wouldn't go over well."
"I thought the
first meeting was tomorrow?"
"The first
official meeting is tomorrow. This afternoon's is with the Crown Prince. It's
nothing important. Photo op and sound bites for the press, that sort of
thing." Dev grimaced, wondering how much longer she could hold up her arm
before discreetly lowering without looking like a wuss in front of Lauren.
"It'll be boring as hell. And you've already been there and done that a
million times, so please continue to enjoy your day off. If I didn't have to go
I wouldn't. Just relax and enjoy. You can watch the dog and pony show on closed
circuit if you like."
"I'll do
that." She closed her eyes for a moment, scratching just above her
eyebrow. "Umm, please don't tell me I need my password to activate
anything here. It's several thousand miles away at the moment."
"No, everything
here is simple voice activation."
"Finally,
something simple." Lauren rolled her eyes. She studied Dev's face, her
eyes widening with realization. "Jesus, put that down." Without a
warning to Dev, Lauren pulled the bag from her hand. She grunted at its weight
and interestedly peered into the bag. There were shoes in the bottom and
several jewelry boxes. "My goodness, Devlyn! This weighs a ton!"
"Nah. I barely
noticed it," Dev lied. "I just wanted to make sure you had a decent
selection of accessories to go with your surprise." Dev suppressed a grin.
"There are a few baubles in there I hope you'll like." Her fingers
idly played with the bag's zipper. "But I burrowed them. So no losing
them, okay?"
Lauren nodded,
gulping a little. "This wasn't necessary, Devlyn. I could have..."
"Don't be silly,"
Dev admonished gently. "I wanted to." Dev gestured toward the bag,
already picturing how lovely Lauren was going to look. "I'll be back in a
couple of hours to escort you. Unless you've got someone else in mind,"
she commented with forced casualness. Half the Press Corps and a good portion
of her own staff were in love with the beauty.
Lauren shook her
head. "I'm all yours, Madam President."
Now that's more like
it.Dev's heart began to swell. She knew that those simple words shouldn't mean
so much, that they didn't mean what she wanted them to. But still they made her
happy, she found herself lacking the will power or inclination to fight the
feeling. "See you soon then."
When Dev left, Lauren
unzipped the bag and pulled out several pairs of shoes. She held them up to the
dress and, with a little nod, selected a medium black heel with a thin strap
around the ankle. Then she set them aside and pulled out several velvet jewelry
boxes that had Cartier imprinted on them in gold letters.
Grey eyes widened
slightly when she realized that when Dev said she had ‘borrowed'
them, that meant the jewelry was on loan from one of the finest jewelers in the
world. Lauren shook her head in simple disbelief. "Good God, Devlyn. Don't
ever let it be said that you don't know how to make a woman feel special."
She tugged over the dress and let out a nervous breath. "I only hope I can
do all this justice."
* * *
Lauren flopped down
on the bed and ordered the TV on, requesting a translation in English so that
she could watch the photo op. Dev stood proud and tall, looking absolutely
incredible. The power of her presence alone drew every eye to her and captured
the viewer's attention completely.
Almost resentfully,
she dragged her gaze from Dev to inspect the shorter man standing alongside
her, who was undoubtedly Crown Prince Karim Sami Hassan. He was nice enough
looking, she considered thoughtfully, estimating his age somewhere between
twenty-five and thirty. He had a generous mouth and a well-trimmed, dark beard
that disappeared into a thick mass of wavy, black hair. The Prince's olive
coloring made him appear more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern, and his dusky
skin was set off nicely by his loose, golden-colored robes, which were streaked
with red. He wore the traditional headgear of his people.
The United Arab
They spoke quietly
with one another and then shook hands, dragging out the normally quick ritual
for the flashing cameras.
After a few moments,
the Prince leaned over and whispered something to Dev. When she pulled back,
she was still smiling, but something had changed.
Lauren sat up on the
bed and pulled a pillow into her lap, missing Grem at that very moment. She
studied the image, looking into eyes that were normally rich and vibrant, but
now appeared as cold and stony as a grave. "Oh, boy, I do believe that
Madam President is pissed."
* * *
The meeting ended,
and the Press Corps shuffled out of the room. David began making his way over
to Dev, but she waved him off, needing a few moments with the Prince. She did
her best to maintain her calm demeanor, but she could already feel the sneer
forming on her lips.
"Your
Highness." She stopped and cleared her throat. "I appreciate the fact
that you saw Ms. Strayer today on television. And I also appreciate the fact
that you find her an attractive, desirable woman." Dev's nostrils flared.
"But let me make something perfectly clear to you. She isnotapproachable.
And she is most certainlynotinterested in remaining behind in your lovely
country upon my departure." Dev's heart clenched at the very thought.
The man's eyes
narrowed, and he ran the back of his hand over his dark, closely cropped beard.
"I was under the impression that there was no romantic involvement between
you and Ms. Strayer," he said in perfect, though slightly accented,
English. "My people were assured by your people that your press was simply
looking for a sensational story, and that Ms. Strayer was free to be, shall we
say, pursued."
When I find out who
said that, he's walking back to the United States!So what if it's true!Dev's
teeth actually ground together when he looked at her with eyes daring her to
say differently, which she immediately did. "You were misinformed,"
Dev answered flatly. "I'm sure that you understand I must deny our
involvement to the press for appearances' sake. But I assure you, Ms. Strayer
is very much taken. She will be accompanying me to the reception tonight."
The Prince looked Dev
directly in the eye. "She is your lover then?"
"Absolutely,"
she practically snarled, startled by the proprietary ring to her voice.
"But she is not
your wife," he clarified smugly. He tilted his head to the side, waiting
for Dev's response. With a quick jerk of his chin, he kept his own approaching
entourage at bay.
Dev's jaw
clenched.Asswipe isn't getting the picture."That changes
nothing."Except for the fact that if she were my wife, and you were saying
these things, I'd wring your scrawny neck on the spot."The fact remains
that Ms. Strayer isunavailableto you, Your Highness." She straightened to
her full height and looked down at the Prince with barely contained rage.How
dare he?"I trust, Your Highness, that this is a closed issue?"
"This discussion
is over," he agreed amiably, flashing Dev a smile that was anything but
reassuring. "Madam President."
Dev could see that
the Prince was used to getting his way in every matter.Too bad that's not going
to happen with this, junior.Dev stiffened, her body unconsciously responding to
the challenge that was flashing in his eyes. To him, Lauren was still a prize
to be won, and she'd just made things worse by tossing the gauntlet at his
feet.God, Lauren, I hope you trust me this much. Because he's gonna be watching
us like a hawk tonight.
* * *
Dev knocked on
Lauren's door. She nervously ran her hands over her long, white jacket, tugging
on its hem and smoothing it against her wide-legged silk trousers. It wasn't
what she normally would have worn for such an occasion, but it was still formal
attire and she wasn't about to put on a stitch of clothing that would detract
from Lauren tonight.
Despite Dev's loosely
worn hair, elegant jewelry and modest makeup, her outfit would help Prince
Hassan see her as Lauren's escort and his peer, not just a woman. In this male
dominated region of the world, Dev's trousers were more than a fashion statement.Besides,
I'm the President of the United States, I'll wear whatever I damn well please.
Devlyn's mind was a
whirl with tomorrow's likely headlines. She sighed. There was no choice now. If
the Prince found out that she'd outright lied to him about her relationship
with Lauren, the entire trip could be in jeopardy. She had put Lauren's
feelings ahead of a summit that had actually been in the works for more than
ten years. But she wouldn't see Lauren harassed as though she were an object to
be owned.
The door suddenly
swung open, and Dev's breath was simply stolen from her body.
"Stunning," she whispered reverently as wide blue eyes eagerly
absorbed every detail of Lauren's appearance.
Her pale hair had
been swept up into a low knot that rested snuggly on her neck. Several fair
tendrils had already worked their way free and served to frame Lauren's
youthful face in a quietly graceful way. The black sequin dress was strapless,
showing off a slender, succulent neck and slightly muscular shoulders that were
covered with creamy, white skin and dotted with faint freckles. The snug cloth
clung to every curve of the writer's body, outlining firm breasts, a trim waist
and the womanly flair of her hips. Dev found herself wishing it were shorter,
say mid thigh, but this was an evening event, so the floor length gown was
already pushing the limits of propriety by showing so much of those incredible
shoulders.
Dev sucked in a
breath, very conscious of the low burn that had ignited deep in her belly.
"Can I take your
staring at me as though I had sprouted a tail as a good sign?" Lauren
asked a little insecurely. She felt her heat rise to her cheeks. Dev's eyes
raked over her body in a way that was making her pulse flutter happily.
Unfortunately, it was also making her even more nervous than she already was.
Which was pretty damned nervous.
"Wow," Dev
mumbled. "You look" She shook her head, unable to form the
words.Fabulous,her mind screamed.She looks fabulous!Uh oh. Too fabulous. Prince
What's-his-name is gonna drop dead at first sight.
Lauren tucked a wisp
of hair behind her ear, and her earrings glittered in the light. Her hand
dropped to her throat. "Thank you. And for these especially. I feel like
some sort of princess." Her fingers shifted and grazed the sparkling
diamonds wreathing her neck, then moved down to the matching bracelet that hung
loosely around her wrist. She smiled warmly. "I'm a little concerned about
turning into a pumpkin at
"You um"
Lauren laughed helplessly, finding herself tongue-tied and with the
inexplicable urge to run her hands up and down Dev's body.And kiss the hollow
of her throat? Okay, that's new.
"Clean up pretty
good?"No, you cannot lean in and nuzzle that soft- looking cheek.
"Mmm"
Lauren agreed. "That's an understatement, Devlyn."
"Shall we?"
Dev offered the smaller woman her elbow.
"Oh, yeah."
"Wait a second."
Dev frowned a little and pointed back toward the room. "Don't you need
your glasses?"
"Will I have to
read or write?"
"Well, we were
all going to sit around and retake our SATs for fun." Dev slapped her
forehead. "But so much for that. Now what will we do after drinks?"I
have a few suggestions. One of them includes whipped cream andSTOP IT!
Lauren laughed.
"We'd better get going, President Marlowe." Lauren spied Dev's Secret
Service men lurking down the hall. "I'm sure Liza is stroking out
someplace, waiting for you." Lauren tucked her arm around Dev's as they
made their way down the hall.
"Umm
Lauren?"Time to face the music, Marlowe.
"Yes?"
"Do you trust
me?"
* * *
"You did
what?!" Lauren stopped dead in her tracks just as the couple entered the
reception hall. She stared at Dev in disbelief.
The room went dead
silent, and every set of eyes turned to the two women.
"Don't make me
say it again," Dev pleaded under her breath as she grinned at the crowd
and gave a quick wave. "I know by the way your jaw just hit the carpet
that you heard me the first time."
"Devlyn!"
Lauren huffed through her plastered on smile. She was temporarily blinded by a
dozen quick flashes from the press' cameras. "The gossip just started to
die down back home." She spoke without moving her lips. "If we put on
some show tonight, so we can convince Prince Hassan, it's just going to start
all over again."
David rushed to Dev's
side, pushing down his irritation. Dev knew the drill. Why was she being
difficult? She'd been in an unusually foul mood ever since the photo op that
afternoon. "Good evening, Madam President," was what he said.
Devlyn, however,
heard exactly what David meant, which was, ‘Why didn't you wait for
your introduction, bozo?!' "Sorry, David. I was distracted. Besides, I was
already introduced to everyone this afternoon. This is just a little reception.
Relax." She glanced sideways at her Chief of Staff and elbowed him in the
ribs affectionately. "Nice tux. Your tie is crooked, by the way."
"Thanks."
He fussed with the tie until it was straight. "And you know we have to
follow protocol, Madam President."
Prince Hassan made a
bee line for the women, and Dev immediately wrapped her arm around Lauren's
waist, tugging her closer and surprising the hell out of both David and Lauren.
A flurry of camera flashes lit up the room, and the press hounds began to murmur
among themselves. "Let's just skip it and say we didn't, David. I've got
something else I need to take care of right now anyway. If you'll excuse
us?"
David turned round
eyes on Lauren who could only shrug helplessly. "Fine," he mumbled.
"I'll be back in a few moments. I'll handle it."
Dev nodded absently,
her eyes tracking the Prince and the advisors that flanked him like bookends.
Prince Hassan stopped
right in front of Devlyn and Lauren. He motioned his men back a few feet.
"Madam President, it's a pleasure to see you again." But somehow Dev
just couldn't believe him. It might have been the fact that he was looking at
Lauren the entire time he spoke. "I don't believe I've been introduced to
your lovely biographer."
Dev remained
stubbornly silent until Lauren nudged her. "Your Highness, Prince Hassan,
may I present Ms. Lauren Strayer?"
"It's a true
pleasure." Prince Hassan bowed deeply at the waist and grasped Lauren's
hands. He kissed her knuckles, lingering for several seconds too long.
"Hello,"
Lauren replied cordially, wanting her hands back.
Dev fought not to
roll her eyes.If I strangled him, I wonder if it would start a war?Dev knew she
wasn't acting very Presidential. But she couldn't seem to help herself.
"What a lovely
necklace, Ms. Strayer." The Prince gestured to the glittering stones then
let go of one of Lauren's hands to reach out and touch them. Using the grip on
the hand he still held, he tugged Lauren closer.
"Thank
you." Lauren pulled her hand away and discreetly moved out of his reach,
trying not to appear as repulsed as she felt.Okay, now I know why Dev didn't
want him to feel like I was fair game. Yuck."It was a gift from Mad
Devlyn."Her lover would say her name,she admonished herself. Lauren smiled
up at Dev, who glanced back down at her with apologetic eyes.
Prince Hassan
retracted his hand casually, although he felt stung by her actions. "I
trust that you are enjoying all that my lovely nation has to offer."
"Unfortunately,
this is a business trip, Your Highness," Dev interrupted. "We've had
no free time for sight seeing. Perhaps another time."Like ten minutes
after never.
He frowned.
"Perhaps." Then his frown shifted into a smile that the women were
sure onlyhefound charming. "I believe then that I need to make the most
out of our short time together." The man handed a full glass of champagne
to Dev, who took the glass without thinking. Then he turned to Lauren and
smiled broadly. "It seems that I need some more champagne. Would you care
to join me, Ms. Strayer?"
Dev stepped in
between Lauren and the Prince, her temper flaring. "No, she would not, you
son-"
"Why, yes."
Lauren laid a calming hand against Dev's back, then moved around her.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I would be delighted."
The man's chest
immediately puffed out, and he tossed Devlyn a conceited grin.
No unmarried woman
would refuse him. And that a woman could be chosen over him? That was
unthinkable.
"One moment
please, Your Highness. I need to speak with Devlyn." Lauren immediately
grasped Dev's hand and walked them several feet away. She lowered her voice to
a whisper. "Let me handle this, Devlyn."
"I will
not!" Dev whispered back angrily. "He's making a play for you right
in front of me! Of all the arrogant pieces of"
"I know."
Lauren made a face. "He's a pig. But I've got the sneaking suspicion that
you punching him in the nose wouldn't do anything for our two country's
relations." A pale brow lifted. "Right?"
Dev's expression
turned sulky. "I wasn't going to punch him."Yes, I was. Shit. I'm
going insane.
"Uh huh."
Lauren smiled gently. "I know you were only trying to get him to leave me
alone by telling him we were lovers. And for most men, I think that would do
it. But Prince Hassan is apparently the over eager type who needs a little
extra convincing." She patted Dev's arm reassuringly. "Trust
me."
Devlyn exhaled
unhappily. "Do I have a choice?"
Lauren pretended to
think for a moment before she smiled sassily. "Ummm... not really."
Blue eyes took on a
dangerous glint as Dev peeked over her shoulder at the Prince. "I'm going
to be watching him. And if he gets even the tiniest bit out of hand"
"I know. I know.
Now go greet your other guests before you get a reputation for being a horrible
hostess." Lauren squared her shoulders, realizing that she'd never even
had the chance to be nervous in her surroundings. Things had just happened too
quickly. "I'll be fine."
Dev flashed her a
gleaming smile full of admiration and affection. But there was a serious edge
to her voice that garnered the younger woman's complete attention. Piercing
eyes bore straight into Lauren, and they stopped speaking for a long moment as
the rest of the world faded away. "Just don't forget who your escort is
tonight," Dev finally whispered softly, her heart thundering in her
ears.This should be for real. Not some stupid ruse.
Lauren swallowed.
"I won't." Several more seconds passed before their surroundings
seeped back into their consciousness. Lauren closed her eyes for a moment to
clear her head.Time to get this fixed.She purposefully strode over to Prince
Hassan, who had been waiting, stealing furtive glances at the women and
wondering if his bed might be warmed by more than just Lauren tonight. Lauren
wrapped her arm around his and headed them in the general direction of the bar.
"We need to have a little talk."
"I was hoping
you would see me alone."
"I... um... I
wanted to make something clear to you, Your Highness. I thought it best if we
spoke privately. That's all."
"But a woman as
beautiful as you should not be required to think."
Lord, help me. Maybe
I'll be the one to punch him.Prudently, Lauren decided to plow ahead, ignoring
his last remark. "I'm flattered by your attentions, Your
Highness."Gag."But I'm perfectly happy with Devlyn."
"Obviously,
President Marlowe values you, or you would not be attending a function such as
this. But you are merely a lover and not her wife, correct? I have four wives
and several lovers. And it is you that I am interested in tonight."
Lucky them."Be
that as it may, I only have one lover, and I'm not interested in any
others." Lauren was running out of patience quickly. What was it going to
take to put off Romeo? Her imaginary status as Devlyn's lover was apparently
far enough below that of a spouse that Prince Hormones felt free to try his luck.
A server finally passed them, and she snatched a flute of champagne from the
tray, tossing it back in one deep swallow. "Your Highness, I'm trying to
be discreet here. But you've left me no choice but to be rather explicit."
He leaned closer,
obviously extremely interested.
"I
amcompletelysatisfied." Lauren wriggled pale brows, and her voice dropped
to a sexual purr that did an excellent job of conveying inexactlywhat way Dev
satisfied her. "I wouldn't trade Devlyn for ten men." She licked her
lips slowly and tried not to burst out laughing at the look of surprise, then
arousal, that swept across his face. "No offense."
The Prince cleared
his throat, suddenly embarrassed. His respect for the tall American jumped
several notches. "None taken, Ms. Strayer. I'm glad that you are so,"
he paused and smiled with open appreciation, "satisfied." Lauren was
a beauty. But he wasn't foolish enough to chase after a lost cause.
"Thank you. I am
a very lucky woman." Relief flooded her.Finally.Just then David joined
them.Perfect timing."It was a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I hope
your meetings tomorrow go very smoothly."
"I'm sure they
will. It seems that President Marlowe is a master at getting and keeping what
she desires most."
Lauren ducked her
head and smiled. "I agree. Good night." She turned to David. "I
believe there was someone you wanted to introduce me to?"
David stared at her
blankly.
"Across the
room," she prompted, tilting her head in a direction she's chosen
randomly, hoping it would put her as far away from Prince Dipshit as she could
get.
David's eyes widened
slightly with recognition. "Oh, yes, of course." He quickly scanned
the crowd and threw out a name. "If you'll excuse us, Your Highness?"
The Prince nodded and
insisted on taking Lauren's hand and giving it another little kiss.
"You're a
lifesaver, David," Lauren said softly as soon as they were out of the
Prince's earshot.
He stopped walking
and looked at her curiously. "How'd you know my Secret Service name?"
* * *
The Prince smiled at
Dev. He had managed to avoid her for the past two hours but he was about ready
to retire and decided a quick goodbye was in order. "It seems that your
Ms. Strayer is very much taken," he conceded.
Dev spun around at
the sound of the Prince's voice, and another glass of champagne was thrust into
her hand.
She had downed hers
in one swallow when Lauren and the Prince left in search of a server or the
bar. And even as she tried to mingle, she found her attention drifting across
to Lauren. It was only after Lauren had finally broken away with David, that
she felt comfortable enough to begin mixing with her guests. "I told you
that this afternoon," Dev stated flatly. "What finally convinced
you?"
The young man burst
out laughing. "Ms. Strayer's declaration of her ‘satisfaction'
in your ‘arrangement'."
Dev
blinked.What?Oooooo...Well, thank you, Lauren! She grinned rakishly at the
Prince, who looked as though he would high-five her if he were familiar with
the gesture.
Instead, he slapped
her between the shoulders with gusto. Apparently, Dev had been accepted as
‘one of the boys'. "I have no hard feelings, Madam
President." His brow furrowed a little, not quite understanding why this
whole thing seemed to bother the American President so. Lauren was merely her lover.
President Marlowe was a beautiful and powerful woman, and her nation obviously
accepted her sinful ways. Surely she had dozens of lovers. "She's just a
woman," he finally said, still puzzled but willing to let it go. He waved
a hand dismissively. "Nothing that we should allow to interfere in our
negotiations tomorrow."
"Until tomorrow
then," Dev ground out, needing to make a hasty retreat before she did
something stupid.It'll only make Lauren mad if I go ahead and punch him in the
nose.
"Anxious to get
back to your beautiful blonde?" he laughed. "Ahh... I cannot blame
you a bit. Lucky for me, she can easily be replaced with another beautiful
blonde."
Dev's eyes darkened
with unspent anger, and she moved to shake Prince Hassan's hand. She grasped it
firmly and leaned forward, placing her lips near his ear. "That, Your
Highness, is where you are dead wrong."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter IV
April 2021
Sunday, April 4th
"Why so glum,
chum?" David leaned over the chessboard, wondering why he always fell for
that same gambit.
"Oh, I don't
know." Dev sighed, then sipped her brandy. She leaned back in her chair
and watched pensively as David tried to get out of trouble again. Would he
never learn?
They were in the
spare office in the private residence of the White House. It was a cozy room
that Dev had turned into a family game room of sorts. The kids loved it. On
this chilly spring night, however, her babies were fast asleep, as was, Dev
suspected, nearly everyone else in
"The only time
you drink is when you're having women troubles," David said casually, his
eyes never leaving the board.
Dev looked into her
snifter and frowned. "It's brandy, for God's sake. And I certainly don't
have women troubles. No women, no troubles."
"Well, I'm
really glad to hear that."Here goes nothing."Because guess who's in
town this week?"
"The Emperor of
"Noooooooo"
David moved his knight.
Dev leaned forward
and made a move that would allow the game to continue as long as David didn't
do something stupid. She wasn't ready to be alone either. "King of
"Noooooo"
His brows knitted together.Why didn't she go for the quick kill?"Think a
little less political. More, umm, your type."
"My type?"
Dev kicked her long legs out in front of her. "David, I don't have a type."
He leaned back in his
chair, after making his move, and leveled his best brotherly stare at his
friend. "Yeah, I know. And it's about time we changed that."
Dev glared at the
ruddy-skinned man. "David, please don't tell me that you went and did
something incredibly stupid like-"
"I set you up on
a date."
A dark head dropped.
"Oh, God!" Dev set her snifter on the table next to her, its heavy
crystal bottom making a loud thump. Then she changed her mind and irritably
jerked it back up again. "Isn't my life already complicated enough without
you fixing me up? Half the
"And since
you're not," David said sensibly, "there's no reason you shouldn't go
out with Candy Delaney."
Devlyn began choking
on her drink, wincing as the strong liquor stung her sinuses. She covered her
mouth with her fist and tried to breathe through her nose.
"Surprise."
When Dev could
finally speak she managed to gasp, "You mean you fixed me up with
‘C'mere and get a piece of Candy' Delaney? Jesus, David, why didn't
you just hire me a hooker and call the press in to take pictures!"
David chewed the
inside of his cheek unhappily. He was starting to get the idea that the only
person who was going to satisfy Dev was one Lauren Strayer. "I'll have you
know that Candy Delaney is now Candice Delaney,M.D.,and she's in town attending
the Surgeon General's conference on STDs."
"Well, she had
enough of them in college. She should be an expert by now."
"Deeeeeeev"
But he couldn't stifle a laugh.
"You know how I
hate being set up!"
"I set you up
with Samantha, Dev."
"Oh, yeah."
She frowned, slumping back into her seat. "But you'll never get that lucky
again. And I still don't want to be set up now."
"C'mon! You're
being ridiculous!"
"I am not going
out with Candy ‘Check out my crème filling' Delaney!" She leaned
forward and lazily moved her bishop. "Checkmate."
"You're right.
You're not going out. You're the President of the
Dev snorted.
"‘Bout time you remembered that."
"She's coming
here. Friday night,
"How very Andy
Hardy of you."
"She'snot even
going to be here on Friday.She'sgot a date," David said quietly. He knew
the words would sting. But there was no use in Dev's continuing to brood about
it.
Devlyn didn't have to
ask who ‘she' was. Liza had practically been beaming because of it
all week. The President's personal assistant had happily blabbed to everyone
who would listen that Lauren had agreed to go out with her favorite cousin,
Casey Dennis. "Thanks for reminding me, pal." Dev glowered. "I
had almost forgotten," she mumbled sarcastically.And where is that damn FBI
report I ordered on Liza's cousin?! I asked for it hours ago!
David made a face at
the chessboard and lifted his palms in a gesture of defeat.
Dev thought of Lauren
being wined and dined, having an intimate evening out with someone else. They
might hold hands orGod, what if he kisses her? Or she kisses him? And what if
that leads to No. No. No! I will not think about that. I won't!Her face screwed
up with anger, and she knocked David's king across the room with her bishop.
Both sets of eyes
followed the king, as the white, wooden chess piece sailed through the air and
landed in the lit fireplace. It burst instantly into flames, and David gulped
audibly.
"Oh, yeah,
buddy, you're just lucky you won't fit."
Friday, April 9th
Dev sighed as she
entered the hallway. She looked at her Secret Service agent who pushed up out
of his chair and stood the moment she left her room. "Don't suppose you'd
just shoot me now?"
The man paled a
little. "Madam President?"
"Did you ever do
something that you didn't really want to do just to your keep busybody friends
happy?"
He began to relax and
gave her a knowing grin. "Blind date, Madam President?"
"Almost. I
haven't seen her since college." Dev sighed. "Well, at least I made
it clear to my Chief of Staff that he and his wife were coming too." Her
head jerked up when Lauren's door opened several paces in front of her.Oh,
shit. She looks great. Why does she have to look so damned good? If I didn't
know better, I'd almost say she was trying to drive me insane.
They approached each
other very slowly. Lauren slid her purse over her shoulder as she moved
alongside Dev. "So, you ready for the big evening?" She'd heard about
Dev's blind date from Emma. And the thought did not make her happy. Dev had
been looking tired these past few days.She only gets ten free minutes a week as
it is. She should be relaxing or watching TV or reading my book, or
something,Lauren thought petulantly.Not making her life more complicated. So
what if this chick is a big time doctor from Harvard? Big deal. I know I'm not
impressed.
Dev nodded and tried
to sound positive. "Yeah, it'll be nice to see Candy eh Candice um, Dr.
Delaney again." A tiny frown line appeared on Lauren's forehead, and
Devlyn barely stopped herself from reaching out and smoothing it away.
"Well, I should
be going. Liza asked me to come along with her and her boyfriend. Umm... her
cousin is going to be there. And well"
"Really? I
hadn't heard," Dev said casually, hoping no divine being actually kept
track of little white lies, especially where Lauren was concerned. If he did,
she was in deep shit.
Lauren tugged on her
glasses uncomfortably. She felt an inexplicable urge to explain herself to Dev.
"I've been going kind of stir crazy lately. It's been months since I've
really gone out. And she asked um Liza, I mean, and really wanted a fourth person
so her cousin wouldn't feel uncomfortable."Why do I feel like I'm cheating
on her? We're not a couple!
"Oh, I
understand completely."I am going straight to hell."You never know
when you might meet Mr. Right."
Lauren smiled weakly
and shrugged. Somehow she didn't think she'd be meeting Mr. Right tonight.
"Or Ms. Right."
Dev's ears pricked
up. "Huh?" she practically shouted.
"Candice
Delaney?" Lauren clarified, puzzled by Dev's outburst. "Your date
tonight?" Her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. "Um... Emma
mentioned it a couple of days ago. That's how I know her name."And I
haven't been able to think of anything else since.
"Oh.
Right." Dev tried not to look too crestfallen. She tilted her head in the
opposite direction from the one Lauren was heading in. "I'm on my way
there now, as a matter of fact."
Lauren eyed Dev's
casual suit appreciatively, perversely pleased that Dr. Delaney didn't rate a
skirt or heels. "I can see that. That's a pretty outfit."
"Thanks." A
tiny smile edged onto Dev's face. "Same back." Awkwardly, she stuffed
her hands in her pockets and rocked on her heels. "Well, I'll see you
around." But she made no effort to move.
Lauren sighed
wistfully, already sorry she had agreed to Liza's double date offer. She firmly
commanded her feet to move, when what she really wanted to do was stay here and
visit with Devlyn.Ugh. Except that Dev is going to spend the evening with Ms.
Harvard. She sees me all the time. I'm sure I'm the last person she wants to
spend more time with."Yeah. See ya around."
* * *
By the time Lauren's
taxi dropped her off in front of the Been Gi Palace a cloud of depression had
settled over her. She glanced up at the restaurant sign and wrinkled her
nose.Why did I agree to Korean food? I hate not being sure about what I'm ordering.
I'm from
"This is what I
get for wanting a life," she mumbled to herself as she squared her shoulders
and pushed open the restaurant's heavy wooden door, allowing the strong aroma
of the Korean food to waft out onto the sidewalk.
A smiling hostess
immediately rushed to greet her. Lauren slid off her trench coat and draped it
over her arm.
"Hewo, hewo,"
the young woman greeted, bowing her head several times. She looked exceedingly
pleased to see Lauren.
"Hi."
Lauren began bowing her head too, until she caught herself and realized what
she was doing. She stopped and smiled at the petite woman. "I'm here to
meet the Dennis party."
"Party of
one?" the hostess chirped. Her accent was so thick Lauren found herself
leaning forward as though the words might somehow make sense if their volume
were increased.
"No."
The hostess looked
confused. "You no want food?"
"No I mean yes.
I'm meeting some friends here. The Dennis party," Lauren tried again.
"If you no want
food, you just go! This not funny joke." The young woman began shooing
Lauren back toward the door.
"No I do. I mean
yes, I want food."Just not this food.The odor was making her a little
sick. Lauren exhaled impatiently and peered around the small woman.
The restaurant was
dark, illuminated only by the candles dotting the tables and by several
yellow-toned hanging lights over the bar. She squinted as her eyes continued to
adjust to the dim light. Liza was no place to be seen, so she started looking
for Casey, which was no easy task, considering she had no idea what the guy
looked like. A handsome, dark-haired man in a sports coat and tie was sitting
at the end of the bar nursing a drink. The seats on either side of him were
empty.
Lauren decided to
take a chance. She stepped forward, past the hostess, and waved in his
direction. Despite the darkness, the man spotted Lauren and his head popped up.
He smiled broadly, gesturing her over. Lauren sighed in relief. Liza and her
date must just be late.
She turned to the
confused hostess, who had moved back in front of her, apparently prepared to
block her path if necessary. "I found my party. See?" Lauren pointed
to the man who raised his drink in acknowledgement.
The hostess nodded
furiously, finally understanding that Lauren was meeting the man at the bar.
"You go then," she said happily. "I get you table, and waiter
leave menus."
Lauren just stared,
not having understood a blessed word.
"Go!" the
hostess finally huffed. "Tourists so stupid," she grumbled as she
stepped back to the door, her head bobbing again as she greeted an elderly
couple who had just stepped inside.
Lauren took the bull
by the horns and approached the man. He stood up and offered her the seat next
to him.
She extended her
hand, and he shook it briskly. "I'm sorry I'm a little late." She
slid onto the stool next to him. "I'm Laur-"
"That's okay,
honey," he interrupted. His eyes tried their best to focus, but this was
his fifth drink, and things were a little fuzzy around the edges. Still, he
could see enough to know this was the luckiest damned day of his life.
"You were worth the wait." He smiled triumphantly. And his friends
tried to tell him that munching down the worm at the end of a bottle of Cuervo
wasn't really good luck. Ha!
Lauren's eyes
narrowed, and she caught a good look at the man for the first time, noticing
his slightly disheveled shirt and askew necktie. "What's your name?"
The man suddenly
grasped the importance of this question and thought wildly. "John?"
Lauren rolled her
eyes. "More like ‘asshole'." She pushed off the bar.
"Bill?" he
valiantly tried again. "David? Sam? Rick? Steve? Bob? David?"
"You already
said that one."
"It's the right
one then?"
"Nope."
"C'mon! Give me
a hint at least."
"Sorry, pal.
None of those are close to Casey."Thank God.
The woman two seats
down, who had been listening to the exchange with mild amusement, suddenly
jumped to her feet. "Lauren?"
Lauren's eyes jerked
toward the sandy-haired woman. "Yes?"
"I'm so glad to
finally meet you. I'm Liza's cousin, Casey Dennis." She extended her hand,
and Lauren lifted hers in utter shock. "Your date," Casey added when
Lauren continued to stare at her blankly. The writer's hand was as limp as a
spaghetti noodle.
"You're a
woman," Lauren said needlessly, her jaw sagging slightly.Do I look totally
gay or what?
Two eyebrows jumped.
"Yeeeah," Casey drew out the word. "Last time I checked, anyway.
Surely you knew that. I mean, Liza said" She stopped, noticing that Lauren
looked a little spooked. "Hey, are you okay?"
Lauren scratched her
jaw. "Boy, that's a good question."The idea's not totally new to you,
Lauri, and you know it. You've thought about it before. Especially lately. So
don't even think about acting all shocked.
She'd been mildly
interested in a few women over the years. Lauren had wondered, if given the
chance, whether things might have developed beyond friendship. But time marched
on, and the opportunity never knocked. Her marriage to Judd had been one long
study in unfulfillment for them both. So maybe it was time to broaden her
horizons? She'd been skirting the edge of it for years. Lauren had to admit
that it wasn't a lack of interest in women that had held her back. More like a
lack of attraction. Or at least a feeling of attraction that was more than
fleeting.
Attraction should
beher mind immediately hit upon the answer, and she sighed quietlylike what I
feel for Dev.To pretend to be anything other than attracted to Devlyn was
simply a lie, and she knew it. She was drawn to the older woman like a moth to
a flame. Her heart hadn't as much as spared a second thought toward Dev's
gender. Lauren tried not to think that Dev was probably kissing Dr. Delany at
this very moment.
The writer firmly
clamped down on her wandering thoughts and glanced up at Casey, who was,
admittedly, a pretty woman. She concentrated on her for a second, holding her
breath and purposely looking long and deep into Casey's warm brown eyes.
Nothing. No glimmer of interest. No spark of desire. No attraction. No pull. It
was nothing like what she felt with Dev, even from the very first. Lauren
exhaled.But she's not Dev. So stop doing that!
"I'm sorry. And
I'm fine," Lauren finally answered, realizing that she was staring.
"What I meant to say earlier is that you're a woman who looks really
familiar. Have we met?"Okay, that was pathetic.But Casey seemed to buy her
answer without question.
"No, I'm sure
I'd remember you." Casey led the way to the empty table that awaited her
return.
"Where's
Liza?" Lauren hoped the question came off casually, despite the fact that
she was starting to get a little worried.
"Oh, she called
a few minutes ago. Something came up at the White House, and so she and Art
won't be meeting us tonight." Casey smiled as she slid into her seat,
tossing her menu onto the empty place setting next to her. "It's just you
and me for the whole night!"
Lauren's eyebrows
crawled behind her bangs. "Umm wow. The whole evening?" What time was
it? She fought the urge to glance at her watch.Give the woman a chance. If Dev
were interested in you, she wouldn't be dating someone else, right?"That's
great," Lauren said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.The whole
night.
* * *
In the dining room of
the residence, David and Beth chatted with Candy, while Dev tried not to look
totally miserable. She smiled at all the right times and feigned interest in
what was being said as she pushed her pasta around on her plate.
She had lost her
appetite long before dinner even made it to the table. It had been totally
vanquished between the soup and salad; Dev had nearly dislocated her knee by
smacking it into the table when she felt Candy's hand land on her thigh.
Once she had managed
to get Candy's insistent hand off her leg, she looked up to find the woman
openly leering at her. It had been a long time since anyone had looked at her
like she was the main course. But coming from Candy it was downright
unappealing. It actually made her a little sick to her stomach.Candice Delaney,
respected MD by day, Superslut by night. Some things just never change.Dev just
shook her head.
She imagined Lauren
looking at her like that, with lust-filled, slate gray eyes, and her cheeks
immediately flamed a bright scarlet.Oh, God.An involuntary moan escaped from
deep in her throat.
The conversation
around her suddenly stopped, and everyone stared.
Okay, that wasn't a
good idea."Hot pasta," Dev explained lamely, fanning the tepid entree.
With dessert, things
went from bad to worse. While David and his wife were lost in their own
conversation, Candy whispered an obscene suggestion to Dev, explaining just how
she'd like to use the cherry sauce once they were alone. Dev cringed at the
mere thought.Not even with someone else's tongue!Her shoulders slumped, and she
tossed her napkin onto the table.How am I gonna survive this? Wonder how
Lauren's doing? Couldn't be any worse than this.
* * *
Lauren's head bobbed
dutifully as she poked her fork around her plate, barely listening to Casey's
endless droning, but fascinated by the 188186stinky conglomeration
ofsomethingthat had been placed in front of her. Were those tiny legs? She
gulped. Or tentacles?I didn't order anything with legs!A mental pause.I think.
"And that's how
I became a medical technician at the morgue."
Lauren nearly dropped
her fork. Her eyes shot upward. "You're what?!"
"A morgue
clerk," Casey enthused, heartened to see that Lauren was as excited about
it as she was. Maybe the writer wasn't as big a dud as she seemed. "It's
such a totally interesting job! Why one time, after a mob hit downtown"
The biographer felt
the blood drain from her face.She's not going to tell me about it, is she? Oh,
God!"So, what's your favorite book?" Lauren changed the subject as
quickly as she could. The legs mixed in with what she thought were noodles on
her plate were nearly enough to make her barf. Hearing about corpses would
surely push her over the edge.
"You know,
people are always asking each other that," Casey commented sagely. "I
don't really have one. I've always preferred the movies." She rattled off
a half dozen titles, none of which Lauren had even heard of. "Aren't those
great? They're my favorites."
"Um sorry, I
haven't seen any of those."
"Oh." Casey
looked mortally wounded, and Lauren wasn't sure whether to feel bad or
relieved. Maybe she could cut the evening short.
Both women were
silent for several awkward moments. "What about travel?" Lauren
prompted. "Have you been anywhere interesting? Or is there someplace you'd
like to visit?"
"No. Not
really."
More painful silence.
"Oh."
Casey took a long
drink of Korean beer. "Astrology is a hobby of mine. I'm a Virgo. What's
your sign?"
"Cancer."
Casey suddenly found
the contents of her glass very interesting. "Oh."
Lauren cocked her
head to the side. "Oh, what? Is that bad or something?"
"No. Not really.
Well, they just aren't very compatible with Virgoans." She shrugged
lightly. "That's all."
No shit,
Sherlock.Lauren covertly studied her watch. Who knew two hours could feel like
this?
"You gonna eat
that?" Without waiting for Lauren to answer, Casey reached over and stuck
her fingers in Lauren's dinner, fishing out something green and slimy that she
immediately popped into her mouth.
Lauren's eyes turned
to slits, and she considered stabbing Casey with her fork. If that had been a
French fry, Casey would be sporting fork marks on her hand right now. But, as
it was, she really wouldn't miss one more piece of slimy thing.
"Umm..."
Casey chewed happily. "Thanks, those are great. And I can't believe you
didn't eat them right off. I can never wait. Ooo have I told you how much I
love the symphony? Have you heard our local symphony? They're fabulous!"
Lauren shook her
head. "I've heard they're wonderful, but I'm not really a big fan of the
symphony. So I haven't seen them myself. But I like opera," she tried
hopefully.
Casey's face twisted
in disgust, and she stated flatly, "I hate opera."
Lauren looked down at
her plate hopelessly. She scooped up a big bite, legs and all, and shoveled it
into her mouth. She reasoned that she'd probably have to be rushed to the
emergency room soon, and then she could escape the date from hell. Or she'd be dead.
Either way worked.
Casey's face suddenly
brightened. "But this body we had down at the morgue last week sort of
looked like one of those fat opera guys."
Lauren didn't even
look up. She just took another enormous bite.
"He was pale and
bloated. I think they fished his carcass out of the river near
* * *
Dev seriously
considered hurting David when he and Beth excused themselves after an
insufferably long dinner, but suggested that the President give Candy a tour.
She grabbed his arm as he was leaving. "I will make you pay for
this!" she growled under her breath, knowing that only David was close
enough to hear her.
"Well, you know
what the old song says," he whispered back. "If you can't be with the
one you love, love the one you're with."
"Not in this
lifetime, David."
"Good night,
Madam President." He leaned over and spoke very quietly into Dev's ear,
"I didn't remember her coming off this strong, Dev. This was a slight
miscalculation on my part. I'm sorry."
Slight?"Good
night, former Chief of Staff."
David and Beth made a
hasty exit, and Dev turned to face the music.Why do I keep hearing "Little
Red Corvette" playing in my mind? Dear God, I promise you I'll do
somethingreallygood for the environment if you'll just get me out of this.
"Well," the
President gestured nervously down the hall, "let's go see what we can find
to look at around here."
"Come on,
Dev." The woman moved closer, and Dev took a step back. "I don't
bite." She grinned. "Unless you ask real nice. How about a tour of
the Executive Bedroom?"
"They say
* * *
"Thanks for the
ride, Casey."Which youinsistedon giving me.
"No problem. I
was coming back here to meet Liza anyway." The women made their way around
to one of the staff entrances just as Casey's phone rang. It was Liza.
"Well, what are you doing there?" Casey practically crowed into her
cell phone. "We just came from there!" She placed her hand over the
receiver and turned to Lauren, who was quietly digging for the ID that was
required before she could sign in and gain entrance to the White House, even
though the guard at the door knew exactly who she was and that she lived there.
God, I'm totally
screwed if I ever lose this thing.Lauren finally pulled it out and signed the
clipboard before turning a bored, slightly frustrated expression on her
companion. "Let me guess," Lauren sighed. "She's at Been
Gi's?"Please don't tell me this means I have to spend anymore time with
you.
"Yup. And she
wants to know if you wouldn't mind giving me the nickel tour." Casey gave
her a hopeful expression. "She doesn't want to drive all the way back. She
lives in the opposite direction."
Lauren held out an
impatient hand. "Let me talk to Liza."
"Okay."
Casey put the phone to her mouth again to say goodbye, but didn't pass it to
Lauren. "Liza says it's not necessary to thank her, that you can do that
on Monday. She, umm... she hung up."
Lauren's shoulders
slumped and she exhaled wearily. Would this date never end? "C'mon, Casey,
the nickel tour is really quick."
* * *
Dev wondered if she
could still be President after her brain finally exploded in her skull. She
figured if Ford could do it, she might be able to get away with it too. There
were bigger stumbling blocks than brain death when it came to the Oval Office.
Devlyn decided that if she had to remove Candy's hand from some part of her
anatomy just one more time, she was going to have to throw ‘polite'
out the window and simply kick Candy out on her ass.
"The umm China
Room is this way." Dev gestured again.
As the pair entered
from one side, Dev was more than relieved to see Lauren enter from the other
doorway. Then the fact that she was with a woman registered just a millisecond
behind that.What in the hell? A woman! Casey is a woman?"Lauren, you're
home." It slipped out before Dev could get her lips and brain in sync with
each other. The one thing that her mouth and brain could readily agree on,
however, was to smile at Lauren. Which she did, quite readily, despite the fact
that she felt hurt. It was clear that Lauren liked women. Just not her.Whoever
didn't get me that FBI report is going to be looking for a new job come Monday.
"Hi,
Devlyn." Lauren smiled warmly at the President, but threw a look of solid
ice at the attractive woman standing next to her. "I don't believe I've
met your friend."
"Oh, yeah."And
what does this Casey woman have that I don't, Lauren Strayer?"Uh, Lauren,
may I present Dr. Candice Delaney? Dr. Delaney, this is Ms. Lauren Strayer, the
very talented young woman who is writing my biography."
Candy slipped a
possessive arm through Dev's, only to have the tall woman shift away. She gave
the President an annoyed look, and then offered her hand and a catty smile to
Lauren, instantly sniffing the blonde out as her competition. "Nice to
meet you, Ms. Strayer. I have some great Dev Marlowe stories from
college," her voice was condescending, "if you need them."
Candy's Bostonian
accent grated on Lauren's nerves like fingernails running down a blackboard.
"Nice to meet you, too. And I see Devlyn everyday. I don't need
anyoldstories. She's perfectly willing to tell me anything I want to
know." The smile she gave Dr. Delaney was every bit as catty as the one
she'd received. "I'm sure that Dev was pleased with how well you've held
up over the years."
Dev snorted, but
tried to cover it by pretending to cough. Then she got a good look at the woman
with Lauren, who hadn't so much as given her the time of day, and whose eyes
were feasting on Candy like she was well, a piece of candy. "Uh, Lauren,
you haven't introduced us to your friend." Dev shifted her gaze back and
forth between the two women, hoping to hell Lauren would pick up on it.
But Lauren was too
busy mentally cataloging every reason that Candy Delaney wasn't nearly good
enough for Devlyn to notice. It wasn't until Dev repeated her question that
Lauren said, "Madam President, may I introduce Casey Dennis, Liza's
cousin?"
Casey completely
ignored Dev and continued to stare lustily at Candy. "Please tell me
you're nottheDr. Candice Delaney," she said in awe. "I read your
article on crabs last year, and I haven't been able to pee in a public restroom
since." Casey's brown eyes grew moist, and her voice trembled. "You
are... I mean,itwas magnificent."
An enormous smile
split Candy's face, and she openly appraised Lauren's date. "Why, thank
you very much, Ms. Dennis. Tell me, are you in the field?" Candy stepped
past Dev, and offered her limp hand to Casey."
"Oh,yeah!"
Lauren said, almost too loudly. "Casey has a fascinating job, and she just
loves to talk and talk about it."
Casey nodded
enthusiastically. "It would be a honor to discuss my passion with someone
as accomplished as you."
Lauren turned her
best southern charm on Casey for the first and last time this evening.
"Casey, darlin', maybe you could give Dr. Delaney a ride back to her
hotel?"
"I'd be
delighted." Casey grinned dumbly.
"Well," Dev
clapped her hands together in sheer joy. "I'm glad that's settled.
Jack!"
A young Secret
Service agent popped into the room. "Yes, Madam President?"
"Would you
please show Ms. Dennis and Dr. Delaney out?"
"But"
"Don't worry,
Jack. I'll be going back to the residence, and I doubt that Ms. Strayer is out
to hurt me."
"Yes, ma'am.
Right this way, ladies." The young man gestured, and the two women were so
wrapped up in talking with each other they barely mumbled a hasty goodnight to
their original dates.
Lauren and Dev both
held their breath until the women were gone. After a few seconds, they sighed
in unison.
"Thank
God," Dev mumbled
"Amen to
that," Lauren agreed.
"What does Casey
do for a living?"
"Morgue attendant."
Dev suddenly took a
big step away from Lauren. "Well, eeeewwww," she teased.
* * *
Dev and Lauren
started back to the residence. Dev stared at her shoes as she walked. She hated
that seeing Lauren with another woman hurt. But it did. A lot, actually. She
was feeling anger as well. Anger that she didn't have a right to. Lauren hadn't
done anything wrong. So she was obviously only interested in Dev as a
friend.That's my problem not hers.Dev shoved back the disappointment that stung
her heart and threatened to give her away by leaking from her eyes. She cleared
her throat, determined to try and salvage a little of her evening and spend it
with her friend.
"Umm,
Lauren?"
"Hmm?"
Lauren stopped walking and faced Dev. She looked up into eyes brimming with sadness
and something else. And she felt a twinge deep in her chest. "Are you
okay?"
"Yeah." Dev
smiled softly. "I, umm, well I didn't really get much to eat tonight.
Don't suppose you'd like to come back to the residence with me. We could order
up a couple of corned beef sandwiches and maybe watch a movie or or
something."And then I can torture myself all night with something I'll
never have.
Lauren felt a
genuine, heartfelt smile stretch her lips for the first time that night.
"I'd love to." That earned her a broad grin from Devlyn, and both
women started for the residence once again. "Dev, I cannot believe I was
ditched by Casey!"
"I'm sorry. Did
you really like her?"Twist the knife, Dev.
"Right,"
Lauren snorted indignantly. "Give me more credit than that please."
Dev sighed inwardly.
Even if Lauren didn't care for her the way she cared for Lauren, she didn't
want to see her friend hurt. "Yeah, well, can you imagine how I
feel?" she teased. "The biggest slut I've ever met just dumped
me..."
"The President
of the
A dark eyebrow rose,
but Dev continued. "... for a morgue clerk. Not a great evening for my
ego."
Lauren chuckled.
"No. I suppose not." Dev's hand brushed hers as they walked, and she
wondered for a brief moment what would happen if she reached out and took it.
"Can I ask you something?" she said in a soft voice.
Dev smiled, placing
her hand gently on the small of Lauren's back as they climbed a short flight of
stairs. "Why would you stop now? You know you can ask me anything."
"You didn't seem
very surprised that Casey was a woman. Were you?" She smiled wryly.Like I
was.
For a moment Devlyn
didn't know what to say. Somehow, she didn't think it was a good idea to tell
Lauren she had nearly swallowed her damned tongue. "Well, I mean, I was
surprised." The words tumbled out nervously. "But what was I supposed
to say? ‘Gee, Lauren, didn't realize you'd gone all lesbian on
me.'"
Lauren slid off her
glasses and tucked them into the front pocket of her blouse. "I didn't
realize that I had either." She held her breath, waiting for Dev's
reaction.
"See, there you
go. It would have been rude for me to point it out in front of your
date."What do you mean, you didn't realize?
Lauren laughed
weakly. "Yeah, I guess it would have."
"So, um, this
was your first date with a woman?"Please don't let me be totally
misunderstanding this conversation.
Lauren nodded as Dev
opened the door to the living room and ushered her inside.
Blue eyes widened a
little. "Wow."
"Yeah, wow. I
guess I've always known there was some interest there," Lauren clarified,
wanting to be honest. "This was just my first actual date... that, um...
didn't include a man." She could sense Dev was upset about something, and
she wasn't sure if that ‘something' was her.
Dev grunted with
satisfaction at the softly lit room and the fireplace, which was already
burning. She chewed on the inside of her lip as she reached for the house
phone. She was dying to hear more from Lauren, but it seemed so personal. Dev
kicked off her shoes, then removed her jacket. "Yes, send up two corned
beef sandwiches with all the trimmings." She paused and looked at Lauren.
"What do you want to drink?"
"Beer. And since
I'm being brave and asking you outright, does it bother you that I like
women?"Something is bothering you. You always chew your lip like that when
you're upset.
Dev took a deep
breath. "Send up an ice bucket full of beer, too."I'm gonna need
it.She put the phone down and put her fists on her hips. "Why would it
bother me? I like women too, in case you hadn't noticed."
Lauren shrugged, her
insecurity showing. "I dunno, Devlyn. We're friends, right?" She
looked up at the older women with an expression so open it was nearly painful
in its intensity.
Dev sighed and took a
seat next to Lauren on the sofa. "I'd really like to think we are. I'm...
well, I'm very fond of you." She really wanted to pull the young woman
into her arms and just hold her until they both felt better. "I always
have such a good time when we're together. And, God, I was so miserable
tonight. Then, when I saw you, I wanted to"Kiss you senseless,she finished
silently.Of course, I'd probably have a heart attack before I got the nerve up
to try it. But it's still a nice thought."Well, let's just say I'm really
glad we're here now."
Lauren let out a
shuddering breath and felt every ounce of tension leave her body. "That's
how I feel too, Devlyn. I just wanted to make sure that that wouldn't change
after you saw me with Casey." Lauren pushed off her shoes and tucked her
legs underneath her until she was sitting Indian style. "So, do you want me
to tell you about my horrendous evening? Or would you like to start?" She
leaned back, her eyes twinkling gently.You are so stupid, Lauri. This is where
you should have been all along.
Saturday, April 10th
When her alarm went
off, Lauren's hand crept out from under the comforter and she slapped it
silent. Then her hand retreated back under the warm thick blankets with the
rest of her body.Wonder what it would take to keep her in bed for just one
morning?She groaned and tossed back the covers, rolling over to look at the
clock.Five A.M. on a Saturday morning. It just doesn't get any more disgusting
than this."Ughhh, the gym today. Thank God, we're not jogging."
She briefly
contemplated covering back up and playing hooky when Grem crawled up from the
foot of the bed and placed his head on her stomach. "Yeah, yeah, I know,
Grem. If you can't take the heat, you shouldn't be in the kitchen.
"But at least
this is your favorite day of the week. In a few hours those kids will be here
just begging for you to come out and play, so they can spoil you rotten."
Gremlin growled contentedly as his mistress rubbed his belly. "And I've got
two phone interviews set up for some of Devlyn's old High School teachers. That
should be interesting, huh?" She pictured an adolescent Devlyn, all gangly
arms and legs, tall, and sparkling baby blue eyes. A smile came to her lips
unbidden.
Lauren gave her pal a
long scratch behind the ears, trying to find the energy to get up and pull her
sweats on so she could go watch Dev sweat. Not that she minded that part. She
laughed softly.
Her attention was
drawn away from her pooch by a loud commotion in the hallway. Not once since
she had been here in residence had she heard anything like it. It sounded like
the world was coming to an end. Lauren jumped out of bed and pulled a robe on
over her pajamas. Haphazardly, she ran her hands through her hair and grabbed
her glasses from the nightstand on the way to the door.
The hallway was
teeming with dark-suited Secret Service agents. She stuck her head out, and a
hand reached out to stop her, until the agent recognized her and allowed her to
step out into the hall.
Mixed in with the Secret
Service were medical personnel. They were dragging or carrying armloads of
equipment into Dev's bedroom. For a brief moment, Lauren could have sworn her
heart stopped.
"What's..."
She cleared her throat and tried again. "What's going on?" She pulled
her robe closed at her throat and ordered her stomach to stop roiling in
protest at what her eyes were seeing.
"The President
won't be going out today, Ms. Strayer. You may go back to bed if you'd
like."
"I didn't ask if
she was going out. I asked what was going on."
"I'm not at
liberty to say, Ms. Strayer." Michael Oaks gave her a frosty smile. They
had stopped pretending they liked each other a long time ago. "And even if
I were, it's none of your concern."
A Secret Service
agent tapped Michael on the shoulder, and his attention shifted away from the
biographer.
Lauren tried to peer
around the milling men, but she wasn't tall enough to see into the outer room
that led to Dev's bedroom. She grabbed another agent as he shuffled past.
"What is going on?! Is she okay?"
He only shrugged and
then continued on his way.
Gray eyes flicked
from face to face, and she heard more raised, panicky voices from inside
Devlyn's room. Then she did the only thing she could think of...
Lauren started
screaming at the top of her lungs. "Emma!" She knew that if something
was wrong with Dev, the nanny would be close by.
The men around her
jumped back as though she were insane. And, from the look on Lauren's face,
more than a few of them were sure that that was, indeed, the case. They knew
better than to touch her, however. For something like that, President Marlowe
would likely have them transferred to the North Pole to guard Santa's ass.
Emma rushed out into
the hallway to see what had happened now. "What in the world is the matter?"
she asked, trying to grasp why Lauren was yelling at the top of her lungs.
Lauren immediately
stopped and composed herself. She was a little lightheaded from her exertion.
"What's wrong with Devlyn? No one will tell me a damned thing!"
"Didn't you tell
her?" Emma looked to Michael Oaks. Her tone was scolding.
"Somebody tell
me!"
"C'mon
inside." Emma shook her head sadly. "You need to see this for
yourself."
Lauren braced herself
for the worst. She swallowed hard and followed Emma into the confusion.
Dev opened her
eyes.Is that Lauren's voice?Then she saw a fair head in the crowd outside her
room. A very raspy voice gave the low order. "Make way for the lady."
The flurry of motion
around the bed ceased for just a moment as the doctors and nurses parted and
allowed Lauren to take a seat on the bed. Without thinking twice, she took
Dev's clammy hand in her own and squeezed gently.
She heard the doctors
talking to Dev, but only got about every other word. Her eyes and her mind were
firmly focused on the sick woman. Lauren was about to ask Dev what was wrong
when a doctor said, "Madam President, we're going to start an IV." He
set down two large test tubes full of crimson blood that he'd drawn from Dev
only seconds before. "You're going to feel another prick."
Lauren's stomach
twisted. The thought of Devlyn being impaled by a sharp object was every bit as
distressing as if they'd informed her that she herself was next. Shivering, she
tore her eyes away from the test tubes.
The doctor stepped
forward, but was stopped dead in his tracks by Dev's grumpy bark. "Get
that damned needle away from me."Can't you see you're freaking out
Lauren?Dev's bleary eyes focused on Lauren's robe, and the pajamas that were
peeking out.God, are those pink elephants on her pajamas? Could she be more
adorable? I wonder what she'd think if I invited her to a slumber
party."This is food poisoning, not the plague. I don't need any IVs."
She motioned weakly toward the tank next to the bed. "Or oxygen."
Lauren cringed at the
words ‘food poisoning', fully knowing how miserable that was, but
totally bewildered by the staff around Devlyn who were acting as if she were on
her deathbed. She expected the flag outside the White House to be flying at
half-mast. Lauren put her face in her hands. "Food poisoning?" she
breathed somewhat shakily, reassuring herself that it wasn't any more serious.
She willed her heart to resume beating.
"Mornin', Mighty
Mouse. You sure do know how to get attention when you want it."
Lauren smiled weakly
and stroked Devlyn's palm with her fingertips. "Well, I got tired of you
hogging the spotlight all the time. And I'll let the Mighty Mouse comment slide
only because you're sick. All this," she motioned around the room to the
doctors and Secret Service agents, "scared the crap out of me, you
know."
Dev rolled her
eyes.God, people overreacted around you when you were President."Sorry
about that. And I'm not really sick. It's just a ruse to get the day off."
But her pale face told a different story.
A tiny, unexpected
laugh escaped Lauren's throat. "How are you feeling?" she asked
gently. But before Dev could answer, she broke in. "And I want an honest
answer, Devlyn."
"Been up the
entire night, worshipping the porcelain Goddess. How do I look?"
"Like
crap."
"Funny, I don't
feel that good."
Lauren's brow creased
with worry. Dev did look terrible. She glanced up at one of the doctors.
"It's just food poisoning, right?" She knew she was being nosey. But
she couldn't help but worry.
The doctor, a short,
middle-aged man with a bald head and slightly protruding belly, looked annoyed
that Lauren had interrupted the notes he was making on Dev's chart. He pulled
two labels from a small packet and placed them on the President's blood
samples, deliberately ignoring the interruption.
Dev's brows creased,
and she turned her head. "Doctor?"
"Yes, Madam
President?" he answered immediately, giving Dev his undivided attention.
"Ms. Strayer
just asked you a question. It would be in your best interest to answer her.
Right now!" Dev growled, pale eyes flashing with sudden anger.
The writer and doctor
jumped, and the man fumbled with the tubes in his hands before settling them on
the tray. "The President appears to have a serious case of Salmonellosis,
which is commonly referred to as ‘food poisoning'. We believe the
culprit was the shrimp from her dinner last night. The blood work is just a
precaution."
Lauren nodded slowly,
trying not to lose her temper at the doctor's rudeness.They don't owe you an
explanation. Get that through your head."Thank you." She turned back
to Dev and smiled sympathetically. "If you'd seen what I ate on my date
last night, you'd never believe that you'd be the one who was sick in
bed."
A nurse approached
Dev with a long needle and a tourniquet once again. "I'm sorry, Madam
President. I'm afraid we need one more sample. One of your doctors just
requested another series of tests be run." She shifted uneasily, not
missing Lauren's wide-eyed stare. "This will need to go to a different
lab. That's why we need another sample."
"Oh, all
right." Dev held out her arm.
The color drained
from Lauren's cheeks. "You're going to... right now..." Darkness
invaded her peripheral vision, and her eyes rolled back in her head as she
bonelessly lurched forward onto Devlyn.
Dev looked down at
the woman who had passed out right in her lap. She grinned tiredly at the
doctor. "I swear to you, doc, this is not the normal reaction to being in
bed with me."
The doctor rolled his
eyes and ordered the nurses to pull the limp blonde off the President. Dev
chuckled and told them just to get Lauren settled next to her. The bed was
queen-sized, and Dev wasn't quite ready to give up her hand. It made her feel
better to know Lauren was close.
On Dev's orders,
reluctantly, one by one, the medical personnel and staff filed out of the room.
Emma raised a sharp eyebrow at Dev and, with a nod from the President, left the
door open a crack before leaving. After the blood had been drawn, then, and
only then, was the young woman brought around with a little help from an
ammonia capsule.
Devlyn waved the
powerful chemical capsule under Lauren's nose, and after only a few seconds,
the shorter woman's head began to thrash. Confused eyes popped open, and she
immediately sat up and looked around the room. She stared at Devlyn and then
back at herself. "We're in bed together?"
Dev coughed and
laughed. "Yes. But I assure you, your integrity is firmly intact, Ms.
Strayer. You passed out in my lap."
"Oh, my God. I
did, didn't I?" Her hands immediately went to her face, where she
straightened her slightly askew glasses. Devlyn's hand covered her own, and
before she knew it the glasses were slid off and placed on the nightstand.
"Thank you." Lauren swallowed hard, feeling her stomach flutter,
although this time it wasn't only because of worry.
Dev smiled gently.
"Would you do me a favor?"
"Anything I
can," Lauren answered sincerely.
Dev completely bit
back the request she wanted to make of the young woman and trudged on with her
second choice. "Well, you see, when I'm sick, I'm like the biggest baby in
the world." She smiled sheepishly. "I hate to be alone. Emma is far
too busy with the children to sit here and hold my hand. Would you stay with
me? We could work on the book if you like."
Lauren nodded mutely.
Of course she wanted to stay. If Devlyn hadn't asked, she would have offered.
"But... um..." She gestured to their half-reclined, pajama-clad
bodies. "Is this okay?"
Dev took a deep
breath. "Well, I have to be here like this, but umm"I can't believe I'm
saying this. She looks so damn good with her hair all mussed and in her
wrinkled pajamas. But I don't want her to be uncomfortable."If you want to
go get a shower and change, I think I can manage for a few minutes."
Lauren was vaguely
disappointed, but Devlyn's words caused her to suddenly feel self-conscious.
"You're right. I don't know what I was thinking coming out of my room like
this. I was just worried... and..."
Dev placed her
fingers against Lauren's lips. "I'm glad you did. Thank you for being worried
about me." Reluctantly, she pulled her hand back, struck by the softness
of those coral lips.
"But it's just
food poisoning, right?" Lauren asked warily, her eyes flicking to the
various pieces of medical equipment that were sitting around the room.
"You'd tell me if it were more serious?"
"This is just a
precaution. If I weren't the President, I'd be left to my own devices just like
any other normal human being. They're not worried about me. They're worried
about their boss."
Lauren frowned.
"That's not true."I'm worried about you.
Dev's eyes started to
grow heavy, and she wondered if the doctor had slipped a little something extra
in her last dose of medication. "Sure itis. But you care" She
couldn't help the fact that she was falling asleep right in the middle of the
conversation. But she had been up all night.
Lauren smiled softly
and whispered, "Don't fight it."
Devlyn's eyes
immediately slid closed, and the dark-haired woman let out a slow, deep breath.
Lauren lifted their intertwined
fingers, looking at them as though she had forgotten she was holding Devlyn's
hand. She pulled up the covers and smoothed them around the taller woman's
body, then glanced at the nearly closed door.Do it. You know you've wanted to
since you walked into the room. ‘Longer than that', her mind
whispered stubbornly.
Refocusing on Devlyn,
she tenderly brushed the President's cheek with her knuckles before dropping a
soft kiss on the warm skin. "Pleasant dreams, Devlyn. I'll be here when
you wake up." Lauren snuggled back into her own side and allowed her eyes
to flutter closed. A gentle peace stole over her as she dropped off to sleep.
* * *
Lauren woke well
before Dev. She lifted her head and looked at the woman. Instinctively, she
raised her hand and checked Dev's forehead for fever. She was relieved to find
it cool, not only because she didn't like the thought of Dev being sick, but
she wasn't really sure if she could tell whether she had a fever or not.
Lauren moved away
slowly, not wanting to wake the President, and retrieved her glasses from the
nightstand. Carefully, she climbed out of the bed and started for her own room.
She paused briefly to speak the Secret Service agent and the nurse seated
outside the room. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Please let her know if
she wakes up in the meantime."
The nurse nodded.
"Yes, Ms. Strayer."
As Lauren walked away
she heard a comment pass between the people she had left behind. "Not
sleeping together, my ass."
Lauren turned on her
heel and marched up to the Secret Service agent and the nurse. She opened her
mouth to deny the rumor, but stopped herself before saying a word. Her mouth
clicked closed, and her lips curved into a delighted, borderline shit-eating
grin. She winked. "You don't know the half of it." Then her tone
cooled. "And you never will. So instead of spending your time gossiping,
why not do your jobs before you end up as a security guard at Sears and an
orderly at the morgue?"It's not like I don't know someone there now,she
thought wryly.
Squaring her
shoulders, she marched back to her room, not quite believing what she'd just
done. She took the fastest shower known to man, threw on her sweats, grabbed
Grem up for the quickest walk of his little life and returned to her room.
Lauren gathered her
notebook and her laptop together and, with a quick nod, started back for Dev's
room. Just as her hand touched the knob, Gremlin began to whine. Her shoulders
drooped, and she pressed her forehead against the door. "Come on, Grem.
Not now. Not today. Please?" she mumbled, turning around. "I'll buy
you the biggest, fluffiest dog bed you've ever seen if you just behave
today."
The dog was not
impressed. He bounded over to his mistress and flipped over on his back,
presenting his belly for a good scratching.
Lauren blew out a
frustrated breath and glanced at her watch. It was still too early for the kids
to be up. "Okay, you can come with me, but you have to promise to behave.
Devlyn doesn't feel well. No growling at her."
The dog rolled over
happily, his tail wagging furiously.
"You little,
snaggle-toothed extortionist," Lauren grumbled. "C'mon. And I mean
it. One growl and you're history." She pulled open the door.
A nurse was just
exiting Dev's room to rejoin the agent outside the door. Lauren gave them a
raised brow before she and Grem disappeared inside. After setting down her
things, she moved to the bed to check on the President. Dev whimpered slightly,
her head tossed from side to side. She seemed to be having trouble breathing,
or she was gagging in her sleep, Lauren couldn't tell which.
"Devlyn?"
Lauren peered down at the President's ashen face.
Pale eyes blinked
open.
"Hey."
Lauren smiled. "What's wrong?" She quickly ran her fingertips over
dry lips. "Is your throat sore, or are you thirsty?"
The brunette shook
her head wildly and groaned piteously. "Laur... you you'd better..."
Lauren leaned in
closer to hear Dev better. "What is it?"
Dev's entire body
convulsed, and she leaned forward and heaved, throwing up all over Lauren's
chest. Lauren's eyes went impossibly wide as warm, chunky liquid slowly slid
down the front of her shirt, pooling in a great blob in her bra. She moaned,
her own stomach furiously roiling at the rancid smell. "Oh, God!
Ewwwwww!" She pawed at her shirt as Dev leaned forward again, and Gremlin
ran out of the room. "No, you don't!" Lauren grabbed a basin from the
nightstand next to Dev's bed and thrust it in front of her just in time to
catch round two.
After a moment that
felt like ten lifetimes, Dev stopped retching and turned red, watery eyes on
her friend. "I'm so," she paused, gagging momentarily on the taste of
bile, "so sorry."
Lauren moved the
basin back under Dev's chin and left it there until she was sure the President
was finished.
"I can't believe
I did that."
The blonde's skin
itched everywhere, and she couldn't believe she'd lasted this long without
puking herself. "Are you all right?" she managed, trying to hold her
breath.
Devlyn nodded, too
mortified and weak to do much else. "Sorry."
"It's
okay." Lauren stood up, consciously not looking down at her shirt.
"Nurse!" she called to the woman, hoping she'd hear her. She expelled
a huge breath when the matronly woman quickly burst through the door.
"Please see to the President. I needI need to I'll be back after I shower.
You'll be okay?" She pushed Dev's bangs back from her eyes.Please say yes.
Please say yes.
Even behind Lauren's
revulsion, Dev could see her genuine concern.You are something else, Lauren. I
could fall in love with somebody like you."Yeah, I'm feeling much better
now." She gave a weak grin. "Save time, use my shower. There are
fresh clothes and robes in the closet. Take what you like. I owe you." Dev
gestured behind Lauren. "Through that door."
Lauren could tell
that Dev was in good hands as two more nurses entered the room and immediately
got to work. They could handle getting Dev cleaned up. Which really wouldn't be
that hard, considering she'd thrown up all over Lauren, not herself. Lauren
needed to get to the bathroom fast.
She stood in the multi-jet
shower in Dev's bathroom. If it weren't for the completely disgusting
circumstances that had brought her here, she'd be impressed by this bathroom.
But for now she was too busy scrubbing herself. She just wanted to get clean.
Very clean.
Twenty minutes later
she emerged, dressed in a set of Dev's sweats which had to be cuffed several
times – towel drying her hair. The clothes were big, but they were
comfortable and after the recent turn of events she decided comfortable was
good.
Lauren rentered
Devlyn's room without being stopped. She stood back and watched as the medical
staff tucked Dev back into bed. They took away her toothbrush and a small
basin, and propped her up against the headboard, putting several pillows at her
back and head. Her bedding and pajamas had been changed, and she was looking
much better. Even a hint of her normal color had returned to formerly pale
cheeks.Thank goodness.
Lauren approached
slowly.
A nurse fluffed the
President's pillow one last time. "We've given her a shot for the
nausea."
"Better late
than never," Lauren mumbled playfully, knowing Dev could hear her.
"And thanks for doing it while I was gone." She was serious about
that last part.
Soon Dev and Lauren
were alone again. "So, have you used the puking thing to get women out of
their clothes before?" Lauren teased. Then she took a seat on the bed next
to Dev. "Next time, just ask."
Dev blushed fiercely,
but quickly recovered. "Don't tease me. I'm not a well woman."
"Oh, trust me, I
know. But at least we can find comfort in the fact that Candy is probably
barfing all over Casey at this very moment."
Both women smiled
broadly at the thought.
"I know
something that will make me feel even better than that." Dev's grin turned
wicked. "Phone activate."
A soothing, female
voice said, "Voice recognition system on. Activation code?"
"I am Devlyn
Marlowe. Code: 18758OHIO6236ACA." Dev waited for the phone to verify her
access code and recognize her voice.
Pale eyebrows lifted
at Dev's far more sophisticated phone set up.She's leaving it on speaker phone?
"Call David
McMillian."
Why do I think David
is in trouble?
After six rings David
picked up his phone.
"David?"
Dev smirked when the only sound she heard was a deep groan. "How you
feelin' this morning, pal?"
"I'm dying, Dev,"
he whined, hoarsely.
"Yeah, me too,
you pain in the ass. We got food poisoning from the shrimp last night; the
shrimp you insisted the cook get specially for Candy ‘the Slut'
Delaney."
"Ohhh,
God."
Dev could almost
imagine David hiding under the covers of his bed. "The doctor says it'll
pass in a few days, David. But you know what?"
He shook his head
unhappily, then remembered there was no video link on this call.
"What?"
"You'll be in
your office bright and early Monday morning."
"Yes, Madam
President, you bitch."
Lauren burst out
laughing and grabbed a spare pillow, pressing it against her face to muffle the
sound.Oh, God. Only David could get away with that.
Dev chuckled.
"And what will I be doing on Monday, you ask?" Dev continued cruelly.
"I'll be taking the day off and spending it in bed. Just me and my body
pillow."And I might be lucky enough to continue enjoying the company of
the beautiful, blonde biographer who is in my room right now. I wonder if I can
make up enough stories about myself to fill up two days.Then Dev's brain kicked
into gear.What am I thinking? I'm a politician for God's sake. No sweat.
David let off a few
more choice words that nearly had Lauren in tears.
"See you Monday.
Oh, and did I mention that you can take the Secret Service on their run? They
get all twitchy without it."
Another loud groan.
Dev laughed wickedly.
"Phone call ended. Code: 18758OHIO6236ACA." She turned to Lauren, who
was shaking her head and smiling at Dev's antics. She shrugged only somewhat
guilty. "Sometimes it's great to be President."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter V
May 2021
Monday, May 3 rd
Dev was whistling as
she tucked a newspaper under her arm and gathered up two steaming coffee mugs.
She strode out of her office with Liza trailing behind her. "I just need
ten minutes alone, Liza."
"Can you live
with five?"
"I'll settle for
seven."
"Deal."
David met her in the
hall. "Madam President?"
"Not now, David.
I have a very important meeting."
Rust-colored brows
furrowed. "With whom?" David's mind raced. Had he missed an
appointment?
Dev flashed him a
grin.
The tall man rolled
his eyes. "Never mind. That silly smile says it all. How long will you be,
Madam President? You have a meeting with the Secretary of Health and..."
"Yeah, I know.
Liza has granted me a seven minute parole from my duties as President. Go talk
to Jane. She's got the job until I get back."
David shook his head.
"Have a good time."
"I intend
to." She smirked. Boy, I hope Lauren's in a good mood. She sounded like it
when I asked her to meet me.
Dev walked quickly to
her destination, waving off the small tribe that was following her. She pushed
the door to her destination open with her hip and drew in an appreciative
breath. The earliest of the spring roses were blooming in the Rose Garden, and their
sweet aroma wafted over Dev.
Lauren was sitting on
a bench with her arms across the back and her face turned towards the warm
spring sunlight. Though Dev could see only her profile, she could tell that
Lauren's eyes were closed but she was awake. She looked contented and happy. A
grin tugged at Dev's lips at the sight.
"Morning, Mighty
Mouse." Dev couldn't resist teasing the writer with her Secret Service
name. She got a different reaction every time she used it.
Lauren's body
remained perfectly still as she continued to soak in the morning sun and Dev's
good-natured taunt. "It's amazing. I hear the words, but I know no one is
talking to me," she drawled calmly. "Because there is no one here by
that ridiculous name."
Dev chuckled and took
a seat next to Lauren, nudging her over on the bench. "Do you luuuvv me,
Lauren?" she asked in a playful voice. When a single, questioning, gray
eyeball slowly opened and rolled in her direction, the President offered the
blonde woman a cup of steaming coffee, which just happened to be in Lauren's
very own red mug. It was prepared with two sugars and cream, just the way she
liked it.
Lauren smiled coyly
as she took the warm mug. "Thanks. And I love anyone who brings me coffee
the way I like it."
Dev grabbed the
neatly folded paper from under her arm and made a show of looking at it.
"Huh." She set her mug on the bench and scratched her chin.
"Looks like they're right then. You are cheap and easy." She handed
the paper to the writer. "And cheating on me." Dev pulled a nonexistent
knife from her chest. "Why am I always the last to know?" she moaned
piteously.
Lauren reached for
the paper. Using her hand to block the sun, she scanned the spot where Dev was
pointing, which was the social column. "White House live-in, Lauren Strayer,
was caught rendezvousing with her new love at Been Gi's last month." Her
eyes scanned the rest of the short article, stopping on the small, unflattering
photograph of her getting into Casey's car. Lauren wrinkled her nose.
"God, I have no taste whatsoever. I'm cheating on you with a morgue
attendant named 'Lacey'."
"It would appear
so. Yes." Dev braced herself for the pending explosion. But it never came.
"Oh, well,"
Lauren casually tossed the paper aside and took a sip of coffee, hiding her
smile behind the rim of the cup, "if you'd keep your woman satisfied, I
wouldn't be forced to look elsewhere for romance."
"Ouch!" Dev
clutched her heart. "And just so cold about it, too. Gee, I have all the
popularity of the plague. I can't catch a damned break. My live-in lover andmy
date threw me over for this Casey/Lacey woman. Who knew the morgue had such
appeal?" Dev shook her head, sending her dark hair spilling over one
shoulder. "Maybe I should try the other team. I'm batting zero with my
own."
Lauren burst out
laughing. She bumped shoulders with the older woman. "Don't tell me
something in the press finally got to you? They've been writing about us for
months. And the other team has its faults, too. Trust me."
"I just didn't
want you to see this and explode," Dev explained sincerely. "It's
just another attempt to get a reaction out of us." She leaned back and
tried to act nonchalant about putting her arm over the back of the bench and
dropping it down to rest lightly on Lauren's shoulders. I am sooooo pathetic.
Lauren jerked away at
the feeling of Dev's arm on her shoulder. "What is it? A bug?" She
began slapping where Dev's arm had been, her eyes searching her pale green
blouse.
Dev threw her head
back and laughed. "Might as well have been, the way my luck is running
lately." She sighed and this time, decisively wrapped her arm around
Lauren's shoulders, pulling the younger woman closer to her. "No, it
wasn't a bug." She grinned devilishly and added a belated, "Mighty
Mouse." I should just gather up my courage and ask her out. What's the
worst she can say – no? That wouldn't be a big surprise either. I've got
nothing to lose."Uh... Lauren?"
Lauren blushed when
she realized what Dev had tried to do and what her response had been. Sorry,
Devlyn. And I'm glad it wasn't a bug. She happily snuggled closer. Is she going
to? Oh, my God.Lauren crossed her fingers and toes. "Yes, Devlyn?"
Ask me before I die!
"I was
wondering... I mean... umm..." I am six feet of pure, unadulterated
chicken shit. Good thing I don't run the government the way I run my love life.
If I hada love life, that is.
Dev cleared her
throat and lifted her chin. It was now or never. "Okay. What I wanted to
know was-"
Liza opened the door
to the rose garden looking slightly harried. She winced, clearly seeing she was
interrupting something. "I'm sorry, Madam President..."
Lauren nearly groaned
with disappointment, letting off a string of curse words in her mind.
Dev's mouth clicked
shut, and her head dropped forward. That was not seven minutes!
"There is an
emergency phone call for Ms. Strayer."
Friday, May 7 th
The loudspeaker
crackled, and the school auditorium was alight with excitement, when the school
principal nervously announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, students, staff and
faculty of
The high school band
fired up 'Hail to the Chief', and Dev grinned at Liza as she stuck her notes in
her jacket pocket. She tilted her head toward the drums. "Hey, they're not
bad."
"No, Madam
President. And they were very honored that you picked them to play for
you."
Dev buttoned her
jacket. "Well, for some of these kids it's a big deal." She shrugged.
"Guess I'd better get out there, huh?"
This was another of
Dev's many Community Visits. Her goal was to do at least one a month. They were
already wildly popular, and requests from communities across the nation had
come pouring in. Thus far, however, none of the visits had taken her too far from
These visits were
held in high schools or community centers and were open to the public, but, at
Dev's request, not televised. She wanted the most intimate setting and feeling
possible, and she believed this was her chance to give something back and stay
connected to the people.
"Bzzzz...."
Liza sounded off like a cattle prod in action, just as Jane had taught her.
Dev laughed.
"I'm ready. I'm ready. There's nothing after this, is there, Liza? I want
to try and get home early tonight."
"No, Madam
President." Pushing a few buttons, the tall assistant checked her
electronic organizer and nodded. "This is it."
Dev leaned over to
her assistant. "Don't suppose you've heard from Ms. Strayer."
"I'm sorry,
Madam President. I haven't. I could call and have someone...?"
Dev's eyes strayed to
her Secret Service agent, who was about to give her the cue to walk onto the
stage. "No. That's okay. She'll call if she needs something." Like
me, for instance.Dev inwardly cursed the cabinet meeting that morning that had
kept her from flying out to Tennessee to check on Lauren herself.
Receiving a short nod
from the dark-suited agent, the President strolled onto the stage of the high
school auditorium. She smiled and waved to the crowd as a thousand cameras
clicked furiously, their flickering flashes illuminating the room. Dev had
learned to give everyone a moment or two before she tried to speak. This time
she walked back and forth across the stage, waving and making eye contact with
as many people as she could.
The last time she had
done one of these Community Visits, she'd gone down into the audience, causing
the Secret Service, and David, to go nuts. But after her Chief of Staff had
lectured her incessantly, she did promise to be good.
Once the audience
settled down, she took a seat in a high back, bar-like chair. She smiled at the
crowd and said, "Hi."
The auditorium
exploded into applause.
* * *
Lauren shifted in her
chair as she watched her mother sleep. Dark circles ringed the older woman's
eyes, and her fair hair looked thin and lifeless. They were in
Earlier in the week,
Howard Strayer had called and calmly explained to his daughter that Anna's
depression had taken a turn for the worse... that her mother had steadily been
going down hill since Christmas, really. And that she had tried to take her own
life.
Lauren's mother had
gone grocery shopping and fed the cat before stripping naked and climbing into
the cold, empty bathtub. Howard wasn't sure why, but for whatever reason, she
didn't bother to fill it with any water. Using his razor sharp, fish scaling
knife, she had slit both her wrists to the bone and closed her eyes, patiently
waiting to die.
Anna had burst into
uncontrollable, gut-wrenching sobs when Howard had come home in search of an
aspirin and found her still alive, bleeding profusely.
Lauren stared bleakly
at her mother's ghostly white figure. The sight of her, combined with the
antiseptic smell of the hospital, and the stomach churning tension of the last
day, made her shiver. But Lauren couldn't honestly say she was surprised by the
suicide attempt. The older woman had fought nearly debilitating bouts of
depression all of her adult life. This was the third suicide attempt that
Lauren could remember, the other two haunting her otherwise unremarkable
childhood like annoying, out of place specters.
When Lauren was eight
she'd walked in on her mother trying to cut her wrists. The woman was weeping
and fumbling helplessly with a safety razor, whose blades she'd somehow popped
free of their plastic casing. Lauren had tried to calm her, but in the end was
forced to wait until her mother actually passed out before she could get near
enough to her to help.
On her second attempt
Anna Strayer tried sleeping pills, but ended up vomiting before they could do
much damage. The result was a killer headache and six months of
institutionalization, at the end of which, she was functional. She was sent
home with an armload of anti-depressant drugs and, ironically, a prescription
for sleeping pills... in the event that her insomnia should make a
reappearance.
But those days seemed
far away, even as the pain from this most recent attempt came in fresh waves.
Howard had gone to the cafeteria for a much needed cup of coffee, leaving
Lauren alone in the room with her mother.
Spring sunshine
poured in through the sparkling clean windows, warming the room that was
painted in soothing tones of green. The writer's eyelids felt heavy, but she
knew she was too wired to sleep. Instead, she sat quietly, watching over the
person who was supposed to watch over her.
Lauren felt chiefly
sad. But there was also anger and a crushing guilt, because a big part of her
wondered if her mother wouldn't be better off finding the peace in oblivion she
so obviously craved. Was it selfish to force her to continue when she so
clearly didn't want to? This was no cry for help. Howard was supposed to be
gone for the morning, and, unlike Anna's other attempts, this couldn't be
painted as half-hearted. She had wanted to die. It was as simple and as
complicated as that. Who were the doctors, or Lauren herself, or her father, to
tell her that she couldn't?
Anna stirred, slowly
turning her head toward Lauren and opening her eyes for the first time since
the day before. "Hi, honey," she said softly, when her gaze landed on
her daughter. Anna's expression was the very picture of despair, and Lauren
watched in agony as her mother's face contorted with pain as she took in her
surroundings, realizing what had happened, and what the likely outcome would
be.
"Hi, Mama,"
Lauren croaked weakly. Her chin quivered slightly, but she took a calming
breath and slowly made her way to her mother's bedside. What could she say?
'I'm glad you're alive, even though I know that you're not. Daddy and the
doctors saved you, only so you can spend God knows how long back in the
institution or spaced out on drugs'?
Anna tried to lift
her arms. She looked with wide, dazed eyes at the strong bindings that strapped
her to the bed. "I can't do anything right, can I?" she whispered
brokenly, then turned away from Lauren, wallowing in just one more failure.
A soft knock on the
door caused Lauren's bowed head to swing around.
Anna Strayer tried to
sit up, confusion written all over her face. A low keening sound suddenly
erupted from her throat. Why wouldn't everyone leave her alone?!
"Shh... rest
now, Mama," Lauren said quietly, doing her best to block out the almost
inhuman noise that was hurting her ears and shredding her heart. She tenderly
straightened her mother's covers, intentionally keeping her eyes away from the
wide leather straps that tightly held her arms and legs to the bed, and the
stark white bandages that wrapped her wrists. "I'll go see who it
is."
Lauren bent and
placed an awkward kiss on her mother's cheek, then headed for the door, which
was already being pushed open by a heavy-set black nurse. "Yes?"
Lauren asked, wondering why she'd bothered to knock.
"Ms. Strayer?"
The woman's voice was deep, her thick accent drawing out each word and adding
syllables where there were none.
"Yes."
"You have a
phone call, ma'am. It's from the White House," the nurse said, awe
reflected in her warm chocolate eyes. "The doctor said you could take it
in the conference room, even though it's for staff only. You need to come now.
It's urgent, ma'am."
Lauren nodded slowly,
another kernel of worry blossoming in her belly. What now?"One
second." She turned back to her mother. "I need to take this call for
work, Mama. I'll be right back."
For a moment she
thought her mother hadn't heard her. But then Lauren noticed that the gray
eyes, whose color so closely matched her own, were vacant and unseeing, staring
off into space. She was awake but somewhere else. Lauren had tried to
understand... tried to figure out where her mother went when she just
disappeared inside herself. Tried to reach her and begged her to come home...
It wasn't until she
was a teenager that Lauren fully grasped that that far away place would forever
be Anna Strayer's alone. Despite her best efforts, in her heart she fully
believed that there was no bringing her mother back, no helping her find her
way home. Ever.
With a soundless
sigh, Lauren stepped out into the hall with the nurse. "Let's go."
At the end of the
hallway was a small room with a round table and six chairs, a coffee maker, and
a phone with video link. That was all.
"You can take
the call in here, ma'am. When I get back to the nurse's station I'll tell the
operator to transfer it."
"Do you-"
"I'm
sorry," she nurse said sincerely. "I don't know anything more."
She shut the door quietly, and Lauren wrung her hands for the thirty seconds it
took for the video link to fire into life.
An image of Jane,
from the shoulders up, appeared above the phone and across the small table from
Lauren. The older woman's eyes were teary, and lines of worry cut deeply into
her forehead. "Lauren?"
Lauren paled at the
expression on Jane's face. She licked her lips. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry to
have to be..." Jane paused for a moment to collect herself, and Lauren
felt her anxiety ratchet higher. Whatever it was, it was bad. Very bad.
"It's Dev... there's been an accident. Umm... no, that's not right,"
Jane corrected herself quickly. "She's been shot, Lauren."
Lauren blinked,
staring stupidly at Jane's image, the secretary's words not quite penetrating
her brain. "Wh... what?"
"Devlyn's been
shot, Lauren." This time Jane's voice was firm. "About twenty minutes
ago. David asked me to call you."
Lauren swallowed
around an enormous lump in her throat. Devlyn's been shot? Someone shot her?
Jesus.She felt sick. "Is she... is she?" The blonde woman choked out
the words.
Jane shook her head.
"Not at last report, dear. But we don't know how bad it is yet."
Lauren's eyes
fluttered closed. "Oh, thank God," she muttered softly, her stomach
still roiling. "Thank God." She let out a shuddering breath and
scrubbed her face with slightly shaking hands. "What happened?"
"She had a
speech at a local high school today. When she was leaving the stage someone
opened fire. We're still putting all the information together." Tears
leaked from Jane's eyes and trickled down her round cheeks. "David wanted
me to call you. He didn't want you to think... well, he wanted to make sure you
didn't just hear it on the news."
"So... so, the
kids were at home. They didn't see. They're okay, right?" Lauren asked in
a rush, her mind desperately trying to process what she was being told. I need
to get back there. I need...
"The children
are safe with Emma and Amy. They haven't been told yet. We didn't want to tell
them until we had some real news." Jane hesitated, knowing she was putting
Lauren in a terrible spot just by mentioning it. But she needed to.
"Should I tell David you'll be coming back? Or..."
"No! I'll be
there just as soon as I can." There wasn't a second's hesitation. She
could tell her father on the way out of the hospital. "Where is she?"
"David will send
someone to meet you at the airport. They'll take you to her then. Her location
is classified. They'll be doing a press announcement in about five
minutes."
"Classified?
Shit! Fine. I guess I'll come into Dulles. I'm not sure when." Lauren
rubbed her temples. "And I'm not sure what airline. Maybe I can book a
private plane or..." She was starting to panic.
"Lauren, calm
down, dear. I'll make all the calls. Just go to the airport. We'll get you to
her no matter what. I'll call you on your cell phone and let you know where to
go."
Lauren nodded
furiously. "Okay, okay. I'm leaving right now." She jumped to her
feet, swaying a little as her knees threatened to give way. Lauren was on her
way out of the room before she realized she hadn't said goodbye. She turned
back to Jane. "You tell Devlyn... well... just... you tell her not to do
something stupid like die, okay? I'll be there as soon as I can, Jane."
Without waiting for a reply, Lauren ran out of the room, leaving Jane to hear
the fading sound of her pounding footsteps as they echoed down the hospital
hall.
* * *
David stood at the
front of the limousine, pushing his hands in and out of his pants pockets over
and over again as the private jet he'd arranged to pick up Lauren taxied to a
stop. She'd made it from the hospital in
She was panting by the
time she reached David and skidded to a stop. Please don't let me be too late.
No, David wouldn't be here if she were..."David! Is..."
He waved her off,
indicating the press hounds that were waiting nearby, their cameras snapping
away and tape recorders waiting to pick up any part of the conversation. The
world had simply imploded since the announcement had been made. The Press was
everywhere, dogging every move every White House staffer made. Looking for
hidden meanings behind every activity or decision.
David pulled open the
limo door and hustled Lauren inside the car. The door had barely slammed shut
when the car jerked forward, a police escort clearing their path.
He took a seat across
from her. The first words out of David's mouth once they were alone were,
"She's alive."
Lauren let out a
shuddering breath and said another prayer. But before she could even savor a
moment of relief, a wave of anger assailed her, overwhelming her and guiding
her action. She leaned forward and poked David in the chest with a furious
finger. "Where was all her security, David?!" The volume of her voice
increased with every word. "They were supposed to protect her!"
Guilt clouded his
eyes. "Lauren, she was shot leaving the stage. They reacted quickly,
exactly the way they're trained to. They got her out of there and to the
hospital. They caught the assassin." His jaw clenched. "You know as
well as I do, if someone is determined enough, nothing will stop him!"
Lauren lowered her
hand, but her posture remained challenging. "Those sound like nothing but
excuses to me. If they were doing their job, they would have gotten the
assassin beforeshe was shot!" She slumped back in her seat with her arms
crossed. Lauren knew she was being unreasonable. That she was lashing out at someone
who didn't deserve it. But she was furious, and she felt like she was losing
the tenuous control she had of her emotions. It was too much at the same time.
Her mother. Dev.
David took a chance
and moved next to Lauren who remained deathly still. He could see she was
trembling slightly, and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his
shoulder. "Have you cried yet?"
Lauren violently
tried to shove him away, unable to stand the closeness, not wanting to let go
of the fraying emotional thread she was clinging to. But David didn't move. He
was as solid as a rock. Lauren's pushing soon gave way to weak pawing,
punctuated by ragged, pained breaths as the writer fought more with herself
than David. "I... don't... need... to... " She tried to grind out the
words between clenched teeth, but her speech was interrupted by her quivering
chin and by broken sniffles she foggily realized were her own. She felt long
arms tighten around her, and she sank into their warmth and comfort. Another
sniffle and the dam simply broke. Lauren buried her face in David's chest and
began to cry in earnest. For everything.
"That's it. Get
it all out. It's okay," he soothed softly, knowing damn well that he'd be
doing the same thing in his wife's arms tonight. "Get it out before we get
to the hospital."
They traveled several
miles before the hot tears began to slow, and Lauren began to hiccup.
David blew out a deep
breath. "I'm gonna tell you something she'll kill me for later, but you
need to know. In the ambulance, it was you she was calling for."
"Real...
really?" Lauren sniffed, wiping her eyes with the clean, white
handkerchief David pressed into her hand.
He nodded, backing
off a little to give Lauren some breathing room so that she could compose
herself. "Really. She wanted you. She only relaxed after we all assured
her you were on your way back."
Lauren wiped her face
one more time and expelled a shaky sigh. God, I needed that."Thank you,
David." Her eyes conveyed her true regret, and she reached out and
squeezed his forearm gently. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said those
things, especially to you."
He laughed.
"What do you think the first thing I said was? Only I wasn't very nice
about it." He rolled his neck and shoulders, popping the joints.
"It's been a long day. Okay, do you want me to fill you in before we get
there, or do you need more time to just let it all soak in?"
Lauren shook her
head. "No. Tell me now so I don't fall apart at the hospital." She
turned a watery smile on David. "Instead, I'll just fall apart... again...
here with you if I need to."
He gave her a
reassuring smile. "That's what I'm here for. I've got broad
shoulders." David placed his hand over the one Lauren had resting on his
arm. "There were four shots, and Devlyn was hit three times. Once in the
hip, once in the shoulder, and one grazed her head." He stopped when he
saw the color drain from Lauren's face. Poor kid. It's been a helluva couple of
days for her.
Lauren's eyes
widened, and she swallowed against a wave of nausea. "Three times? My God,"
she breathed. Lauren shivered and wrapped her arms around herself in mute
comfort. She pinned David with shiny, determined eyes. "Is she going to be
okay?"
David nodded.
"With rest and lots of help from her friends, yeah, she's gonna be fine.
She got out of a couple of minor surgeries to repair the damage about an hour
ago. They went very well. Dev is a strong woman." He wrapped his arms
around Lauren, and she didn't resist his reassuring touch. "When you see
the video it'll seem worse than it really is; scalp wounds like to bleed a lot.
The shoulder wound was clean and the bullet traveled clear through. The bullet
had to be removed from her hip. She's going to need a lot of TLC and therapy to
get back on her feet. And if her bout with food poisoning was anything to go
by, boy, is she gonna be grumpy. She's not accustomed to being inactive, and I
would imagine we are going to have our hands full."
Lauren wiped her eyes
with the back of her hands. "As long as she's okay. She can be as grumpy
as she wants."
David's laughter rang
out for the first time all day. "You and I are talking about the same
Devlyn Marlowe, aren't we? You know how she gets. You think you're ready for
that?"
Lauren laughed along
with the Chief of Staff. "Umm... well, it sounded good at the time. But
you're right, this is Devlyn we're talking about. So nobodyis ready for
that."
David lowered his
head to give her a very serious look. "She cares for you, Lauren."
There was more to it and he knew it. So a second later he added, "A lot.
She's going to need you now. Need your friendship." He searched to gauge
her a reaction.
Gray eyes brimmed
with tears again. She straightened David's wrinkled suit coat and smiled warmly
at the man she had coming to regard as a friend. "Don't you worry, David.
She's got that." And a lot more.
* * *
Dev's nose began to
twitch as a familiar fragrance washed over her senses. It was so faint that it
was barely detectable, but it was an aroma easily recognizable even in her
drug-induced stupor. Lauren's perfume.Dev forced open impossibly heavy eyelids,
blinking with exaggerated slowness. "Is... she...?" Her voice was
scratchy, and her tongue felt thick and unresponsive. She licked dry lips to
moisten them. "Is Lauren home yet?" She tried to look around the
quiet room, but her mind was in a murky haze brought on by painkillers and the
lingering effects of anesthesia.
Dev felt the bed move
slightly and the heat of another human being press up against her. Her cool,
limp hand was lifted and cradled by two, smaller, warmer ones. "Hiya,
Wonder Woman," a soft, southern voice burred. "I can't leave you
alone for a minute, can I?"
Devlyn tried to
wrestle the silly grin off her face as she blearily focused on Lauren.
"Hey, Mighty Mouse. Know what?"
Lauren ran her
fingertips down Dev's cheek. She's okay. She's here."What, Devlyn?"
"Morphine is my
friend. And I luvvv your accent. Did you know that it slips out more when
you're not thinking? It's so sweet." She giggled, for some reason finding
that incredibly humorous. "There's just so much about you..." Her
rambling paused when her eyes began slipping closed.
Tears filled Lauren's
eyes again, even as she blushed. "Thanks," she chuckled weakly. Her
fingertips gently moved up to trace the bandage circling Devlyn's head. How
that must have felt.The dilated eyes that tried so valiantly to maintain
contact with hers were confused, but hopeful. They held none of the soul weary
despair of her mother's, and Lauren was able to draw a sharp contrast between
the two hospital room scenes, having been in this same position only hours
before.
The President's eyes
opened, rolling up slightly to track Lauren's hand. "Don't worry,
sweetheart, it's too tough to do any real damage." She licked her lips
again and tried to knock on her own head, to demonstrate its hardness, but her
hand fell limply to the bed after valiantly lifting a few inches. Which was
okay, Dev decided, because she had already forgotten why she was raising it.
She let out another small laugh and then began to mumble just loud enough for
every one to hear. "Have I mentioned lately how beautiful I think you
are?" A dreamy expression crossed her face.
Lauren's eyes
flickered around the room, lighting on indulgent, smiling faces. Her blush
deepened. "Oh, God," she muttered, raising her hands to her cheeks to
feel their flaming heat. "Devlyn, um... you know we're not alone right
now, right?" she asked in a low voice. But even in the midst of her
embarrassment, a smile formed unbidden on Lauren's lips. Sweetheart? She thinks
I'mbeautiful?She nearly swooned.
Dev still couldn't
focus her eyes clearly, but she could hear the smile in Lauren's voice.
"Yeah, so? I'm never alone. That's part of my problem." She took a
deep breath. "Do you have any idea how nervous you make me? I babble like
an idiot when I'm around you."
"No, you
don't," Lauren lied. Her tone was mildly scolding, but there was a playful
edge there as well. "You're perfectly charming, and you know it."
David, Jane and
several Secret Service agents politely turned away from the women's
conversation, feeling very much like they were intruding on a private moment.
"How are you
feeling, Devlyn?" Pale brows drew together at the sight of Dev's multiple
IVs, and the machines monitoring her heart rate, blood gases, breathing, and a
host of other things Lauren didn't pretend to understand. She had mentally
prepared herself the best that she could. But it was still so hard, seeing
someone she cared about hurt.
When the President
didn't answer she continued, "You scared the crap out of me again, ya
know?" Lauren cocked her head to the side and smiled at her friend's vain
attempts to keep her eyes pried open. This was second time she'd seen Dev
flanked by hospital equipment. "That's becoming a habit I don't much care
for. We need to work on that."
"Didn't mean
to..." Dev wanted to apologize for scaring Lauren. She didn't want to do
anything that would upset the young woman, but words began to go fuzzy in her
mind. She grumbled like a petulant child trying to fight the irresistible call
of sleep. Her mind began to drift helplessly, but she felt better with the warm
body perched on her bed.
Lauren patted Dev's
chest comfortingly, careful to avoid her heavily bandaged shoulder. She leaned
close to Dev's ear and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before crooning
softly, "Sweet dreams, darlin'. I'll be here when you wake up."
Monday, May 10 th
The agent outside
Dev's hospital room door gave Lauren a small, slightly irritated smile as he
went in search of some caffeine. His replacement was already standing in place,
alongside the President's door. When Lauren entered Dev's room, she was greeted
by the sound of frustrated voices.
"I don't want to
wait!" Dev rasped.
Lauren could hear the
taller woman fighting to catch her breath, even before she could see her.
"I want to see it now, David!"
"Madam
President..."
"Cut the Madam
President bullshit, David. Order in the video link before I have to call
someone else in here to do it!"
"But..."
David tried again.
Lauren stepped around
the Chief of Staff to see Dev struggling with her IV tubing and a host of wires
as she futilely tried to get more upright.
"Jesus,
Devlyn." Lauren rushed to her side. "Are you crazy? You're going to
tear your stitches!"
Dev seemed to calm
almost as soon as soon as she saw Lauren. "Help me, then."
Lauren immediately
reached out to take Dev's hand. "I don't understand. What's the
matter?" She set to untangling Dev's IV tubing, cursing mildly at the mess
the President had made. Why didn't she call a nurse if she wanted to sit up? Or
ask David? Lauren fished around for the bed controls, which ended up being on a
detachable panel on the side of Dev's railing.
"I want to see
the video of the shooting." Devlyn was breathing hard and shooting daggers
at David. "But some people don't think I'm ready."
Lauren pressed a
button and slowly raised the back of the bed until Dev nodded. "'Some
people' are probably right, Devlyn. The tape isn't going anywhere. It's been
less than two days."
Dev turned her stare
on Lauren, whose cheeks were tinged pink from the cool, spring air and whose
hair smelled like flowers. "Oh, don't you go rebel on me too! I am still
in charge around here!"
Lauren flashed a look
at Dev that was part irritation and part trepidation. "You're going to
insist on doing this, aren't you?"
"I shouldn't
have to insist, I should only have to ask." She glared at David again, who
threw his hands into the air disgustedly.
"Then I'm
staying too," Lauren insisted, her tone making it clear she that she
wouldn't be dissuaded. Every single cell in her body told her that she did not
want to see the tape of Dev being shot. But if Dev ever needed a friend to
stand by her... this was the moment. And Lauren swore to herself she wouldn't
fail her. But please don't let it be too horrible.She took a deep breath. How could
it not be horrible? Somebody shot her three times!
"Fine! I give
up." David picked up the phone and made the call.
Dev glanced at
Lauren, giving her hand a little tug, and bringing her down to sit on the edge
of the bed. "I don't want you to see this." I don't ever want to see
you sad.
A tiny crease
appeared on Dev's forehead, and the writer had the strongest urge to smooth it
away. Lauren's determined gaze softened as she looked into Dev's eyes.
"And I feel exactly the same way about your seeing it."
"Yeah, but I
need to see it. If for nothing else, so I'll know what not to do next
time." Devlyn chuckled humorouslessly, wincing as a burning bolt of pain
shot through her shoulder and hip. "I guess not getting hit would be a
step in the right direction."
David's gaze dropped
to his shoes. Though intellectually he knew he had done everything he could to
keep this from happening, he still felt like he'd let down Dev and her kids. He
sighed... and Lauren and the entire damned nation.
Lauren squeezed Dev's
hand. "You know I'll have to see it eventually. Let's get it over with
together." She needs you to be strong. Don't get sick or start crying like
some pathetic baby again.
In only a few moments
everything was ready, and Dev had ordered the room cleared of everyone but
Lauren. She leaned a little closer to the writer. "You ready?" The
younger woman's nod seemed hesitant, and Dev briefly considered simply calling
the whole thing off, and waiting to view the tape after Lauren had gone home
for the day. But Lauren was right. She would have to see it eventually for the
book anyway. And at least now they'd be together. "Um... Lauren, this is a
combination of several tapes that were running at the same time and have been
put together for the best angles. These weren't made for television. The Secret
Service films all my public appearances for security reasons. But what
happened, the shooting part, is unedited. You know that, right?"
Lauren kept her voice
even and her eyes focused straight ahead, though her voice was slightly
strained. "I know."
Dev gave a short nod.
"Start video."
Lauren found herself
taking in a deep breath and holding it when the image came to life in front of
them. She smiled at Dev, standing on stage in her dark slacks, tan shirt and
camelhair jacket—which was a few shades darker than the shirt. The applause in
the auditorium died down, and Dev perched on a chair to address the students.
"Who called you
and told you what had happened?" the dark-haired woman asked quietly, her
mouth near Lauren's ear, but her eyes on the unfolding scene.
Lauren licked her
lips, remembering Jane's pale face and shaky voice. "Umm... Jane,"
she replied softly. "Jane called me."
The President nodded.
"She was a good choice for the job. Jane always holds together, no matter what."
Dev briefly remembered getting word about Samantha's accident. It was Jane who
had broken the news.
Lauren nodded, her
attention split between Dev's real life voice, burring quietly in her ear, and
the image of Devlyn at the foot of the bed. "She was great."
Dev's grip on
Lauren's hand tightened as the video continued to play. With a start she
realized she could be hurting the smaller woman, though Lauren hadn't mentioned
it. She loosened her grip and patted the slender hand before regretfully resting
her palm on her thigh. Dev immediately felt the loss and balled her hand into a
fist.
Lauren had been so
busy over the past couple of days she hadn't spent a lot of time thinking about
the exact circumstances of the shooting. She'd spent countless hours at the
hospital. And, at Dev's request, made sure the children knew what had happened,
but weren't scared out of their wits. Though she wasn't convinced she had been
completely successful on that front. The kids had already lost one mother. The
looks on their little faces when Lauren told them Devlyn was in the hospital
nearly broke her heart. Thank God for Emma, who immediately stepped in to help
when Lauren began to flounder.
Lauren watched the
video with intent eyes, scanning the shots of the crowd for the crazy boy who
had tried to kill Dev. But no one looked out of place. Everyone seemed happy
and excited that the President had made time for them in her busy schedule.
"Where is
he?" Lauren whispered to herself, frustrated that she couldn't spot him
right away. A killer should be immediately recognizable, shouldn't he? He
should... well... look guilty, sinister, something.Lauren knew it was a
ridiculously naive thought. But she couldn't help but think it easier. It would
make things so much easier. "I always foreshadow in my books," she
mumbled.
Dev turned away from
the playback. "What? Pause video," she ordered in a louder voice.
"What did you say?"
Lauren frowned.
"I don't see him anywhere. The camera is panning the audience, but I can't
spot him."
"Well, if he'd
been that easy to spot I'm sure the Secret Service would have picked him up
before he got off four shots. I don't know for sure which one he was either.
But the shots came from the center of the audience just as the crowd began to
applaud when I was about to get off stage." Dev waved a hand in the
direction of her frozen image. "Let's skip all the boring stuff about how
my DNA Registration legislation could help capture criminals on the
loose." She chuckled, "Funny that in this case it wouldn't have
mattered either way. The shooter had never even had as much as a speeding
ticket."
Lauren smiled weakly,
not quite able to enjoy the irony that Dev seemed to. She could feel her
stomach turning into a solid knot of tension and her palms growing sweaty. Her
heart rate picked up in anticipation of what was to come, and she unconsciously
leaned closer to Devlyn, reassuring herself that she was here. That she was
alive.
"Video playback
advance." Dev's eyes scanned the events as they flew by at five times
their normal speed. She moved her hand slowly, letting it come to rest on
Lauren's arm, stroking gently. "Halt. Regular play."
They watched together
as Dev made a few parting comments and cracked a joke that had the students
laughing and clapping. Then she gave a short wave and turned to leave. The band
hadn't even cued up again before a well-dressed teenager, who had only seconds
before been smiling and applauding like everyone else in the audience, stood
and yanked a gun from the back waist band of his pants. He held it straight out
and screamed, "Die, bitch!" as he pulled the trigger four times, with
a brief pause between the third and fourth shots.
Dev flinched when the
shots rang out. She watched with an odd sense of detachment as her body
recoiled and blood began pouring from her shoulder, hip and face. The last
shot, the one that hit her head, dropped her instantly.
Lauren's entire body
jerked with the loud crack of the pistol. Her stomach lurched, and her heart
jumped to her throat, the raw pain of the moment shocking her for several dazed
seconds. She had known it was coming. But that still hadn't prepared her for
witnessing Dev's body recoiling violently, then crumpling to the ground from
the vicious impact of the shots. "God, Devlyn." Lauren whispered. She
squeezed her eyes tightly shut just as a warm arm wrapped around her shoulder
and pulled her close.
Suddenly, the camera
angle changed, and the image of Dev on the stage was magnified to a close up.
The sound quality was slightly worse because the background noise had risen to
a dull roar, but it was still focused, allowing the viewer to hear every raspy,
ragged breath Dev took.
"God..." Dev groaned, reaching up and smearing away the blood
that was dripping into her eyes.
Three agents
immediately descended upon her, using their bodies to shield her as several
more Secret Service members tackled the boy in the audience and disarmed him.
The camera angle shifted again, this time to an overhead shot. Michael Oaks was
the first member of the President's staff to reach her side.
"They got the shooter. The Chief of Staff and Vice President
Vincent are being notified, Madam President," Michael explained worriedly
as an agent pressed his suit coat jacket into Dev's shoulder to stop the
bleeding. Dev gasped.
Lauren sucked in a
quick breath in response to seeing Dev's pain.
"The kids...?" Dev winced as two men rolled her onto a
backboard.
Michael looked out into the audience, which was being herded out of the
auditorium like spooked cattle. "They're fine, Madam President. No one
else in the auditorium was hit."
"My children?" Dev's eyes closed as she struggled to move her
left arm, but found it impossible.
"They're fine too. The nest has been notified, and all security
precautions are being taken."
Devlyn opened her eyes and focused on one of the agents who was pressing
a thick pile of bandages against her hip. "Bad?"
"No, Madam President." He leaned over and whispered to her,
"This is nothing for Wonder Woman."
Dev blinked, and they were moving. Her confusion was evident, and she
looked as though she was going into shock. "Mighty Mouse..."
Lauren burst into
tears at the sound of her Secret Service name.
"It's
okay," Dev whispered. "It all turned out all right." The
President's men had done everything right. They had covered her and gotten her
out of there more quickly than she remembered. Although, to be honest, she
couldn't remember much, beyond a searing pain in her hip and shoulder and the
smell of her own blood.
Then the video simply
stopped after Dev's gurney was wheeled away, freezing on a shot of the
bloodstained stage. Dev's gaze dropped to her lap, and she concentrated on that
day. "That boy. I remember him. He, he kept smiling at me..."
"You remember
him?" Lauren turned in her friend's loose embrace so that she could see
Dev's face. The President had watched with little more than a flinch, though
Lauren didn't miss that her face was slightly paler than when the tape began.
"Out of that entire crowd?"
"Yeah. He was
right there. Smiling at me. Listening to me. Watching me." Dev shook her
head. "Hell, I thought he was interested in what I had to say."
Lauren's anger
mounted as she imagined the teenager biding his time, waiting to murder Dev,
smiling as she tried to connect with him, just knowing that he was going to
kill her. Little bastard!She turned away from Dev and was struck again by the
image of the bloodstained stage. "Jesus..." She pointed at the image.
"Can you...?"
"I'm sorry.
Image off." Dev looked to Lauren, who looked like she was going to throw
up. "Are you all right?"
Tears filled the
blonde's eyes again. "I... I..."
"Hey," Dev
said softly as she reached out and cupped Lauren's cheek in her palm. "I'm
okay. I might leak when I drink now, but I'm okay," she joked.
This time Lauren did
laugh through her tears. "Okay," she sniffed. "You're right. I'm
sorry for being a baby."
"Don't be
sorry." God, Dev. You haven't even asked about her mother. What kind of a
lousy friend are you?"How's your mom?" She felt Lauren stiffen.
"Do you need to go back to
Lauren pulled away a
little, suddenly uncomfortable. "What, um... what exactly do you know
about my mom?" She eyed Dev warily.
"I know what
happened, Lauren. And I understand if you don't want to talk with me about it.
I mean, I'm not family." She's been here for me these last few days when
her heart is probably back in
Lauren nodded, but
continued to pull away. She wasn't ready for this discussion. Especially not
now. Not after everything that had just happened with Dev. Lauren felt like she
was on an emotional roller coaster, and, while a big part of her wanted to talk
about it with someone, she just wasn't ready.
The blonde woman's
father hadn't understood her leaving Anna to come back to
The writer grabbed a
tissue from the stand next to Dev's hospital bed. "I don't need to go
back." She wiped her eyes. "There's nothing I can do back home."
Dev remained silent, but Lauren could tell she wanted to know more, and her
chest constricted at the prospect. The room began to close in on her. Air.
That's what she needed. Clean air, without the scent of disinfectant. She
needed to be outof the hospital.
Lauren nearly jumped
from the bed, startling Dev in the process. "I... um... I'm going to tell
David we're finished here." And without looking back she bolted across the
room and flew out the door.
"Lauren!
Wait!" Dev cursed inwardly when the shorter woman disappeared out the
door. She wanted to follow her and try to apologize for upsetting her. She
wanted to hold her and tell her everything would be all right.
Dev groaned as she
pushed herself forward, and a jolt of pain shot through her hip. She dislodged
her heart monitor in the process, and the room was suddenly pierced with a
shrill beeping noise as an alarm sounded.
Several doctors burst
through the door with David right along side them. His eyes shut in pure relief
when he saw that Dev was all right. "Oh, no you don't!"
"David,"
Dev grunted as she swung one leg off the bed. Another blast of pain made her
feel lightheaded.
Jane joined David at
Dev's bedside and after several moments she and David were finally wave off the
panicky medical staff. "You can't get up, Dev!"
"Lauren"
"Lauren is a big
girl." David eased the President onto her back and carefully repositioned the
leg she still had hanging off the bed. "She'll be back, Dev."
Dev had asked David
to keep tabs on Lauren's mother. Apparently, everyone in the hospital had been
talking about the very public argument between Lauren and her father. The old
man had yelled at Lauren as she'd left the hospital. Screaming for everyone to
hear that if some woman she'd barely known for a few months was more important
than her own damned mother, that she didn't need to bother coming back home...
ever.
David let out an
unhappy breath. "Dev, she's been through more than you know. Give her some
space."
Dev settled back into
her bed with an angry sigh. "She's going to be okay, because I'm going to
make sure of it." She looked up at her Chief of Staff, determination
glinting harshly in pale blue eyes. "Sit down, David. I think you've got
something to tell me."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter VI
June 2021
Tuesday, June 1 st
Dev sat with her head
hanging between her knees. She was panting slightly as her physical therapist
stood back and made notes on the President's chart. The therapist was young and
fit and a rising star in his field, having earned the glowing recommendations
from Devlyn's leading physicians. The man took a breath and girded his mental loins
before turning back to face the tall woman straddling the weight bench. They
were about two-thirds of the way through their rehabilitation routine for Dev's
shoulder and hip and he could clearly read the lines of exhaustion and pain on
his patient's face. Things were about to get ugly.
"Madam
President?"
"What?" she
growled, not bothering to lift her head. Sweat was dripping from her forehead
and chin onto the vinyl-covered bench between her legs.
"We need to do
another set to work your arm." The therapist looked up to see Lauren
slipping quietly into the room.
Lauren closed the
door behind her and motioned for the man not to alert Devlyn of her presence.
"Don't want
to." The President shook her head, grimacing at the bolt of pain even that
small movement caused her stressed muscles. "We're done for the day."
"Ma'am, you have
a routine that we need-" He ducked just in time for a small water bottle
to sail past his head.
"Fuck the
routine! I said we're done for the day!"Dev's shoulders slumped even
further. "Now leave me alone," she whispered, ignoring the twinge of
guilt she already felt over her outburst.
Lauren cleared her
throat, causing two sets of frustrated eyes to swing her way. "Hi. It's
Julio, right?" The blonde extended her hand to the therapist. "I'm
Lauren Strayer."
The young man smiled
and moved several steps towards Lauren to take her hand. "Nice to meet
you, Ms. Strayer. I was just on my way out. I'll be outside if you need
me."
Lauren watched as the
therapist made a hasty exit. She decided to ignore Dev's mini-meltdown. Lauren
had been meaning to come to one of Dev's sessions earlier. But something always
seemed to come up. Be honest, Lauri. You don't want to see her in pain. And you
don't know what to say to her after tearing out of the hospital like an idiot a
couple of weeks ago. You're embarrassed to face her in private.
The writer slowly
padded to a bench near Dev and sat down. She studied the President carefully.
Other than a quick initial glance, the older woman hadn't even acknowledged her
presence. Dev's face was flushed and drawn. And it was clear that she was
hurting. Lauren's thoughts turned to Dev's would be assassin, Louis Henry. The
little bastard.
When it was clear
that the President wasn't going to say anything, Lauren blew out an unhappy
breath. "Hello, Devlyn," she drawled softly. "Are you finished
for the day?" She cocked her head to the side. "Liza said you'd be
going for at least another half an hour or so."
"Liza was
wrong." Dev self-consciously wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"That's the beauty of being the President – I can tell people to
fuck off and they actually have to do it."
Lauren sat up a
little straighter at Devlyn's choice of words. "I see," she answered
seriously. "And does that include me as well?"
Dev shot Lauren a
contrite look and shook her head. "No."
Lauren watched as the
President tried to make a fist with the arm that had been injured. She couldn't
do it. "I'm just tired." Her voice was resigned. "And it hurts a
lot."
Lauren had to sit on
her hands to keep from literally reaching out for Dev. She wasn't sure it would
be welcomed and she was already treading on dangerous ground. "I know it
does. But there's something else I'll bet you didn't know."
"What?" Dev
reached for her sling and looped it over her head.
"You're the
strongest person I've ever met." Lauren stood up and moved behind Dev,
carefully tugging long hair out from under the sling's strap. "And you're
not a quitter." Okay, this is where she blasts you for not understanding
what she's going through.Lauren closed her eyes and waited.
"I'm not as
strong as you think, Lauren. I've been through an awful lot and I'm just damned
tired. I only want to go to my room and go to bed."
Okay, that didn't work.
"And you can go back to your room and take a nap." She waited until
she saw Dev's head bob before adding firmly, "Right after you finish your
physical therapy."
Dev looked up.
"Excuse me? What happen to the ‘fuck you' factor?"
Lauren raised an eyebrow
and gave Dev's sling a little tug. "It was just trumped by the
‘Lauren factor'. Go figure. Don't make me get tough with you, Devlyn.
Southern women are relentless and you'll lose eventually." Gray eyes
twinkled.
Dev stared at her for
a moment. Lauren was serious, but the words still held a teasing edge. It was
something she'd missed sorely the past few of weeks. "I knew somewhere
along the line I'd find someone who had the trump card. I always figured it'd
be Jane or Emma though." Dev visibly squared her shoulders and lifted her
chin. "I guess I should apologize to Julio for being a royal bitch,
huh?" Dev eased her arm into the sling
"It couldn't
hurt, Madam President." Way to go, Devlyn. "I'll go tell him you're
ready to continue."
"‘Kay.
I'm not going anywhere. Umm... thanks." Dev sat stock-still as Lauren
walked away. She wanted Lauren to stay, but a bigger part of her didn't want
Lauren to see her like this. Weak. Miserable. A disgusted look crossed Dev's
face. Most of all, she just wanted this day to be over.
Lauren paused at the
doorway, waiting for any reason, any word from Dev that she wanted her to stay.
After a few seconds she swallowed hard and opened the door. "The President
is ready to continue her therapy, Julio." She smiled at him
sympathetically. "Thank you for being so patient."
The man blushed and
stared at his sneakers. "No problem, Ms. Strayer. That's my job." He
glanced back up. "She's really hurting."
Lauren's brow creased
with worry. "I know."
He inclined his head
toward the gym. "You coming back?"
"Nah."
Lauren pursed her lips before pushing her glasses up higher on her nose.
"She doesn't need me." But I wish she did.
* * *
David entered the
debriefing room just as the video of the assassination attempt ended on a
freeze frame shot of the bloody stage floor. He shook his head. Why did they
always stop it at that very second? His temper flared and angry brown eyes
flickered around the room, landing on each man and woman before moving on and
glaring at their next target.
"How in the hell
did that happen!" He pointed at the video image. "Would somebody like
to tell me why the President of the
The silence was
deafening and not a single agent could meet David's glare. He angrily tugged at
his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. "Get comfortable,
ladies and gentlemen, because no one's leaving this room until I have the
answers I want," he boomed.
Several agents
flinched.
David took his jacket
off and tossed it onto a couch. With quick, angry tugs he rolled up his
sleeves. "I want to know how a fifteen-year-old kid got a gun in the first
place. How he got it into that high school." David's already red skin tone
turned an angry shade of scarlet. "And how he managed to get it and
himself in perfect position to kill the President of the
An older man at the
end of the table drew in a deep breath and rose to his feet before speaking.
David's jaw worked.
"Yes, Agent Rothsberg?"
"It was a hate
crime, sir," he began tentatively.
"Speak up!"
"A hate crime,
sir." His voice was a little more solid this time. "The suspect tried
to shoot the President because she is a woman and a lesbian." The agent
pushed a file towards David, sending it sliding down the glossy tabletop.
"He didn't
try," David barked, "he didshoot the President. Several times!"
The agent nodded
quickly. "Yes, sir. All the information we have is in there." He
pointed to the file David was now holding. "That's the latest
intelligence."
David picked up the
file and thumbed through it. "He very nearly succeeded in killing
her." The Chief of Staff continued to chastise as he read. "Which one
of you in here wants to have to confess that it was on their watch that the
President of the
David yanked an empty
chair out from under the table and gracelessly plopped down in it, his nose
still buried in the file. "Hell, it's been almost sixty years since
Kennedy died. I guess most of those guys are dead now too. Trying to fill their
shoes? You all had better hope that the investigation proves that kid got
lucky." He closed the file. "Because if I find out any of you were
lacking in your sworn duty to protect the President, or that you in some way
made the attempt possible..." The rest of the threat remained unspoken,
but was crystal clear.
Deep brown eyes
traveled to every face in the room. All David saw was sadness, embarrassment
and regret, which actually made him feel a little bit better. For now he could
believe that the kid had gotten lucky. But this couldn't happen again. Somehow,
someway, they would find where they had made their mistake. There might not be
a second chance.
"Video
rewind," David commanded. "Okay, kiddies, here we go again. We're
gonna watch it over and over again until I know where everyone was and what
they were doing when our President was struck down. Video start."
Friday, June 4 th
Dev groaned as she
eased herself back down into the bed and propped her cane against the wall. Her
hip still hurt like hell and she missed not being able to run or work out. She
wondered if anyone would be surprised when she pulled her sling off and choked
several people with it. Probably not,she mused silently, knowing full well she
could be a royal bitch when she didn't feel well. But since she'd lost her cool
with her physical therapist, she'd tried her best to rein in her frustration.
Maybe she'd only choke one person.
She sighed as the
warm sun spilled into the room through the tall windows that stretched from
floor to ceiling. Devlyn was recovering in the Solarium, which also happened to
be her favorite room in residence. Ironically enough, it was in this very same
room that President Reagan had recuperated after being shot some 40 years
before.
Devlyn's gaze strayed
out the window. Well, I'm the first American President of this century that
someone hated enough to try and murder. Too bad it was some woman/lesbian
hating punk that did it. He doesn't even care about my politics!her ego
squawked indignantly.
Liza strode in
through the open door and past two Secret Service agents so she could drop a
pile of folders onto a table next to Dev. "If you feel up to it, Madam
President, you really need to look through these and sign off on them."
Dev snatched up the
first folder, happy to be able to wallow in something besides self-pity.
"I'd be happy to do that. I'll have them for you by dinnertime."
Liza smiled. Jane had
insisted she give Devlyn something to do so she'd stop terrorizing the entire
White House staff. As usual, the President's long time secretary knew best.
"Lauren's gone
to get the kids. We're going to spend a few minutes with them in here." Or
at least I am. I dunno if Lauren will stay. Seems like since I got shot she's
almost afraid to be around me. Not that I can blame her. Who wants to walk next
to a target? I might as well have a big red bullseye tattooed on my ass. And
then I had to go and pry into her family's private affairs. If she wanted to
talk to me about her mother she would have. Good going, moron. Fuck. So much
for ditching the self-pity.
"That's
wonderful news." Liza looked at her watch. Ever since she set up Lauren
with Casey, she'd been avoiding the writer like the plague. She'd heard from
Emma that Lauren was after her ‘no good Yankee ass.' Liza wasn't
quite sure what that meant. But she was pretty sure it was bad. Very bad. But
at least Casey was happy. She and Candace Delaney were getting married in the
fall!
Liza handed Dev a pen
and looked nervously towards the doorway. "Should I have the call from the
British Prime Minister transferred up here?" She began edging her way out.
"It's a social call but he may want to discuss the State Dinner coming up
in September for His Majesty."
Dev nodded absently.
"Sure. I'll probably spend the rest of the afternoon in here. So transfer
everything up here that's not classified."
"Yes,
Ma'am." Liza turned to leave as the children came barreling in and skidded
to halt just before they crashed into their Mom's bed. She scooted around
Ashley, purposely avoiding Lauren's evil gray gaze as they passed each other
just outside the room. Liza winced when she heard a growl. Gremlin or Lauren?
Did it matter?
The children were
careful to mind their mother's injuries but still gave her enthusiastic hugs
and kisses before settling down with coloring books and crayons. Ashley's Secret
Service agent, Amy, joined them on the carpet, leaving Dev and Lauren to talk
quietly in the corner.
"I wanted to
thank you for taking extra time with them these past few weeks," Dev said
quietly, noticing that Lauren had taken a seat in the center of the couch
instead of closer to the end and nearer to the bed.
Lauren twisted
uncomfortably in her seat. Devlyn had already thanked her for this very thing.
Several times.
They'd never
discussed her bolting from Dev's hospital room several weeks before, and ever
since then things between them had been... she sighed inwardly... strained. Dev
was on pins and needles around her; she wasn't doing much better. Their brief
conversation during Dev's therapy session two days ago had been the most they'd
spoken all week. Silences that were once comfortable now felt uneasy. And at
the moment, it was painfully obvious that Devlyn was making small talk to avoid
one of those silences. It was equally obvious that it was a strain for the
older woman.
Lauren chewed her
lip. This was her fault. She glanced apologetically at Dev. "I haven't
minded spending the extra time, Devlyn." It was the truth. "The book
will be better because of it. And I lo… I mean… your kids
are great."
Dev couldn't stop the
grin that transformed her face. "Thanks. They're all crazy about you.
Except for Christopher, that is."
Lauren leaned forward
and frowned. "Really?" Her gaze darted to the tow-headed boy sprawled
out on the carpet. She looked back at Dev helplessly as her mind raced for what
could have possibly happened that she didn't know about. They always got along
great! "But… but…"
"He's not
justcrazy about you," Dev clarified, "he's madly in love with you and
asked me the other day if you were married."
Lauren laughed.
"Wow. You had me worried there! Did you tell him I'd be available when he
gets legal?"
Like hell you
will.Dev smiled. This was going better than she'd hoped. The banter that had
been missing over the past few weeks was edging its way back. She hoped.
"I most certainly did not. I want grandchildren and by then you'll
be-"
"Not that much
older than you are now!" Lauren crossed her arms over her chest and
narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah. An old
lady!" Dev winked and they both laughed softly.
Dev was determined to
keep the conversation going. "From what I can squeeze out of David, he
seems to think the book is going great so far. But he keeps threatening to
reveal a few really embarrassing stories if I don't behave and do all my
therapy." Her face colored when she remembered the last time they were
together. "He always was a blackmailer at heart, and if he'd seen how I
behaved the other day in the gym he'd have kicked my sorry ass."
Lauren made a face
but didn't disagree.
"I'm
sorry."
"You don't
have-"
Dev stopped her with
a stern look.
Lauren grinned and
ducked her head graciously. "Apology accepted, Devlyn." Her gaze
dropped to her lap for a moment before she changed the subject. She looked a
little nervous. She wasn't sure how Dev would feel about the personal
interviews she wanted. "Speaking of my progress on the book, I... um... I
think I've done all the background research I can do from the White
House."
Dev's suddenly felt
her heart stop and her throat close up tight. So much so, as a matter of fact,
that she was having trouble breathing and had to clear her throat and take a
drink of her coffee before she could speak again. She wondered briefly if her
panic was showing on her face. God she's gonna leave! She wants to move out.
Think of something quick!"Ahhhh…" Dev's mind went
absolutely blank for all of a horrifying second. "How about a chance to
meet my parents!" she blurted out, a little faster and a lot louder than
she meant to, but she didn't think her heart could take losing Lauren right
now. Maybe in a few weeks when I feel better, but not now. Please, God, not
now. I can't lose her, too.
Lauren's brow
wrinkled and she stood up and crossed over to the bed. She hesitated for only a
moment before sitting on its edge. She wanted to pat Dev's leg or hold her
hand. But she didn't. Instead, she trapped her hand under her own leg to keep
it from roaming. "What's wrong, Devlyn?" Her concerned voice was soft
and warm and made the President want to burst into tears.
"I…
I… umm… was just thinking that, after everything that has
happened, maybe a vacation was in order. My folks own a beautiful little cabin
back in
At the word
‘
Dev patted her little
girl's back. "Yes, sweetheart," she chuckled. "We'll go see
them. But we can only take Grem if Lauren goes with us." The President
smiled unrepentantly, knowing she was putting Lauren on the spot, but willing
to use any advantage she could.
Lauren's lips
quirked. "Very sneaky, President Marlowe. You know your kids get their way
with me nearly as much as Gremlin." She tried not to laugh as Christopher,
who was now standing at the foot of Dev's bed with Aaron, nervously tugged at
his glasses, waiting for her answer. Then she blinked. Did he pick that up from
me?
Before Lauren could
answer Dev, Aaron trotted over and climbed up into her lap, turning blue eyes
that rivaled his mother's on the writer. The little boy, like his best buddy
Gremlin, had no shame whatsoever when it came to manipulating Lauren.
"Please," he asked pathetically. Lauren's head dropped forward and
her shoulders started to shake with silent laughter. "Yes!" she crowed,
happily. "Yes, Grem and I will come."
The children cheered
and Aaron jumped off Lauren's lap to go play with his brother. His work here
was done.
Lauren turned back to
Dev, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. She leaned into the fingers that
were still lightly pressed against her thigh. "I'd love to talk to your
parents. I've been meaning to ask David to arrange an interview. But seeing you
with them and talking to them in person will be so much better." She needs
this. We all do.
Dev still had dark
circles under her eyes, and she'd lost weight over the last few weeks. But she
was still the most beautiful woman Lauren had ever seen. "I think we could
both use a vacation." She grinned. "I'd love to get out the city for
a while." With you.
Dev's answering smile
caused her to laugh out loud. Suddenly, her eyes took on added depth, and she
lowered her voice so that only the President could hear her. She hesitated and
glanced around the room. "We need to have a talk soon though, okay?"
She inclined her head, waiting for Dev's reply.
"Okay." Dev
nodded, suddenly apprehensive. "Anything you want. Whenever you want
it." She licked her lips. "Lauren, if I've done something to upset
you, you'd tell me now, right?"
"No, I
wouldn't," the blonde replied seriously. "I'd rather do this alone."
The knot in Dev's
stomach tightened. "Son of a-" she stopped when she realized that the
kids were only a few feet away. The phone rang and she let out a frustrated
grunt. "Activate phone."
The image of the
British Prime Minister began to take shape. "Madam President." He
looked around and smiled. "I hope I'm not interrupting some family time. I
was just concerned for you. How are you today?"
Devlyn went into full
Presidential mode. "Well, to be honest, Prime Minister Hawkins, I've had
better days. But I'm hoping things will turn around soon. And how are you and
your family?"
Friday, June 11 th
Dev, with the help of
her cane, walked slowly down the hall. This was her first day back in the Oval
Office after being shot. Even from her hospital room she'd been performing her
duties as Chief Executive, but this was her first ‘official' day back
at work.
David and Sharon had
done a wonderful job of keeping the press updated, and she was currently
enjoying an approval rating near sixty-five percent. Damn, if he'd hit me with
that fourth bullet I'd either be dead or at eighty percent!
"Good morning,
Madam President." Jane was already on her feet when Dev entered the outer
office, having heard the rhythmic thumping of her cane as Dev progressed down
the hall. Jane smiled and handed Dev what would be her first of six or seven
cups of coffee.
A few feet behind Dev
came Liza, her nose stuck firmly in her electronic organizer.
"Good morning,
Jane." Dev did her best to smile despite the throbbing pain in her
shoulder and hip. "Would you come into my office for a moment,
please?"
"Of
course."
The three women
entered but Liza broke away from the other two, taking the mug out of Dev's
hand and setting it on the President's desk. She immediately went to work on
her half-day schedule, pounding away on her organizer with one hand while
writing in Dev's leather bound appointment book with the other.
Dev turned to Jane
when the door clicked shut. She stepped forward and gave the woman a hug.
"Thank you. Thank you for being a rock for my family again, Jane. I don't
know what I'd do without you."
Jane, who was never
big on emotional scenes, gave Dev a warm hug and then pulled back. "You'd
leave your own head lying about if David, Emma and I didn't keep it fastened
there."
The President rolled
her eyes but quickly acquiesced. "You're absolutely right."
"And now Liza
has earned her place on the roster as well, Devlyn. That girl doesn't earn
nearly enough money for chasing around after you like she does."
Dev's eyebrows
jumped. "You're right again. I should send her some flowers, don't you
think?" she asked in a whisper.
"What a grand
idea, Madam President," Jane whispered back with a grin. "I'll get
right on that."
"Thank
you." Dev turned toward her desk, then paused. "Oh, Jane?"
"Yes?"
"Why don't you
get yourself one of those ugly cactuses you like, too."
Jane huffed, "I
may get two. And expensive ones at that!"
Dev grinned and shook
her head as she listened to the older woman leave the Oval Office. The
President gingerly settled down at her desk, taking time to look over her
schedule and sip her coffee. "Liza, where did Lauren rush off to this
morning? Do you know?" She propped her cane up alongside her desk, out of
sight.
"Yes,
Ma'am." Liza winced slightly at the mention of the writer's name.
"Ms. Strayer had several meetings on the Hill today. Doing interviews for
the book with the congressmen and senators from
"God, I hope
everybody is in a good mood up there this morning," Dev mumbled as she
signed her name to several documents. She paused, staring long and hard at the
paper in front of her. "What the hell is this? A grocery list?"
Liza peered over
Dev's shoulder. "It's the suggested menu for the State Dinner, Madam
President."
"Ah, well give
this back to the social secretary to go over. If she has any questions, have
her direct them to Jane or even Beth McMillian. They make much better stand-ins
for the First Lady than I do. Besides, as long as they don't serve sauerkraut,
I don't care what we eat."
Liza's eyes widened.
"I'll meet with Jane immediately."
Dev chuckled.
"You do that, Liza."
The young woman took
the file from Dev's hand and handed her a half a dozen more.
Dev glared at her,
but there was no real heat behind the look. She lifted a single dark eyebrow.
"You get a perverse pleasure out of doing that, don't you?"
Liza smiled. "I
refuse to answer that question on the grounds that it might incriminate
me."
"Oh yeah? Well,
you haven't looked at your watch in at least ten seconds."
"I don't need to
look at my watch to know that you have four minutes until the Chief of Staff
and the special prosecutor arrive."
The smile slid from
Dev's face. She sighed and dropped her head forward onto her desk. "Do I
have to?"
"Yes, Ma'am, but
look at it this way. Today is the last day for a week. This time tomorrow, you,
the children, Ms. Strayer, and the McMillians will be on your way home to
"This is true.
Tomorrow night, Lauren will no doubt be treated to my mother's pot roast."
Liza bit back a
smile. How many times had the President already mentioned Lauren this morning?
"Is it good?"
Dev read over another
paper before answering. "I never said that." She signed her named,
never looking up.
Laughing, Liza
excused herself just as David and a tall, dark-haired man entered the Oval
Office. David moved over to Dev's desk and leaned forward, bracing his hands on
the desk's edge. "Liza looked pretty happy. Glad to see you haven't lost
your ability to make people laugh."
"That was pity,
my friend. She knows we're having dinner with my folks tomorrow night."
David's eyes grew
wide and he crossed himself. Twice. "Is your Mom cooking?" He gulped.
"If she is, I need to tell Beth to pack the antacid."
"Well, that's
the threat currently hanging over our heads, old buddy. Her world famous pot
roast. And don't even think of backing out now. You know it would hurt her
feelings." She closed the last folder and looked up at the man quietly
waiting behind David. She started to stand, but David motioned her back down.
Dev grunted her
thanks and interlaced her fingers. "So, gentlemen, I take it you're here
to discuss the prosecution of a fifteen-year-old boy."
"Madam President,"
David began, "this is special prosecutor William Miller."
"Mr.
Miller." Dev extended her hand, they shook formally, then the President
gestured. "Please have a seat."
The slim man
unbuttoned his suit coat and carefully dropped into one of the wing back chairs
that sat in front of Dev's massive desk. David was already in the other one.
"Thank you, Madam President."
Dev pressed an
intercom button. "Jane could you have someone-"
"Send up a tray
of coffee? It's on its way, Madam President."
"Of course it
is. I'm sorry I doubted you, Jane."
David winced at Dev's
faux pas. Jane neverforgot coffee and cookies.
"It's the
painkillers. I forgive you," she chuckled from the other end of the
intercom.
"Thanks so
much." Devlyn looked at David who gave her a disapproving look. "Can
I help it if I'm addicted to coffee? That's got to be why Emma makes me drink a
glass of milk every night. She's trying to coat the hole in my stomach."
She leaned back in her chair, took a deep breath, and studied both men
seriously. "So tell me what's going on with this young man."
"We intend to
prosecute him to the fullest extend of the law, Madam President," Miller
stated authoritatively as he removed a file from his briefcase.
"What about the
people who put the gun in his hand and taught him how to use it?" David
took one of the files offered to him, flipping through it. "A boy doesn't
materialize a handgun out of nowhere. He stole it, bought it, or it was given
to him. He had help."
Miller nodded.
"We are looking for accomplices, sir. But so far we haven't come up with
anything."
"Good. Because I
want everyone who had a hand in this brought to justice."
Dev crossed her arms.
"David?"
"Yes, Madam
President?"
"Suppose he did
it on his own. No law against being a bigot."
"But there is
one against attempted murder," David shot back. "And where'd he get
the gun? That person is responsible too, Dev."
Special Prosecutor
Miller broke in. "The gun was purchased on the street. It's been traced
back to a small police department in
"Jesus."
Dev let her head drop. "The gun has quite the history doesn't it?"
"Yes, Ma'am, it
does."
"You know,"
Dev said. "That gives me an idea." She reached over and scribbled a
note on a pad.
"Your ideas can
be dangerous, Dev," David mumbled. "Don't forget we're going on
vacation tomorrow."
"I'm not."
Dev looked back up. "Mr. Miller, if the boy is prosecuted what kind of
sentence can he expect to get?"
"Life."
She blew out a
disgusted breath and closed her eyes. "Such a waste." He's not that
much older than Ash. And his whole life is probably over.
"Dev, what that
boy tried to do to you... Well, it isn't that different from what Ted Harris
did to Sam." David shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He knew he was
hitting below the belt by mentioning Samantha. But he could tell Dev was on the
verge of doing something stupid, like publicly coming across as soft on what
Louis Henry had done. It was one thing for her to appear sympathetic to the
boy's parents, to his brothers and sisters, and the community that helped raise
him. But it was quite another for her to openly act as though what he did could
be forgiven. If she did, she'd be opening the door for every nut in the world
that wanted to take a pot shot at the President.
Saturday, June 12 th
Lauren nervously
wiped her hands on her jeans, shifting from one foot to the other as she stood
outside the President's office on Air Force One. They'd been in the air for
forty-five minutes and she'd finally mustered her courage, knowing that she
couldn't put off this discussion with Devlyn for much longer. This had already
been a month in coming and that was way too long.
Their friendship was
suffering and she wasn't sleeping well because of it. Lauren hadn't realized
how much she counted on the little intimacies between them until this
awkwardness sprang up, robbing her of something she'd come to want... maybe
even need in her life. She felt foolish and guilty. Their relationship was
slipping between her fingers like fine grains of sand and she was letting it
happen. No more. I need to put this right.
Taking a deep breath,
she lifted her hand and gave the door three light raps. There was no answer.
She tried a second time. Still nothing. That's odd. I know she's in
there.Taking a chance, she quietly turned the handle and peered around the
door. "Dev?"
Devlyn was lying
asleep on the sofa with Lauren's very first Adrienne Nash novel fanned open on
her chest as her gentle snores filled the room. The blonde's eyes softened and
her heart swelled with affection as she took in the sight of the President
sleeping curled up on the sofa, her chest rising and falling in a slow even
pattern.
Lauren started to retreat
when Dev cried out quietly and her eyes began to working beneath closed lids.
"Don't," she whispered. "Please."
The writer hesitated
for only a second, before clicking the office door closed behind her and
crossing the room. She knelt on the floor next to Dev. "Devlyn,"
Lauren soothed. "It's okay."
Dev's arms began to
thrash and she knocked the book that was lying on her chest onto the floor.
"Please don't," she whimpered again as her breathing increased and
she began to struggle weakly.
The urge to touch
Devlyn was too strong to ignore, and Lauren reached out and laid warm hands on
Dev's arms, using her thumbs to stroke soft skin. "Everything is just
fine, darlin'. You're not alone. And it's only a dream." The thrashing
stopped at once, and the older woman's short breaths began to lengthen and even
out again.
Lauren gnawed her
lower lip as she wondered what Dev's nightmare was about. Samantha? The
shooting? Or something else perhaps.She smoothed a dark lock of hair off Dev's
forehead, careful of the still healing pink scar that ran along the left side
of her forehead.
In this quiet,
semi-private setting, with Devlyn asleep, Lauren felt comfortable indulging
herself. She studied Dev's relaxed face carefully, her eyes lovingly tracing
every line and contour. God, you are so beautiful.Her gaze dropped to full, red
lips and she felt herself drawn closer. A shock of pale hair tumbled forward
and Lauren tucked it behind her ear as she leaned in and allowed the light
scent of Devlyn's shampoo and skin to wash over her sense. I need to kiss
her.The familiar thought came unbidden. Only this time a sense of urgency was
attached. If I don't kiss her, I'm going to die.
An unexpected patch
of turbulence caused the plane to lurch slightly and Dev's face twitched, her eyes
fluttering open. She blinked, mildly alarmed until the face so close to hers
came into focus.
Lauren immediately
pulled away, her heart hammering in her chest. Oh yeah. I was going to do it. I
was going to kiss her!
"Hi." Dev's
voice was rough with sleep. She leaned forward a little, rubbing her eyes with
one hand and bracing herself with her good arm. "What are you doing in
here?"
Lauren immediately
stumbled to her feet. "I'm sorry," she said in a rush. "I
knocked and there was no answer and-"
"Lauren,"
Dev stopped the younger woman's rush of words. Before Lauren could escape, Dev
reached up and grabbed the writer's hand, holding it tightly. She sat up all
the way, her eyes searching around for her book. "I'm glad you're
here."
Lauren reached down
and fished it off the floor, wordlessly handing it to Dev.
Dev shrugged. "I
was just reading."
Lauren chuckled at
the deep creases the back of the sofa had made on one of Dev's cheeks. She
decided not to mention the nightmare since Dev didn't seem affected by it.
"I can see that." Lauren waggled her finger at Dev's sleep-marked
face. "I hope that isn't a reflection of the story."
"Oh, no!"
Dev corrected her quickly, flushing slightly. "The first one is still one
of my favorites." With a slight groan, she threw her feet over the edge of
the sofa, making room for Lauren. She patted the cushion next to her in
invitation.
Butterflies began to
flutter wildly in the younger woman's belly. Apologize now, you coward, before
another minute goes by. And then just kiss her.
"So," Dev
prompted, purposely not letting go of Lauren's hand. Her body tensed in
reaction to Lauren, who did not look happy.
"Yeah."
Lauren exhaled slowly. "So."
Dev lifted her jaw.
"What have I done to upset you, Lauren? Please tell me. Things haven't
been the same between us since that day in the hospital." And it's killing
me.
Lauren's shoulders
slumped and she restlessly picked at the couch's navy-colored fabric. "You
didn't do anything. I just... I just...."
"Are mad at
me?" Dev ventured, bracing herself for Lauren's anger.
"No!"
Lauren's brow furrowed and she shook her head. "It's me, not you."
Dev's lips formed a
thin line. "Me, not you," she muttered. That's sounds like the kiss
off. She's can't break up with me! We're not even together... like
that."What does that mean... exactly?"
Lauren licked her
lips, letting out a slow breath. "It means you didn't do anything wrong. I
need ... um... I need to apologize for running out on you in the
hospital." Lauren felt a pang deep in her chest when she thought about
what she'd done. "You needed a friend and I just ran away," she
admitted softly. "I'm so, so sorry."
"Hey." Dev
scooted closer to her companion, though there was already almost no space
between them. She forced herself not to flinch as she lifted her arm and
wrapped it around Lauren's shoulder. It had only been out of her sling for a
few days and she still had several weeks of physical therapy to go before it
would be back to close to normal. "You didn't have to apologize. I've been
worried about you."
Lauren voice was full
of self-loathing, and she pulled away from the comforting embrace. "But I
just left you after you sat through that horrible video!"
"That doesn't
matter." Dev pulled her back.
"It does matter,
Devlyn!"
"No, it doesn't.
And if I'd known that's what was bothering you, I would have made that clear
weeks ago."
Lauren's watery gaze
lifted to meet Dev's, and she found only genuine curiosity and concern shining
in those pale blue eyes. There wasn't an ounce of anger. Or worse yet, the pity
she feared she'd find. "I see you everyday and I still miss you."
At the sweet words,
Dev found herself gulping back tears. "I miss you too."
"That day I was
embarrassed and ashamed." Lauren paused and then added, "And tired
and angry."
"Angry?"
Lauren nodded.
"When you told me that you knew about Mama, it suddenly felt like you were
spying on me. It was like all my family's dirty laundry was being paraded in
front of you whether I wanted it to be or not."
Dev winced at the
truth of the words. She'd known Lauren was having trouble adjusting to life in
a fish bowl. And her actions, though started with only the sincerest of
intentions, hadn't helped much. "I... I... didn't mean for you to feel
that way. I was worried about you. I only had David check into things so I
could help." Dev's gaze dropped to her lap. "I didn't mean to pry. I
just wanted to be able to help if you needed me, but..." I couldn't go
with you when I wanted to. I couldn't be there when you really needed a friend.
"I know."
God, how can I explain this?"But it's so hard. Mama... my mother... I
mean..." She let out a frustrated breath. "If I'd been thinking
straight I would have assumed that you'd find out what happened." Lauren
winced, seeing flashes of her younger self and slashed wrists and a pool of
dark crimson blood spreading across the floor in her mind's eye. "It's so
personal and ugly what she tried to do."
"It's
hard." Dev swallowed back the pain of her next admission. She'd never lied
to Lauren and she wasn't about to start now. But this went beyond that. Her
political mind wanted to say ‘off the record' but she believed deep
down that Lauren wouldn't betray her trust and that that kind of lack of faith
on her part would seal a future for herself without Lauren.
Dev's face was deadly
serious but her voice was still even and soft. "Some people just can't
fight the urge. They want to escape. Lauren, I'm going to tell you something
I've never told another living soul." She could feel the weight of Lauren's
expectant stare, and slender fingers threaded themselves tightly between her
own. Devlyn looked the smaller woman square in the eye. "When Sam was
killed, I thought about it." Dark brows creased in thought. "I didn't
know how to deal with the loss. I wouldn't, I couldn't find a place for the
anger and pain and it started to overwhelm me. I couldn't breathe without it
hurting. Every heartbeat was painful." The tears welling in Lauren's eyes
nearly made her stop. But she didn't. "Somehow, after a long while, I
found a way back. Through my children. But some people just can't fight."
Lauren squeezed her
eyes shut. She had trouble picturing the strong woman beside her giving up on
anything. But then she remembered the video image of Dev testifying at Theodore
Harris' sentencing hearing. Only one word came to mind. Broken. She was broken.
But somehow, someone had fixed her. Or she'd fixed herself. "But I can't
help mama," Lauren whispered in anguish. "I've tried! My whole life
I've tried and nothing works. I'm not enough." Nothing is ever enough.
Oh, Lauren. Don't do
that to yourself."Sweetheart, you've helped her even if you don't know it.
By growing up into such an intelligent, generous woman. By being there for her
when she needed you, and by trying your best. Sometimes people just can't help
what they do or how they feel. If you want, we'll hire new doctors to see her.
They can try to help her. Maybe there is a new technique or medicine or-"
"She's got the
best doctors I could find. My royalty checks are enough to see to that."
Sweetheart?She let the word soak deep down inside her, balming spots made raw
by worry and fear. She hasn't said something like that to me since she was in the
hospital."I appreciate your offer. But I don't think there's anything you
can help us with." She squeezed Dev's hand. "Other than continuing to
be my best friend."
Lauren sniffed, then
smiled when she heard Dev doing the same thing. They were quite a pair.
"After I ran out of the hospital, I felt like I wasn't enough to help you
either. All you were doing was being kind to me. But all I could think about
was running away." Lauren reached up and wiped away a shimmering tear that
was hanging suspended in the corner of Dev's eye, waiting to fall. "I'm so
sorry about that," she whispered. "And especially sorry about being
too embarrassed to apologize sooner." Say the rest!"Things between us
have been awkward and I don't like it. I um…" A pause. "I
want to hold your hand... a lot... and I can't do it if we won't sit by each
other." She held her breath and waited, praying that Dev felt the same
way.
A brilliant smile
edged its way onto Dev's lips and she instantly saw its echo on Lauren's.
"So," the President shrugged a little, hoping to lighten the mood and
barely able to keep herself from jumping up and down like a little kid.
"Sit next to me. I don't bite." She expression turned playfully.
"I'll even give you a hug if you need one. And my hands are alwaysfree to
be held."
Lauren nodded shyly.
She lifted their linked hands. "We're half way there. But how about that
hug?"
"Okay." Dev
used the arm lying loosely across Lauren's shoulder to pull her closer.
"This is not a bug," she teased. "This is me hugging you. I don't
want any confusion." She eased her arm around Lauren's shoulders and
pulled her close. When Lauren was pressed tightly against her, both women let
out long, shuddering breaths. Dev rested her cheek atop strands of fair, wavy
hair. "I know we're not done talking about the privacy issue. But maybe we
can take things a little bit at a time, you know?"
Lauren murmured her
agreement against Dev's collarbone. "I won't let things get so out of hand
again. I promise." She sank into the embrace, not thinking about what it
meant or where they were going. Just accepting the affection and comfort Devlyn
was offering. And doing her best to return it in kind.
"But you know
what else?"
"Mmm?"
"Nash still
needs a girlfriend."
Lauren began to shake
with silent laughter.
Then Devlyn felt the
softest of touches graze the hollow of her throat. She went completely still
and her eyes fluttered closed. Oh God, she's kissing me!
Lauren pressed her
lips against the soft skin again, marveling at the tiny tingles that chased
their way up and down her spine, and the flood of warmth that flowed through
her veins like a strong wine, heating her from within. The featherlight kisses
were painfully intimate and it felt so good to finally be showing Dev how she
felt, how deeply she cared for her, that Lauren had no intention of stopping
yet. She leaned forward and barely brushed Dev's throat with her mouth, feeling
the dark-haired woman's pulse pound wildly in response.
The plane lurched
again, sending Lauren a little sideways and interrupting the perfect moment.
Dev drew in a breath to speak and the writer pulled back a little, tilting her
head up and regarding Dev seriously. "No." Her voice was gentle but
insistent.
Lauren brought up
both hands and gently cupped Dev's cheeks, enjoying the warm, smooth skin
against her palms. She stared deeply into panicky eyes tinged with desire and
affection. "Nothing is going to interrupt us again. Okay?" A tiny bit
of insecurity popped through but was quickly quashed by Dev' response.
The taller woman let
out a shaky breath and nodded once, tilting her head and pressing her a cheek
more firmly against Lauren's steady but delicate touch. She fell willingly into
warm gray eyes that were so full of honest friendship and devotion that Dev's
chest constricted at the sight. "Okay," she croaked softly, honestly
surprised she could speak considering her heart felt like it was going to burst
the confines of her chest at any moment. She already felt lightheaded and they
hadn't even really kissed yet. Please don't let me pass out now.
Lauren smiled shyly
and licked her lips to moisten them. With a tiny tug of her hands, she drew
Dev's face to hers. "I've been wanting to kiss you for forever."
Dev's warm exhale caressed her lips and she forgot the rest of what she was going
to say.
The President's eyes
slid closed when as light as a feather, impossibly soft lips brushed against
her own, then settled more firmly there. A moan escaped from deep in her throat
and she threaded one hand in Lauren's hair, holding her gently in place as she
returned the kiss. Lauren's mouth was soft; inquisitive lips were setting her
on fire. The younger woman let her set the pace of their heartfelt exploration
and Dev felt like her entire body had been placed on a slow burn.
It lasted a long sweet
moment, not stopping until tentative tongues had reached out and tasted what
both had been wanting for so long. Finally, Lauren began to pull back, slightly
breathless. But Dev surged forward and nipped at her bottom lip, tugging it
into her mouth in a move that earned a gasp and then a low, sensual groan. But
the high intensity of the moment quickly shifted when Dev began nipping and
teasing with her teeth until both women were laughing.
This time it was Dev
who began to loosen the fingers she had threaded in Lauren's hair, but before
she could pull completely away, Lauren exacted her revenge by surging forward
and passionately kissing Devlyn into insensibility. Her initial fears had
melted away and now she acted on pure instinct, letting the rightness of the
moment sweep them both away and easily deepening the kiss. She swirled her
tongue around Devlyn's until the taller woman began to whimper. Yes!Lauren's
mind cried. This is what she wanted. It was the desire and hunger that lurked
behind every touch, every innocent glance and tender gesture. And now she was
tasting it.
Lauren felt her body
responding, as much to the sounds she was evoking from Dev as the wonderful
touch she was receiving. Her belly was beginning to clench as a combination of
rampant hormones and adrenaline sang through her blood.
When they finally
parted, she drew in a deep breath, slightly dumbfounded and more than a little
giddy. Lauren happily smiled and Dev's face immediately flushed a bright red.
The younger woman laughed.
"That was...
um..." Dev searched for the right words with slightly wide eyes.
"That was
wonderful, Devlyn, and I wish we would have done it ages ago."
Dev was nodding
before Lauren could finish her sentence. She sighed with relief, still a little
tongue-tied from the effects of the mind-blowing kiss.
Lauren smiled again,
finding Devlyn's bashfulness, mixed with pleasure and a good dose of nerves,
utterly charming. "I think, considering that I'm the one who's never done
that before... with a woman, that is, that I'm the one who is supposed to be
scared witless." She reached up and with the very tip of her finger traced
the delicious mouth that was already beckoning her back with its softness.
Dev grinned then bit
her lower lip. "You would think that, wouldn't you?"
The pilot's voice
came over the loud speaker, informing the plane's passengers that they were
making their final descent into Port
Devlyn stood up and
pulled Lauren up with her. Together they moved to two seats side-by-side that
they could buckle into.
"I think we've
got some things to talk about on this trip, Lauren," Dev said seriously,
but her twinkling eyes gave away her utter delight with the turn of events.
Lauren couldn't stop
from beaming as she happily settled into her seat. "I think this is going
to be one hell of a vacation."
* * *
As they traveled
toward Dev's family home. Lauren was struck by the familial feeling that
pervaded the back of the limo. Emma and Amy sat across from her and Dev. Ash
was sound asleep with her head in Emma's lap, Christopher was slowly nodding
off in Amy's arms and Lauren looked down at the little boy in her own lap. She
couldn't resist placing a tender kiss on Aaron's forehead as he slept in her
arms. Even Gremlin seemed content to nap on the floor of the limo, only rolling
over occasionally to offer a growl. He had taken to waiting for Dev to growl
back. Which she always did.
Dev reached into her
pocket and took out a small bottle of pills. She dropped one into her palm and
replaced the cap. Taking a bottle of water from the holder, she was about to
take a drink when she caught the look that Emma was giving her.
"What?"
"Do you need
that?"
"It's ibuprofen,
Emma. Nothing serious." She glanced sideways at Lauren and felt compelled
to offer an explanation. Her gaze dropped to the bottle where she fiddled with
lid. "Umm... This is not something that ever went public, but after
Samantha was killed," she hesitated and then finished in a rush, "I
had a small problem with sleeping pills." She chanced a look up at Lauren,
whose eyes held no censure. "But I don't anymore."
"I'm glad you
don't anymore," the writer said softly, gently bumping Dev's good shoulder
with her own. Lauren grinned when Dev dropping her free hand down, wrapping
long fingers around smaller ones. Devlyn was so different from anyone else
she'd ever met. She was always brutally honest about herself. Even though this
was something that she'd managed to keep in the family, she knew that if
someone asked Dev about it, she'd tell the truth.
But Lauren had
already promised herself that she wouldn't print a single word that would hurt
Devlyn or her family. It didn't hurt that she really hadn't uncovered anything
that could be truly damaging. She prayed she never would.
The writer watched as
Dev closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders carefully. Then the President's
head sagged forward. Lauren's face showed her concern. "Tired?"
"No.
Praying."
Twin eyebrows
disappeared behind fair bangs. "Praying?"
"Yeah. Praying
that my dad doesn't let my mom cook for us."
"Amen,"
Emma and Amy said at the same time. Over the years, both women had been
subjected to the offerings of Janet Marlowe. The woman was sweet as could be.
She loved her husband and Dev more than life itself and cooking was a hobby
she'd enjoyed since childhood. Unfortunately, her skill level had also stayed
the same as it was in childhood.
Dr. Frank Marlowe,
Dev's father, had always had a cook. Luckily for Dev, that didn't change once
he got married. But her mother still felt the need to jump in and
‘help' the cook every once in a while. Especially when she had
guests.
"Oh, come
on." Gray eyes rolled. "It can't be that bad." Lauren looked at
each face. "No one is that bad a cook." Okay, I am. But at least I
don't make other people eat it.
"Well, let's
just say I'd rather eat some more of that shrimp from my ill-fated date with
Candace Delaney than be subjected to my mom's cooking. I love my Mom. Don't get
me wrong but…"
"Oh my
God," both Emma and Jane finished simultaneously, shuddering with
revulsion.
Lauren laughed,
causing Aaron to fuss a little. She immediately clamped her lips shut and
cuddled him closer to her. Kids weren't nearly so scary when they were unconscious.
Dev looked over at
Lauren and grinned, lifting her pinkie and wiggling it at the writer.
Lauren stuck out her
tongue in reply but she knew Devlyn was right. Boy, am I wrapped by each and
every member of the Marlowe family, or what?
Two hours later and
they were all standing in the entryway of the Marlowe family home. Lauren hung
back with Emma and Amy, watching Frank and Janet welcome their daughter and
grandchildren home. She desperately wanted to snap off a few photographs but
she resisted the urge, not knowing how Mr. and Mrs. Marlowe would react. Lauren
looked on uncomfortably as Janet Marlowe, who looked like a shorter, salt and
pepper-haired version of Devlyn, wrapped her arms around her daughter and wept
openly.
Frank Marlowe stood
back with one grandson in each arm, wearing an indulgent smile for his
granddaughter who was wrapped around his waist. He was tall and slim, with a
thick head of white hair, a neatly trimmed beard and mustache, and generous
mouth.
"Oh, baby!"
Janet Marlowe put her hands on Dev's cheeks. "I'm so glad you're
home." She frowned when she got an up close look at the fading scar on her
daughter's face. "Are you really okay?"
"Mom, I'm fine.
You know me, too stubborn to…" Dev stopped when she realized
what she was about to say. She remained prudently silent while her mother
stepped back and examined her from head to toe. "I swear to you, Mom. I'm
totally intact."
"I'll be the
judge of that, young lady," Janet snapped peevishly. But her eyes
instantly softened. "You looked so tired when we called. I don't know why
you wouldn't let us come up there and let me take care of you."
"I have a whole
house full of people who-"
" Theyare not
your mother," the small woman huffed, poking the President in the chest.
Lauren tried to
stifle a giggle but failed.
Janet looked over and
made eye contact with Lauren. Ah, the infamous Lauren Strayer.She lifted a
brow.
So that's where
Devlyn gets it.Lauren tried to look properly castigated as she lowered her
eyes.
"Ah, Mom, Dad,
you remember Emma and Amy." Dev directed her parents to their other
guests. The greetings were quick and everyone's attention was soon back on
Lauren. The younger woman began to visibly squirm under Janet and Frank's
appraising, parental stares. She turned pleading eyes on the President that
screamed, ‘help!'
Dev almost smiled at
the look of unveiled panic on Lauren's face. "And this," Dev extended
her hand to the writer and tugged her forward, "is Lauren Strayer. She's
writing my biography, as you know. She's going to want to interview you both.
So could you try not to tell her all of my embarrassing stories at once
please?"
"But I wouldn't
mind a few," Lauren jumped in.
"Oh, I'm sure I
could come up with a thing or two about Stinky here," Frank offered with a
wink. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Strayer. Welcome to our home."
"Please call me
Lauren. And thank you, Mr. Marlowe." The writer was just dying to know
where in the hell ‘Stinky' fit in here. She was definitely going to
set aside some time to hear that story.
"Then you, young
lady, should call me Frank." He smiled charmingly.
Lauren nodded and
grinned back. Frank's Southern accent was even more pronounced than her own.
"Thank you." She took a deep breath and faced the one she knew really
counted here. "It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Marlowe. Devlyn has told
me a lot about you."
"It's nice to
meet you, Lauren." The small woman took the writer's proffered hand.
Lauren just knew she was being sized up and she straightened her shoulders and
made sure she gave a proper handshake. Nothing wimpy would do for Janet
Marlowe. "And call me Janet. Mrs. Marlowe was my mother-in-law. God rest
that evil bi-"
"Mom," Dev
gritted out.
Janet smiled
innocently. "God rest her soul."
* * *
David, his wife Beth,
and Lauren were simply howling with laughter. Tears were streaming down their
faces as their eyes darted between Dev's flaming cheeks and Frank's shit eatin'
grin. Janet was trying not to burst into laughter by busying herself with the
coffeepot that had just been placed on the dinner table. But her slender
shoulders were shaking.
Frank Marlowe looked
properly satisfied as he leaned back in his chair. He had done every father's
duty and regaled his audience with the time that Dev took off her diaper in the
middle of a family dinner party.
Devlyn narrowed her
eyes at her father and mumbled something from behind the napkin that she was
holding firmly against her face. Lauren wasn't sure, but she thought she heard
the words ‘air strike'.
"So," Lauren
sipped her water when her laughter finally died down. She fanned her cheeks.
"Tell me, where did Stinky come from?"
Dev looked up, her
eyes wide, and she clamped a hand over Lauren's mouth. She eyed her father
warily. "You did not hear that. She did not ask that question. You did not
hear that."
Lauren licked the
offending palm, causing Dev to jerk it free. The writer nodded wildly before
Dev could recover from yelling ‘ewwwww' and wiping her hand on her
jeans. "Yes, he did!"
Frank laughed low and
evil. "Well, Devil here, was about, oh, fifteen I think…"
"OMIGOD! Kill me
now, he's gonna tell her." Dev slumped in her chair and began to moan for
mercy.
Frank snorted and
then happily ignored his daughter. "Anyhow, she went out on this camping trip
with a bunch of her friends. Seems our little Devil and a young lady friend of
hers decided to go skinny-dipping in the pond."
Lauren's eyebrows
nearly launched up off her forehead. She turned to Devlyn. "Skinny
dipping? Oh my, Madam President. Who knew you had such a naughty streak?"
Dev glared at her
father. "Well, if this makes it into my biography, the entire world
will!"
Lauren patted Dev's
knee and refocused on Frank and made a quick gesture with her hands. "Go
on. Go on."
"Apparently,
everything was going along pretty well until one of the chaperones heard them
splashing around and giggling in the pond and decided to check it out. The
girls must have seen the flashlight, because they got out of the water, grabbed
up their clothes, and started back to the camp, running buck nekkid through the
woods…."
Dev groaned and
slumped a little more. Was it really possible to die of embarrassment? David
was pointing at her and laughing hysterically. Yes, she decided, it really was.
Lauren clamped her hand
over her mouth. She tried to imagine a Dev wet and naked, running through the
woods. Oooooh... How much would I pay to see that? Hell, I'd take out a
loan.Her face suddenly colored and she shook her head slightly to clear it of
its decidedly lascivious thoughts. "Gotcha. Nekkid," the word slipped
out effortlessly, "teenaged Devlyn, streaking through the woods." She
waited expectantly for Frank to continue, not sure which she was enjoying more,
Frank's yarn, or the mortified look on the President's face. "Is there
more?"
"Uh huh."
Dev's father nodded. "Her friend made it back okay, and never got
caught." He stared at Dev and pursed his lips. "Officially, that
is." Then he laughed. "But Devil here, wasn't so lucky. Her nekkid
a-" He stopped abruptly and cleared his throat. "Backside, I mean,
stumbled into a den. A den containing one very protective Mama skunk and four
little baby skunks, all scared witless by the dripping wet human that had woken
them. You know what spooked skunks do, Lauren?"
Lauren burst out
laughing. Then she wrinkled her nose at Dev. "Oh yuck, Devlyn."
Dev recovered long
enough to scratch her cheek and flip Lauren the bird at the same time before
she tossed a napkin at her father. "Thanks so much, Dad. There goes any
shred of dignity I had left in Lauren's eyes."
David and Beth looked
at each other. "We heard you puked on her, Dev. There was no dignity
left."
Dev covered her face
with her hands. "Was this visit really my idea?" she groaned.
"Yes!" the
room chorused.
Frank continued
undeterred. "It took two weeks, and thirty gallons of tomato juice, before
we could be in the room with her without our eyes watering. And that'swhere the
name Stinky came from."
Lauren felt a pang of
sympathy for Dev who was still hiding her face. Once the writer managed to get her
laughter under control, she reached out and gently rubbed Dev's back. Lauren
leaned over and whispered, "If it makes any difference, I've always
thought you smelled great."
Dev whispered back
without moving her muscle but Lauren could hear the smile in her words.
"It makes a difference."
Sunday, June 13 th
Lauren munched on a
piece of toast and sipped her juice as she stood on the porch of the house in
the morning sun. This was a beautiful place, and the fact that the Secret
Service had been ordered to set their perimeter several hundred yards away made
it feel cozy and safe. She could only wonder what it would be like in the cabin
they would go to later in the day. The writer actually liked the main house.
Dev had let her sleep
in this morning. Although to be fair, since the shooting she'd gotten to sleep
till
She had woken to a
soft summer breeze blowing in her window, the sound of children laughing and
playing, and the smell of bacon cooking. Oh yeah. Throw in sex and Lauren would
swear she was in heaven not
After her shower,
Lauren towel-dried her hair and ran a comb through it before brushing her teeth
and moving out onto the large back porch. She leaned against the house, watching
Dev's mother and father playing with their grandchildren. Gremlin was right in
the middle of the chaos, romping, barking, and chasing a stick that Frank would
toss out onto the lush green lawn every minute or so. You little flea bag.
You'd never fetch for me! Traitor.
Amy and Emma where
seated at a picnic table enjoying their breakfast. Lauren smirked. They were
gossiping, by the looks of it. She'd catch up with them later.
Lauren had seen David
and Beth walking hand in hand toward the woods. The only person that was
missing was Dev. She slipped her hand into her pocket of her denim shorts and
took another sip of her tangy, fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice.
The blonde woman
looked up when she heard a soft clomping sound coming toward her. Her breath
left her lungs in a quick whoosh when she got a good look at the noise's
source. And who was riding him. Dev was sitting atop a beautiful quarter horse,
wearing tight fitting black jeans and chaps that were barely visible because
they blended into the dark denim. A loose, light-blue chambray shirt that
matched the color of her eyes was tucked into the jeans, and well-worn boots
covered her feet. Her thick, ebony hair hung in a single braid that trailed
down the middle of her back. Lauren sighed. It was truly enough to make any
Dev rode slowly up to
the porch and pulled her horse alongside. "Morning, Ma'am," Dev
drawled, sounding very much like her father.
Lauren couldn't stop
her grin. She used her hand to shield her eyes as she looked up at Dev and
moved to the porch railing. "Good morning."
"Sleep
well?"
Lauren nodded slowly,
not quite able to tear her eyes from Dev's. "Very well. How about
you?"
"Oh, I was doing
great until Dad came and got me up to go feed the horses."
The younger woman
wrinkled her nose. "Lemme guess.
"That's where I
get it."
"How, by the
way," Lauren motioned to the tall, chestnut-colored beast, "did you
get up on the tallest horse I have ever seen with your injured hip? You know
you're not supposed to-"
Dev held up a
forestalling hand. "Before you tear into me, like Mom did," she
grumbled, "I used a bale of hay and Dad helped me. I'm fine, I
promise."
"It doesn't
hurt?" Lauren asked skeptically.
"If I say it
does, will you kiss it and make it better?"
Lauren began choking
on her juice. "Who are you and what have you done with the
President?" she coughed.
"Oh, that's
still me. I guess I forgot to mention that I'm just much more relaxed at
home." Dev laughed and took pity on her friend by changing the subject.
"You get any breakfast?"
"Umm... yeah,
the cook actually has a plate in the oven for me whenever I'm ready."
Dev nodded again.
"Yup, that's Dottie. Been the family cook since I was a kid. And she's
even successful at keeping mom out of the kitchen. Mostly. No one goes hungry
in the Marlowe house with Dottie around. If I'm really lucky, she'll make her
special Devil cookies while I'm here."
Lauren smiled
innocently and ran her hand up and down the rough wooden porch post. "You
wanna tell me how you got the nickname Devil or should I ask your Dad?"
She allowed her head to come to rest against the post, and took a deep breath
of morning air, catching the scent of damp grass, and the horse, and the faint
aroma of Dev's soap and shampoo. She felt her knees go a little weak.
Devlyn shrugged.
"It just comes from Dev. You know, like DEV-astating," she growled in
a sexy voice. She leaned down towards Lauren who was nearly at her level
because of the tall porch, her pale eyes sparkling with mischief in the morning
sun. "And DEV-oted and DEV-our…" She grinned, giving the
writer a truly evil smirk. "Just naturally pop up…"
Lauren's eyes raked
over Dev. "Don't forget DEV-ine"
"Like you."
Lauren waited a beat,
trying not to smile.
"Hey, that's not
spelled right!"
Lauren was
undeterred. "Call it artistic license."
Dev mulled that over
for a moment. "Huh. Okay, I'll buy that from you. But only
‘cause you're so cute."
My God we're actually
flirting with each other. Two more seconds of this and I'm gonna kiss her
again. I swear I am.Lauren pushed off the post and leaned towards Dev until she
could feel the combined heat of the older woman and her mount. She closed her
eyes and their breath mingled...
"Hey,
Devil!"
Lauren jumped back at
the sound of Frank Marlowe's voice.
"Shit," Dev
groaned, straightening in the saddle. "Later, Ms. Strayer." It was
promise.
Lauren adjusted her
glasses and smiled. "Later, Madam President."
Tuesday, June 15 th
Dev walked slowly
towards the cabin where she, Lauren, David and Beth would spend the next few
days while the kids stayed with their grandparents in a tent out in the back
yard.
Lauren had spent a
solid day with each of Dev's parents. And the tall woman suspected they now
liked Lauren better than they did her. Dev laughed good-naturedly. I guess it
was inevitable.
Dev spied several
Secret Service agents out of the corner of her eye. They were setting up in
campers several hundred yards away. She wanted to give Lauren at least some
sense of privacy. With everything that had happened, they all needed some rest.
She glanced down when
she felt an arm loop through her own. "Hello, Mother dear."
"Indeed, Devlyn
Marlowe."
Dev knew that tone.
It was her mom's ‘you are in such big trouble' tone. "What have
I done now?" She sighed.
Janet kicked a stick
from their path as they walked. "What is going on between you and
Lauren?"
"Nothing."
"Don't you lie
to your mother." She tugged on Dev's arm. "I've seen the way you two
look at each other."
"And that would
be exactly how?"
The shorter woman dug
in her heels, bringing both of them to an abrupt stop. She reached up and
caressed a tan cheek. "You haven't looked at anyone like that since
Samantha. Are you sleeping with her?"
"No!" Dev
pulled back a little. "You know I would never… I mean, I
can't…I mean…"
Janet's blue eyes
twinkled and she shook her head at her daughter. They began walking again.
"I know. You always were horribly old fashioned like that. You nearly
drove Sam crazy. I thought the poor girl was going to spontaneously
combust."
"I drove her
crazy?"
"Uh huh. Before
you two were married, she'd call me and ask me what she was doing wrong and why
you weren't trying to get her into bed. Devlyn, in my day your actions would
have been considered prudish. Now, it's just downright archaic. You need to
chill out a little. It isn't as though one of you is going to end up
pregnant." Janet chuckled at her own joke.
Dev stopped and put
her hands on her hips. "Mother, are you suggesting I take Lauren to
bed?"
"You love her,
don't you?"
Dev hesitated.
"I don't know."
"Devlyn Odessa
Marlowe, don't you dare..." She waggled a finger in her daughter's face.
"I can't believe you kiss me with those lying lips."
Blue eyes rolled and
Dev nearly stomped her foot. "Mom!"
"Dev, you know I
don't get involved in your life unless I think you're doing something really
stupid." Janet's posture mirrored her daughter's. "I think holding
back from Lauren is really stupid. She's good for you, honey. It doesn't take a
rocket scientist to see that."
"Mom…"
"She's a very
attractive woman. She's sweet and smart. Why I hardly knew she was pumping me
for information when we spent the day together." Janet's voice was filled
with honest admiration. "And in case you haven't noticed, your children
adore her."
"Mom…"
"And she watches
you with eyes that very nearly worship every move you make."
Dev's mind flickered
back to the kisses they had shared on Air Force One. "She kissed me,"
she admitted quietly.
"Good for her!
It her appears that her parents did not raise a chicken."
Dev's jaw sagged.
"Are you calling me a chicken?"
"If the feathers
fit, dear."
"Funny."
"Did you kiss
her back?" They turned a blind corner and were now facing a large wood
cabin, with a small attached porch and a pile of split logs for the fireplace
lining the front wall.
"I'm
old-fashioned, Mom, not stupid. Of course I kissed her back!"
"Then what
happened?"
"The plane
landed. We came here and Dad told her the ‘stinky' story. She may
never kiss me again, for all I know."
"Oh, I wouldn't
be to sure about that." Janet elbowed her daughter lightly in the ribs.
"I think if you give her any sign at all, she'll do a lot more than kiss
you, Dev."
"Mom!" The
President scrubbed her face hoping to remove some of the red from her cheeks.
"You've been
alone too long, honey. Let the past remain where it belongs and look to the
future. You need someone in your life. I know you. You don't fall quickly and
you don't take these things lightly. But wake up and smell the coffee, Devlyn.
You're in love with that girl." Janet helped Dev up the stairs.
"There was saying when I was a kid that I feel is most appropriate
now."
"Shit
happens?"
Janet snorted.
"Hardly, dear. You snooze," she eyed her daughter seriously,
"you lose."
* * *
David's wife, Beth,
pushed herself off the cabin's sofa and plopped gracelessly onto the hard wood
floor, causing her brown curls to bounce. Beth was a little shorter than
Lauren, with wide hips and a scooped nose. She had a quick wit and a quicker
smile and was a professor of early American history at
"Well,"
Beth said cheerfully, "why don't we play a game?"
"What kind of a
game?" David wriggled his eyebrows and sank deeper into the soft sofa.
"Strip checkers maybe?"
Beth laughed and
reached over and slapped her husband's knee. "Pervert."
"And you married
him," Dev reminded. "What does that say for you?"
Beth took a long
swallow of her beer while she pondered Dev's comment. "Good point,"
she finally admitted. She turned to Lauren. "I was thinking of something
that could help us all get to know each other a little better."
"Beth." Dev's
tone was warning.
Beth raised her
amber-colored bottle, it's golden contents sparkling in the firelight. "We
could play spin the bottle." She laughed again when her husband suddenly
perked up. "But I don't want David to have a heart attack." Beth smiled
sweetly at her husband, gleefully bursting his bubble. "He's right in the
danger years."
"I am not!"
"Are too!"
"So what were
you thinking about?" Lauren asked, curiosity finally getting the better of
her. She set her third bottle of cold beer down on the floor next to her chair
and dropped down onto the area rug beneath it, mirroring Beth. The writer
tucked her legs beneath her Indian style, enjoying a light buzz from the
alcohol and the aroma of oak from the crackling fire.
"We could always
see how brave Madam President really is." Beth smirked at Dev. "How
about truth or dare?"
"Bring it on,
Beth! If I can handle a Republican controlled Congress, I can handle three
measly Democrats."
Lauren snorted,
nearly sending her beer through her nose. "Thanks a lot, Devlyn," she
laughed. The blonde woman mentally cataloged her most embarrassing moments and
most evil sins and then decided they would be worth sharing just to hear Dev's.
"Okay, Beth. I'm in."
David yawned.
"You know me, I'm game."
"You're all
heathens, but I'll play along. I have a feeling I'm the good girl of the
group."
Beth rolled her eyes.
"You forget who you're talking to, Devil. Lauren might believe that BS,
but don't try it on me or David. We've known you for toooooooo long." She
took another drink and emptied her bottle. Then she clapped her hands together
and reached into the ice-filled tub full of frosty bottles that sat between the
four people. "Dev, you're so cocky tonight. I think you should go first.
Truth or dare, Madam President?"
Three sets of
expectant eyes turned towards Dev.
"Well, let's cut
the President of the
Lauren giggled when
David made a loud honking noise, indicating that Dev had already made a tactical
error with her selection of truth.
Beth happily picked
up the gauntlet. "Truth: How many people have you slept with?"
"I'm assuming
you mean in a sexual sense?" Dev sipped her beer and shot Beth a look that
screamed ‘Bitch!'. "One," she said very softly.
Lauren dropped her
bottle in her lap then cursed as the icy liquid seeped through her jeans.
"Jesus... Damn, that's cold." She turned wide eyes on Dev.
"One?! As in one, single, solitary person?!" Maybe she means one at a
time. God, I hope she's not interested in more than one at a time.
David and Beth burst
out laughing .
"Yes!" Dev
huffed. "What else would it mean?" Dev grimaced when she realized her
voice had taken on an indignant tone that sounded a lot like her Aunt Myrtle.
"I know it seems kind of pitiful and pathetic but... umm... well..."
"It's not
pitiful at all! It's really... err..." Lauren desperately searched for the
right word, immediately throwing out ‘unbelievable' and
‘amazing'. "Sweet." There, that's a good word.‘One?'
She mouthed the word silently, clearly in shock as she reached for another
beer. She's practically a virgin! Oh, please don't let them ask me that
question. Please, please. Compared to ‘one' I look like a total slut!
Pleasepleasepleaseplease.
Dev exhaled and
considered who should be her first victim. She was tempted to pick Beth to
exact her revenge, but was far more curious about the writer. "Okay,
Lauren, truth or dare?"
"Dare!"
Lauren blurted out, relieved she could avoid the question Dev had been asked.
The trio burst out
laughing at how quickly the writer had made her decision. They all knew that
this meant she had something to hide and now they could work as a team to figure
it out. "Okay," Dev grinned. "Give me your bra." She
laughed and gestured casually. "The one you're wearing."
Lauren's mouth
dropped open.
Beth leaned over and
clapped her hand over David's eyes, causing the man to protest loudly.
"Hush up, David!" she scolded.
Lauren shook her head
at Dev, loving the mischievous twinkle in the slightly glazed blue eyes.
"You're drunk, aren't you?"
"No." A
little drunk."I'm...happy. If you can't run with the big dogs, Mighty
Mouse, just get up on the porch."
A single pale eyebrow
lifted and Lauren sat up to her knees. She turned until she was completely
facing Dev. "It was my bra, right?" She lifted her hands to the
buttons of her lightweight denim shirt and Dev stopped breathing.
The suddenly
stillness in the room alerted David that something was happening and the man
begin to squirm, trying to get a peek between his wife's fingers. They both
began to laugh and Beth began to poke David in the belly. "No way!"
Lauren slowly undid
the first button of her top, keeping her eyes riveted on Dev's.
Dev watched as Lauren
paused briefly and then began to finger the second button. Oooo, now I gotta
put up or shut up. But if she takes her shirt off, I'm gonna die. My brain is
just gonna ooze out my ears.Dev knew she was grinning like a total idiot and
blushing furiously, but she met Lauren's eyes and never wavered. "That's
what I said. Of course, you could change your mind and go with truth."
Lauren's fingers
stopped. "Do you want me to change my mind, Devlyn?" she asked
softly.
David shook his head
and was about to cry out ‘no' when his wife clamped her other hand
over his mouth.
Danger! Danger, Will
Robinson!"I want you to do, what you want to do." The President
licked her lips and sipped her beer, knowing she had firmly hit the ball back
to the writer.
Lauren nodded slowly.
I want to ask you to come over here and do it for me. But since that's probably
not a good idea – tonight – this will have to do.The writer
unbuttoned the second and third buttons, sliding her hands inside her shirt to
find warm skin. Her bra happened to unhook in the front, and with a quick twist
the cups fell away. Her bloused shirt and hands covered the most crucial spots.
She grinned as Dev began to fan herself but didn't look away.
"Hurry up,
Lauren," Beth called. "She said lose the bra, not perform a damn
striptease!"
David whimpered at
what he was missing. This was so unfair.
Dev finally bit her
lip and glanced down at her beer just long enough for Lauren to pull away her
hands and slip her bra out of one of her sleeves. She buttoned the third button
but left the two highest buttons of her shirt undone, however. It was enough to
a fair amount of cleavage, but not enough to get arrested for. Then she crawled
over to Dev on her hands and knees and held the lacy undergarment in front of
her face. "I believe you asked for this?"
Dev took the garment
and looked at it. Then she mopped her brow with it before sticking it in the
pocket of her pants. "Yeah," Her voice cracked like a prepubescent boy.
"Thanks."
Beth finally removed
her hands from David's face. "No more naked dares! How long do you think I
can hold him?"
"Well, hell,
Beth, you've held onto him for nearly 15 years what's another 15 minutes? Okay,
Lauren, it's your turn."
Lauren didn't go back
to her seat. Instead, she sat down next to Dev who had moved to the floor. The
President lifted her bottle for another drink but just as the glass touched her
lips Lauren snatched it from her hand and finished it off in one long swallow.
"Ahhhh..." she breathed. "Thanks. It was getting hot in
here."
"I'll say!"
Beth pressed her bottle against her forehead.
David frowned and
mumbled petulantly, "Not like I'd know."
Dev retrieved her
bottle and held it up to the light. "You stole my beer. Man, you ask a
girl for her bra and you gotta give her a whole beer? For a whole beer I should
get the panties too!"
This time it was
Lauren who blushed. Oh yeah. Dev's drunk. Nobody would believe I'm playing a
teenager's game with the President of the
"Your
turn," Beth reminded Lauren.
"Okay." The
very tip of Lauren's tongue appeared as she concentrated for a moment. She
pushed her glasses farther up on her nose. "David..."
The red-headed man
sat up straight.
"True or
dare?"
"Truth."
Lauren grinned
wickedly. "What's the last horribly embarrassing thing that Devlyn did
that you kept out of the Press?"
"She went out
with Candy Delaney."
"Hey! No
fair," Lauren protested instantly. "I already knew that!"
Dev made a face at
her Chief of Staff. "Besides, dumbass, that was your fault. You set me up
with her. Personally, I think the fact that I got my speeches mixed up last
week was pretty good. I mean, when was the last time the President started to
give a speech written for The National Cattlemen's Association to the World
Vegetarian League?"
Lauren sniggered.
"That was embarrassing. But David really couldn't answer with that
one." A beat. "Considering I read about it for two days."
"David!"
Beth chastised. "You're supposed to nip that kind of thing in the
bud!"
"I know you
think I'm the great and powerful Oz-"
"You mean you're
not?" Beth asked with devastating innocence, just as David leaned over and
stole a kiss.
The tall redhead
smacked his lips together happily when the kiss ended. "Okay, Dev, truth
or dare?"
"Truth."
David grinned and
grabbed a handful of popcorn. "How'd you break your pinkie finger,
Devil?"
Dev choked on her
beer and flicked the cap at David's head. "You know how I broke my finger,
you prick."
"But I
don't," Lauren pointed out happily. She grinned at Beth who grinned back.
Oh boy. This should be interesting.
Dev took a deep
breath and then a big drink of her beer. "One night I got my hand slammed
in a window..." She pretended to take another drink, hoping that would be
a suitable answer.
Lauren elbowed the
President. "Annnnnnnnd?"
"And it got
broken when the window came down on it."
David wiped his
fingers on his jeans. "The part she leaving out is that she was naked and
in the throws of passion when she did it. She grabbed the bottom of the window
and pulled it shut on her own hand."
Dev reached over and
punched him on the shoulder. "Thanks, pal!"
Lauren burst out
laughing. She reached out and grabbed Dev's pinkie finger, holding it up for
examination and giving serious consideration to kissing it. "And you know
this how, David?"
"Because she was
running for office at the time and they called me first to tell me the window
was jammed with her hand stuck in it and Samantha thought they were gonna have
to call the fire department. They wanted me to keep it from hitting the
papers."
Beth began to howl.
God, she loved this story! She knewDavid would be cruel enough to bring it up
during the game. God, she loved David!
Lauren and David
joined in until Dev, who was sitting with her arms crossed over her chest,
pouting, finally had enough.
"Okay, fine.
Laugh it up, you rat bastards. Truth or dare, Strayer?"
Lauren jerked her
thumb toward Beth. "It's her turn!"
"That's
okay," Beth said. "Since no one has bothered to ask me a question, I'll
be happy to let Dev take my turn. Have at it, Devlyn. And make it good."
Lauren stuck out her
tongue at Beth. "Fine. I pick dare." You're not getting me on that
sex question tonight, Devlyn Marlowe.
"I'm betting
good money you have a tattoo somewhere. If you do, show it."
"No way! She is
not the tattoo type. A hundred says she doesn't have one," David taunted.
"You're
on!" Dev leaned over and they shook hands.
Gray eyes narrowed.
Shit!"What makes you think I have a tattoo?" Lauren's words were
tinged with as much indignation as she could muster. Which wasn't much,
considering she did actually have a tattoo. But David was right. She wasn't the
type. It was something stupid she'd done on a dare when she was in college.
Kind of like what she was doing right now.
"I know the
type," Dev pronounced firmly. "Deceptively cute looking, all innocent
like the girl next door. No, make that the ‘All American' girl next
door." She chuckled at the appalled look on Lauren's undeniably cute face.
"You girls always have a tattoo because at some point in your life you
bucked the system and either got a tattoo or dated a biker." Dev took
another swallow of beer. "And you don't strike me as the biker-dating
type."
Shit, I hate it when
Devlyn's right. And dating a biker would have been so much less
permanent!Lauren looked nervously at David and Beth who were staring back at
her, waiting with bated breath for an answer. She leaned close to Dev's ear and
whispered, "Ummm... assuming just for a moment that I do have a tattoo,
who exactly would I have to show again? Not everybody, right?" There was a
hint of pleading in her voice.
Dev looked at David
and Beth, giving a vague gesture. "You'd trust me to verify it and tell
the truth, right Beth?"
Beth grinned.
"Absolutely, Devil." David was about to protest but his wife beat him
to the punch. "And so would David. We trust you implicitly, Dev."
Dev turned her silly,
truly buzzed face to Lauren and wiggled her brows. "Just me then. You only
have to show me. C'mon, Lauren," she crooned, barely able to control her
laughter.
Lauren blew out a
breath. "Just you?"
Dev nodded.
"Just me. Where is it?" Dev's smile widened, she hadn't really
believed the writer would have a tattoo. Lauren was far too straight-laced for
a tattoo. And someone got close to her with a needle? "You were
unconscious when you got it, weren't you?"
Lauren nodded.
"You know it."
The blonde woman
turned to Beth and David and made a circular motion with her index finger. The
McMillians turned their backs, but not before a few more mumbled protests from
David. She raised an eyebrow at Dev. "Promise you won't laugh?"
"No, I won't
promise that." God if I don't kiss her again soon I'm gonna die.
"When a girl gives you her bra before you've even ever bought her dinner,
she totally gives up the right not to be laughed at," Dev teased.
"Bitch,"
Lauren mumbled as she rose to her feet and began undoing the button to her
jeans. "It's on my..." A pause. "Hip. Sort of."
Dev swallowed hard,
holding up her hand. "What do you mean sort of?" You drop your pants
and I will die.
"I mean sort of.
It's well, I guess I'll have to show you. There really isn't a word to describe
exactly where it is. But if you'd rather I stop-"
"No, no, go
ahead." I just wish I were gonna remember this in the morning
Lauren bit her lip
but nodded. "Stupid game." She positioned herself in front of Devlyn
and glanced over her shoulder to find Beth and David making out on the rug and
not paying the slightest attention to her and Dev.
She unbuttoned her
pants with agonizing slowness, then began to slide them over her hips.
Dev felt her heart
pounding so hard she was sure that it was going to burst out of her chest at
any moment. She whimpered pitifully when she glimpsed panties that matched the
silky, lacy bra. Her vision suddenly began to get fuzzy and she felt
light-headed. Then everything went black.
Beth and David turned
around at the sound of a loud thump.
Lauren pulled up her
jeans and simply stared at Dev's prone body.
David jumped up.
"Jesus Christ, Lauren, you killed her! Where the hell is that thing!"
Lauren pointed to
Dev's body. "She's still breathing! I didn't kill her! She didn't even
make it to the unveiling!"
* * *
Everyone retired
shortly after they had carried a snoring Dev to bed, which sucked, considering
her room, along with Lauren's, was upstairs. Lauren went to her room, which was
connected to Dev's via a shared bathroom. David and Beth had been awarded the
master bedroom downstairs because of its larger bed.
Lauren changed into a
pair of soft cotton, short boxers and a threadbare T-shirt. She held her
panties in her hand wondering if Dev would give her back her bra or if the set
would be lost forever. Oh well, she smirked inwardly, it was sort of kinky
thinking of Dev with a pair of her panties. God, how old am I again? Besides,
she probably won't remember tonight. Those beers went right to her head, poor,
evil thing.
The writer placed her
glasses on the nightstand and crawled into bed, sighing at wonderful feeling of
clean sheets and soft bedding. "Oh, this is nice." She nuzzled the
comforter and closed her eyes, still a little wound up after the silly game she
and Dev had played with each other. Her head was a little foggy from the beer,
but she was certain she hadn't drunk enough to warrant a hangover in the
morning. Just enough to feel incredibly... relaxed.
Lauren wasn't quite
sure what woke her up. It took a moment or two for the sounds to register. She
squeezed her eyes shut and crammed the extra pillow against her face. "I
so do not need this," she mumbled into the thick feather pillow. One
particularly low moan caught her attention and made her giggle. She wasn't sure
whether it was Beth or David. "Somebody is a verrrrry happy camper right
now." When the sounds continued, Lauren briefly considered stuffing a
blanket or towel into the air vent that was carrying the erotic sounds.
Finally, when she
couldn't take it any longer, she headed for the bathroom, hoping that if David
and Beth heard footsteps above them, they'd tone down their bedsports to a dull
roar – in deference to those not so lucky.
She didn't turn on
the light - a small night light provided more than enough illumination. Lauren
used the facilities and washed her hands. She smiled into the mirror when she
realized that couldn't hear them in here. I can sleep in the shower!It wouldn't
have been the first time. But it was a stall shower, so, with an unhappy groan,
she quickly gave up on the idea. This couldn't go on all night. Hell, she'd
been married for three years. She could attest to that fact!
Then another sound
caught her ear. It was Dev. Lauren didn't hesitate to quietly open the door
that led to Dev's room and check on her friend.
"Don't…"
The President's voice was pleading again; apparently she was caught up in
another nightmare.
Lauren stepped deeper
into the room and moved to the edge of Dev's bed. She noticed two things right
away. Dev was rolling around in her bed, all twisted in her sheets. And she was
naked as the day she was born. From the waist up at least. Her pajama top was
wadded into a ball on the floor.
"Don't!"
Dev's thrashed again. Her breathing was coming in short, raspy bursts.
Lauren swallowed as a
feeling of helplessness washed over her, leaving her nearly in tears. Another
nightmare? God, Dev, how often do you have these?
"Please…please.
Don't leave!" Dev tossed in the bed, fighting the covers and becoming more
distressed by the second.
Lauren knelt
alongside the bed. "Devlyn," she whispered. "It's just a dream,
darlin'." Lauren carefully reached out to straighten Dev's sheets and tug
something over Dev's naked breasts, which were bathed in silver moonlight. The
sheet stopped just below what she was trying to cover. "Jesus."
Lauren closed her eyes and tugged harder, cursing softly when the bedding
wouldn't move. Dev's whimpers grew louder and when no amount of soothing seemed
to work, Lauren tentatively crawled in bed alongside the older woman.
Dev let out a long
hard breath, instantly curling up against Lauren and wrapping her arms around
the writer's waist. She made a few more frustrated noises that were quickly
followed by soft mewing sounds that eventually evened into gentle snores
Lauren pressed her
cheek against Dev's hair and returned the embrace. "That's it.
Relax." She took a deep breath, catching the smell of fresh linen and
Dev's skin. She exhaled contentedly. Lauren tried not to the think of the warm,
soft breasts pressing against her. I don't want to move, even though I need to.
This feels too nice. What are you dreaming of, Devlyn?
Wednesday, June 16 th
Dev was caught up in
that wonderful place between sleep and wakefulness, where the slightest push
one way or the other is all it would take to get you there. She was having the
most wonderful dream: Lauren was in her arms, she could feel her, smell her,
and if she lowered her lips just a hair, she could taste warm, soft skin. She
shifted to hug her body pillow closer. But with her next breath she was
suddenly more awake than asleep.
Panic set in when she
could feel her body pillow's gentle breath against the sensitive skin. Don't
panic, Marlowe! Too late! Okay, you don't remember anything after the tattoo
thing. But that doesn't mean anything. Relax.Dev could hear footsteps
downstairs and by the angle of the sunshine cascading in through her window,
she could tell it was at least mid-morning. Wake her up, but don't do anything
stupid. Tread softly."Lauren?"
"Hmmm?"
Lauren murmured, snuggling closer.
"Lauren?"
It was all Dev could do to breathe and not bolt upright. "Come on,
sweetheart. It's time to wake up."
Lauren shook her head
and mumbled a grumpy ‘no'. "Go ‘way," she slurred
even as she snuggled closer, shifting and pressing her face against Dev's
chest. She sighed and began to lightly snore.
Dev whimpered. She
bit her lip as the shivers worked their way down her spine and the gooseflesh
broke out all over her shoulders. I could stay like this for a while. What
would be so wrong about that?She ran her fingers through disordered, wavy
blonde hair, loving its silken texture.
She was about to try
again when there was a sharp rap on the door, just a split second before it
opened. "Devil, breakfast is ready and I-" Janet Marlowe stopped dead
in her tracks as Dev quickly pulled the covers over her half-naked body and the
woman sleeping in her arms.
"Mom!"
Lauren's eyes flew
open, only it was dark. She could feel something brushing against her cheek.
Her mind desperately searched itself. "Oh my God! A nipple!" she
squawked loudly, squirming wildly as Dev held her down.
Dev's face flushed
bright red and her mother began howling with laughter. "Well, Devil dear, it's
good to know that she recognizes all the important parts!" The older woman
tossed her head back in renewed laughter. When Janet finally composed herself,
she said, "Breakfast is ready if you two are the least bit
interested." The woman continued to chuckle even as she pulled the door
shut. "Frank, put a couple of plates in the oven – it may be
awhile. Thank the Lord!"
Dev groaned, trying
to decide what part of this was going to kill her first. She suspected it would
be Lauren.
When Devlyn finally
let go of her death grip on the sheet, the writer practically flew out of the
bed, landing on the floor with a glorious, unceremonious thud. She looked
around the room. Dev's room? Then the events of the night before came rushing
back. "You..." Lauren swallowed. "You were having a dream."
Dev made no effort to
move. She simply lay on her back with her arms out at her side.
"Apparently." After a moment she added, "Do you, perchance, know
where my shirt is?"
"I didn't take
it off!" Lauren shot back defensively. Then she stopped and got a really
good look at Devlyn's semi-nude body, which amazingly looked even better in the
bright morning sun than it had in the moonlight. She stared. "Damn,
Devlyn."
Dev rolled over on
her side, pulling the blanket over herself, trying to hide her smile at
Lauren's obvious appreciation of her body. "I didn't say you did. Can you
get in that dresser behind you and get me a T-shirt? You'll know they're mine
because they have the Presidential seal on them," she teased, hoping to lower
Lauren's defensiveness.
They were here to
relax and Dev was going to relax and get this sorted out without causing
another problem between her and Lauren. More kissing, less problems. Was that
so much to ask?
"Why are you so
concerned about your shirt," Lauren hissed. "I'm a girl too, you
know." She ignored the fact that she had been staring at Dev's naked body
like she was a 16-year-old boy. "We need to worry about your mother! She caught
us... us..." Lauren waved her hands in the air. "In bed
together!"
Dev took a deep
breath and got out of the bed, looking around until she found her pajama shirt
on the floor at the foot of the bed. She slipped it on. "First, I only
wanted my shirt because believe it or not, I'm modest." When I'm not
drinking beer."And second, did my mother sound upset by the fact that she
found us in bed together?" Dev tilted her head, finally getting a good
look at Lauren in her cotton boxers and thin T-shirt. Nice, very nice.
"I dunno. I couldn't
hear very well because one of my ears was pressed up against..." She
pointed at Dev and flushed a bright red. "You know!"
"Oh yeah. I
know." Dev sighed and took a tentative step forward. "Trust me. My
mother was not upset. There's no reason for you to be, unless you're upset that
you were in bed with me." Which, you moron, she probably is. Jesus, Dev,
what the hell did you do last night?"I'm umm… I'm sorry if I
did anything out of line, Lauren. I never meant to hurt you. To be honest, I'm
not even sure how we ended up here together. But if I hurt you or upset
you-"
Lauren raised her
palms. "Hold it." Dev's parents are not your parents, Lauri. Relax.
She's not upset. Her mother didn't freak out. They won't be mad at her and
nobody's going to come in here brandishing a shotgun. With effort, Lauren
allowed some of her tension to slip away. "You didn't do anything. You
were having a nightmare and I came in to see if I could help." She
smoothed out the bottom of her T-shirt as she approached Dev. "I was
worried. You didn't wake up when I shook you, so I climbed into bed and you
calmed right down. I... umm... I guess I feel asleep," she admitted
bashfully.
Dev smiled. "You
came in to help me with a bad dream? That was very sweet of you. I've been
having trouble sleeping lately. Apparently you… uh…well,
we both slept like babies last night. Thanks for staying. I know it must have
been hard for you." Please tell me it wasn't. Please, please, please.
Lauren looked up
shyly. "Hard?" She laughed. "Ummm… that's not exactly
how I would describe it, Devlyn." She reached up and fingered a lock of
dark hair.
Dev took Lauren's
hand, kissing it very gently. When their eyes met, a smile spread across her
lips. "You know what, Lauren Strayer?"
Lauren shook her head
‘no' and gazed up at Dev from behind pale lashes. "What?"
"I really want
to kiss you right now. Do you think that'd be all right? Or are you afraid my
mom will come back in?" She gave the shorter woman a lop-sided grin and
inched a little closer, taking a deep breath and stroking Lauren's cheek with
the back of her hand.
Lauren's eyelids
drooped slightly when she felt the warmth of Devlyn's body come to rest against
hers. Her heart began to pound and she lifted herself up onto tipped toes.
"Who's mom?"
Dev slid her arms
around the smaller woman and barely brushed her lips over Lauren's. Then, on
impulse, she sighed and decided to show Lauren exactly what she felt. The kiss
was slow, and patient and as loving as she could make it.
Lauren whimpered
quietly when Dev gently requested more, which she gave without hesitation.
The writer felt Dev
thread her fingers in her hair and pull her closer, deepening the kiss. Oh
yeah, this is good in so many ways.Lauren's thoughts slowly moved from how good
the kiss was to what else might be worth trying. Every blessed thing I can talk
her into trying, she decided, as soon as I can figure out what that might be.
When they finally
broke apart, Dev smiled and brushed her thumb over Lauren's lips. "So soft.
Now I have another question for you."
"Yes,"
Lauren sighed dreamily. "Whatever it is, as long as I continue getting
kisses like that, the answer is yes."
Dev straightened and
gave Lauren a bright smile. "All right. If I'm going to take you out, then
the least you can do is pick the place."
Lauren blinked.
"Are you asking me on an honest to goodness, real live date?"
"Yes. And you
can't back out now," Dev teased. "You already said yes."
A playful expression
overtook Lauren's face. "Oh, I wasn't going to back out, Devlyn Marlowe.
I'm holding you to your offer." She put her finger on her chin and
pretended to seriously consider Dev's question. "Wherever we go, will
there be a team of Secret Service agents lurking in every corner?"
"Yup. Unless you
have some kinky fantasy that I'm not aware of that requires several
agents."
"Ha! Wouldn't
you like to know," Lauren shot back, stealing another small kiss. She
hummed as they separated. "I should go get dressed." The smaller
woman turned on her heel and moved toward the bathroom. "You don't have to
take me anywhere, Devlyn. We can spend time together at home for all I care. So
long as it's together."
"Actually, I
would like to know," Dev called after her. "Now we get to go
downstairs and face the family. Not to mention David and Beth. You ready for
that?" Home? Did she just say home? Go ask her, stupid. No. Wait. One
thing at a time. Ask her later.
Lauren turned around
as she pulled open the bathroom door, the wood floor made her toes cold, but
she felt warm inside. She cocked her head to the side. "We do it together
right?"
Dev nodded.
"Then I'm ready
if you are."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter VII
July 2021
Thursday, July 1st
Dev rubbed her
temples. The men and women in the cabinet meeting waited for her to say
something. Finally, she looked up and smiled. Even in a few months, this group
had learned that this particular smile was not a good thing. "Fine,"
she said on a low and determined breath. "Since we don't seem to be
getting anywhere talking to each other, let's try it the old fashioned
way."
"With a lot of
screaming and yelling?" Secretary of Agriculture Montgomery joked, trying
to relieve some of the tension.
"That's definitely
another option." Dev smirked. "But I'm thinking more in the line of
progress reports. These should be simple summaries of what you're currently
working on. I want them from your sub-committees too. And do me a favor?"
Dev pinned Transportation Secretary Diovanni with annoyed eyes. "Read over
what your assistants are going to prepare for me to see, before you send it.
I'm holding you to the contents of these reports, ladies and gentlemen. I'm
tired of trying to pry information out of you people. It's like trying to brush
a tiger's teeth. I've already been shot; I'm not gonna lose an arm too."
David smirked, nearly
choking on his juice. He raised a fist to his lips, coughing slightly as Dev
turned her head to give him the ‘look'.
Dev continued
speaking as she glanced at her agenda. "Now that the peanut gallery has
been heard from, are there any questions?" She looked at each face around
the long table. "Comments, concerns? Criticism can be left with the woman
who runs the shredder," she said wryly as she stood up.
"Seriously,
ladies and gentlemen, we're doing good work here. But we need to open the lines
of communication a little more. I'm not trying to purposely torpedo all your
programs. But without the proper information, I can't make an informed
decision. I'm assuming that our next meeting will be more fruitful?" She
tilted her head and waited until her question was answered with a round of
affirmative, if slightly grumpy, murmurs. "Good." She buttoned her
blazer and handed her notebook to Liza.
The room cleared
quickly, leaving behind the President, David and Liza. Dev shook her head.
"I swear," she mumbled, "you'd think I was working against them
instead of with them. I can't believe I actually gave those people their jobs."
She turned to her personal assistant. "How does my schedule look?"
"You're fifteen
minutes ahead of schedule, Madam President."
"You're kidding?
Let's fly to
David laughed.
"Madam President, are you always so sarcastic?" Translation: do you
have to be a smartass every second of the day?
Dev smiled sweetly.
"Is that a rhetorical question? Those are so annoying." Dev pushed in
her chair and headed for the door.
Liza hurried after
her. "The gift you ordered for Ms. Strayer's birthday arrived, Madam President.
It's in your office if you'd like to go inspect it."
"Oh, good! God,
I hope it's something she's going to like." Dev tugged on the sleeves of
her blazer. "Not like I have time to return it and get something
else."
"She's going to
love it," Liza confirmed. "They're beautiful texts. First editions of
Dickens aren't easy to come by these days."
"Tell me about
it." Dev rolled her eyes as they turned the corner and headed down the
corridor towards the executive offices. "Took me weeks to find mint quality
and put these together. Let's just hope she likes them."
"She'll be fond
of them because they're from you. Not just anyone gets birthday gifts from the
President of the
"The President
isn't giving them to her." Dev looked at her assistant and wiggled her
brows. "You coming to the party?"
Liza chewed her lip
nervously. "Are you sure Ms. Strayer won't throw me off the balcony?"
"Nah. She's over
that whole Casey thing."
"Really?"
Liza asked hopefully.
"Umm nope."
Dev laughed. "But I'll keep her occupied." She suddenly stopped
walking and glanced around conspiratorially. She leaned close to Liza.
"Why did you set her up with a woman? How did you know she wouldn't freak
out? Lauren hadn't ever mentioned a sexual preference that I'm aware of."
It was all Liza could
do not to laugh. "Have you ever seen the way she looks at you, Madam
President?"
Friday, July 2nd
Dev stood in front of
the full-length mirror. She studied her reflection critically. "So what do
you think?" The tall woman turned to face the four pairs of eyes that had
watched her through the last three changes of clothing.
Emma clucked
approvingly. "Devlyn, you look fine. Of course, you looked fine in the
blazer, the skirt, the sweaterandthe blue jeans."
"Yeah, but I
think the slacks are the best. Not too formal, not too informal." She
smoothed the sleeves of her silk, rust-colored blouse.
Emma snorted and
rolled her eyes. "You're going to a movie in the private theater. You
could go in your bathrobe if you wanted."
Blue eyes full of
affection and exasperation glared at the nanny. "Do you mind if I want to
impress her?"
Emma glared back.
"I hate to break this to you, Devlyn, but if you haven't impressed her yet
what you wear tonight isn't going to make any difference at all."
"I didn't need
to hear that! You're supposed to be giving me an inspirational pep talk!"
"Okay, look back
at that mirror."
Dev dutifully
complied.
"Now repeat
after me: I'm good enough. I'm smart enough. And, doggone it, people like
me!"
Dev whipped her head
around and narrowed her eyes at the older woman. "Why do I put up with you
again, Emma?"
"Because you
love her," the children chorused the familiar answer.
"Oh, yeah,"
Dev mumbled. She noticed Ashley had moved from her sitting position and was now
lying on her bed with her head on her arms. Her posture was undeniably
dejected.
The President walked
over and sat down next to her daughter, rubbing her back. "Hey,
Moppet?"
"Yeah?"
Slightly sad eyes looked up at her.
"What's the
matter?"
"Nothin'."
"Aww, c'mon. I
know my girl better than that." She straightened her daughter's bright
blue T-shirt. "What's wrong?"
"Does this mean
you don't love mommy anymore?" the little girl asked earnestly.
Dev's chest
constricted painfully at the unexpected, blunt question. For a moment she had
to remind herself to breathe. "No, I-" She swallowed hard and started
again. "You know better than that. I'll always love mommy, no matter what.
And that doesn't mean I can't be very fond of Lauren. I want to see how she
feels about me."
Christopher popped up
next to Dev. "She likes you, Mom."
"Oh, she does,
huh?" Dev asked, kneeling down to her son's level.
"Uh huh."
The boy nodded. "A whole lot."
"How do you know
this, pal?"
He just shrugged one
shoulder. "Dunno. She always won't let Gremlin eat you, and she smiles at
you."
Dev snorted. "I
may just eat him!"
"Nooooo!"
the kids cried, laughing hysterically when their mother turned her hands into
claws and began licking her lips in an exaggerated fashion. "Maybe Lauren
just thinks I'm silly. Besides, she smiles at you guys too."
Christopher grinned
broadly and stuck out his little chest. "I know. She likes me a lot
too."
"Chris is right,
Mom!" Aaron climbed up on the bed next to his sister, propping his chin on
his fists and adding his voice to the choir. "She likes you."
"Are you just
buttering me up because you want me to ask Lauren about letting Grem sleep with
you?" Dev teased, tweaking the nose of her youngest.
"Nuh uh!"
Aaron laughed as he rolled away from Dev's pinching fingers.
Dev turned serious
eyes back to Ash. "So, you don't like the idea of me and Lauren maybe
seeing each other?"C'mon, Ashley. Please don't be that way. This is hard
enough for me without having to worry about how you guys feel about her. I know
you're crazy about her!
Ashley shrugged
noncommittally.
Dev pushed off her
knees and perched on the bed alongside the dark-haired girl. "Wasn't it
you who said that I shouldn't be lonely?"
Ashley sighed.
"Yeah."
"Well, what if
Lauren could keep me from being lonely? That would be good wouldn't it?"
The girl's brows
furrowed. "I guess it would."
"Ashley, your
mommy wouldn't want me to spend the rest of my life alone. And I really think
that she'd like Lauren."
"Really?"
Ashley seemed to brighten with this news.
"Oh, yeah."
Dev nodded enthusiastically, knowing it was the truth. Sam would definitely
approve of Lauren. She was an intelligent, beautiful woman, who seemed to love
her kids, and she wasn't afraid to challenge or support Dev, depending on what
she needed. What's not to love? "Don't you agree, Emma?" Dev turned
slightly pleading eyes on the nanny.
Emma smiled.
"Most definitely." The older woman knew she was confirming this for
Dev as much as she was for her daughter.
* * *
Lauren pulled her
hair back. She had finally settled on the fourth outfit she'd tried on: a pair
of loose-fitting, brown trousers, flats, and a sheer, crème-colored blouse. She
inserted two small, silver, hooped earrings into her ears and set her glasses
on the table. Then she dusted her cheeks with a light coating of earth-toned
makeup and carefully applied her lipstick. Now it was time to argue with the
hair. "Up or down?" She turned to Gremlin, who was lying on the bed.
He lifted his head
and looked, then flopped it back down on the comforter and closed his eyes.
"Thanks so much
for that invaluable input, buddy."
The writer turned
back to the mirror and let her hair fall free around her shoulders. "Down.
Definitely down." She pulled it back once again and grinned. "Of
course, up has its advantages too." Lauren turned back to the dog and
presented her neck. "Does this say, ‘I'm a toy; chew on
me'?"
Gremlin yawned.
Lauren dropped her
hair again and used her fingers to try and give some order to the wavy, fair
locks.
She glanced down at
the clock, knowing Dev was due at any moment.I wonder what we're going to
do.Lauren laid her hand on her belly and chuckled as what had to be thousands
of butterflies danced in her belly. "Why am I nervous?" she asked her
reflection as she dabbed a touch of perfume behind her ears. "It's just
Devlyn. I see her every day."
The blonde woman knew
they wouldn't be leaving the White House, but she also knew Dev was a romantic
at heart and would make their first official date together something special.
"Now, as long as no one declares war anywhere, we'll be all set."
The knock on the door
sent her stomach jumping, and she sucked in a deep breath.Calm down! You've
seen her nearly every day for the past seven months. You've even seen her
half-naked.A slightly lecherous grin twitched at the corner of her lips.Okay,
that's not what I should think about if I want to be calm.
Setting her perfume
back down on her dresser, Lauren took one last look in the mirror, reluctantly
admitting to herself she really didn't have time to try a different outfit.
"Okay." She nodded to herself.I'm ready. Better answer the door
before she leaves. Then again, it's not like I couldn't track her down. She
only lives down the hall.
Lauren opened the
door, and Dev stood before her. She held a single, pale rose, which appeared
even more pristinely white as it stood out against her dark blouse. She held
the flower out, and gave Lauren a gentle smile. "Ms. Strayer? I'm Devlyn
Marlowe, your date for the evening. By the way, I donotwork in the
morgue."
A million things ran
through Lauren's mind at that moment, but the only thing she could think to say
was, "That's the best damned pick up line I've ever heard." She took
the rose and pressed the fragrant petals to her nose as she looked into Dev's
eyes. "Hi," she said softly.
Effortlessly charmed,
Dev smiled back. "Hi."
Dev fought the urge
to nervously shove her hands into her pockets. "I believe we're supposed
to drop your furry little companion off with my children. They told me they're
supposed to dog sit tonight. For some reason they don't think that little... I
mean, Gremlin, can spend anytime alone now."
Lauren grinned
knowingly.
"I think there
may even be a petition to officially adopt him in the works. Sorry, it's out of
my hands now."
The biographer
laughed. She'd resigned herself to losing Gremlin to Dev's kids months ago. Not
that she could blame him. She snapped her fingers, and Grem jumped off the bed.
But he walked over to her at a snail's pace, and when he looked at Dev and
bared his crooked, little teeth, he couldn't even muster a growl.
Dev looked at the dog
and pointed. "What's wrong with him? I should be fearing for the skin on
my ankles right now."
Pale brows drew
together. "I don't know. Ever since we came home from Ohio, Grem's been
acting weird. Almost depressed." She held up the flower and smiled warmly.
"Thanks. It's beautiful. You... um... you look beautiful."
"Thanks."
Dev tried to act nonchalant, but knew her cheeks were tinged pink. "Just
something I tossed on. You look," her own sigh interrupted her,
"absolutely wonderful." Dev held out her hand and felt the warmth of
Lauren's palm as she wrapped her fingers around the writer's. "Shall
we?"
Gremlin followed
slowly behind them as they moved down the hallway. The President glanced back
at the midget canine and frowned. "I almost feel cheated because he didn't
growl at me. And I didn't get to growl back."I've been practicing,
beastie."If he doesn't seem any better the first of the week, let's call
in a vet." She glanced back again. "Or maybe a little doggie
therapist."
"I think a vet
would be best. Somehow I just don't see Gremlin responding well to
therapy." She looked back at the ugly little dog. "Isn't that right,
Grem?"
He grumbled in
response, his head hanging low.
As they entered the
family room, Grem seemed to perk up a little. He trotted over to the kids who
were playing Chutes and Ladders on the coffee table.
Lauren looked at Dev
again and let out a slightly nervous breath. She had wondered if going out with
a woman would be much different than dating a man. With Casey, she had
determined they could both be equally disappointing. With Dev, however, she was
looking forward to their evening with a heady mixture of excitement and
arousal. "So where are we going, Madam President? Are you my partner for
Chutes and Ladders?" she teased, pointing at the game. "Frankly, I
could use the help. Aaron kicks my butt every time."
Dev chuckled.
"No, let's leave the kiddie games to the kiddies, shall we?" She
opened the door and ushered Lauren out. "I have something entirely
different planned for us."
They walked down the
hall and were greeted by smiling faces every few paces. "Wow. I don't
believe this." Lauren smiled back, a little confused. "I didn't even
know that agents had teeth! Does every member of the Secret Service know that
we're on a date tonight?"
Dev looked
embarrassed. "Umm, I may have mentioned it once."
"Once?"
"Maybe
twice."
"Uh huh,"
Lauren drawled skeptically. "Twice?"
"Or a few
hundred times."
"Lord."
Dev ducked a swat as
they continued through a series of hallways, stopping outside the private
theater. Dev looked down at Lauren and smiled. "You know that new movie
that's coming out next week? The one by that director you're so wild
about?"
"Yeah."
Lauren sighed. She knew she probably wouldn't get a chance to see it while it
was still in theaters.
Dev pulled the doors
open and the lights automatically came up. "Well, since I happen to have a
house with a theater, I thought you might enjoy a sneak preview. But if it
totally stinks, you're not allowed to leak it to the press. The director would
come kill me herself," Dev joked.
Lauren's jaw dropped.
"You got a copy of the movie before it was released?" She instantly
held up a hand. "Wait. You're the leader of the free world. Sometimes I
forget." She gazed at Dev in pure adoration. "This is so sweet."
Lauren gently pulled the taller women into a hug, still mindful of her
shoulder. "Thank you."
Dev returned the
embrace, not giving a damn about her shoulder. In her opinion, this was the
best therapy she could get. "Well, it's the least I could do since I can't
really take you out on a proper date." Very slowly she released Lauren and
led her to the front of the room. "And what's a movie without
dinner?" A blanket had been spread on the carpet, and various
chafing-dishes had been set out on a low table.
Lauren hummed
appreciatively; her belly grumbled when the spicy scent of hot tamales, Spanish
rice and black beans invaded her senses. "I guess I'm just a little
hungry," she admitted sheepishly.
Dev refrained from
commenting about Lauren's grumbling stomach. "So, shall we eat and chat or
would you like to just cut straight to the chase?" She closed her eyes and
shook her head. "I mean, would you like to watch the movie first or have
dinner or" She stopped, drawing a deep breath. "I'm babbling now.
I'll just shut up and let you tell me what you want to do."
Lauren chuckled
softly and took Dev's hand. "I do believe, Madam President," she
drawled, "that you are even more nervous than I am." She regarded Dev
seriously for a moment. "Why is that?"
"Umm...
well." Dev moved them to the blanket and began fiddling with the food. She
prepared a couple of small plates and poured two glasses of wine. "You
see, I've not been a veryGod, this is awkward. I've only had one real
experience with this whole dating thing" She sipped her wine, gesturing
for Lauren to join her. "Samantha was the only woman in my life. And since
she died, I haven't I mean there hasn't been anyone else" She finally
stopped when she realized she sounded totally stupid.
Oh, Devlyn. Lauren's
gaze softened, her heart going out to her friend. They needed to have a talk
about Samantha soon. But tonight was for them alone. "Don't be embarrassed
by that. Maybe we can learn how to do this together." She looked into her
wineglass. "I haven't been overly successful in the dating department
myself. But... um..." The blonde woman lifted her head and looked into
Devlyn's eyes. "I'm pretty sure we'll be able to muddle through if we
really put our minds to it."
"I think we
could muddle through anything if we put our minds to it." Dev leaned over
and placed a delicate kiss on the smaller woman's cheek. She allowed her lips
to linger for a moment before pulling away. "I think part of my
nervousness comes from the fact that I've never been out with someone who
already knows everything about me." She sipped her wine and closed her
eyes tight. "Including some things I'm going to get my father for when he
least expects it." She looked up again. "But if those didn't send you
screaming into the night, then I'm damned lucky, and I'm really glad I met
you."
Lauren suspected
she'd barely scratched the surface of this complicated, sweet, beautiful woman.
But she wasn't going to waste the chance. Her gaze dropped to Dev's lips as the
urge to kiss the tall woman welled up within her. She leaned forward, smiling
when Dev immediately leaned in to meet her. "I'm glad I met you too,"
she whispered, and let her lips brush lightly against the President's.
Sunday, July 4th
Dev hung up the
phone, looking to the clock on the wall. "Do people not realize it's
"With all due
respect, Madam President, they don't care."
"Ironic, isn't
it? It's Independence Day here in the States, and I'm up in the middle of the
night handling a possible missile crisis in
"And that's why
you get the big bucks and the cool toys."
Dev snorted.
"Yeah, right."
"Do we need to
call in the Secretary of Defense?"
"No, not yet.
But I suggest we haul the Chinese Ambassador's ass over here. His input will be
very insightful."
"Lemme
guess." David arched a rust-colored eyebrow and slid his tie completely
off. "Just because you can?"
Dev picked up the
phone. "Pretty much. If I can't sleep, no one can." She reached
across her desk and picked up a picture of Lauren and the kids that had been
taken when they went on vacation. "Tell you what, just for grins and
giggles, get the Secretary of Defense over here too."
David pushed himself
out of the chair. "Yes, ma'am. I'll get the latest intel from the
situation room too."
* * *
After several hours
of tense negotiations, Dev had managed to get a satisfactory resolution to a
problem that could have gotten completely out of hand with the simplest of
missteps. "God, I need a shower and a nap. We've got the barbecue tonight
and" Her eyes went wide. "Oh, shit!"
"What?"
"It's Lauren's
birthday. I ordered breakfast and flowers delivered to her room with a note
saying I'd be joining her," she glanced at the clock again, "an hour
and a half ago. Aw, she's gonna kill me." Devlyn opened the top drawer of
her desk and pulled out a brightly wrapped box. "Let's hope she likes
this."
She bolted out of her
office and headed for the residence, and a houseguest turned very potential
girlfriend, who she was sure was going to be supremely annoyed. "I should
never have had breakfast delivered so early! She hates getting up early!"
"It's okay,
guys." David called off the alarmed Secret Service agents who saw Dev
sprint past them. "She's just... she's late, she's late"Awww... go
ahead and say it."For a very important date."
A few minutes later
she stood in front of Lauren's door, running her hand through her hair. She
took a deep breath and held it as she knocked on the door. "God, please
don't let her be mad."
Lauren opened her
door, and pale brows lifted at the sight of a very disheveled Dev. She would
have said something except for the fact that her mouth was full of an enormous
bite of sweet roll. Instead, she grabbed Dev by the front of her shirt and
tugged her into her room, kicking the door shut behind her.
"I'm soooo
sorry," Dev began quickly. "I meant to be here when they woke you,
but I had to deal with something that's kept me busy half the night. If I'd had
time I would have called and told them not to do it. Or called you and told you
to go back to bed or... umm... just called you, I guess."
Lauren waved a
dismissive hand. "S'okay, Devlyn. Relax, I'm not angry." She motioned
to the couch. "Can you stay for a minute?" She held out her roll, and
Dev ducked her head and took a bite.
"Umm... are
there more of these?"
Lauren nodded and
motioned her to the couch as she went to retrieve the plate of rolls and a pot
of coffee. "So, what happened?" She hunted quickly for a second cup.
"If you can talk about it, that is."
"I helped deter
World War III this morning, and I need a break. That's what happened." The
dark-haired woman settled on the couch with a groan. She kicked long legs out
in front of her. "Looks to me like they brought you a nice
breakfast." Suddenly she remembered she had Lauren's birthday present.
"Happy birthday!"
Lauren's face paled.
"Oh, my God, Devlyn. Did you really stop World War III this morning?"
"Actually,
pretty close." She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "I've been
up all night."
Lauren joined Dev on
the sofa and patted her knee. "I'm sorry." She looked down at the
present that was thrust into her hands. "Wow, it is my birthday again. I
swear they come quicker every year." She shook the package, trying to
guess what was inside as she folded one leg beneath her. "Can I have a
hint?"
Dev didn't answer.
Instead, she jumped up and grabbed Lauren's glasses off the nightstand.
Lauren reached out
and took them, wordlessly wrapping the wire frames around each ear. She stared
down at the gift, trying to remember the last time she'd gotten a birthday
gift. Her parents always sent a card. But they stopped giving presents when
Lauren turned eighteen and became too old for such foolishness. Judd always
gave her a gift on her birthday, but he was the only one. Ever. The writer
pushed aside the bittersweet memories and held the box up to her ear, giving it
another gentle shake. "Do you want me to open it now?"
"Please."
Dev sat back down. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to go lie down before the
barbecue tonight, so we won't get a lot of time together until then. I wanted a
quiet moment to give it to you. I hope you like it."
"Okay, if you
insist." But Lauren was eagerly ripping open the paper and box even as she
said the words. Out of the box she pulled three small, brown, leather-bound
novels. "‘A Tale of Two Cities'. ‘Oliver Twist'.
‘Great Expectations'! That's one of my..." Lauren paused and
studied the books more closely, flipping open the first few pages. "My
God, are these first editions?" she whispered reverently. Dev released a very
tense breath. "Yeah, they are. Do you like them?" she asked
hopefully.
Lauren looked up at
her with teary eyes. "I..." She had to stop for a moment. "I
love them." She smiled, and her chin quivered a little. "Thank
you."
"Hey!" Dev
reached out and caught a tear just as it fell from the corner of Lauren's eye.
"My gift wasn't supposed to make you cry. No crying allowed!" She
grinned. "Wait until you see what I ordered for you for tonight."
Lauren sniffed, only
mildly embarrassed. She gave Dev a watery smile. "Will it make me cry
too?"
"Gee, I hope
not. You'll just have to wait and see." Dev suddenly felt an unexpected,
stabbing pain at the base of her skull. "I just can't win. I've got a
headache like you wouldn't believe. I'm going to go grab a couple of aspirin,
call for a massage, and try to get some sleep." Suddenly she sat up
straight. "It's Sunday, isn't it?"
"It sure is,
Madam President." Lauren's expression sobered. "You work too hard
sometimes, Devlyn. And you get headaches way too often. You need more
sleep."
Dev grunted her
agreement. "When I took the job, I knew what it meant." She sighed.
"I guess sleep is out of the question. The kids will be up soon. Maybe I
have time for a massage."
Lauren carefully set
down her books on the coffee table. "Umm. Devlyn, you know, I could give
you a massage." She slid around behind the couch and began digging her
hands into Dev's tense shoulder muscles, kneading them firmly. "Or, I
could call someone for you?" she offered innocently, nearly laughing at Dev's
deep moan of pleasure.
"Yeeeeesssss."
Dev's head dropped forward, giving Lauren more room to work her tired, aching
muscles. "I'll give you an hour to stop that. Okay, two hours. But that's
my final offer."
Lauren chuckled and
continued, feeling Dev relax even more. Abused muscles began to loosen, and
before long the President's head fell to the side, and she began snoring
softly. Lauren enjoyed touching Dev for a few more moments before she began to
slowly cease her massage. She gently helped the exhausted woman to lie down,
easing her onto the cushions and allowing her to stretch out. Lauren retrieved
a blanket and tucked Dev in. She leaned over and kissed her on the cheek,
absently wiping the faint lipstick smudge away with her thumb. "Sleep
well, darlin'. Grem and I will be with the munchkins."
The biographer had
just stepped out of her room when Emma met her in the hall. "If you're
looking for Devlyn, she's in there taking a nap on the sofa. She was-"
"Up all night. I
know." Emma shook her head and smiled. "I'm glad she's getting a
little rest. Here," she thrust a heavy package into Lauren's hands,
"this came in Dev's personal mail this morning, but it's addressed to you.
Looks like an early birthday gift to me."
Lauren examined the
brown paper wrapping. The return address just said ‘home', but there
was a
Emma nodded.
"I'm sure that's Janet's handwriting. But the only way to know for sure is
to open it and see."
Lauren chuckled and
tore into the paper. "Exactly." It was a book, and when she finally
pulled away the last of the brown wrapper both she and Emma turned as red as
lobsters. "Oh, my God," Lauren whispered, feeling the heat in her
cheeks.
Emma began laughing
so hard that she had to step away from Lauren's door for fear she'd wake up
Dev. "Oh, yes," she laughed. "That is most definitely from Janet
Marlowe. Only she would do that, God bless her liberal soul. Dev certainly took
after her traditional father, but you'll see a little of Janet peek out in her
every now and then." Emma poked the white cover, tilting her head and
seeing the darker pages at the end of the text. "At least she got you the
paper and not the electronic version. I just don't think the illustrations
would be the same on screen. Do you?"
"How would I
know?" Lauren squeaked.
Emma rolled her eyes.
"That's why she sent you the book, Lauren."
"Oh, yeah."
Lauren shook her head and cracked open the cover. There was an inscription.
Lauren:
"You and Devil
make a beautiful couple. I know you both insist that you're not sleeping
together. But I still thought this would come in handy. SOMEDAY. Since you
already appear to know what a nipple is, I'm quite certain you can skip all the
way to chapter two.
Happy birthday,
Janet
Lauren closed the
book.What kind of mother sends the woman her daughter is seeing a copy of
‘The Joy of Lesbian Sex'?!A smirk overtook her face.A pretty damned
good one.
* * *
Dev rolled up the
sleeves on her denim shirt so they stopped just below the elbow. Tucking her
shirt into her jeans, she looked around the room for her sneakers. She happened
to be on her hands and knees looking under the bed when Lauren entered the
room.
"Devlyn, the
kids and Iwell, that's an interesting view." She chuckled, crossing her
arms, taking the time to appreciate the denim-clad backside. In her hand was
her camera, and Lauren smirked as she clicked off a few photographs. Dev
reached under the bed for her sneaker, grabbing it and banging her head on the
way out. ‘Ouch! Damn!" She sat on the floor rubbing the back of
her head. "Hey!
"America might
not" Lauren wriggled her eyebrows, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"But these are going in my personal collection."
"Pervert."
Lauren only laughed.
"Okay, what is
it you and the kids want?" Dev winked at the trio as they marched into the
room together.
"We're wondering
if we have time for a movie with you before the barbecue?"
"Don't see why
not." She continued to rub her head. "That hurt," she whimpered,
hoping to get a little sympathetic TLC from the writer.
Lauren had to give
Dev an ‘A' for effort. She was being treated to puppy dog eyes and
Dev's most pitiful, pouty lower lip. The shorter woman laughed and gently
stroked the back of Dev's head. "Poor, wittle baby," she teased.
"Oh, okayI see.
That's how it is" Dev huffed playfully, pulling on her shoes. "You'd
think I'd get more sympathy than thatbut noooooo"
"I can call in
some staff members to coo over you, if you'd like." Lauren winked at
Ashley, and the little girl laughed.
"No, no, that's
all right. I'll just sit here and be unloved," she paused for a
melodramatic sniff. Then she started singing a song Ash recognized immediately
"Nobody loves me. Everybody hates me. Going in the garden and eat
worms"
Lauren and Ash burst
out laughing at Dev's little song. Ashley walked over and planted herself in
her mother's lap, kissing her nose. "I love ya', worm breath." She
hugged her mother tight around the neck and received a tight squeeze in return.
"I love you too,
Moppet. Now, why don't you go back into the living room with your brothers and
pick out a movie for us to watch? Lauren and I will be in in a minute or
two."
"‘Kay!"
Ashley jumped up and ran back into the living room. "Mom said I get to
pick the movie!"
"I did
not!" Dev contradicted as she got to her feet. She turned to Lauren and
opened her arms for a hug. "What about you? Can you love someone with worm
breath?"
Lauren wrapped her
arms around Dev and squeezed gently. She took the opportunity to nuzzle Dev's
throat and sniff. "Ash is right. Definitely worms."And I think I
could easily fall in love with someone exactly like you. Lauren exhaled loudly
when Dev squeezed her hard for her comment. "Okay, okay. Lucky for you I
like worms," she choked out.
"Guess it's just
my lucky day then." Dev wrapped her arm around Lauren's shoulder, wincing
slightly at the movement. She'd recently been taken down from three physical
therapy sessions to two, because of the progress she'd made with her shoulder
and arm. The pain, however, seemed to be a constant she was going to have to
live with for some time to come. Then the sounds of children most
definitelynotbehaving themselves drifted into the room. Dev closed her eyes as
she propped her chin on Lauren's head. "Can I go back to bed?"
Lauren bit her lip to
keep from saying ‘Only if I can join you!'. She couldn't, however,
stop the light blush that colored her cheeks from the mere thought. "Umm
maybe we should make sure the kids don't kill each other." The writer
grabbed Dev's hand and tugged her towards the family room. "Can I ask you
something?"
"You know you
can. My life is an open book to you. No pun intended."
"Like I've never
heard that before." She made a face. "Even Cardinal O'Roarke hit on
that joke in the first six months." Lauren pinched Dev on the butt as they
walked.
"Hey!" Dev
protested, knowing full well that she was loving every minute of the teasing
and banter.
"What I wanted
to ask you was how you got to be so good with kids? Your kids, I guess. I know
you don't have any brothers or sisters." They made their way to the sofa,
casually stepping over Christopher and Aaron who were sprawled out on the
floor, wrestling each other. "Half the time they terrify me, and the other
half I'm worried for them. And they're not even mine."
"Hold that
thought." Dev clapped her hands together, and the children's squeals came
to an abrupt halt. "Why are we fussing?"
"Ashley is a
stupid head!" Christopher offered, glaring at his sister, who had teamed
up with Aaron against him.
"Am not!"
Ash shouted back.
"Knock it off,
or I know three midget humans who will not be attending the barbecue
tonight."
"Mom!" the
kids moaned together. "The fireworks!"
"I mean
it." Dev's tone was firm. "Now, find a movie and agree on it, and
we'll watch it together as a family. Otherwise, you can all go to your rooms
and stay there for the rest of the day."
"Yes,
ma'am," they grumbled with varying degrees of sincerity. Aaron led the way
to the cabinet to claim his favorite disc and begin making his case to his
brother and sister.
"You were
asking?" Dev said wryly.
Lauren shook her
head. "You solved the problem." She pointed to the kids. "No
more fighting."
"Until the next
time."
"I said you were
good with the kids, not a miracle worker."
"True." Dev
leaned back and faced Lauren. "I guess I've just had lots of
practice." She grinned. "And as far as how you feel about them, your
reaction sounds like a typical mom reaction to me. They terrify me half the
time too."
Lauren's eyes
widened. "Mom?" Sure, she occasionally spent time with the kids. With
or without Dev. But that was mostly for the book. Sort of.
Uh oh. I'm scaring
her."Hey, it's okay. I didn't mean to imply I meant that well, I just
think that being a mom will come naturally to you." She paused, a slightly
sick feeling washing over her. She still had the niggling fear in the back of
her mind that Lauren was planning on leaving the residence soon.
Dev was frankly
surprised Lauren had lasted this long. And she was giving strong consideration
to firing Michael Oaks outright. He and Lauren mixed like oil and water, and
she knew that his presence, in what was supposed to be Lauren's home too, was a
continuously aggravating factor for the writer. After all these months he was
still angry that Dev had invited Lauren to stay in the residence over his
objections. He made a special point of showing Lauren any bad press her
presence drew, once even going as far as trying to attribute a drop in opinion
polls to the fact that Lauren had accompanied Dev to a very public function.
"I'm not so sure
about that, Devlyn," Lauren answered, breaking Dev out her wandering
thoughts.
"I am." Dev
smiled reassuringly. "When you're ready, you can be fond of my kids
without being tied down to them or anything. And someday, when you're good and
ready, you're gonna be a great mom yourself."
Lauren felt confused
and suddenly unsure of herself. She could hear the disappointment in Dev's
voice. "Umm thanks. But I doubt I'll have kids."
Dev thought about
that for a moment. Lauren always chose her words very carefully. She hadn't
said she didn't want children. Just that she didn't think she'd have them
herself. "You never know. I have it on good authority that stranger things
have actually happened."
"Brat."
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
Dev and Lauren
suddenly stopped to find all three of the children staring at them in shock.
"Uh oh,"
Lauren mumbled. "Was that bad?"
"Nah," Dev
whispered back. "They already know I'm a brat." The President reached
out and tugged Christopher closer by the elastic of his shorts. "Isn't
that right, buddy?"
"Yup," he
giggled.
Aaron stepped
forward. "But she's very, very sorry, Lauren. And she'll try to do better
in the future." The little boy knew this speech by heart, having heard it
applied to him on a nearly daily basis.
Dev shot Lauren a
smug look. "We're a team."
Gray eyes rolled.
"A team of troublemakers!"
The children cheered at
this very accurate pronouncement.
Dev lifted her arm to
the back of the sofa, and, with a significant look at the small expanse of
cushion between them, she invited Lauren to snuggle. "Even if you decide
never to have kids, I still have three I can rent out from time to time."
"Do I get an
employee discount?"
Dev mulled that over
for a moment. "Absolutely! I am a President sympathetic to the plight of
the little people, you know."
Lauren narrowed her
eyes. "Was that a commoner or short person joke?" she demanded with
mock fury.
"Yes."
The kids finally
decided on "Stuart Little," and all three of them plopped down on the
floor to enjoy the show.
Dev's mind
relentlessly probed the sore spot that was never very far from her thoughts.
"We'd really miss you if you left." Dev whispered. She just couldn't
go on wondering when the other shoe was going to drop. It was making her crazy.
Realistically, she knew Lauren would leave at some point. But her heart was
firmly entrenched in its state of denial.
Lauren felt a pang in
her chest at Dev's words. "I'm not planning on going anywhere for a while,
Devlyn. We had a deal right?"
"Right."
She drew a deep breath and smiled. Dev wanted to question her further, but that
‘mother' comment had already spooked Lauren a bit. Now wasn't the
time to press her. "I'm really glad to know you're gonna be here for a
while longer." She grinned and poked Lauren playfully. "It's nice to
have someone to argue with."
Lauren smiled at Dev.
"You argue with everyone, Madam President. I'm just one of the few people who
will argue back."
"Yeah, you do,
and I love that. Sometimes it's the most intelligent conversation and spirited
debate I get all day."
Dev yelled for the
kids to turn the TV down. "So, I, uh, know it's kinda last minute, Ms.
Strayer. But do you happen to have a date for the barbecue tonight?"
Gray eyes twinkled.
"What if I said yes?"
Dev hummed a little,
tapping her chin as she thought. "Well, then I'd say whoever gets to take
you is very lucky indeed."
The writer batted her
eyelashes and drew out the already drawled words. "You mean you wouldn't
have the CIA take him?"
"Him?"
Lauren smirked, not
taking the bait. "Or her."
"No. You're an
adult. Free to make your own decisions. Free to date whomever you'd like. Even
if it might be thewrongperson. Thetotallywrongperson! Which is, of course,
everyone but me. Does the name Casey ring any bells with you?"
Lauren made a face.
"You Yankees always did fight dirty!"
"Madam, might I
remind you I am only half Yankee?"
Lauren slapped Dev in
the belly with the back of her hand. "Yankee is Yankee," she
pronounced firmly.
"Yeah, yeah.
You're not answering my question. Do you have a date for tonight?" Dev
turned a slightly predatory stare Lauren's way. "Hmmmmm?" She drew
her brows together as her body language suggested that maybe, if she didn't get
the answer she wanted, Lauren might find herself being tickled senseless.
Lauren giggled.
"Fine. Fine. I don't have a date. I'm completely dateless." She
nudged her companion. "How about you, Devlyn?"
Dev laughed and
pulled back. "No. I have a date. I just wanted to see if you did."
Lauren suddenly went
very still. "If David set you up again, I'm going to-"
"Yeeees? You're
going to what?" A dark brow arched.Really, now? Well, well, feeling a
little possessive, are we, Ms. Strayer?
The blonde woman's
eyes narrowed. "Why, I'll..." she paused, realizing that she was
being tweaked.Oooo, Devlyn! Not nice. She consciously lowered her voice, and
her body took on an air of unconcern. "Why, I'll graciously make myself
scarce. In fact, now that I know about it, I'll see if I can't find an escort
as well. That agent who always sits outside the Green Room is a cutie. And I
didn't see a wedding ring."
"You don't have
to go that far!" Dev held up her hand and wiggled her finger. "No
ring here either. I'd love it if you'd let me take you tonight."
"I was counting
on it."
* * *
Evening settled in as
most of the senior staff joined the President and her family on the balcony of
the White House, overlooking the
Lauren watched as Dev
made the rounds, shaking hands and taking a moment to visit with each person.
This didn't seem at all like the tired, slightly frazzled woman who had shown
up at her door early this morning, after having been up all night. Dev never
ceased to amaze her. The more she found out, the more she wanted to know.One of
these days I swear I'm going to get Beth McMillian alone.
Eager eyes were
looking over the beautiful spread of food that had been prepared, when she felt
a certain tall, dark presence move in behind her. "Boy, that looks
good," Dev whispered in her ear.
Lauren ran her finger
across the piece of BBQ chicken she'd just placed on her plate. She brought the
tip of her finger to her mouth and then licked off a speck of zesty barbecue
sauce. "Ummm... it is." She looked over her shoulder and into the
clearest, most beautiful blue eyes she'd ever seen. For a moment she was
speechless. Lauren gave her head a small shake. "Did... did you get a
plate yet?"
"I've just been
sneaking little bites of the most delicious things."
Pale eyebrows
disappeared behind windblown bangs. "Really?" She glanced at the
President's empty hands.
"Umm hmm."
Dev leaned in, placing her mouth a hairsbreadth from Lauren's ear. "A
nibble here. And a nibble there. You know how it is." She gave her earlobe
a nip.
Lauren pulled away.
She turned around to face Dev, painfully aware of the interested faces watching
them. "What do you think you're doing?" she whispered harshly.
Dev stood up
straight. She mentally kicked herself for making Lauren feel uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I forgot for a second that that
weirds some people out."
There was a moment of
almost painful silence, and it was Dev who awkwardly sought to fill the gap.
"Are you having a good time?"
Lauren lowered her
eyes and blew out a frustrated breath. "I'm sorry, Devlyn. I just..."
She rocked her head back and forth and lowered her voice. "I've spent
months denying that you and I were more than friends to nearly every person at
this party. Now, I guess I feel... I..." She hesitated. "I don't know
how I feel." Lauren grabbed Dev's hand and squeezed, hoping it would give
her a physical reassurance her words obviously lacked.
"I know. I
didn't mean to make you uncomfortable on your birthday. But... um... make sure
you save room for dessert. It's something special. And it'll be here in about
ten minutes." Dev took the time to make sure Lauren was looking right at
her when she said, "I don't ever want to do anything that hurts or
embarrasses you, Lauren. I mean that. If you're not ready for me to touch you
in public, that's okay. You just let me know when and if you are, all right?
I'll be here."
Dev's words were
delivered in a calm, even voice. But Lauren could see pain lurking behind her
eyes. "Damn, I'm sorry." She squeezed the hand she was holding again.
"It's not like that, Devlyn. Really." With a gentle tug Lauren pulled
Dev behind a large table and into the corner of the balcony, the most private
spot she could find without going inside. She set down her plate. "It's
not that I'm not ready," Lauren whispered. "It's that I feel like
I've been lying to these people, and now I'm rubbing their noses in it."
"Lying?"
Now Dev was totally confused. " Sweetheart, you haven't lied to anyone.
What are you talking about?"
Lauren winced.
"That's not true. At least, not completely." She turned and braced
her arms on the railing, gazing out at the crowds in the distance who had
packed the Mall area to wait for the fireworks. The view was truly
breathtaking. "I've been thinking about you for months," she muttered
cryptically.
"Thinking about
me how?" Dev nudged her, starting to understand what Lauren meant.
"Thinking about me, dating me, and sleeping with me are three separate
things. All we have said to this point is that we weren't sleeping together,
and we're still not doing that. And we've just started dating. You don't need
to feel guilty or uncomfortable. And if you think Beth McMillian doesn't know
that, and hasn't passed that fact along to every person she can think of, you
are a seriously deluded person. I love Beth dearly, but if you look up the word
‘gossip' in the dictionary, you'll find an autographed 8" X
10" of her, smiling."
Lauren couldn't help
but laugh. "You're right about that. Once I corner Beth alone, you're done
for, Madam President. I'll be able to retire on the ‘tell all'
book." A bird caught her eye, and she followed it high into the early
evening sky. "I know it sounds silly. But for the last few months every
time I denied the rumor that we were a couple, it felt like a lie." She
shrugged one shoulder. "I guess it's all just catching up with me. I can't
believe so much of what is happening." The writer turned to face Dev.
"And who it's happening with." Her eyes conveyed true regret.
"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I didn't expect you to be so,"
she searched for a word, "demonstrative, I guess. At least not in
public."
"No. I'm the one
who should be, and is, truly sorry. I've just always been ‘out'. I
figure that people know my preferences, and I'm just being me. But you're not
exactly ‘out'. I mean you're not even exactly are you? Wait, it
doesn't matter... I mean... okay, I'm gonna shut up now. Let me just say that
I've been thinking about you for months too. And this relationship is a two way
street. I care for you a lot; more than a lot."
Before Dev could say
another word a dessert cart that carried two huge sheet cakes on it was rolled
out. One was decorated for the Fourth of July. The second was a special cake,
done for Lauren's birthday.
Lauren tried to peer
around Dev to get a good look, but the taller woman clamped her hand firmly
over Lauren's eyes. "I told you I ordered something special for you. You
ready?"
Lauren nodded
excitedly. "Totally!"
"‘Kay."
Dev guided Lauren away from the railing and around the table, careful to make
sure the blonde woman didn't trip. When the candles were lit, she peeled her
hand away, showing Lauren the beautiful cake that had been crafted and prepared
just for her by one of the top pastry chefs in the world, who also happened to
work for the White House. Around the outside of the cake was a ring of Dottie's
special Devil cookies. "Had those shipped in from
Lauren grinned as she
looked down at the cake. "It's beautiful! I'm gaining weight just looking
at all those Devil cookies."
The crowd that had
gathered around them laughed.
Lauren's eyes
suddenly widened, and a slightly astonished look overtook her face.
"Please tell me that isn't the correct amount of candles."
Sunday, July 11th
Lauren was heading
for the library when she spotted a very tired President slowly padding down the
hall towards her. An enormous smile lit up her face. "Welcome back!"
Jogging the last steps until they met, she wrapped her arms around Dev and pulled
her into a heartfelt hug. "How was
"It was rotten
because you weren't there," Dev whispered into a pink ear. She pulled
away, groaning at her own exhausted state. "It's great to be back."
Her smile at Lauren was weary, but genuine. "C'mon, I need to make it to
the living room before I drop dead right here in the hallway." Dev grabbed
Lauren's hand and determinedly steered her in the opposite direction of the
"Well, seeing as
how it was all part of the continuing process to stop World War III, I don't
see how I can really complain."
Dev snorted.
"Well, I can complain. I missed you!"God, I hate being called away at
the last moment. Especially when you can't come with me.
Hand in hand, they
turned the corner and nearly ran into two agents.
"Welcome home,
Madam President." The man straightened his tie and stood a little
straighter.
"Thank you,
Jack."
Amy nodded at Lauren,
then addressed the President. "Good to see you again, Madam
President."
"Good to see you
too, Amy. I haven't made it back to the apartment yet. How's Ashley? Did you
manage to keep her out of trouble while I was away?"
"All the kids
are in bed early tonight, ma'am. They had a pool party at the Vice President's
house and were wiped out. And Ashley is hardly ever any trouble."
"Do you get paid
enough to tell a mother sweet lies like that?" Blue eyes twinkled.
"Nope," Amy
answered confidently. "The kids will be sorry they missed you
tonight."
"Not as sorry as
I am." A frown marred Dev's face. "Thanks, Amy." She tugged on
Lauren's hand again to get them moving. Sheneededto kiss Lauren, and she wanted
to do it in private. "Good night."
The agents both
nodded. "Good night, ma'am," they called after her retreating figure.
"Night, Lauren."
Lauren smiled and
waved.
Dev picked up the
pace.
"You're sure
moving quickly for someone who's dead on her feet!" Lauren was having to
jog every other step to keep up with Dev's longer, powerful strides. "I
can see first hand that your hip has completely healed."
Dev guided her around
a small, antique table that held a vase of dried flowers. Side by side
portraits of Teddy Roosevelt and Grover Cleveland, both on horseback, hung
above it. "When I'm motivated I can do amazing things."
Lauren's eyebrows
shot up. "Really, Wonder Woman?" she purred playfully.
Dev chuckled.
"Oh, yeah." Merely waving hello to the agent posted outside the
living room, Dev pulled open the door and yanked Lauren inside, nearly pulling
her off her feet.
"Devlyn!"
Lauren exclaimed.Is it wrong that this is kind of turning me on?
Dev kicked the door
shut and pulled Lauren into her arms, forcing the smaller woman to tilt her
head way back in order to look at her face. She didn't bother to say a word.
Instead, she captured Lauren in a surprise, passionate kiss them left them both
breathless.
"Hi," Dev
said softly when their lips finally separated. Her heart was pounding so loudly
she couldn't even hear the words when she muttered earnestly,
"Ireallymissed you."
Lauren sucked in a
deep lungful of air, and her eyelids fluttered open. She snuggled deeper into
Dev's embrace, savoring her own body's reaction to her friend's closeness, and
enjoying the solid, warm feeling of Dev's lanky form pressed tightly against
hers.Wow.Lauren gazed deeply into Dev's eyes and sighed dreamily. "Hi. And
Ireallymissed you too."
"Ahem..."
From across the room, Emma cleared her throat. "I missed you tooooooooo,
Dev," she teased. Emma laughed so hard at Lauren's instant blush that her
ample bosom threatened to take out one of her own eyes.
"Very funny,
Emma. How is everyone?"
"Well, I'm fine.
And the children are all in bed. Too much sun and fun at Vice President
Vincent's did them in early, I'm afraid."
"Let's all have
breakfast together tomorrow though, okay? I'll make sure Liza gets me back to
the residence around 8:30 A.M."
"We'll be
ready." The older woman shuttled past Dev and Lauren on her way out.
"I'll see you two tomorrow."
"Good night,
Emma." Lauren smiled.
Dev shed her jacket,
tossing it on a nearby chair. Next she began untucking her blouse from her
slacks. "Night."
Lauren plopped down
on the couch and gazed at Dev affectionately as the dark-haired woman puttered
around, quickly made herself as comfortable as possible, and put in a call for
dinner. With a nod of the writer's head, dinner for one was turned into dinner
for two.
Devlyn sat down next
to Lauren and closed her eyes. "I'm so tired." She sighed and leaned
towards the small fingers that began gently stroking her hair.
"Then you should
rest."
"I'm
hungry."
"Then eat,
Devlyn," came the simple reply.
Dev smiled. "I'm
so glad you're here with me tonight."
"Mmmm... then
you should definitely kiss me again."
Before Dev could
comply, there was a light knock at her door. "No," she whimpered,
grabbing a throw pillow and burying her face in it. "That can't be dinner
this quickly. Whoever it is can just go away! I don't want to be the President
any more tonight."
Lauren chuckled at
Dev's minor tantrum. "You rest. I'll take care of it."
A dark head shook.
"No," Dev sighed egregiously. "If they're knocking here, they're
after me. I'll tell them to buzz off." She stood and gave Lauren a quick
peck on the tip of the nose. "Save my seat."
Dev rolled her
shoulder as she slowly moved to the door. It ached tonight. "This had
better be good," she mumbled, pulling the door open. She was surprised to
see Michael Oaks.
"Yes,
Michael?" Dev inquired in a bored tone. Didn't the man have any life?
They'd only been off Marine One for an hour. Didn't he have a home or
girlfriend or pet rock somewhere? "And why are you still here?"
Michael blinked.
"I had work to do, Madam President. But that's not why I'm your door.
Security is holding a man downstairs who wants to see Ms. Strayer. He claims to
be her husband."
"What?!"
Lauren exclaimed from across the room. "Ex-husband!"
"I see that
sheishere and not in her room." Michael's displeasure was clearly written
across his face.
Lauren joined Dev at
the door. "Judd is here?" She felt a dread building in the pit of her
stomach.Why would he be here?
"Shall I bring
your husband up to your room, Ms. Strayer?" Michael couldn't think of a
single thing he'd like more than to throw a wrench into Devlyn and Lauren's
budding romance. Lauren was an unmanageable annoyance that had somehow, and
most certainly unjustly, gained the President's ear. It wasn't smart, it wasn't
safe, and his dislike for the writer was only rivaled by the resentment he felt
because his opinion on the subject had been completely ignored by the
President.
"Ex-husband,"
Dev growled. She turned to Lauren. "You want me to have him tossed out on
his butt? I can do that you know."
"Michael?"
she asked innocently, smirking as the black man's face darkened.
Dev wrestled the grin
from her face. "No. Mr. Radison."
Lauren chewed her
lip, sorely tempted to say yes and spend a few moments alone with her favorite
person. But Judd hadn't contacted her in years. He wouldn't come here for
nothing.
The writer laid her
hand on the small of Dev's back. "I'd better talk to him in case it's
something important." She turned to Michael. "You can have an agent
bring him up to my room."
"Bring him here
instead," Dev interjected. "If that's all right." She looked
down at Lauren who nodded.
Michael quickly
disappeared, ordering two agents to bring Mr. Radison inside the residence. He
would personally escort him the rest of way.
Dev pushed her door,
leaving it open just a crack.
Lauren crossed her
arms over her chest. "I know how tired you are, Devlyn. Judd and I can go
to my room and talk. I'm sure it will only take a few moments."
Dev's jaw worked.
"I don't trust him."
"You don't know
him."
A well drawn eyebrow
arched.
"I know that he
was married to you, and lost you. Therefore, he is an idiot. I don't trust
idiots."
"Dev."
Lauren shook her head and sighed. "It wasn't like that. Judd and I just
grew apart. Actually," she hesitated as she gathered her thoughts,
"we were never really together, if you know what I mean. I thought I loved
him. It was a mistake."
Dev clapped Lauren's
shoulder, squeezing gently. "I'm sorry."
Lauren reached up at
patted Dev's hand. "Don't be sorry. It just wasn't meant to be. I'm not
even sorry," she admitted. "He wanted a wife. And I wanted to have a
career and a playmate, and we just couldn't make it all work. Judd's not a bad
guy. We just weren't good for each other."
Lauren was leaving
out a lot, and she knew it. But what little anger or frustration she had over
her failed marriage was long since gone. And, in truth, it had mostly been
directed towards herself anyway. There was no reason to dig up old bones now.
The blonde woman
nervously tugged on her glasses, glad to have Dev's close, supportive presence.
"I just have no idea why he's here. Judd's not a social kind of guy. He
wouldn't just drop by the White House at eight in the evening on a Sunday night
to say hello."
"You don't know
for certain-"
Another knock
indicated Judd and Michael were back. "Come in," Dev called.
Michael marched into
the room with Judd Radison following somewhat reluctantly behind him. He
quickly introduced Devlyn, who gave Judd a firm handshake, hoping her frank
appraisal of the man wasn't as obvious as it felt.
Dev had to give him
credit, he was a more handsome man than his photograph had made him seem. Judd
was dressed in slacks with a neatly pressed crease down the front, and a navy
sport coat. He had short, curly, brown hair and dark blue eyes that constantly
flickered around the room as he walked, taking in the wonderful architecture
and beautiful furnishings that characterized the White House.
Dev quietly dismissed
Michael, making sure he left two agents immediately outside the living room, so
that Mr. Radison would have an escort ready whenever he left. Which, despite
his harmless demeanor, she hoped would be soon.
"Hello,
Lauri." Judd smiled weakly at his ex-wife and gave her a tentative hug,
which she returned just as awkwardly.
Dev blinked. The
unease between the former couple was palpable.They weremarriedto each other?
I'm less standoffish with my hair stylist!
"Hello,
Judd." The embrace loosened enough for Lauren to look at his face. She
regarded him silently for a moment, and tears began to well in both their eyes.
Something was
happening; Dev could see it. She felt confused and anxious at the same time.I
guess they do know each other.
Lauren finally pulled
away from Judd, the familiar scent of his after-shave lingering in the air.
"Let's sit." She left her hand on his forearm as she directed him to
the couch. "Tell me what's the matter," she said gently, feeling sick
to her stomach.Oh, God.Something was very wrong. Judd's eyes never lied.
Despite the fact that his lips could be significantly less reliable.
The man sat down and
studied his shoes for a moment.
Lauren perched on the
coffee table in front of the sofa and, with pleading eyes, wordlessly held out
her hand to Dev.
Dev wouldn't have
moved faster if she were on fire. With an enormous sense of relief she stepped
forward and took Lauren's hand.
Judd glanced up,
surprised by the scene in front of him. His thick brows drew together as he
focused on the women's linked fingers and the positions of their bodies. There
was no space between them. "Are you two... um...?" He gestured
vaguely, and Lauren nodded. "Wow," he breathed, clearly in awe.
"Not according to your dad."
The writer had always
suspected that Judd and her father remained friends after the divorce. She'd
just never had confirmation before now. And frankly, she hadn't been interested
enough to ever ask. "It's a sort of recent development, Judd. Now, tell me
what's wrong. I can see that something is. Are you in some sort of
trouble?"
"No! It's not
that. I... um... I moved to Falls Church, Virginia, last month. Took a job at a
small architectural firm there. I guess we're sort of neighbors."
"Okay."
Lauren drew out the word, rapidly losing patience. She'd forgotten about Judd's
penchant for beating around the bush. "And you showed up at the White
House to tell me that? C'mon, Judd."
"Your father
called me an hour ago. I came right over." He looked at Dev, a little
unnerved by her presence. But not enough that he wanted to drag this out any
longer. "He wanted me to come and tell you in person, Lauri, so he
wouldn't have to tell you on the phone." A deep breath. "Your
mo-"
"She finally did
it, right?" The color drained from her face as she said the words.
"Oh, God," she whispered to herself.She finally got what she
wanted.Her stomach threatened to rebel, and she wasn't sure whether she should
feel relieved for her mother or appalled by what she'd done. At the moment all
she could feel was sick.
Judd nodded quickly,
glad for the moment not to have to say the actual words. His forehead was
sweaty and his hands were shaped in fists. "I'm so sorry, Lauri. Your dad,
he... um... he wants you to call him as soon as you can. She died a couple of hours
ago. He didn't want you to be alone."
"She's not
alone!" Dev interrupted, her voice cracking with emotion. "She's
not."
Lauren pulled her
hand from the older woman's, despite the death grip Dev had on her fingers.
Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around her stomach in mute comfort. Her
chin quivered slightly, and Dev's chest constricted at the sight. "I
don't... don't feel so well."
Lauren's complexion
was taking on a slightly green tinge, and tears swam in her soft gray eyes.
"C'mon,
sweetheart. I think we need to get you to the bathroom." Dev put her arm
around Lauren and began to help her up.
"I'm fine,"
Lauren insisted unconvincingly, but she didn't stop Dev from guiding her to her
feet. "I need to call daddy." Just then her stomach lurched harder,
and she bent at the waist and groaned quietly. "God, I think I'm going to
be sick." She'd forgotten all about Judd, who was still sitting on the
sofa, wishing he were somewhere else, and her legs felt shaky.
"I know."
Dev took charge of the situation, trying not to think about how she'd felt when
Jane had told her about Samantha. "Let me help you."I need to help
you. As soon as Lauren was far enough away from the coffee table for Dev to get
a good grip on her, the older woman held her around the waist and quickly
started walking them to the bathroom. "Please wait," she called back
to Judd without looking over her shoulder. "I'll be out in a moment."
Her tone of voice
made it clear that it would be wise for him to do as she asked. Judd nodded
reluctantly.
When the bathroom
door opened Lauren rushed forward and fell to her knees, retching violently
into the toilet.
Dev grabbed her
glasses just before Lauren lost them. Quickly shoving them into her pocket, she
held back Lauren's fair hair with one hand and stroked her back with the other,
offering quiet words of comfort.
When she was
finished, Lauren sat back on her heels. She was shivering a little, but she did
feel much better. Dev handed her a cool glass of water and she rinsed her mouth
out with the first sip, spitting it into the toilet and flushing it. Lauren
greedily drank the rest of the glass down in one long swallow.
"Better?"
Dev's fingers were
massaging her neck. She sighed at the coolness against her clammy skin.
"Yeah. Much." Lauren grabbed a tissue and wiped her mouth.
"Thank you so much." She exhaled raggedly. "This... it would be
worse alone." Reaching behind her, she hugged Dev's legs.
"You don't have
to thank me, honey. This is what friends do."And you won't ever face
anything like this alone - not if I can help it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter VIII
August 2021
Sunday, August 1st
Lauren's fingers
typed steadily across the keyboard as the kids played on the floor with
Gremlin. A quick command had allowed her to disable the voice recognition input
system. Now she was doing her work the old-fashioned way. But she didn't want
to add to the noise in the room by talking over it. God only knew what the
computer would do with the background noise that ranged from quiet giggles to
levels just above a jumbo jet, depending on what mood struck the kids and dog.
Right now, Gremlin
was bouncing around them, yapping and barking and squirming between their legs
as they played. To anyone else, his display would have seemed like that of a
truly happy canine. But to Lauren's eyes, it was crystal clear that the pooch
still wasn't himself. She was beginning to wonder if Dev wasn't right. Maybe he
did need a doggy shrink. But the kids do seem to make him happy. If Lauren was
sure of one thing in this life, it was that Grem was completely in love with
the Marlowe children. She snorted inwardly. You're not the only one, buddy.
Since she and Dev had
returned home from her mother's funeral, the writer found herself using any
excuse to spend a little extra time with the children, not to mention their
mother. Dev had been wonderful. And Lauren was quite certain that if it hadn't
been for her constant support and comfort... She shook her head, forcing
herself to stop considering the painful thought. Dev had been there for her
every step of the way, exceeding the expectations she'd previously placed on a
friendship, much less a romance.
Dev had pulled out
all the stops, even managing to make sure that the family wasn't besieged by
the Press at the funeral and during the quick burial service in the graveyard.
The President of the
It wasn't until they
were back home in Washington, DC, that a reporter caught Lauren and Dev on
their way out of the White House and inquired as to the cause of her mother's
death. To her dismay, the writer had burst into tears. Dev's growled 'No
comment', coupled with a feral glare that would melt steel, had sent the
reporter scurrying, and she hadn't been asked a question about it since.
Even with the
constant pressure, Dev had been a total rock. When the President's popularity
took a five point dive during her trip with Lauren to
Lauren felt the
beginnings of tears. But they weren't sad ones. This time it was simple awe and
appreciation over a relationship and a woman she'd come to count on and care
about deeply that brought them to her eyes. She reached under her glasses and
caught the tears on the tip of her finger. With a sniff, she wiped them away
before they could fall and allowed a bittersweet smile to cross her lips.
Despite the events of the last two weeks, Lauren had never been happier.
She glanced at the
children, who were now settling down with Gremlin and arguing over which
cartoons to watch. Dev was very careful about what her children where exposed
to when she was away from the residence. The television set was firmly locked
on channels appropriate to their ages.
The writer also knew
that Dev preferred that the children play games or read over watching
television. Lauren clicked the off switch, placed her handheld computer on the
table, and moved over to the floor with the kids. "Hi, guys."
They immediately
stopped fussing when she joined them. "Hiya, Lauren!" Christopher
grinned at the writer and scrunched up his nose as his face turned bright red.
Lauren smiled back.
You're too damned cute for your own good, Christopher. Just like your mama.
Aaron simply scooted
over closer to Lauren, slipping his hand into hers, then placing his head in
the crook of her arm.
Ashley rolled over on
her back, turning soft brown eyes on the writer. "How do you feel?"
Lauren was surprised
at the question and blinked a couple of times. "Well, I'm… I'm
okay, I guess."
"It's okay to be
sad."
"You're right.
It is," Lauren agreed quietly, knowing that Ashley had misunderstood her
tears. She forgot sometimes that the children, even when they seemed as though
they were off in their own world, were very aware of everything around them.
"Yeah," the
little girl breathed. "I was sad for a long time when my Mommy died."
Lauren's smile was
bittersweet. "My mama was very sick. There wasn't much-"
Ash put her hand on
Lauren's arm. "But it's still okay to be sad. Mom used to be sad all the
time." Ashley's face suddenly brightened, and Lauren could not help but
mirror her instant enthusiasm.
"What
happened?"
"You came to
live here."
"Oh, yeah?"
Lauren fought the urge to cry again, knowing that it would only confuse the
kids. Besides, she was tired of crying. "That makes me feel really good,
Ash. Thank you for telling me."
Ashley shrugged,
totally unaware of the significance her simple statement held for Lauren.
"It was the truth."
"What was the
truth?" Dev asked as she strolled into the room. She wore an enormous
grin.
But Ashley was
already focused back on the television.
Lauren stood up to
greet Dev. "It's not important." She narrowed her eyes. "Why do
you look so happy, and why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like it?"
Dev laughed.
"I'd better watch myself. You're getting to know me far too well, Lauren
Strayer."
"Uh huh. That
doesn't answer my question, Madam President. Spill it."
"I just spoke
with Julio, and he gave me the green light to start jogging again. My hip is as
healed as it's going to get. We're going out right now as a matter of fact.
Hence, my lovely outfit." Dev gestured down her body with one hand. She
was wearing a navy blue T-shirt, running shoes, and gray gym shorts.
The smile fell from
Lauren's face. "Great," she said with a hundred percent false
enthusiasm. "You know how much I love to jog."
Devlyn laughed.
"Oh, I certainly do. But if you'd rather, I can just tell Michael Oaks
that you're not up to it."
Lauren stepped close
enough so that only Dev could hear what she said. "That was such a low
blow," she teased. "Do you really think I can be baited so
easily?"
"Yes."
"True."
Dev looked down at
her shoes. "Actually, I was hoping to invite just you and the number of
agents that David will let me get away with."
Dev's head was tilted
downward, but Lauren could see the contemplative, serious look on her face.
"It's been a couple of months..." she continued, talking about her
hip and the physical therapy, and Lauren eventually caught a clue.
She's embarrassed
about how slow she's going to be. Before, she could keep up with even the most
fit agents. This is an easy one to help you out with, darlin'. "You know,
Devlyn, for the last couple of months we've been working out in the gym and
walking, but I really haven't been running. Do you think that maybe I could run
up in the front with you, but that you could take it easy on me? Just until I
get back in shape?"
Dev's eyes lit up.
"Sure," she agreed enthusiastically. "I mean, if you really want
me to, that is."
Devlyn had a healthy
ego, but was truly egotistical about precious few things. Her fitness level,
however, happened to be one of them. Lauren enjoyed indulging her friend where
she could. And was happy to do it here. That, however, didn't stop her from
nearly having to bite her lip through to keep from smiling. "If you
wouldn't mind too much, it would really help me out if we could go extra slow
for a while." Lauren gave Dev a hug and whispered in her ear, "I'm so
glad your hip is doing so well, Devlyn." She held Dev a little tighter,
the thought of the shooting sending a dull ache to her heart. "I don't
know what I would have done if you hadn't been okay. I-"
"Hey." Dev
felt a tremor run through the smaller woman, and she tightened her hold, her
mind racing to catch up with what had just happened. "It's okay." She
pressed her cheek against the top of Lauren's head, hearing and feeling a
series of unexpected sniffles. Dev didn't say anything for a moment so that
Lauren would have a little time to get herself together.
"You okay?"
Dev finally burred.
Lauren nodded against
her shoulder. "I didn't mean to do that. I think it's been building all
day."
"It
happens," Dev said quietly. "You're doing great. Better than I would
under the same circumstances." If my mother had hung herself in the living
room... Jesus.
Lauren snorted.
"Somehow I doubt that." She lifted her head and looked at Dev's
T-shirt. "I got you all wet."
"Like I give a
damn."
Lauren gave Dev a
watery smile. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For everything.
For being there when I needed you. For giving me the opportunity of a lifetime
with this job. For just... just everything." Lauren exhaled in
frustration, unhappy that she wasn't able to articulate what she wanted to say
any better than that.
She's thanking me?
When the mere thought of being without her makes me physically ill? "Don't
be silly, Lauren. I didn't do anything anybody else wouldn't have done."
Gray eyes flashed.
"Wanna bet?"
"Lauren."
Dev drew out the word.
"You dropped
everything to be there for me." Lauren shook her head.
"No… Nobody-"
"Else is as
lucky as I am," Dev finished for her. She lifted Lauren's chin with two
fingers. "And I intend to keep it that way."
Lauren surged forward
and kissed her soundly, willing Dev to understand every emotion she was
feeling, and just how much she cared for her. She broke away giggling when the
kids began screaming 'ewwww' and 'gross', and Ashley broke in with the kissing
song.
"Aren't they
romantic?" Dev asked drolly. "Little demons." She shot her
offspring an evil look that still somehow managed to look smug.
Lauren blinked at
Christopher, who was giving his mother a miniature version of her very own
challenging, arched eyebrow glare. "Oh, boy." She winced. Dev gets to
take care of that little man. "Okay, I need to go get changed if I'm going
to let you torture me."
"You don't have
to come." Dev smiled. Lauren was going to come, and she damn well knew it.
Once she said she was going to do something, she never backed out.
"I know. But I
will." She jogged back over to the sofa and picked up her tiny computer.
"We need to get
you an office."
"I don't want an
office," Lauren insisted. This was about the tenth time she had told Dev
that since moving into the White House. "I like the view from the desk in
my room. I just wanted to visit the kids today. Besides, the cherry blossoms
were fabulous this spring. I looked out at them every day while I was supposed
to be working." Her eyes twinkled. Say it. You know it's the truth.
"I'm already looking forward to seeing them again next year."
Dev tried to hide the
smile on her face by pursing her lips together, which didn't work. So then she
bit the inside of her cheek. But that only held it at bay for a second or two.
She had the nearly overwhelming urge to jump up and down like a little kid and
scream, 'Thank you, Lord!' Instead, she reached out and pulled Lauren closer,
kissing the tip of her nose. The relief that flooded through her was almost
enough to knock her off her feet. She needed something to hold on to.
"You're not looking forward to it nearly as much as I am,
sweetheart."
Thursday, August 12th
Dev knocked on the
door with her elbow. She let out a disgusted breath even as she glanced at the
heavy crate in her arms. Leaning the box against the wall, she lifted her hand
to knock again, but the crate shifted, and she decided she shouldn't risk it. The
President set the box down and pounded on the door with her fist. "Come
on, Strayer! I know you're in there. You and that little demon you live with
can run but you can't hide!" She narrowed her eyes at a passing staffer
whom she swore had sniggered at her.
Lauren pulled the
door open and tugged her glasses from her face. "I was on the phone with
the Attorney General. Did you know she thinks you're cute?"
Dev smirked. "I
am cute. But would you like to see what is not cute?" She bent over and
retrieved the box. "Well? Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"Oh, sure."
Lauren stepped aside so Dev could fit past her. She cocked her head and looked
at the crate "What's up, Devlyn?"
"Where's that
little monster you live with?"
"Grem?" She
shrugged. "I'm not sure. He's around here somewhere." That was a lie,
and she knew it. Lauren had seen him scoot his chubby butt under her bed an
hour ago. She wasn't one hundred percent certain he was still there. But then
again, she hadn't seen him crawl out either. The poor pooch had been so
despondent lately, she just didn't think he was up to a showdown with Devlyn.
"Why?" she asked warily. What have you done now, Grem?!
"Because I
intend to sue him for pupamoney. Or pup support! Or, or, arghhhhh...
something!"
Oooo, there's that
little pulsing vein in her forehead again. "What are you talking
about?" Lauren chuckled.
Dev flipped the lid
off the crate to reveal an enormous, bloated, miserably pregnant Pomeranian.
The female lifted her tired head and whimpered softly, before letting it drop
to the bottom of the crate in defeat. "You remember my mom's prized, pure
breed, show dog?" Dev tapped her foot impatiently. "This is all
that's left of her!"
Lauren burst out
laughing and backed up a step from a glaring Dev. "I'm sorry! I'm
sorry!" She continued to laugh.
"It's not funny!
I'm in trouble with my mom. If she could reach my butt with her wooden spoon,
it would be bright red by now!"
Dev's comments did
nothing to curb Lauren's snorts of laughter. "Your mother will forgive you
anything, and you know it. Besides, how do you know he did this?" she
challenged uselessly, covering her smile with her hand. "He couldn't have
been the only male dog in the area."
Dev lifted an
eyebrow. "Look how unhappy she is." She pointed to the dog whose
enormous belly forced her to lie on her side like a mutant pig. "Only
sleeping with Gremlin could make a dog look that pathetic!"
Lauren rolled her
eyes. But when she peeked down at the former champion again, she couldn't help
but wince. "Oooooo... that's why I'm never having children." Time to
face the music, buddy. But I'd be more afraid of facing that Pomeranian than
Devlyn. Lauren turned her head and gave a soft whistle. "Gremlin, get your
snaggle-toothed little ass out here."
The pudgy beast
slowly crawled out from under the bed. Suddenly, he stopped and sniffed the
air. His tail began to wag furiously, and he broke into what almost resembled a
run. Unfortunately, he wasn't very good at almost running, and hit the crate
head on, causing Dev and Lauren to jump back in surprise. But Gremlin's face
was already basically flat, so he was completely unaffected. His chunky rear
end wiggled wildly as he tried to use stubby back legs to climb into the crate.
The Pomeranian,
'Princess', began to whine, and her tail began to wag too, thumping
rhythmically against the bottom of the crate.
"Ah ha!"
Dev accused.
"That's not
proof!" Lauren cringed when the rotund Pom tried to sit up to greet her
now howling pet. "Okay," she admitted, "that's proof."
The writer took pity
on Grem and hoisted him up into the crate, setting him gently next to Princess.
That wasn't an easy task, considering lifting Gremlin was like lifting a small
torpedo, and both dogs were shaking so hard it looked like they were having spasms.
"Well, what do ya know?"
The dogs immediately
started nuzzling each other, with Gremlin purring like a cat the entire time.
"He looks so
happy now! They must have been missing each other." Awwww… Grem
you romantic devil, you. You were pining for your sweetheart all this time.
"Isn't that sweet, Devlyn?"
"Yeah," Dev
agreed flatly. "Real sweet."
"Looks like
Grem's gonna be a daddy." Lauren smiled at the President. "I guess
that makes you an aunt."
"Wrong! They are
all yours." Dev enunciated each word carefully. "Grem is yours, and
he got her pregnant. Have fun, 'grandma'. My mother has disowned the little
tramp, and I certainly don't want them."
But the sparkle in
pale blue eyes gave Dev away. She wasn't too mad, and Lauren knew it. She moved
closer to Dev and rose up on tiptoe, giving Dev a tender kiss on the cheek.
When she pulled away she could see a definite softening in the President's
expression. "Don't be mad." She kissed Dev again, this time on the
chin. "How can you be angry at true love? Please."
Dev fought to hold
onto her indignation and anger, but they were melting faster than snow cones on
the Fourth of July. "Tease," Dev grumbled petulantly. She made one
last ditch effort to maintain her angry pose and failed miserably. Again.
"Uh huh."
Lauren's expression was unrepentant. She threaded her fingers together at the
fine nape hairs of Dev's neck and kissed her in earnest.
For a long,
breathless moment, both women forgot about the dogs at their feet.
Devlyn licked her
lips when they separated. "Nice."
Lauren grinned.
"Mmm hmm..."
Gremlin's happy groan
drew both women's attention back to the crate. Lauren scratched her jaw
speculatively. "Well, think about this, Devlyn. The kids can finally have
their own dog."
"Oh, no!"
Dev shook her head vigorously. "We're not taking even one of the demon
spawn from hell. Cerberus and his mate can just find homes for their evil seed
elsewhere."
Lauren glanced down
and made a face. "They are going to make some… er…
ugly puppies."
"You're being
kind."
"I know."
"My mom says any
day now, so I hope you know something 'bout birthin' puppies, Scarlett. Now, if
you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with the Secretary of Health and Human
Services."
"That's great.
Will you pick me up a food stamp application?"
Dev laughed and shook
her head. "Spoken like a true Democrat. And, no, I will not. But I will
gladly pay to get them sterilized."
Gremlin chose that
exact moment to start howling even louder. Princess, however, remained
conspicuously silent.
"Hush,"
Lauren scolded her pooch. Then she stuck out her tongue at Dev. "Spoken
like a true Emancipationist."
"I prefer
Emancipator."
"Oh, is that
so?" Lauren grinned and crossed her arms.
"Oh, absolutely.
Because, my lovely," Dev reached out for Lauren. Speaking in her deepest,
sexiest voice, she said, "I can set you free."
Lauren leaned forward
until her forehead was resting against Dev's chest. She sucked in a deep
breath. "God, I love it when you talk dirty."
Both women began to
laugh.
Friday, August 13th
Dev pushed herself
away from her desk and tossed her pen down, clearly upset. God, everything
about this made her sick.
Special Prosecutor
Miller leaned forward eagerly in his chair, causing it to squeak as he braced
his forearms on the desk. His eyes took on a predatory glint. "We need to
make a statement to the nation."
Dev's jaw worked.
"How many times do I have to repeat that this isn't about the nation. It's
about a fifteen-year-old boy!"
"A fifteen-year-old
who tried to assassinate the President!" David closed his eyes and shook
his head. He just knew Dev was going to react this way. "Madam President,
I'm sorry, but I agree with Special Prosecutor Miller on this one."
"Better watch
out, David. The A.C.L.U. is gonna want your membership card back for
that."
Miller squared his
shoulders. "This is a serious issue, Madam President."
Dev's face went stone
cold. "You don't need to remind me of that, Mr. Miller."
David broke in,
hoping to forestall an argument. "He was old enough to buy a gun on the
street, plan the crime for weeks, sneak in the weapon without being detected by
the Secret Service or any other damned security, and shoot you three times.
Those aren't the actions of a child, Madam President."
"Our briefs are
ready. Our position is strong. I'm certain we'll win," Miller said
confidently.
"This shouldn't
be about winning and losing. You're talking about putting someone who is too
young to shave, and spends more money on pimple medication than gasoline, into
a maximum security federal penitentiary for the rest of his life."
"With all due
respect, Madam President, my job is to prosecute." Miller braced his large
hands on Dev's desk and stood. He'd had about all he could take. Every step of
the way the President had insisted that he justify not only his office's
investigation methods, but his tactical decisions as Special Prosecutor. If this
was how Devlyn Marlowe was acting now, she'd be testifying for the defense by
the time the case went to trial! The man stepped around the side of the desk,
and Dev rose to her feet to meet his challenging stance. "My job isn't to
do what's best for Louis Henry. He's got three attorneys who are safeguarding
his rights very nicely, thank you."
"That's enough,
Bill!" It wasn't that David disagreed with him. But he could see that Dev
was about to boil over. And arguing wasn't going to get them anywhere.
"I agree that
Louis Henry is dangerous and should be kept in jail for as long as possible.
I'm reminded of it every time I look in the mirror." She reached up and
traced the fine scare that ran along her left temple. "I just think that a
federal penitentiary is the wrong place for him now. Certainly we can find
something else."
"Would you
excuse us for a minute?" David gestured towards the door with his head.
"I'd like to speak with the President alone for a moment."
"Of
course." Miller stepped away and marched angrily out of Dev's office.
Dev settled back in
her chair, tapping her fingers on the soft leather. "You're gonna yell at
me aren't you, David? I can tell. The veins in your neck are all bloated, and
your voice has that little squeak to it. Beth was right. You are in the heart
attack danger years."
David grunted with
frustration, not wanting to smile at his friend's joke. He did not want to say
what he was going to say next. Sometimes my job just sucks. "It will make
you look weak by not going after Henry with both barrels."
Dev drew in a quick
breath.
The Chief of Staff
held up his hands. "Hold your horses, Devil! And for once let me
finish."
Her mouth snapped
shut.
"Every political
talk show in the nation has already speculated as to why we haven't made this
move sooner. The Republicans started grumbling three weeks ago. Now, even the
more conservative Democrats are joining in. You're pushing a crime bill that
includes your DNA legislation right now. It's not the time to appear soft on
crime!"
"David."
"I'm not
through. I know you don't like Miller. He's aggressive and arrogant, and he's
very damned good at his job. But this time he's right, Dev. Louis Henry belongs
in prison. Not some juvenile detention center. I really believe that, separate
and apart from the political implications."
Dev crossed her arms
over her chest and lifted her eyebrows. "Can I say something now?"
"Uh, yeah."
David rubbed the back of his neck with his palm.
"If this is only
about the boy, and not about my crime package, then why the little
speech?"
David shrugged.
"You pay me to tell you the political reality of things. This time, what's
best for you also happens to be the best thing for the case. You need to trust
your people."
Dev couldn't take
David's brown eyes boring into hers, so she got up from her desk and moved over
to the window, gazing out at the clear blue sky. She gave herself a mental kick
in the ass and then spoke. "I just hate this, David. I can't stop thinking
about my kids. It's like his prosecution has struck some sort of nerve or
something. I can only imagine what Louis' parents must be going through. No,
wait. I can't imagine that."
"And you feel
guilty for going after him because right now it's going to help you."
"Yes." Dev
turned to face her best friend, at a loss as to what to say. She knew that if
she pushed matters, she could get her way on this. But she never brushed off
David's recommendations. They were too valuable and almost never wrong.
"You think I'm too close to this, and it's affecting my judgment,
right?"
"Yes."
"And that I
should back off."
"Yes."
"And to let
Miller make his motion, and let the court decide whether Louis Henry should be
tried as an adult."
"Yes."
"And enjoy the
political benefits without guilt."
"Yes."
Dev sighed heavily.
"These conversations are always so enlightening, David. Let's have one
again real soon."
David chuckled.
"I'm sure we will. Well," David clapped his hands together, "I
suppose I should get him."
"I
suppose." Dev smiled when, instead of heading for the door, David joined
her at the window and put his hand on her shoulder. "You do realize that
Liza is probably going to buzz me sometime in the next thirty seconds. I'm
already running late for my next appointment."
"True."
"Well, it's not
like you to waste even a few seconds when you could be picking my brain. So,
what earth-shattering thing do you wanna know?"
A broad grin shaped
David's lips. "Where exactly is Lauren's tattoo."
Saturday, August 14th
Dev was grinning like
the Cheshire cat when she offered Lauren her hand and gallantly helped her out
of the limousine. "You know it's official now, don't you? The Press will
be all over us again." She linked arms with Lauren, and with exaggerated
slowness, began walking her towards the White House steps. They stopped often
and took a wide path to the house, letting the evening breeze rustle their hair
and dresses.
Lauren leaned into
Dev, gripping her bicep with her other hand. "After an evening like tonight,
Madam President, the Press can go to hell. I don't care what they write about
us."
Dev laughed at
Lauren's spirited reply. "Don't go giving them carte blanche, or they'll
be relentless."
"And they aren't
usually?"
"Good point.
When
The answer came more
easily than she thought it would. "Absolutely." Her integrity as
Dev's biographer would come under heavy fire. But hadn't it already? Devlyn
would stand by her, and she knew in her heart that she was up to that
challenge. What she felt for Dev, how she felt about herself when they were
together… it was worth the hardship.
Yes! Dev wondered if her
cheeks would sustain permanent damage if her grin grew any wider. She was so
proud at the moment it nearly hurt. But she tucked the feeling away as one of
the most important in her life. "Are you tired? Could I buy you a
nightcap?" Dev wiggled her brows. "I happen to have an incredibly
expensive brandy hidden in my room."
Lauren looked up at a
sky full of a million twinkling stars. But tonight she didn't envy their
position in the heavens. Tonight, things right here on Earth were pretty damned
magical. They'd gone to dinner and the theater. The food had been fabulous, the
performance had brought her to tears, and the company had been better still.
The Secret Service had been there, as always, but ever since Dev's shooting she
found it hard to resent their presence. Lauren laughed to herself. Maybe I'm
just getting used to this whole crazy life. No – not 'getting used
to', just doing a better job of accepting the realities.
Despite the fact that
this had been Lauren and Dev's first public event as a couple, when a normally
reclusive rock star had shown up at the performance, to Lauren and Dev's
delight, he'd received most of the attention. Lauren suddenly wondered if that
was really dumb luck, or the machinations of a certain lanky brunette who was known
to pull out all the stops when she really wanted something.
"I'm feeling
nothing but wonderful right now, Devlyn." She bumped hips with the older
woman. "I'm not tired at all. And I'd love to have a drink with you. But
before I do, there's something terribly important that you should know."
"And that would
be what, Ms. Strayer?" Dev removed the silk scarf from around her neck and
draped it over Lauren's shoulders, allowing her fingertips to linger.
"Don't tell me you have a jealous boyfriend who's going to show up
tonight, and who I'm gonna have to punch in the nose?"
Lauren grasped Dev's
hand and lifted it, examining her long fingers in the moonlight. "Have you
ever actually done that?" she asked curiously. "Punched somebody, I
mean?"
"Well, maybe
once or twice… but I swear only when that person deserved it."
"Tch."
Lauren's gave Dev's arm a little pull but didn't let go of her hand. "I
don't know whether I believe that or not. I've never seen you so much as lift a
hand to the kids. And you haven't pummeled the Secretary of Defense senseless,
not that he has very far to go." While Devlyn did have the Devil's own
temper when provoked, a gentle – even sensitive – woman
lurked underneath. Lauren wondered what it would take for Dev to get mad enough
to resort to violence.
Dismissing such
serious musings, the writer sucked in a deep breath. The late summer air was
still warm and humid. And the aroma of fresh flowers floated on the breeze. She
almost regretted taking the last few steps into the White House and out of the
evening air. "What I wanted to tell you, was that I hate brandy. Always
have. Don't suppose it would be possible to get something complicated, like a
perfectly aged, frosty mug of rootbeer?"
"Hmmm…"
Dev pretended to think. She nodded. "Yeah, I think I can handle that
order. Or at least the kitchen staff can. Maybe we'll make it two, and I'll
throw in a little ice cream in mine."
"Ooooo... you've
finally hit upon my idea of decadence, Madam President." Lauren smiled her
greeting to several cleaning staff members who were polishing the staircase
railings with practiced hands and gossiping about their favorite soap opera
couples. She lifted the hem of her dress as she ascended the stairs, easily
navigating them in high heels but wishing she were in sneakers nonetheless.
"Should I change first?"
"Hmm, tell you
what. You come with me, and I'll loan you a set of very baggy, Presidential
sweats if you'd like. That's what I'm changing into." Dev turned her head
and whispered into Lauren's ear. "There's only one thing more
comfortable."
Lauren shivered at
the feeling of Dev's hot breath tickling her ear. "If you say something
with the word 'naked' in it," she paused to fan her cheeks, "I'm
going to jump your bones right here in the hallway. I swear I will,
Devlyn."
"And this is a
deterrent exactly how?" Dev laughed, tightening her grip on Lauren's hand.
"You have such a dirty mind. So I guess I'll just have to make sure I
don't say naked until we actually get to my room. Wouldn't want to give anyone
a show."
"Liar."
"Now, now, Ms.
Strayer." Dev's voice held a solemn but teasing note. "Have I done
anything to make you think I would be anything but a very private and very
passionate lover?" She waited until a lovely, pink blush crept slowly up
Lauren's cheeks and greeted her words. Damn, she's adorable. Wish I knew what
she was thinking.
Lauren swallowed
hard. Okay, you started this. Don't chicken out now. "Honestly, Devlyn,
I'm not sure. You haven't given me any clear signal one way or the other when
it comes to..." She bit her tongue, then whispered, "You know."
There. That was clear as mud.
Over the past two
months the women had kissed. A lot. A whole lot. But things hadn't progressed
beyond that. For the most part, Lauren was grateful. It had given her time to
come to terms with certain truths about herself, and about what any romantic
relationship with Devlyn would really be like. The taller woman was amazingly
patient about the whole thing. Or absolutely terrified. Lauren couldn't tell
which. But she was never rushed. Never pushed for more. The problem was, Lauren
really wasn't nearly as patient as Dev. And as her anxieties about a more
intimate, physical relationship with Dev lessened, her libido began to squawk.
Loudly.
Then there was that
damned book! There were only so many times a woman could read The Joy of
Lesbian Sex before needing to try some of those things out. Lauren's mental
picture of her and Dev doing what was talked about on page 212 was nearly
enough to make her brain explode. Oh, yeah. She especially wanted to try that.
"What does 'you
know' mean?" Dev tormented more. "No, no, I'm not sure what you're
referring to at all." She chuckled wickedly as they turned down another
corridor. "Skiing, knitting…" She opened the door to her private
suite and turned a single standing lamp on. It cast the women in long shadows,
but was more than enough to see by.
"Bitch."
"Is that any way
to address the President of the United States? Tsk, tsk, little girl. I may
just have to spank you for that." The door wasn't even shut yet, and Dev
was kicking off her high heels. One sailed all the way across the room, hitting
the wall with a dull thud. "Yuck. No wonder I never wear those. I don't
know how you even stand those short ones you're always wearing. Ahhh, that's
soooo much better," she moaned throatily as she closed her eyes and
wiggled her toes.
The sound of Dev's
low moan and the sight of her in that black, fitted dress, head thrown back,
eyes closed, was more than enough to send every single drop of blood in
Lauren's body stampeding south. "Sweet Jesus," she muttered, licking
suddenly dry lips. "You really are trying to kill me, aren't you?"
Dev opened her eyes
and marched over to the writer, who was now perched on the arm of the couch.
She bent down and brushed her lips against Lauren's, teasing the tender skin
around her mouth with nips and little licks. When they were both breathing
raggedly Dev pulled back and swallowed hard, nearly undone by her own game.
"Nope. I'm not teasing you at all," she lied blatantly, walking
toward the dresser on slightly wobbly legs.
Lauren whimpered.
"I repeat: liar." She smiled at Dev's responding chuckle. "I
hate to do this to myself, Ms. Tease. But I'm afraid I'm going to need
someone's help with these buttons. Emma was around when I got dressed
earlier." Lauren shifted, showing Dev a row of tiny pearl buttons that
worked their way from the top of her buttocks to her mid back. "I can
reach them all, but they're teensy tiny and murder on my nerves. Would you mind
giving me a hand?"
It would be my
pleasure! "Now who's teasing whom?" Dev moved in behind Lauren and
very slowly began unbuttoning her dress. "But remember, my dear," she
swept Lauren's hair off of her neck and leaned in to taste the skin there,
"I don't lose gracefully." She gently undid each button, letting the
back of her fingers graze over baby soft skin that hadn't been touched that way
in far too long.
"Devlyn."
Lauren groaned, her eyes growing hooded. Her blood began to pulse hotter in her
veins, even though she knew this was Dev exacting her revenge at her request to
undo the dress. Unfortunately, her body didn't seem to care. "Be
nice," she ground out. "You… um… said something
about sweats."
"Sure did."
Dev nuzzled the writer's neck for just a second more before giving it a little
nip and undoing the last button. She ran her hand up Lauren's bare back before
turning on her heel and heading for her bathroom. "You know where I keep
them. Help yourself." Oh, God, I need a cold drink of water…
poured over my head.
Lauren took a deep
breath. She cracked open her eyes and watched as Dev disappeared into the
bathroom. "Evil. Just plain evil," she whispered.
A big part of Lauren
wanted to follow Dev into the bathroom. With the slightest push she suspected
they'd end up in bed together. But Dev seemed content to play and tease, going
forward steadily, but very slowly. Lauren could do that. She hoped. A moment of
doubt assailed her, and she laughed at herself, certain that once her body's
blood flow directed itself back towards her brain, she'd be okay.
The blonde woman was
rolling up the sleeves on one of Dev's sweatshirts when the President exited
the bathroom wearing a navy blue, fleece robe. Gone was her dress, make up and
jewelry. The hair around her face was slightly damp, and she looked comfortable
and content.
In the time Dev had
been in the bathroom, Lauren's body temperature had managed to drop to normal.
In fact, that, combined with the White House's powerful air conditioner, and
Lauren was surprised to find herself fighting off a chill. She dressed, smiling
as the soft material warmed her skin. In truth, she plain enjoyed wearing Dev's
sweats. For one, they were Dev's and smelled different than her clothes did,
despite the fact that, like Emma and the Marlowe family, she used the White
House's laundry service. The second reason was it really ticked Michael Oaks
off when he saw her sharing things with the President. She smirked inwardly.
Bite me, you anal retentive prick.
Dev looked at Lauren
and told her with a gesture to turn around as she pulled another set of sweats
out of the dresser. The writer dutifully turned and faced the door, but peeked
over her shoulder just as Dev disrobed.
"Eyes front,
Strayer," Dev teased while pulling on her pants.
Lauren squeaked as
her head snapped forward. But she'd already gotten a nice look at an absolutely
marvelous backside. Her mind strayed to their time in the Marlowe cabin in
Ohio. Oooo…this is like a sexy puzzle that I get to put together
piece by piece. And at the end… oh, my. An enormous smile curled her
lips at the delicious thought.
The strong hands on
her shoulders startled her out of her thoughts. "Still want that root
beer?"
"Uh huh."
Lauren nodded, before turning around. Chapter Six was all about how to use
food…stop it! Just stop it! You'll drive yourself insane.
Dev's bedroom was
large and spacious, and they settled in a sitting area on a large, padded sofa,
cuddled close together. They'd done this many times before, especially when Dev
had something on her mind and just needed someone to talk to. Both women were
comfortable with it, and it spoke of their growing camaraderie and intimacy as
friends. Lauren pulled her legs up and leaned her head against Dev's shoulder.
She sighed as the
familiar weight of Dev's arm settled around her. "The play was wonderful.
Thank you for taking me out tonight."
"Oh, it was my
pleasure. Trust me. I'm glad we've gotten to a point where we can go out in
public. The Press is going to go nuts. But I'm hoping it will be short lived.
The conservatives will be up in arms. We'll take some heat and be called nasty
names. But if we keep our heads down and stay low, the storm will blow
over."
"I trust you,
Devlyn."
"Glad to hear
it, Mighty Mouse."
Lauren's eyes strayed
to the mantel where a photograph of the Marlowe children was proudly displayed.
She smiled at the sight. They had been so sweet, trying to cheer her up after
her mother's suicide. Especially Ashley. They'd made her cards and showered her
with drawings for her room. But in her heart Lauren didn't really think it was
fair of them to equate the loss of their mother with hers. She'd had 31 years
to get to know her mother and failed. These sweet children were robbed of that
chance all too soon. "Tell me about Samantha, Devlyn," Lauren was
surprised to hear herself ask. "You don't talk about her much."
Dev tensed briefly
and unconsciously pulled Lauren a little closer. "She was a political
science major when we met in college, and she was three years older than I was.
David and Beth set us up, and we kind of fell for each other right away. We
dated for about a year before I proposed. And soon after, we had a commitment
ceremony." Dev began stroking Lauren's arm with her fingertips.
She glanced at
Lauren, who looked genuinely interested, so she reluctantly continued.
"Eight years
after that, as soon as it became legal in Ohio, we had a short civil service.
But we were already married in our hearts. We had three kids, and I loved her
very much." A bittersweet smiled edged its way onto Dev's lips. "You
two would have been great friends." She shrugged. "I don't think
there's really anything else to say."
Lauren frowned and
shifted in Dev's arms until they were facing each other and she could look into
Dev's eyes when she spoke. "I think you're wrong. I think there is a lot
to say about someone who was obviously so important in your life."
Dev shrugged again,
dark brows drawing together. "I guess there is. I just wouldn't know what
to say."
Quiet and unseeing,
Devlyn stared at the far wall for so long that Lauren decided to change the
subject. She opened her mouth to speak when Dev's low burr pierced the silence
of the room.
"Sam was the
only person I ever trusted enough to give myself to completely. She held who I
was in the palm of her hand and the core of her heart. She intrigued my mind,
challenged my soul, and soothed my body and spirit. When she died, I was sure I
had lost those things forever." She looked at the woman in her arms and
smiled softly. "But I think I may have found them again."
Soothed her body and
spirit? Jesus. I thought you didn't know what to say! Lauren tried to smother
the bolt of jealously that lanced through her at those words. You asked her,
Lauri. Now suck it up and live with her answer. You knew she loved her like
that. But somehow, it was different hearing it from Dev's own lips.
The smaller woman
unconsciously pulled away from Dev.
"Oh, God, I'm so
sorry." She closed her eyes. Too much, fool! That was too much! "I
didn't mean... I mean... I didn't want you to be hurt or upset." Fuck!
Fuck! Fuck! Dev moved forward as Lauren retreated, not wanting to let her get
away. "How can I make it right, Lauren? I don't want you to be jealous of
Sam. She was a part of my life, yes. But a part that is now over and
long," she paused, feeling the beginnings of tears, "dead." She
wiped her face. "I know I need to get on with my life, and I want to get
on with my life with you."
Lauren moved her
hands through the shadows and wiped away Dev's tears with gentle fingers.
"I didn't mean to upset you. I'm the one who should be sorry, not you. I
want to know about her." She turned painfully open, gray eyes on her
friend. "That was just a little hard to hear. It caught me off guard. But
it was beautiful, and I'm so glad you had that... and have the kids." She
smiled weakly and cupped Dev's cheeks. "I'm the one who asked you about
her, right? So it's okay. I promise," she whispered. Lauren leaned forward
and softly kissed Dev's wet cheeks, tasting the salty remnants of tears.
Thank God. "I
don't want to make you feel any less special or important in my life. And I
certainly don't want you to feel like you're competing with her, because you're
not." Dev took a deep breath. In for a dollar... Since we're already
talking about Samantha, I might as well go all the way. If she's going to think
I'm a complete idiot, she might as well have all the facts. "Okay, I'm
going to confess something that very few people know about me. Remember when
Beth asked me that sex question during our game at the cabin?"
Lauren blinked,
trying to follow what appeared to be a radical change in subject. She gave a
slow nod. "Of course."
Dev shrugged, a
little embarrassed. "Well, I told you that I'd only been with one person.
So that was obviously Samantha."
Lauren nodded again,
still confused. "I assumed that."
"Well, not only
was she my one and only. Umm... we waited."
The writer looked at
Dev questioningly. "For permission?" she hazarded wildly, not having
a clue as to what Dev was trying to say.
Dev frowned.
"Permission? Why would we need permission from anyone? We were both grown
women. No, we waited until we were married. Well, I was waiting; she was
complaining to mom," Dev tried to joke. I have never felt so incredibly
ridiculous in all my life. She rubbed her hands on her sweats, wishing she
didn't sound so backward. So old-fashioned. Lauren was outgoing and
adventurous. There was no way in hell she could find this attractive in a
potential partner. "I don't know why. I was young, and it's something I
didn't – I still don't – take lightly." Dev stopped
and braced herself, praying Lauren wouldn't laugh.
She didn't. Instead,
her mouth formed a tiny 'O'. "Wow," she finally muttered. Dev had
just made several things very clear to Lauren, although she still wanted to
shine a light on a few fuzzy parts. "So is it like a religious or a moral
thing? I-"
"No. Just a 'Dev
is a nut' thing. I don't just want sex, Lauren. I want it all. I want to make
love and be in love with the person I'm with. I don't think I could fully enjoy
the physical side thinking that there was nothing more to it."
Lauren sudden
straightened. "Is that how you feel about us?" She blinked stupidly.
"Like there's nothing more to it?"
"No!" Dev
blurted out a little louder than she intended. "That's not it at all. I
just wanted to explain. You know I like to tease and play and all. And I love
that we can have fun that way, without pressure or expectations. But that
doesn't mean there isn't more behind it. Especially when it comes to you,
Lauren."
Lauren smiled tentatively,
enjoying the fire behind Dev's words.
"My mother, of
course, thinks I've lost my mind and all but told me to take you and ravish
you." She smiled back at Lauren reflexively. "And don't think I
haven't thought about it." Dev groaned, "Because I have. A lot. More
than a lot." She swallowed hard. "I haven't tried anything more
because my emotions for you run so deep that I can't bear the thought of taking
advantage of you. Does that make any sense to you at all?"
Pale brows shot
skyward. "No! What in God's name are you talking about? Taking advantage
of me?"
Dev sighed. Of course
it doesn't. "Sweetheart, I just wanted you to know that you mean so much
to me that I want to be really careful. You and the kids are the most important
things in my life, and I don't want to rush or take chances with any of
you." She dropped her hands into her lap. "My mom says I need to
lighten up." She smiled self-deprecatingly. "I'm just not sure I know
how. I want to go slow. I want to be careful. I care about you too much to do
anything else. This is the way I've always been."
"There's nothing
wrong that way, Devlyn." Lauren gently reached out for Dev's hand and
smoothly intertwined their fingers. "It's really very sweet." And I
am hopelessly in love you.
"Face it. It's
old-fashioned, and I know I sound like a complete fool. But I want you to know
how much you mean to me." Devlyn gathered her courage and looked Lauren
squarely in the eye. She drew in a deep breath. "Lauren, the reason I'm
saying these things to you is that I want you to understand how important you
are in my life." Dev swallowed hard. "I care for you very, very much.
Over the course of the last few months I've definitely realized that I'm
totally in lo-"
An alarm rang out,
causing both women to nearly jump out of their skins. "Madam
President," a rapid, unfamiliar male voice spoke over the rarely used
intercom system, "we need you in the Situation Room. Code One."
"Damn!" Dev
leaned forward and kissed Lauren quickly. "I've got to go. We'll finish
this as soon as I can, I promise." Dev was off the couch and to the front
door before Lauren could say a word. As the door closed she could see Dev being
surrounded by advisors and heard the word 'bombing'.
* * *
The Situation Room
was buzzing when Dev pushed open the heavy door. The men and women in the room
were in various states of dress that ranged from Michael Oak's khaki pants and
pressed polo shirt to the director of the FBI's jogging shorts and academy sweatshirt.
Everyone who was seated immediately jumped to his feet. "At ease."
God that was annoying, especially when she knew there were far more important
things to deal with.
"When did the
last one go off?" Blue eyes flickered to a large screen displaying a map
of the Unites States with five areas lit up in bright red. To the left of the
screen, were five live holographic images of the sites with a city name
hovering directly above them.
The Secretary of
Defense and the National Security Advisor entered the room with David hot on
their heels. Dev turned to face them. "Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen,
it's going to be a wild night." She shook her head and pointed to the map.
"Five bombings from coast to coast, all within the last hour."
"Military or
terrorist?"
"My guess is
terrorist," Secretary of Defense Brendwell jumped in. "Our military
checks are already coming back negative. Though we've still got about 20% to
go."
David ran a hand
through his short, disheveled hair. "Foreign or domestic?"
"We don't know
yet."
David glanced around
the room. "How and why?" He tossed his briefcase on the table and
began rolling up his sleeves. When no one answered his question he barked,
"Anyone?"
The Director of the
FBI cleared her throat. "We don't know, sir. No one has come forward to
claim responsibility."
"Yet,"
David clarified. "You don't know yet."
"Yes, sir."
Dev winced at the
live image shots of several firefighters heading straight into the billowing
flames of one of the buildings. "Get Press Secretary Allen out of bed and
get her over here. We're going to need a lot of damage control on this. And
where in the hell are the Directors of the DEA and ATF and the Secretary of the
Treasury!" Dev yelled as another paper listing the exact bombing times and
locations was placed in her hands. "And somebody find me a pair of socks
or something!"
"Everyone is on
their way, Madam President," came the answer from the back of the room.
"Okay, what do
we have here?" Dev pointed to the screen, but looked at a young man to her
left. He wore a U.S. Army uniform.
"In reverse
order of attack; a post office in New York City, an IRS building in Atlanta, a
federal courthouse in Dallas, a junior high school in Portland, and a shopping
mall in San Diego."
She glanced up at the
clocks on the wall, looking until she found the one telling her it was just
after 11:00 P.M. on the West Coast. She cursed to herself; the stores would
have just been closing about the same time as the explosion. "Injuries in
the mall?"
"We're just
starting to get casualty reports now, ma'am. But there are reports of dead or
wounded coming in from each of the sites or adjacent buildings." The young
man reached over and picked up the ringing phone next to him.
"David!"
Dev whirled around to find her Chief of Staff in the jostling crowd. "Not
good enough! We need this contained now!"
"We're on it,
Dev!" his voice called back even though she never saw his face.
"Wake up every
damned staffer we have if you need to. I want every piece of information
available. Get me the mayors of the cities in question, and the governor of
each state, on the phone."
Dev headed for the
small room at the side of the larger one that was her own personal command
center. Just before she entered she felt something being pressed into her
hands. She looked down to see a fresh pair of white socks. Before she had a
chance to even utter a small thanks, the person who'd handed them to her was
swallowed up by the crowded room.
Monday, August 16th
The President rubbed
her temples and took another sip of coffee. She eyed the omelet that had been
placed before her. Dev wasn't hungry, but she could hear Emma's scolding voice
blaring in her brain, 'Eat! You won't be any good to anyone if you don't eat.'
She picked up the fork and cut away a small bite, placing it in her mouth and
chewing slowly as she scanned one of the reports in front of her.
She wasn't a hundred
percent sure, but she believed it had been at least thirty-six hours since she
had stepped into the Situation Room. She'd only been out once; to give a brief
prepared statement to the Press. Since then, she'd been hunkered down at her
desk, working like a dog, making sure the world knew what a safe place the
United States was, and how she would most certainly bring to justice the
bastards that had called the nation's safety into question.
Among a million and
one other things, this required phone call after phone call, video conference
after video conference, sitting in on strategy sessions with her advisors and
department heads, and continuing to deal with just as many of her normal duties
as was possible. God, there aren't enough hours in the day. She was grateful,
at least, that the children had Emma and Lauren, who she knew would spend a
little extra time with them, just because she couldn't. That was one thing she
wouldn't have to worry about.
"Don't,"
she grumbled to the staffer who was about to place a glass of orange juice in
front of her. "Please. I hate the stuff. It gives me heartburn. Milk. A
large glass of milk."
The young man nodded
quickly. "Yes, Madam President."
They'd been lucky so
far. Although Dev never thought the word 'luck' was an appropriate one when it
came to a situation like this one. Five bombs had gone off and only six people
had been killed and twenty injured. Only. It's not 'only' when one of those
people is someone you love. By all accounts, it should have been so much worse
in San Diego, but part of the explosive device had failed to go off. The junior
high school in Portland had been nearly flattened, but even the janitorial
staff had all gone home by the time the bomb had detonated. The community,
however, was reeling.
While still wholly
unjustifiable, Dev could almost understand the bombings in New York City,
Atlanta, and Dallas. Those were all government buildings; always a favorite of
terrorists. The two civilian targets, however, made no sense whatsoever, and
this pissed her off more than anything.
When the door opened
again, the Attorney General entered the room. She looked as tired as Dev felt.
"Coffee's fresh." Dev pointed to the carafe in front of her.
"If I take
another drink of coffee, it'll be oozing out my pores, and my husband won't
come near me for weeks."
Dev chuckled and
rested her chin on her fist. "Nah, that's just a nasty rumor started by
people who sell tea." Her good humor faded quickly, and she blew out a
frustrated breath. "I need good news. Please tell me you have some good
news."
"There's very
little good news in a situation like this. But we have our top people deployed
at every scene."
Dev nodded. "Do
we know anything yet? Are they connected? If you feel the need to lie just so
that I feel better, I won't resent it in the least."
"Well, that at
least, is something we do know. Preliminary reports show that the explosive
devices in Atlanta, San Diego and New York were nearly identical. We're still
waiting on the results from the other two cities. But, for now at least, it
looks like the same person, or group, is responsible."
"Is that good
news?"
"Most
definitely. One group is easier to round up than two or three."
Dev leaned back and
sighed heavily. "This is true. Well there's some progress at least."
"Yes, ma'am.
We'll get there. "
Dev met the Attorney
General's gaze head on. "Yes. We will." She laid her palms flat on
her desk. "In your professional opinion, is this an all right time for me
to get out of here for a little while, so that I can take a shower and see my
family?"
"Yes, Madam
President. It would be a fine time." The older woman gave Dev a
bittersweet smile. "You've had more challenges in your first eight months
than most Presidents face in four years. You're facing these challenges in a
way that makes me proud to be an American, a woman, and a member of your team.
A lot of people think of you as a hero. I just wanted to take a moment to let
you know that I'm one of them. It's an honor to work with you, Madam
President."
For a moment Dev was
speechless. "Wow," she finally mumbled. "That was one helluva
pep talk. My kids' nanny could learn a lesson from you." Dev's expression
turned serious. "You know I feel the same way about you, Evelyn."
Evelyn squared her
shoulders proudly as her cheeks took on a slightly pink tint. "That's just
because I kick ass and take names."
Dev chuckled.
"Why do you think I appointed you? That's my version of kicking ass."
Evelyn lowered voice.
"We'll get them, Dev. I know it."
Dev nodded as she
rose to her feet. She stretched, rolling her head in a slow circle to get out
the kinks. "I'll be back in a few hours." Dev made a show of sniffing
the air. "I think I tend to offend."
The Attorney General
snorted. "Have you smelled the air in the Situation Room? Why the hell do
you think I'm in here with you?"
* * *
Heading into the
residence, the first things Dev heard were the faint, but delighted squeals of
two children; her brow creased as she wondered what had happened to her
youngest child, whose voice was missing from the mix.
As she made her way
farther down the hall, she realized the sounds were coming from Lauren's room.
She stopped and listened outside the ajar door.
"Is she
okay?" Ashley asked worriedly.
"I think she's
fine," Lauren answered with more confidence than she felt.
Dev rapped on the
door. "Anyone home?" She pushed the door open a little further and
stepped inside. "Is this a private party, or can anyone join the
fun?"
"Mom!"
Christopher jumped up and ran over to his mother, flinging himself into her
arms.
"Hiya,
pal." She groaned quietly as she picked him up. Damned shoulder. Blue eyes
flickered around the room, landing on Aaron, who was on Lauren's bed fast
asleep. She turned back to Ashley and Christopher. "Now, what's causing
all this ruckus? I could hear you half a mile way."
"Puppies!"
Ash grinned. "Princess is having her puppies!"
The tall woman
leveled her gaze at Lauren, who was looking slightly green around the gills but
otherwise in good spirits. "Oh, joy. How many so far?"
Lauren stepped out of
the way to reveal Princess' bed. If Dev strained she could hear the faint
whimpering sound of the mutant baby dogs. "Do you guys need a vet?"
"I don't think
so. Then again, Princess has been silent on the subject." The writer
stepped closer to Dev, leaving Christopher and Ashley leaning over the box
Lauren had placed Princess in.
The little boy and
girl cooed at the squirming puppies and gently stroked their longish, wiry
hair.
Princess grunted and
then let out a long-suffering groan.
"She's had two
so far." Lauren winced. "But I don't think she's finished."
Dev couldn't disagree.
Judging by the sounds coming out of the box, Princess still had a way to go.
"Sucks to be Princess today."
"Oh, yeah."
The shorter woman wrinkled her nose. "But on the bright side, I haven't
thrown up or passed out yet."
A genuine grin
stretched Dev's cheeks. "Wow. I'm impressed."
"You should
be," Lauren teased back.
Dev peeked over
Lauren's head and caught a glimpse of the puppies. "Oh, my God," she
muttered.
"I know,"
Lauren giggled. "Poor things. They didn't inherit all of Grem's good looks.
They look at least part Pomeranian." She mulled that statement over in her
mind for a moment and then amended herself. "Or maybe part alien. One of
the two."
"Grem's good
looks?" Dev flicked Lauren a disgusted look, but chuckled when the tip of
a pink tongue was the blonde's reply.
Of their own accord,
Lauren's arms found their way around Dev's waist, and she placed a gentle kiss
on waiting lips. "How goes it?"
"Not so
well," Dev admitted quietly. "But we're handling it and starting to
make some progress."
"Of course you
are." Lauren cupped Dev's cheek with her palm, and the President leaned
into the comforting touch. "Anything I can do to help?"
Dev glanced at Aaron
who was curled in a tight ball, snoring happily with a thin blanket draped over
him. "You're already doing it, sweetheart. Thank you."
Slate gray eyes went
round and innocent. "Well, I thought they should be here when the puppies
were born."
Devlyn chuckled and
lifted a well-defined eyebrow. "Very sneaky. But we are not taking even a
single one of Grem's babies. Speaking of my arch nemesis..." Dev's gaze
narrowed as it crisscrossed the floor.
Lauren burst out
laughing. "He's hiding under the bed. I tried to get him to come out
earlier, but he's not budging."
Princess whimpered
pitifully as another portly part Pug shifted within her.
Dev shook her head,
cringing at the piteous sound. "Maybe he's smarter than I gave him credit
for." Dev captured the writer's hand and gave it a kiss. "I'm on my
way to get a shower and a changes of clothes. I'll be back in a few minutes. I
don't have a lot of time, but I'd love to spend what I have with the four of
you. How about I meet you in the dining room for a snack in about twenty
minutes?"
Lauren drew the tip
of her finger down Dev's throat, lingering almost imperceptibly at her pulse
point, then coming to rest on her collarbone. "What would you like?"
She looked up at Dev from behind pale lashes.
Dev swallowed hard as
a warm wave of desire washed over her. Damn, she can flirt. She growled and
ducked her head for another quick kiss. "There are lots of things I'd
like. But I guess I'll have to settle for food and good company." She
winked at Lauren before heading towards the kids. Dev gave Christopher and
Ashley a quick kiss on the tops of their heads, trying not to look into the
crate again and risk traumatic blindness. Again. Weren't all puppies supposed
to be cute? "See you guys in a few minutes."
* * *
After a snack of
fresh fruit and milk, they returned to Lauren's room to do a puppy check. Dev
was dismayed to find that Princess had delivered not only a third, but a fourth
puppy. "Holy cow!" she exclaimed, fending off Lauren's playful slaps.
"They are so, so…" she searched her mind for an
appropriate word.
"Cute!"
Aaron provided helpfully, still a little dazed from his nap. He positioned
himself in his mother's lap so that they could peer into the puppy crate
together. "Now there's enough for us each to have our very own!"
And so it
begins… "Aaron, we are not keeping these puppies."
Aaron's bottom lip
immediately poked out. "Awww, Mom…"
"Aw,
Mom…" Lauren echoed him cheekily.
"No." Dev
glared at the writer. She put Aaron down and tried to look firm about her
decision. "No. And that's final." She ignored Lauren's muffled snort.
Gremlin had finally
gathered his courage and was standing on his hind legs, his front paws hanging
over the edge of the crate as he peered down at his growing family. He looked
at Dev and growled in warning, protectively baring his teeth.
Dev only laughed.
"Oh, don't worry about it, buddy. They are all yours." She started
herding the children away from Princess and the squirming puppies so that the
detachment process could begin.
All three kids began
whining and dragging their feet.
Just as Dev was about
to lose control of her brood, Emma poked her head inside Lauren's room. Upon
seeing the impending disaster, she took charge, reining in the Marlowe children
and escorting them out of Lauren's room.
"Thank you,
Emma!" Dev called out to the nanny as the door shut.
When they were alone,
Dev opened her arms and Lauren stepped into them without hesitation. She hummed
her delight at having the smaller woman wrapped tightly in her embrace. They
both stood in total silence. Devlyn needed the wordless comfort, and Lauren was
more than happy to oblige. "Don't suppose we can spend all day like
this," she finally sighed.
The blonde woman
tightened her grip on Dev. "I'm game if you are, darlin'."
Dev smiled into
Lauren's hair, enjoying the light scent of her shampoo and the closeness of a
friendship she'd come to cherish. "I need to get back there."
Lauren let out an
unhappy breath. "I know. I haven't been able to keep up with much that's
been happening. Between the puppies and the kids it's been crazy. I tried not
to have the television going when we were together." She shrugged.
"Ashley heard some people talking and had some questions that I thought
you'd want to answer yourself." She stopped and rubbed her cheek against
Dev's shoulder. "Were very many people hurt and killed?"
"One is too
many. But, yeah, several people were killed. I checked the numbers one more
time before I left the Situation Room, and deaths had gone up to ten and
forty-six injured. Initial numbers weren't as high as we suspected they would
be, but they've been slowly climbing because of injuries in nearby buildings
that weren't initially included in our figures or weren't reported. And some of
the more seriously injured didn't make it." Dev stared at the far wall as
she thought. "I'm going to be pretty busy over the next couple of weeks.
I'll be doing a lot of traveling, meeting with governors, mayors, and community
groups."
"I know."
Lauren's voice took on a no-nonsense tone. "I'm coming with you. It's
important for me to be there for you too, Devlyn. Like you were there for me at
my mom's funeral. Not to mention that it's critical for the book."
Silence.
Lauren frowned, an
uneasy feeling blossoming in the pit of her stomach. "Dev?" Lauren
frowned.
Dev cursed under her
breath and braced herself. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. But it's not safe for
you to come on this trip."
"Oh, no! No, you
don't!" Lauren tried to pull away, but Dev held her tight.
"No." She
set her jaw. "I mean it, so there is no sense in arguing with me on
this." Even though you usually win our arguments. "I'm not going to
clear you for this trip, Lauren. It's too dangerous right now. Lots of people
are scared and upset. And people who are scared and upset do stupid things. I
won't risk your getting hurt."
Lauren's temper began
to rise, and an angry flush started working its way up her neck. "I won't
be coddled! And if it's too dangerous for me, then it's too dangerous for you."
"I don't have a
choice. I can't appear to be afraid to be seen in public. One of the points in
going is to make sure that people see that this administration won't be
bullied." Dev's eyes flashed with anger. "That I won't be bullied.
This is my job."
"And what about
my job?" Lauren snapped back. "The book-"
"Is not worth
risking you over!" Dev consciously lowered her voice and grabbed hold of
her emotions. She knew she was being overly cautious. But she kept thinking of
what she'd already lost and what she wasn't willing to risk. The rational part
of her mind told her that the Secret Service could keep Lauren as safe as they
could keep her. Then again, she'd been shot three times.
"What happened
to unlimited access?" Lauren demanded.
"This is not about
that, and you know it."
Lauren finally pried
herself loose from Dev's embrace. She couldn't get good and pissed off when the
older woman held her in her arms. Lauren needed distance. Even if it was only a
foot or two. She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin defiantly.
"After the assassination attempt we still went places together. Why is
this so different?"
"Because this is
hot on the heels of something that has the public in an uproar. And half of
them are insane on a good day! But when things like this happen, the crazy ones
get even crazier and the extremists more extreme. And that anger is directed at
the piss poor government that they didn't like to begin with. People protest,
people riot. And since yesterday there have been several credible threats made
against me, the Vice President, and Air Force One." Dev threw her hands in
the air. "Now is just not a good time! It's not forever, Lauren. I
promise. God, with everything else that's going on right now, I just can't
handle worrying about you. I couldn't stand losing you too. Please."
Lauren went stone
still. "How credible?"
"Even David is
worried."
"Then you should
stay!"
"I can't. But
you can." Dev's eyes begged her to agree.
The President's words
were soft but fierce, and the biographer felt herself caving in without wanting
to. For God's sake, not the 'sad eyes'. That's not fair!
"Please, just
this once give in. For me. Please," Dev whispered. This was far more than
just business. She was playing on Lauren's affections, and she knew it. But
this wasn't a game, and if Dev had to fight dirty, she would.
The writer could see
real fear in Dev's eyes, and she exhaled explosively, running a slightly shaky
hand through her pale hair. She looked away from Devlyn and bit her tongue to
keep from continuing to protest. Damn, you fight dirty. She scowled at her
options, and when she turned back, intense, gray eyes bore so deeply into the
President that she sucked in a surprised breath. "Swear to me that you'll
do everything David says when it comes to security."
Dev blinked a few
times. She wasn't expecting that. "Uh..."
"Promise,
Devlyn! Or, so help me, I'll follow you around on a commercial plane if I have
to, like some sort of damned groupie!"
Dev nodded, letting
out a long, relieved breath. Yes. Thank you. "I promise."
"I can't believe
I'm letting you get away with this." Lauren shook her head, then pushed
her glasses higher up on her nose. "I'm going to worry about you the
entire time you're gone."
Dev stepped forward,
and, seeing no resistance in Lauren's face, put her arms back around the
smaller woman. "Thank you, Lauren. I know you think this is silly. But I
swear to you it's not."
A pale eyebrow
lifted.
"Okay," Dev
conceded, "not completely silly."
"Just this once,
Devlyn." Lauren sighed. "Next time I'm not letting you off the hook
so easily. We'll duke it out like always."
Dev crossed her
heart. "Next time you can pitch a fit for a long as you want…
and then give in."
"Don't push
it." But Lauren couldn't help but crack a tiny smile.
Dev smiled back and
lifted Lauren's chin so that she was looking deeply into her eyes. She didn't
stop to think about what she was saying, or the fact that she hadn't ever said
it out loud to Lauren before. "I love you so much it hurts," she
whispered fervently. The words dropped effortlessly from her lips. And in that
instant, she wondered why in the hell she had waited so long to say them.
Lauren closed her
eyes and buried her face in the crook of Dev's neck. Hot tears pricked her
eyes, and she let them come. Dev's arms tightened around her, and she sighed,
absorbing the sweet pleasure of the moment. "You-" Lauren stopped and
swallowed hard, collecting herself. "You are shameless and will say
anything to win an argument," she teased weakly. She squeezed Dev hard and
dropped a tender kiss in the hollow of her throat, pulling back to meet
glistening blue eyes. Her heart swelled, and she promised, "I love you
too."
* * *
David handed Dev the
report as soon as she walked into the room. "We've got them, Madam President."
He smiled triumphantly. "A militia group out of Oregon. They claimed
responsibility about twenty minutes ago, and what specifics they let slip about
the bombings were enough to confirm that their claim is legitimate. We've
already got a bead on their location. They've been under minimal surveillance
for months. Although, obviously, we didn't know they were planning anything
like this."
"Everyone
involved in the decision making process, in the Oval Office now," Dev
ordered, already heading for the room herself. She wanted to be comfortable
when she heard this.
She settled in behind
her desk, while everyone else filed in and remained standing. They all stood,
waiting for David, who took a seat across from Dev. The next twenty minutes
were spent briefing Dev about the militia group and the FBI's plan to go in and
'neutralize' them. She asked every question she could think of and soaked up
the intelligence information like a sponge. There were several minor clashes
between agencies over exactly how this 'neutralization' should take place, but
Dev felt those disagreements helped to flesh out important considerations that
shouldn't be ignored.
When the last
briefing was over, Dev remained silent for several moments, absorbing what
she'd been told, her mind running through the several scenarios that had been
laid on the table for her consideration. Finally, she took a deep breath and
said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I need you to step outside for a moment while
I consult with the Chief of Staff." Dev's request was met with murmurs of
agreement, and the room cleared in a matter of seconds.
David studied the
President attentively. "You know what has to be done, Dev." He
sighed, and his gaze dropped to his hands. "We need to take them out
before they do more damage."
"Women and
children?"
The red-haired man
chewed the inside of his cheek. "Yes." David looked at his hands
again. "The Director of the FBI confirmed that there will very likely be
women and children in the compound. Dev, they brought them in months ago as a
'fuck you' to you. The families are there to act as human shields against
government invasion."
"We were just
kids, David, but do you remember Waco?"
"I do, Madam
President, but this is entirely different." His mind flashed to the
television in his parents' living room, filled with images of flames,
explosions, and body bags. "These people have struck out against the
nation as a whole. They've already killed. They are large and organized. We got
very lucky in tracing their location to this Oregon compound. They have 'hidden'
camps all over the country."
Dev scrubbed her face
with her hands. "Jesus Christ." She covered her eyes with her palms
for a moment and then let her hands drop to the tabletop. "Can you call
everyone back in?"
David nodded and
moved quickly. He opened the door and motioned for the group to reenter the
room.
Dev's expression was
firm and grim as she waited for the last man to shut the door behind him before
beginning. "So, are we operating under the theory that if we cut off the
head of the snake, the body will die?"
The Attorney General
set a new file in front of Dev. "Yes, ma'am, that is the current
theory."
Dev pushed away from
the table, rolling her shoulder to alleviate the slight ache that had
developed. Her eyes flickered to each person as she spoke. "Is anyone here
a student of Greek mythology? Does the word Hydra mean anything to you?"
The Director of the
FBI nodded. "Yes, Madam President. The mythical creature had nine heads.
Problem was, if you cut one of them, two grew back."
"Exactly."
Dev waited and let that statement sink into the gathering of men and women.
"One moment please." She turned her attention to the new file,
carefully reading it over and processing. The best choice was clear. But it
made her stomach roil all the same. She closed the manila folder and tossed it
back on the table.
Every set of
expectant eyes trained themselves firmly on her, and she met them head on.
"Go get them, ladies and gentlemen. The first plan was the best. Go with
that, but first incorporate the changes proposed by the ATF. And let's pray
that we get every head of this particular Hydra, so we don't have to worry
about any growing back."
"That's
it!" David announced quickly getting to his feet. "I want the new
plan, with those changes added in, ready for final review by the President in
fifteen minutes. Let's call it," his eyes darted to Dev, then back to his
audience, "Operation: Hydra."
The room emptied
quickly, leaving Dev and David alone. "You okay?" he asked in a low,
concerned voice.
"I may have just
ordered the deaths of innocent women and children. No, I'm not okay," Dev
ground out harshly. She stood and gathered the files she'd asked be left for
her review. "But it was my call to make, and I made it. Three hundred and
ten million people expect me to keep them safe. I had no choice. We have to
move right now, before these assholes dig in deeper or bomb somebody else's
building."
David didn't say a
word. He knew this tone. This was her
I-hated-every-minute-of-it-but-I-did-what-I-had-to-do tone. Her speech was
quick, and it was rough. This was a bitter pill for his friend to swallow. But
he knew her well enough to know she'd take her medicine. Now Dev just had to
live with her decision. Right or wrong.
"Tell them to
get Air Force One ready to fly, David. And then call Beth and-"
"Tell her I
won't be home for dinner?"
"For probably
the next couple of weeks. We're going to Oregon first; I want to be there for
the fallout. Then to the bombing sites. Jane and Liza will have a heart attack
that I'm moving this trip up at the last moment." Dev shrugged. "But
the time is right, and they'll live. That reminds me, based on the reports you
showed me this morning, only absolutely crucial personnel are going with us
this time. I don't want to risk anyone's safety unnecessarily." She moved
for the door, but looked back over her shoulder before juggling the files and
opening the door. "By the way, congratulations."
"For what?"
"You are now the
proud owner of the ugliest puppy you will ever lay eyes on."
* * *
"Ladies and
gentlemen, members of the Press, The President of the United States."
They had worked on
her speech on Air Force One. And by the time her plane landed in Oregon,
Operation: Hydra was over, and it was time to brief the nation. You could hear
a pin drop as Dev took a deep breath and slowly walked to the podium. She
looked directly at the camera and reminded herself to stay cool. "Ladies
and gentlemen, thank you for coming today. As Press Secretary Allen said, I'll
be making a short statement about the actions that were taken a few hours ago.
At this time, I won't be taking questions; we'll set that up at a later
date."
She paused for a
moment, taking a sip of water. To the viewing audience her expression appeared
concerned, but mild. But those who knew her well could tell she was troubled.
"Early this morning, special tactical units of the DEA, FBI, and ATF, in
conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies, made an early
morning entry into the fortified structures of the compound of the Brothers of
Freedom militia group – group that had been under observation."
She looked at the
faces before her, making sure her eye contact conveyed that she had nothing to
hide. "The entry into the compound was quick and decisive. It was well
planned and timed to take place when the least number of people were expected
to be awake and moving about. By timing the entrance for the very early
morning, we hoped to limit the number of potential casualties, both for the
people fortified inside this heavily armed encampment, and our own duly sworn
law enforcement and military personnel."
Devlyn glanced at her
notes very briefly, not wanting to lose an ounce of the trust and leadership
she was trying to communicate by her statement and confident demeanor. "While,
overall, the entrance was a successful one, and many members of the
organization were taken into custody, there were, unfortunately, casualties on
both sides. Twenty-two members of the militia were killed, and fourteen
wounded. Our own agencies sustained losses and injuries to their personnel as
well. Combined figures show losses to law enforcement organizations in this
operation to be ten dead and five wounded."
She gripped the edge
of the podium and increased the intensity of her voice to finish on a strong
note. "The people responsible for the five terrorist attacks within our
own borders, which took the lives of several innocent citizens and did millions
of dollars in damage to government and civilian targets, have been placed under
arrest and will be duly charged. A full investigation continues, and I assure
you that everyone involved will be brought to justice. Everything that has
happened over the course of this operation happened only after I had been
briefed and had given my full consent. I am the only person who should be held
responsible for finding the answers to any questions that might arise out of
the actions taken under my direction today. As one of my predecessors said,
'The buck stops here'. I am your President, and I will be held accountable."
Dev knew that last
bit was going to drive her entire staff right up the wall. It hadn't been a
part of the original speech, but she didn't want there to be any doubt about
who had made the decisions in this matter, and who would take the blame for any
missteps. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen."
She took the time to
unbutton her blazer and collect her notes, then she turned and left the room.
As she knew they would be, David and Sharon were waiting for her with both
their mouths open. "Not a word right now. You can both yell at me later."
Dev followed her Secret Service agents through the passages that led back to
her hotel room. She did so silently, rereading a list of dead and wounded from
the compound raid. She had highlighted the fourth and fifth names on the list;
Lisa Lindsay, age eight, and Brian Lindsay, age six. Seeing the words made her
sick to her stomach. These were two names she would never forget.
God help me, I got
them killed. And now I get to live with that for the rest of my life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter IX
September 2021
Wednesday, September 1st
Lauren glanced at her
watch again and plopped down on her bed, scattering a handful of envelopes. She
sighed and started to tear open another letter. Dev was supposed to have called
more than an hour and a half ago, and she needed something to do while she
waited. So she was going over the last few days' mail, which was starting to
form a messy pile on her desk.
"C'mon,
Devlyn," she grumbled to herself. "Hurry it up. I've got an
appointment in an hour." Lauren discarded several pieces of junk mail and
began looking over some documents from her publisher. She laughed.
She was about to toss
his letter in the waste bin next to her bed, when she felt something hard in
the envelope. She peeked inside and found a small disk. "Ooooo, a present!
You might have said something, Wayne," she mumbled. "I almost threw
it away."
Lauren hopped off the
bed and checked her watch one last time. She shrugged. "Might as well kill
a few minutes while I'm waiting on Wonder Woman. If she calls at all, that
is." She moved to the entertainment center that was hidden inside an
antique, cherry cabinet. Opening the door, she slid the shiny circle into her
videodisc player, wondering what it could be. Not that she was complaining.
She'd only seen one movie all year, and that was when Dev had arranged for the
special screening in the White House on their first date, over two months ago.
She scrambled back to
her bed and nearly tripped over the crate that was filled with a sleeping
Gremlin, Princess and their puppies.
A three-dimensional
image of a beautiful, middle-aged woman, wearing a white terry cloth bathrobe
and sitting on a recliner flared to life, and her dulcet tones filled Lauren's
room. "Starlight Publishing presents, the videodisc version of the best selling
novel: Lesbian Loving: A Step By Step Guide to Satisfaction."
Lauren's mouth
dropped open. "Why is everyone sending me instructions? Do I look totally
inept or something?!"
"I'm Angela
Pickard. And this is my lovely partner, Francine." She made a ‘come
hither' motion with her index finger, and a tall, stacked brunette suddenly
came into view as she joined her mate.
"Oh, my God,
Wayne! You are such a shithead," Lauren laughed, covering her eyes.
"Come with me
and Francine on a journey of self-exploration, enlightenment, and sexual
satisfaction."
Lauren uncovered her
eyes and smirked. "But will you get naked?"
"Chapter One:
Getting to know each other's bodies."
"Oh, my."
Gray eyes widened. "We have naked."
* * *
Dev looked at Liza,
who tapped her watch. The President had been in such a mood lately that her
assistant hated to say anything. Then again, that was her job. "Madam
President, you're incredibly late."
"Aren't I
always?" Dev answered moodily as she circled her hotel suite, looking for
the phone. She waved Liza off with an impatient hand. "I know. I know. But
I just need five minutes. Please? I'm already late. What difference could five
minutes make now?"
Liza sighed.
"Ma'am-"
"I'll give you
the state of
Liza smiled. "I
don't think you can do that, ma'am."
"Okay, I won't
make you take one of the puglies." Dev crossed long arms and waited.
"You just bought
yourself five minutes, Madam President."
"Wonderful!"
Dev practically dove for the phone, which turned out to be on the night stand
by the bed. The President always traveled with her own communications
equipment, and her staff knew just where she liked things placed.
Unfortunately, some hotel room electrical layouts weren't as accommodating to
Dev's preferences as others.
Liza snorted softly
and left the President to her call.
But before the
brunette could give her access codes, David entered her suite without knocking.
"Dev-"
"Go away!"
She grabbed a throw pillow from the bed and threw it at him with deadly
accuracy. "I'm calling my girlfriend." The words sounded strange and
thrilling to Dev's ears, and she smiled for the first time all day.
David grinned
indulgently. Being in love suited Dev. "Liza said you aren't gonna make
her take one of those hideous dogs." He threw the pillow back, hitting Dev
right in the head, earning a glare as the President used a hand to straighten
the shock of hair that was now covering her eyes.
"Go away!"
she hissed. "I only have a few minutes, and I'm already nearly two hours
late. Although Lauren probably gave up on this call ages ago."
"Awwwww..."
David stuck out his lower lip. "Do you want to be alone so you can lie on
the bed and coo and ‘ahhh' like a love-struck teenager?"
"No," Dev
defended. "I'm going to sit up straight and do my best to look
irresistible. Michael made sure this place had video link capability before we
booked it. I hate being stuck without it."
David rolled his
eyes, then took on a more serious expression. "Listen, Dev, I know how
much you want to talk to Lauren, but we're due at the Governor's mansion in
fifteen minutes, and it's a thirty-five minute drive."
Dev glared at her
friend and began manually entering her security access codes and dialing
Lauren's number. She was calling Lauren. She needed to hear her voice. To see
her smile. For once, the rest of the world could just wait. "Tell me,
David, what is the Governor of Georgia gonna do to me if I'm late? Throw a
rotten peach at me?"
David opened his
mouth to speak, and Dev held up her hand, forestalling any further comment.
"If you don't give me five minutes alone, to speak with Lauren in peace,
I'm going to march across this room and snap your scrawny neck."
"Scrawny!"
"David,"
Dev groaned. "Out! Or you're getting two of Grem's puppies!"
David's eyes went
round, and he threw his hands up in defeat. "No need to be cruel. I'll
just call the Governor and let him know we're running a little behind
schedule." He didn't wait for an answer; instead, he hightailed it out of
the room just as the sound of the ringing phone in Lauren's room filled the
suite.
* * *
Lauren's head jerked
up at the sound of the phone. "Jesus," she gasped, surprised by the
interruption in her viewing pleasure.
Angela Pickard smiled
broadly. "You're doing wonderfully. I just know you are," she
encouraged in a singsong voice. "And now it's time to move forward.
Chapter Four: Multiple Orgasms – Making The Dream a Reality."
The writer jumped off
the bed and began hunting for the remote control. Not finding it immediately,
she headed for her videodisc player. She opened the entertainment center door
and pressed the ‘off' button just as her phone rang for the second
time. Nothing happened. She pressed it again. Still nothing. "Shit!"
Lauren jammed her finger down hard on the button. She heard a light clicking
sound as the button broke off and fell into the machine itself. Lauren blinked
at the hole in the front of the machine then began cursing like a sailor called
home early from leave. Her eyes frantically searched the machine for a volume
control button, but she realized belatedly that the only volume control was on
the remote.
Lauren screamed in
frustration. The phone rang a third time.
"I'm coming!"
Lauren called out uselessly as she tore at the covers of the bed looking for
the remote.
Another ring.
"Coming!"
"Oh, yes,
baby!" Francine threw her head back in ecstasy as the video's host,
Angela, slid her hands up the brunette's naked body and began messaging ample
breasts.
"I meant me. I
can hear that you're coming," Lauren growled. She jammed the
‘off' button again, grunting with abject frustration when nothing
happened, and the phone rang a fifth time. She tried to lift out the disc player
to yank the plug, but it was bolted to the cabinet, and she couldn't fit her
hand behind it to reach the cord. Not wanting to miss Dev's call, Lauren
finally began calling out her access codes as she darted to the side of the
cabinet and tried to reach behind it for the power cord. With any other phone
she could just answer. But not in the White House.
The phone dutifully
processed Lauren's numbers and instantly said, in a clear, warm voice,
"Video conference requested."
Lauren stretched out
to reach the plug, but her fingertips could only graze its edge.
"Yes! Oh,
Angela! Yes, give it to me! I want it!" Francine screamed.
Lauren's eyes widened
when she heard the words. She pushed away from the cherry wood cabinet and
desperately instructed the phone, "No. No video conference. Audio only.
No! No! NO!" But it was too late, and Dev began to materialize in front of
her.
Lauren whirled
around, and her jaw dropped at the vivid, three-dimensional image of the two
women, now both naked, kissing deeply, and touching each other intimately. For
a moment she just stared, mouth agape, until the phone snapped her out of her
haze.
Angela pulled away
from her partner and looked directly at Lauren. "I recommend direct
stimulation."
"Oh, yes,"
Francine purred happily.
"Uh,
Lauren?"
The blonde spun
around at the very familiar voice and found herself looking right into
confused, blue eyes. "Hi, Devlyn," she squeaked, giving the President
a weak wave.
A well-shaped eyebrow
crawled up Dev's forehead and stayed there. "I know we've been taking
things slowly-"
"Again! Again!
Again!" Francine screamed at the top of her lungs, while Angela calmly
described exactly what she was doing to earn such an enthusiastic response from
her lover.
Lauren covered her
face with her hands. "Sweet Jesus, just take me know," she mumbled
into her palms. "Please. Right now. This very second."
Dev continued undaunted.
"But, sweetheart, was it really necessary to start without me? I'm
hurt," she teased, recognizing the slightly distorted scene before her as
a video playing in the background. A very interesting video. Who knew Lauren
was so naughty?
"Oh, Angela! Another
one?" Francine squealed delightedly at the prospect. "But I
can't." A pause. "Ohhhhhh… I can! I can!"
Dev's second eyebrow
joined its twin. "Hurt, but impressed. Very impressed."
Lauren opened her
fingers and peeked out at Devlyn, who was wearing a bemused grin. She dragged
her fingers up into her hair, forming an interesting, Mohawk-like hairstyle.
"I can't make it stop, Devlyn!"
"You lost the
clicker again, didn't you?" Dev asked knowingly.
"Again, Angela?
No, I can't." She was nearly sobbing.
"Francine, love,
you can, baby. I know you can."
"Yes!"
Francine screamed again. "I can!"
Lauren could only
whimper and pray a lightning bolt would miraculously strike her directly in the
forehead and put a stop to this wretched, endless torture.
Dev shook her head
and chuckled. The color of her friend's face was a sight to behold, the vivid,
red tint making Lauren's pale eyebrows appear nearly white. "Did you try
the night stand?"
Gray eyes scanned it.
"Not there."
"The bed?"
A shake of the head.
"Already tried that."
Both women suddenly
glanced down when they heard the pitter-patter of tiny, scampering feet.
"The puglies!" they shouted in unison. And, sure enough, a
remote/chew toy was lying on the floor, under the bed.
Lauren retrieved it
with a mumbled prayer of thanks. And, with a quick press of the button, Angela
and Francine disappeared.
Dev smirked at her
blushing friend. God, she's pretty. "So, Lauren-"
"Don't
ask."
"But-"
"If you love me,
you'll drop it."
Devlyn began to pout.
"Pleeeeeeeeease." She batted long eyelashes.
Throwing her hands in
the air, Lauren looked up beseechingly and spoke to a cream-colored, plaster
ceiling. "What exactly did I do to deserve this?"
Friday, September 3rd
"Grandma!
Grandpa!" Ashley screeched. The little girl flung herself at Frank
Marlowe, winding her arms and legs around him like a vine that had attached
itself to a tall tree. He leaned down and scrubbed his soft beard against
Ashley's cheeks, laughing as she squirmed and giggled with delight
His gaze dropped to
Chris and Aaron. "Hi, boys." The white-haired man continued to
torment his granddaughter as he spoke to his grandsons. "We've missed you.
You're growing like da-"
A sharp glance from
Janet silenced him.
"Like
weeds," he finished sheepishly.
"We missed you
too!" Aaron chimed in from his position in his grandmother's embrace.
Christopher nodded
his head wildly, agreeing with his brother Aaron as he waited impatiently for
an open spot with a grandparent.
Janet Marlowe
extended her free arm, and Chris joined his brother.
Letting go of Ashley,
Frank looked up and smiled at Lauren, who was standing quietly in the wings,
enjoying the family reunion. "Nice to see you again, Lauren," he
drawled slowly, his eyes twinkling at the young woman.
"Same
here." She turned to Janet. I will not think about the book she sent. I
will not! "Did you have a nice flight?" She began nervously tugging
at her glasses.
Janet just rolled her
eyes. "Well, come here! I talked to Dev on the phone before this horrible
bombing mess. You can't pretend you're not a couple anymore," she
announced firmly. She shot Lauren a look when the writer started to protest.
"And that means I get a hug."
Lauren laughed and
happily joined Christopher and Aaron in giving Janet a good squeeze.
Amy and Emma hovered
in the background, and the nanny directed the porters carrying the Marlowes'
luggage to take it to the Lincoln bedroom. "Well, now," Frank boomed,
once everyone had said hello, "Devil's going to be sorry she missed this,
but how's about we get McDonald's for lunch?"
The children cheered,
and Emma laughed and picked up the phone, already knowing what everyone's
orders would be. They were the only household in America that had a hotline to
the local McDonald's.
Janet looked around
the room, slowly shaking her head. She still couldn't believe her little girl
was President. Sometimes it was truly incomprehensible. She watched fondly as
the boys tugged their grandpa by the hand back to their room to show him their
latest drawings. Ashley was hot on Frank's heels, exacting his promise to go to
her room next and see the Barbie that grandma had sent her, and the new hairdo,
much improved, she'd graced her with.
The room quickly
emptied, leaving just Lauren and Janet. The younger woman stood by somewhat
awkwardly. Dev wasn't due back to the White House for several more days, and
Lauren was dying to use this time to get to know her parents better. Dev loved
them, and she knew it would be important to the President that she establish at
least some sort of relationship with them. She rocked back and forth on her
heels, suddenly a little nervous. She hadn't exactly had raving success with
her own parents. "Well, I guess I'll leave you-"
"Good Lord, get
over here and say hello. I don't bite, dear. Despite what Frank might say after
a few beers."
Lauren giggled, then
made a face when the comment fully registered. Ewww.... "No offense,"
she mumbled, taking a seat next to Janet on the sofa. "But let's not go
there."
"You're thinking
‘ewww', aren't you?" Janet accused. "I can tell." She
looked mortified. "I'm not that old!"
"Oh, no,"
Lauren quickly corrected. Uh oh. "It's not that." Her head swayed
back and forth as she searched for the right words. "It's just... just...
Good grief! You're somebody's mother!"
Janet was
dumbfounded. "And mothers aren't sexual beings?" She snorted and eyed
Lauren in disbelief. "Maybe I needed to start you off with a more basic
book, dear. I didn't think the cabbage patch theory of conception was popular
with young people these days."
"That's not what
I meant, and you know it!" Lauren groaned in embarrassment, but it soon
shifted into laughter with Janet joining in. The blonde woman's earlier tension
was all but forgotten. It was hard to remain formal or even the slightest bit
uncomfortable around Devlyn's brash, uninhibited mother.
"Just remember,
Dev is three somebodies' mother." Janet wriggled her eyebrows, and Lauren
saw a flash of Devlyn in the gesture. "And I'll bet you think things about
her that make the stuff in chapter eight look tame."
"Bu…
bu…" Lauren sputtered helplessly. Her eyes widened. "You
readThe Joy of Lesbian Sex before mailing it to me?!"
Janet waved a
dismissive hand in the air. "For research purposes, of course." Then
she winked. "Why, if I showed that book to Frank, I'd never get out of
bed. Well, you've been married, you know. As a matter of fact, one
time…"
"Oh, my
god," Lauren whimpered and covered her ears with her hands. "This is
just wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong."
Janet laughed harder.
Lauren fixed a hard
stare on Dev's mother. "Now I know where your daughter got her evil
streak."
Janet only shrugged.
"Frank could have told you that, dear."
Wednesday, September 8th
Dev's long strides
carried her down the hallway of the White House and towards her family and
Lauren. She'd been gone for nearly a month, touring the bombing sites and
participating in endless community rallies and meetings with community leaders.
The tall woman was so glad to be home, she nearly cried when Air Force One
landed at Andrews Air Force Base.
Her parents and
Ashley met Dev in the hallway, where they all shared a round of hearty hugs,
and Devlyn endured her mother's scolding over the fact that she'd lost some
weight. Weight she didn't need to lose. "I'm okay, Mom. I swear. I've just
been busy." Dev smiled indulgently. "You need to get Dottie to send
up Devil cookies more often. I haven't had any since Lauren's birthday."
Dev's eyes scanned
the hall, and her brow furrowed. "Speaking of Lauren... where is she? And
the boys?" She didn't say it, but Dev was disappointed Lauren hadn't
greeted her along with her parents and Ashley. She'd thought about the writer
for days on end and was so anxious to see her it was giving her a slight
stomachache.
The small group was
silent for a beat, and Dev's demeanor instantly turned wary. She stood up
straight, and her alert eyes snapped in the direction of Lauren's and the boys'
rooms. "Where are they?"
"Now, honey,
this is nothing to worry about." Frank put his arm around his daughter's
shoulders. "They'll be completely fine in a few days."
The blood instantly
drained from Dev's face.
"Good Lord,
Frank! You're scaring her to death. And to think you're a doctor," Janet
scolded, fixing her eyes on Dev's face. "They've got the chickenpox,
honey. That's all. The first spots showed up yesterday. It's nothing serious;
that's why nobody called you."
Dev closed her eyes
and willed her heart to stop pounding. "Chickenpox?" she questioned
on a ragged exhale. Wait. Chickenpox? That can't be right. "But I thought
nobody got-"
"You thought
we'd beaten those nasty buggers?" Frank answered. He ran a hand over his
beard and scratched his chin. "Not so, Devil. Not this strain anyway. It's
resistant to the standard vaccination. Now, it's not nearly as common as the
old classic was, because it doesn't appear to be quite as contagious. It popped
up in isolated spots all over the country a few years ago, and now it seems to
be visiting the capital." He snorted. "Apparently, some children at
the boys' school have it as well."
Dev frowned, still
not placated. They began walking towards the residence. "But they're okay,
right, Dad?" The President held her mother's and daughter's hands as she
went, nodding her greeting to several agents who'd remained behind with her
family.
"Absolutely,"
Frank agreed confidently. "Miserable, but okay."
"They're spotted
like freaks!" Ashley added enthusiastically.
Dev raised an
eyebrow. "And just how did you avoid this, when your brothers and
Lauren-"
"And Emma,"
Janet added, wincing.
"Ooo…
and Emma," Dev amended, "weren't so lucky?"
Ashley shrugged one
shoulder. "Grandpa said it's a crap shoot. And they stepped right into a
big pile of-"
"Ahem,"
Frank interrupted. "I'm sure your mama gets the idea." He pretended
to be oblivious to the evil glare Dev leveled at him.
They reached the
boys' room first, and Dev had laid her hand on the knob when her private
physician stepped out of Lauren's room just down the hall. Blue eyes flicked
sideways, and Dev jogged across the carpet, catching the man before he could
turn the corner.
"Hold up,
doctor!"
The doctor
straightened and tucked his stethoscope into his coat pocket. "Madam
President, welcome back. How's the shoulder?" He reached out to touch the
body part in question, but Dev pulled back annoyed. She didn't want to talk
about her damned shoulder.
"How is
everyone?"
"They have the
chickenpox, Madam President. I just checked on the boys. They're sleeping and
seem to be doing well."
"And
Lauren?" Dev leaned in a little, awaiting his response.
He shifted
uncomfortably, tempted to say Lauren was nearly as big a pain-in-the-ass
patient as Dev. But the man wasn't an idiot. "Chickenpox is always a
little more difficult on adults than children, Madam President. That seems to
be especially true with this new strain. But I'm sure she'll appreciate that
you were concerned. I'll tell her you came by to check on her."
"No, that won't
be necessary. I'll be in to see her as soon as I get changed. I only need five
minutes."
The doctor looked
aghast. "Oh, no, Madam President, you can't go in there." The
doctor's tone was authoritative and unyielding. "She's still contagious
and will be for several more days."
Dev put her hands on
her hips. "I really don't care, doctor. I will be going in there."
Her hand shot out, and she grabbed him by the wrist, checking the time on his
Rolex. "At about 4:35, as a matter of fact."
"That goes
contrary to my best medical advice as your chief physician. You simply
cannot-"
Blue eyes flashed. "If
you try to keep me out," she said, dropping his wrist, "I'll call in
the Marines to clear the path."
The short man gulped
audibly, and Dev could see beads of perspiration suddenly begin to dot his bald
head. God, she was the most difficult patient he'd ever had! "It's my duty
to inform you that it is not in your best medical interests to be around Ms.
Strayer, your sons, or Ms. Drysdale for the next several days." He puffed
out his chest and stood his ground. "I'm afraid I'll have to insist. I'm
certain that Mr. McMillian would back up my-"
"You can insist
until you're blue in the face, doctor! And David McMillian is not the
President. I am. And I don't intend to be kept from my family when they need me
most. My own father, who is an extremely competent and well-respected physician
himself, says that getting this strain of the chickenpox is a crap shoot. I
think I've been through enough crap this year, don't you? My chances of
catching it are slim. But if it'll make you feel better, I'll wear one of those
silly, little masks." Dev pointed the mask still hanging around the
doctor's neck.
"Well, um,
yes." He gave a short nod. "That would greatly reduce your chances of
infection." He nodded again, wishing he had thought to suggest that to
begin with. "Other than staying completely away from them, which is
something I can see you won't do," he finished in a rush before Dev could
begin arguing with him, "the mask would be best, Madam President." He
was mollified for the time being, now that the President was at least starting
to see reason. "I'll see that you get one immediately."
"You do
that," she said, already heading back towards her room. "I'm going to
put on some blue jeans." And then visit three spunky blondes that I've
been missing with all my heart.
* * *
True to her word,
five minutes later Dev had changed out of her suit and was now wearing jeans,
sneakers and a short-sleeved denim shirt. Her mother had talked Frank and
Ashley into a visit to the rose garden, luring them away from their prospective
checkers match with the promise of ice cream later. The older woman had smiled
indulgently at her daughter, knowing she needed a few moments alone with Lauren
to say hello. Besides, what kind of people stayed indoors when it was such a
beautiful day?
The boys' nurse was
sitting outside their bedroom door, reading a magazine, when Dev approached.
The young woman quickly explained that the doctor had given them each a shot
earlier, and that it had not only brought down their slight fevers, but put an
end to their itching. The only reason they were napping now was that as soon as
the medicine began to take effect, and they started to feel better, they had
begun wrestling with each other like there was no tomorrow. They were simply
worn out.
Dev's doctor had
found the nurse only moments before and grumpily given her a paper mask to pass
along to the President. She handed Dev the turquoise-colored mask, and chuckled
when the President rolled her eyes but dutifully put it on.
Devlyn thanked the
nurse and quietly crept into the boys' room. They were snuggled together in
Aaron's bed, wearing only their underwear. The bedding was in a pool around
their feet, their pillows were on the floor, and they were both drooling. God,
she wished Lauren were here with her camera. Dev moved quietly over to the bed
and perched on its edge. Ashley was right. They were spotted freaks. But they
were her spotted freaks. And that made all the difference.
She softly stroked
the top of each fair head before pulling up the sheet and tucking it around
them. "Good rest, boys. We'll catch up at supper."
Dev left instructions
with the nurse to let the boys know she was home when they woke up. With
butterflies in her belly she made her way to Lauren's room. I should have
brought flowers or something. Or candy. She likes chocolate. Damn! Why didn't I
bring chocolate? I'm much more charming with the help of chocolate. Dev had
almost talked herself into going to get some at this very moment when she found
herself standing in front of Lauren's door. A Secret Service agent walked past
her with an odd look on his face. But the dark-suited man said nothing.
She frowned, giving
him a look as he walked by. "What's with him?" Then she realized she
was still wearing the surgical mask and must look a little odd. "Oh,
well," she mumbled, reaching up and knocking lightly on Lauren's door.
Her knock was greeted
by a loud thump as something hit the door.
Lauren yelled out,
"I told you to go away! And don't even think of coming near me with that
damned harpoon you call a needle! Don't make me sic Grem and his demon litter
on you. They're meaner than they look!"
Blue eyes went round.
"Oh, boy." I'll bet she's been giving the doctor hell. Heh. Good
girl. "Laur-" Dev paused and slipped off her mask, stuffing it into
her pocket. "Lauren, it's me."
"Dev?"
"Yup. Can I come
in?" Dev had just begun to turn the handle when Lauren's voice stopped
her.
"No."
Dark eyebrows lifted.
"What do you mean no?" she asked impatiently. "I want to see
you!"
"No. Go
away!" A pause. The next time Lauren spoke her voice had softened.
"I'm not fit to be seen, darlin'. And you might catch it."
Dev narrowed her eyes
at the door, wishing she had X-ray vision. "I don't give a damn what you
look like; I want to come in!" She leaned her forehead against the cool
wood. "Don't make me order an air strike."
Lauren chuckled, but
sobered quickly. Could this be a trick? "You don't have a needle with you,
do you?"
Dev rolled her eyes.
"Gee, I knew I was forgetting something. Ever since I got over that pesky
crack habit, I've been fresh out."
"Very funny.
Okay."
Thank God, Dev
thought as she began to turn the knob.
"You can come in
as long as you don't laugh."
Dev stopped, then bit
her lip. I will not laugh. I will not laugh. The President opened the door,
took one look at Lauren, and burst out laughing. "Oh, God, I'm
sorry."
Lauren's wavy,
shoulder-length hair was sticking up wildly in all directions. She was wearing
a pair of old, gray sweats and an oversized T-shirt that swallowed up her
compact body, making her look like a little girl. Her skin was slightly pale
except for the speckling of bright red dots that covered every inch of exposed
skin. One hand was roaming her body, scratching as furiously as her fingers
would allow. She was wrapped in a sheet and wearing the absolutely most
pathetic face Dev had ever seen. Well, when she walked in it was pathetic. Ever
since she'd laughed, Lauren just looked pissed.
"Kill,
Gremlin!" Lauren shouted. "Attack! Eat her!"
Gremlin was lying on
the floor at the foot of Lauren's bed. To his credit, he did look up at the
President in response to his mistress' command. Unfortunately, all he could
muster was a weak growl and a big yawn. Fatherhood was even more taxing than
the activity that got him in that position to begin with.
Dev took the time to
shoot the pooch a disgusted look before smiling sympathetically at her sick
friend. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. You just look so adorable, I couldn't help
but laugh." The murderous glare in Lauren's eyes let Dev know the writer
wasn't buying it, and she sat down on the edge of the tall bed, close to
Lauren, but not touching her. "I missed you. I love you," she said
softly.
Lauren's gaze
immediately softened, and she sighed. "I love you too." She shook her
head sadly. "You're going to continue to make it impossible for me to stay
angry with you, aren't you?"
A satisfied smile
worked its way across Dev's lips. "Basically." She reached up to
smooth back a lock of golden hair only to have Lauren duck out of her way.
"Devlyn! You
can't touch me!"
"Wanna
bet?"
Lauren blew out an
exasperated breath. "I don't want you to get sick."
Dev shrugged one
shoulder. "And I can't not touch you. Not anymore."
Lauren's heart melted
at the words. She looked up into honest eyes and felt herself fall a little bit
more in love with this amazing woman. "I'm so glad you're home," she
whispered.
"Me too."
They stared at each
other for a long moment, and Lauren could see something lurking behind Dev's
eyes. She knew Dev was upset about the people who had been killed when the FBI
raided the Brothers of Freedom compound. David had told her that Dev had taken
the deaths of the children especially hard, which didn't surprise Lauren in the
least. It was a horrible waste. These months of getting to know and love the
Marlowe children had driven that point home.
With a morbid streak
that surprised even Washington insiders, the Press had relentlessly harped on
that aspect of events during Dev's tour of the bombing sites. They assigned the
blame to Dev and the Attorney General, and the nation followed right along with
them. The tall woman appeared to take it all in her stride, patiently answering
question after question about every detail of the raid, and every decision she
had made concerning it. But even on television, Lauren easily spotted the lines
of tension that etched Dev's normally open face, and the wariness in her
usually unguarded personality. Especially when a reporter would mention Lisa
and Brian Lindsay.
"Are you okay?"
they both asked simultaneously. They smiled.
"I'm okay,
Lauren. It wasn't a fun trip. But it needed to be done. I'm just glad it's
over."
Lauren ached to hug
her friend, and felt her frustration building over the fact that she couldn't.
Then an idea came to her. She scooted down by Gremlin and picked up a small
blanket that had been tossed across the foot of her bed. The shorter woman
grabbed it and shook it open.
"What? Phft!
Phft!" Lauren threw the blanket over Dev, covering her upper body
completely and cutting off her words. Before she could say anything else she
felt strong arms wrap around her and squeeze her tightly. Dev closed her eyes
in pleasure, instantly returning the comforting embrace. "Damn, I needed
that."
"So did I."
Dev frowned at the
unusual heat she could feel coming from Lauren. "You have a fever,"
she pointed out flatly.
"A little one.
Yes." Lauren shifted in Dev's arms as Dev's fingers grazed her back.
Ooooo... Jesus, that feels good! She moved again, this time pressing her shoulder
into Dev's and wiggling it.
Dev looked a little
alarmed. "Uh, Lauren?"
Lauren threw her head
back. "Ooooooo, yeah."
The President sucked
in a breath, immediately aroused by Lauren's low groan. When Lauren's movements
grew more frantic, Dev finally caught a clue. "Oh, no, you don't! I'm not
a scratching post." With firm hands she pushed the smaller woman away.
"Pleeeeeeeease,"
Lauren begged. "I'm itching everywhere!"
"No." Dev
shook her head from under the blanket before pulling it off. "I
can't."
"Yes,
Devlyn," Lauren said seriously. She pinned the President with stone hard,
gray eyes. "You can. For the love of God, scratch my back. I need you to
scratch it."
Dev tried not to
think about how sexy and cute Lauren looked when she begged. She loved her; she
could overlook the bright red dots. "I won't." And I'd die before I
put one mark on your beautiful skin. Well, normally beautiful.
"Puuuuhleeeeez,"
Lauren whined pathetically. With a loud moan, she flopped backwards on the bed
and began moving around like a fish out of water, trying to get to a spot
between her shoulder blades.
"No." Dev
rose to her feet. "Get the shot the boys got, and you'll feel
better," she explained reasonably.
"Shot? A needle
stabbing into my flesh, and a foreign liquid forced into my body?" Lauren
made a face. "Are you insane?"
"Most likely.
But that's not the point." Deciding it was safe to be near Lauren, just
not on the bed with her, Dev knelt in front of the bed. Shivering in revulsion
as she caught a glimpse of one of the puppies that had wandered out from under
the bed, Dev scooted closer. "I just want you to feel better,
sweetheart."
"I want that
too, Devlyn. But you know how I feel about needles."
Dev smiled
affectionately. "I know, but it will just be a small one."
Lauren regarded her
skeptically. "How small?"
"Tiny. Barely
noticeable."
"And it will
stop the itching?"
"Or your money
back," Dev finished lamely.
Lauren's head swayed
back and forth as she considered her options. Three more days of itching until
she went insane. Or the shot. This was a really tough call.
"You know,"
a leer transformed Dev's face, "once you start feeling better, I'd love to
scratch an itch of a different kind."
Dead silence.
"Call the
doctor."
Sunday, September 12th
"So?" Dev
settled down on a bench in the White House sculpture garden. The afternoon was
sunny and crisp. A gentle breeze blew across the lawn, bringing with it the
scent of wet grass. Dev raised her arm in a familiar manner, inviting Lauren to
snuggle into her. The movement still caused a dull pain in her shoulder
muscles, but the President considered the closeness of the position well worth
the discomfort. "Are you feeling better? Her eyes lighted on a delicate
metal windmill sculpture that moved with every gale. "You look great,
Lauren. I'd never even know you'd been sick."
Lauren didn't care
that they were outside, and instead of snuggling next to the tall woman, she
laid her head in Dev's lap, stretching out on what was left of the bench.
"I feel soooo much better. The doctor gave me a clean bill of health this
morning. No more fever, no more itching. I'm even glad I had that shot,"
she admitted somewhat sheepishly. "It made the last five days
bearable."
Dev gently combed her
fingers through Lauren's hair, rolling its heavy strands between her
fingertips. "I'm glad you're feeling better." Dev frowned. "I've
discovered that I hate it when you're sick, and there's nothing I can do about
it."
"Nothing you can
do about it?" Lauren snorted quietly as she absorbed the warm sunshine and
Dev's interested gaze with idle pleasure. "Yeah, right. And I suppose
everyone has Bethesda's best doctor making house calls for the chickenpox."
"Well,
I…" Dev's face colored, and she looked off into the distance.
"I just wanted you to be okay."
"You're
sweet." The writer tangled her fingers with Dev's free hand.
"So," she gave the hand she was holding a little tug and let out a
slightly nervous breath. "Now that I'm feeling better, and we're allowed
to talk about the tough stuff, how are you really doing, Devlyn?"
Dev remained very
still, then shrugged a little. "I'm okay."
A slender, pale
eyebrow arched. "Don't, Devlyn," she said with quiet finality.
"After all these months, I know better."
The President looked
down and regarded Lauren seriously. She was met with a direct gaze. "You
do, don't you?"
"Yes." A
tiny smile curled red lips. And she gave Dev a playful poke, drawing her out.
"So tell me. How are you doing?"
Dev sighed so deeply
it was nearly a groan. "How am I supposed to be doing?" she bit out
harshly. "I got innocent women and children killed. I hurt like
hell."
Lauren chose her
words carefully. "You didn't get anyone killed."
"I did!"
Dev insisted. "I sent in the FBI. I gave the order." She swallowed
hard. "I knew they were in there. I knew those bastards had women and
children in there. And, God help me, I did it anyway. Two babies died that
morning. The little boy, Brian, was caught in the crossfire and shot in the
chest. The little girl, Lisa, died from smoke inhalation when the west wing of
the compound caught fire."
Dev's chin began to
quiver, and Lauren felt her heart break. Lauren sat up and looked at Dev,
meeting watery blue eyes with her own. The younger woman gently cupped Dev's
cheeks with both hands, dropping a soft kiss on her lips, before slowly gently
pulling back, waiting patiently for her to continue.
Dev swallowed again,
nearly undone by Lauren's tenderness. "They found the girl curled up under
her bed with her dolls and her backpack." Dev laughed without a trace of
humor. "Apparently, she was hiding from the big bad government invasion."
"Jesus."
Lauren closed her eyes and squeezed Dev's hand. The exact cause of death for
individual militia members and their families hadn't been released to the Press
yet because of the ongoing investigation.
"They were
nearly the same ages as-" Dev stopped, the churning in her guts
threatening to send up her last meal.
"That wasn't
your fault, darlin'," Lauren whispered. "Stop blaming yourself.
You're not eating." Her fingers grazed dark circles that had become a
nearly permanent fixture under Dev's eyes over the past few weeks. "You're
not sleeping."
"But-"
"No!"
Lauren lowered her voice. "No. Those people had to be stopped. We both
know that. You did what you had to so that could happen. That doesn't make you
responsible for the children's deaths. Their parents became responsible when
they put them in harm's way. Not you."
Dev nodded miserably.
"David has been saying the same thing. But I just feel so damned
responsible for it all. And I should. That comes with the job." She
exhaled wearily. "In my heart of hearts, I know there are horrible things
happening everyday that I can't control, no matter how much I want to. But
this... how do you live with this?" Her eyes pleaded with Lauren for an
answer, but the biographer held her tongue, letting Dev finish. "I hurt
for everyone who died that day. On both sides. But to have the names of those
two innocent children weighing on my heart, knowing that if I personally hadn't
said ‘Go in there', they'd still be alive…" Dev
looked away. "That's hard to deal with."
"I know,"
Lauren muttered quietly, gently guiding Dev's face back around with the palm of
one hand. She softly stroked a prominent cheekbone with her thumb and tilted
her head slightly to the side as she spoke, sending soft, pale hair tumbling over
one shoulder. "I'm so sorry that you're hurting. But you're a caring
woman, Devlyn. I wouldn't expect anything less from you." Lauren smiled
softly. "But you made the best choice under the worst of circumstances.
You told me so yourself. Don't second-guess that now. You did the right
thing." She held out her arms. "You look like you could use a
hug."
Dev smiled, slipping
into Lauren's outstretched arms. "From you? Always. Never doubt
that." Dev felt much of the tension of the past weeks melt away under Lauren's
comforting touch. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to be held.
"You've got the touch." She murmured, sinking deeper into the
embrace. Soothing my soul. "I love you."
Lauren pressed her
cheek against Dev's, feeling its softness and warmth. She squeezed her tightly,
praying to convey even a fraction of the love and concern she felt for her.
"Any time, Devlyn. I love you too."
Dev rested there for
a long moment, listening to the birds, finding a surprising amount of solace
and peace. She blew out a long, slow breath and did her best to just let the
worries and guilt go. It would take more time, to be sure. But she had that.
And she wouldn't be alone.
When Dev finally
pulled back she was ready for a change of subject. "Now I want you to tell
me something." She lifted a dark, playful brow, indicating that the deep
thinking part of the conversation was over.
"Whatever it is,
I didn't do it." Lauren grinned charmingly, irrationally pleased that she
could help to lighten Dev's load.
Dev chuckled.
"Oh, I'm sure you didn't. You're totally innocent, right?"
"Oh, yes,"
Lauren dutifully replied, batting golden lashes.
Dev nodded. "I
see. So, tell me, sweetheart, what kind of videos are you watching while I'm
away?" Okay, I pretty much know what kind. But it's still fun to watch you
squirm. Blue eyes twinkled. "Even more importantly, what kind of books is
my mother sending you?"
Lauren's face
immediately turned bright red. That was the last question she expected, and her
mind reeled for a moment as she searched for a good answer. "Why?"
she squeaked. Oh, yeah, I'm brilliant with words. She mentally rolled her eyes.
"Because just
before my parents left, my mom said she sent you a book that would help you
identify all the parts, despite your good head start." She grinned and
bumped shoulders with the shorter woman. "Did she give you a book on the
care and feeding of your very own lesbian or something?"
Lauren burst out
laughing, feeling a little dizzy from her blush. "Umm... something like
that." She wriggled her eyebrows. "It's got pictures."
Dev's own grin
widened. She had missed this with Lauren, and needed it just as much as she had
needed the talk. She loved teasing her friend. She gave her another slight
nudge. "What kind of pictures?"
"Wouldn't you
like to know?" And now that I'm feeling better, I think it would be a very
good time to show you.
Friday, September 17th
It had been another
magical evening for Lauren. In her wildest dreams she had never imagined
herself in this place, either emotionally or physically. Part of the magic was
undoubtedly the setting, the White House itself, whose walls held unimaginable
secrets and whose rooms were as interesting and unique as they were beautiful.
Even after nine months of living there, Lauren found herself utterly
fascinated. Then there was her dinner partner, the most powerful person on
earth. Not too shabby there either. But the biggest factor was Dev herself
– not her influence or position, but the woman underneath, whom
Lauren had come to adore.
"I can't believe
I just had dinner with the King of England." She laughed a little, taking
Dev's hand as they strolled through the garden.
The President pulled
away in mock annoyance. "Is there no woman in my life impressed with the
fact that I am President of the United States?"
"Yes."
Lauren rolled her eyes and laughed. Only you could pull off that ego, darlin'. "I
was horribly impressed with you the first time I laid eyes on you." Then
she paused and started to laugh. "No, that's not quite true. When I first
saw you in person I nearly dropped dead on the spot. But obviously I'd seen you
on television a gazillion times before that."
"A
gazillion?"
Lauren nodded.
"At least."
"Wow. My PR
people rock." Dev made a motion for Lauren to continue as they passed in
and out of the shadows created by the softly glowing lamps that lined the
garden path and a full moon.
"I wasn't really
impressed with you until I took the time to go beyond the sound bites that
saturated network television. But once I did... wow!" Lauren quirked a
playful grin. "Or maybe the fact that I was stoned out of my mind at the
time."
Dev nearly stumbled.
"Excuse me?"
The blonde woman
scrunched up her face and smiled brightly, crinkling her nose and the corners
of her eyes. "It's not what you think," she laughed.
Dev accepted Lauren's
answer easily, but not before offering a tiny snort. She kicked a stone from
her path. "So is that why you didn't vote for me? Because I was
over-exposed?"
Lauren stopped dead
in her tracks, tugging Dev to a halt with her. "How do you know I didn't
vote for you?" Her hands automatically went to her hips, and she shot Dev
a meaningful look.
Dev scratched her
cheek and smiled ruefully. "Oh, that." She winced inwardly. Me and my
big mouth.
"Yes,
that," Lauren demanded.
"Well, umm...
Michael Oaks was a little overzealous in the materials he requested for your
background check." Dev's eyes conveyed regret and a good dose of
embarrassment. "That information is private. I swear it. But that doesn't
mean, if you ask the right people, it's not easy to find out. I'm sorry."
"Bastard."
"Are you mad at
me?" Dev braced herself.
"Yes."
"Really
mad?" Dev tilted her head to the side and peered into eyes that looked
nearly translucent in the muted light.
Lauren dropped her
hands from her hips. "I should be." She tugged on the stems of her
glasses, bringing the glasses a little higher on her nose, and sighed.
"But I'm not, I guess."
Dev smiled.
"Thank you." But the smile slid away quickly. "Why didn't you
vote for me?!"
"Oh, God."
Lauren rolled her eyes as the women resumed their walk.
"What?" Dev
waved a frustrated hand in the air. "I want to know."
She laughed. "I
know you do."
Dev growled in mock
frustration. "Why are you torturing me?!"
"Because it's
fun."
"Well, there is
always that."
A long arm wrapped
around Lauren's waist as they slowly walked, the easy rhythm of their strides
matching perfectly.
So, this is what
being in love is like, Lauren thought with equal parts awe and gratitude. God,
was I stupid before. If I'd only known... Now she understood what Dev had been
talking about. Making sure that it was real… that it was right. She
glanced sideways, admiring the way the moonlight washed over Dev's hair,
bathing her in a rich, white aura. And at that very moment, Lauren realized
that nothing in her whole life had ever felt so completely right.
She had, in her own
way, loved Judd, but there had always been something missing. A connection that
was absent from their marriage. Lauren never felt as if part of herself was
missing when they were apart. Even in the best times she had never longed for
his touch or laugh or smile. Never bled when he was cut. With Dev it was so
different. If, for some reason, they couldn't talk, which they did most
evenings when Dev was finally finished for the day, Lauren would lie awake in
her bed and listen for the President's distinctive footsteps and the sound of
the door opening just down the hall.
No matter what she
was doing, or whom she was talking to, she always found her eyes or thoughts
straying to Devlyn. And when miles separated them, she felt truly alone.
They walked silently.
But it was a comfortable silence. A gentle peace stole over Lauren.
Dev stopped and
turned to face the shorter woman, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I'm
so very much in love with you, Lauren. You have no idea-"
"No."
Lauren shook her head emphatically. "You're wrong. I do. For the first
time in my life I honestly do understand. More than that, I finally understand
what you were trying to say to me in your room that night. About having it all."
She reached up and cupped Dev's cheek, peering into eyes that shone silver in
the moonlight.
"I think we
do." Dev slowly leaned in and gently kissed the writer. Their lips
separated, but only a hairsbreadth, and Devlyn whispered, "It's been worth
it, hasn't it?" Believe it like I do, Lauren. With your whole heart.
"Oh, yeah,"
Lauren sighed, immediately feeling the loss when Dev pulled back far enough so
that she could look her in the eye and gage her reaction. Something suddenly
clicked in Lauren's mind, and she thought of the fresh roses that had been
placed in her room every morning since her very first day at the White House.
She smiled, utterly charmed. "You've been courting me from the very
beginning, haven't you, Devlyn Marlowe?"
Dev felt a heat flood
her cheeks. But the blush went unnoticed in the dim light. The tall woman
leaned in until Lauren could feel the heat of her body and whispered in her
ear. "That's the point of courting, Lauren. You fall in love so slowly
that it becomes a part of you without your knowing it." She brushed her
lips against Lauren's ear, feeling the tremor left in the wake of her tender
touch. "You do realize that at this very moment the marksmen on the roof
are probably watching us," Devlyn teased a bit. "Didn't your little
sex video tell you that this is a big turn on for most males of the
species?"
Lauren groaned.
"The video pretty much ignored men altogether, which was sort of the
point, smarty pants. And you're never going to let me live that down, are
you?"
"You're not the
one who had to explain to her Chief of Staff why there were erotic sounds
coming from her bedroom when I called you. He thought we were having phone sex,
for God's sake!"
The breeze blew a
lock of Lauren's hair into her eyes, and she reached up, absently tucking it behind
her ear. "I'm so sorry. That was a bit of a surprise for me too. A joke
from Wayne, I think. Or maybe it wasn't a joke. I'm not exactly sure." She
leaned into Dev as they began heading back towards the White House. A gust of
wind caused her to shiver and shift closer still to her warm-blooded companion.
"Cold,
sweetheart?"
"Mmm hmm. A
little."
"Then I know of
a certain fireplace and two cups of cocoa that have our names on them."
"Marshmallows?"
Dev kissed the top of
Lauren's head. "As many as you'd like."
* * *
Lauren wiggled her
toes in front of the fire, grinning from behind her mug as Dev pulled on fleece
slippers. "Wimp," she muttered, getting a lovely view of Dev's tongue
as a reply. "This is truly heaven. Take those off and let the fire do the
work."
"Nuh uh,"
Dev grunted, picking up her own mug and joining Lauren on the floor. "Hate
being barefoot. Have since I was a kid."
"Any particular
reason why?" Lauren leaned back, staring into the glowing embers as the
wood let off an occasional pop or hiss.
Dev thought about
that for a moment, rolling a swallow of hot chocolate around in her mouth.
"None that I'm aware of. But maybe I had a traumatic, barefoot incident
when I was little."
"Maybe
subconsciously you're afraid you'll have to make a mad dash through the woods
naked," Lauren taunted. If Dev could find every excuse to bring up the
video, the least she could do was to return the favor.
"I admit it
wouldn't be on the top of my list. I had scratches in delicate places that
itched for weeks."
Lauren snorted,
having to clamp her hand down over her mouth to keep from losing her cocoa.
"No comment." Ooooo, wait. Wasn't there talk of scratching a
particular itch when I was sick? God, I itch!
Dev reached over and
pushed a lock of blonde hair behind Lauren's ear. "That's my line."
Lauren looked
confused. "God, I itch?"
"Huh?"
Lauren shook her
head, suddenly realizing what Dev meant. "Never mind."
"Are you
okay?" Dev questioned softly. "You seem a little distracted."
When Lauren nodded in an uncharacteristically shy fashion and smiled at her,
Dev's face instantly mirrored the gesture. She was glad to know she wasn't the
only one who could be thrown off track by the simplest of looks or touches or
phrases. She drew her fingers lightly up Lauren's neck and threaded them into
silky, pale hair. The touch was soft and intimate, and meant to garner the
writer's complete attention.
It did.
Lauren found herself
holding her breath without knowing why.
Dev set down her mug,
then deftly relieved Lauren of hers, though neither woman's eyes strayed from
the other's. The President lifted her other hand to Lauren's face, tracing a
pink cheek with her thumb and silently drawing Lauren closer. She didn't stop until
their faces were almost touching.
"I think you
should know, Madam President, if you don't kiss me, I'm going to die."
Lauren's voice was an octave below normal, and it resonated all the way to
Dev's bones.
"Me too,"
Dev breathed.
Their lips met, slowly,
gently, brushing together in an explosion of sensation that caused both women
to moan and shiver. Nothing was ever rushed or hurried with Devlyn. And Lauren
wasn't sure if she should be singing her praises or cursing her name. But
whichever it was, it would have to come later. Right now her body was otherwise
engaged. She was set on a sweet, low burn when the kiss deepened, and warm, wet
tongues began gently tasting and exploring.
Dev was nearly done
in by the soft moans that escaped Lauren as their lips eagerly brushed together
again and again. In the garden, in the moonlight, bewitched by a pair of
shining gray eyes, Dev had already decided that tonight she wouldn't stop
unless Lauren asked her to. The writer's gentle touch, and the heady smell of her
skin and hair, only served to strengthen Dev's resolve. She was nervous as
hell, but her body shared none of her mind's trepidation and was responding in
hot flashes to Lauren's touch and taste and the heat of the moment.
"Oh, God,"
Lauren gasped softly when they parted for much needed air.
Dev groaned, and her
eyes fluttered open with exaggerated slowness. "That was,
um…"
"Wonderful."
"Oh, yeah,"
the President agreed quickly. "But your kisses always are." She
wiggled her brows a little, trying not to look as aroused as she felt.
"Can we-"
Lauren paused and wet her lips. "Can we do that again?" she asked
quietly, giving Dev an adorable grin that she knew the older woman found
totally irresistible.
Dev nodded nervously.
"Actually, why don't we move someplace where we can be more
comfortable?"
The blonde woman
glanced down, flushing a little at the suggestion. She was pretty damned
comfortable right where she was. "Like?"
"The
couch?"
Considering the couch
was all of six inches away, Lauren had no reason to object. "The couch
could be good." She sucked in a slightly ragged breath and slid up to
perch on its edge. Lauren glanced down at Dev, who was rising to her knees.
Dev placed warm hands
on Lauren's thighs, and the smaller woman adjusted her legs so that Dev could
kneel between them. This was different. Mixed in with the desire she'd seen so
often in her friend's eyes, was a good dose of fear. Lauren could think of only
one reason that Dev would be afraid right now, as opposed to all the other
times they'd kissed in front of fire… after a wonderful evening
together, sitting so close together they could feel the heat of each other's
skin through their clothes. Oh, God. Lauren suddenly became very aware of her
own heartbeat and the sensitivity of her skin.
Devlyn swallowed hard
and reached out to take Lauren's hands. "I'm very nervous, just so you
know. I'm not trying to… I mean," she stopped again and
frowned, clearly unable to articulate exactly what she wanted to say. "I'm
just… I'm-"
Lauren pressed two
fingertips against Dev's lips, feeling their incredible softness. "I
understand." She removed her fingers and replaced them with her lips,
giving Dev a gentle, almost chaste kiss. "Don't worry," she whispered
against Dev's mouth. "Nervous goes both ways."
Blue eyes widened a
little. "It does? You don't seem-"
"I am."
Dev licked her lips.
"Okay. Just didn't want you to think that I wasn't. Because I so very
am," she admitted.
Lauren shrugged a
little. "But we'll be that way together, right?" She searched Dev's
eyes for her own reassurance and was instantly rewarded by a stupid, lovesick,
lopsided grin that threatened to melt her into a puddle right on the spot.
The President took a
deep breath and let her hands slowly slide up Lauren's thighs, then hips. Her
palms found their way under Lauren's sweatshirt, stopping the moment she felt
the hot, bare skin of her belly.
Lauren sucked in a
quick breath, and her body jerked in response.
Dev almost pulled
away, but small hands covered hers, holding them firmly in place. She flicked a
questioning gaze at Lauren's face and was held there by intense, dilated eyes.
Lauren leaned in,
enjoying the feeling of Dev's hands on her naked skin. They felt as good as
she'd imagined they would – warm, soft and strong.
Dev moved closer and
dropped her mouth to Lauren's slender neck, nuzzling the hot, slightly damp
skin, and tasting its saltiness with gentle lips and tongue. Her hands traveled
slowly up around the younger woman's torso, to her back, where she began a
gentle massaging.
"Oh, that's
nice…" Lauren moaned as she wrapped her arms loosely around
Dev. "Very nice." Of its own volition, her head rolled to the side.
Devlyn responded
without hesitation, moving up Lauren's throat to the slight hollow behind her
ear, nipping softly as she went.
Lauren gasped when
Dev hit a particularly sensitive spot.
For Dev, it was an
experience she was sure would kill her before the evening was over. But what a
way to go. Lauren felt so good, and it felt so right to be touching her, that
she couldn't even fathom stopping. Not now. "I'm thinking," Dev
whispered as she took Lauren's earlobe into her mouth and sucked gently,
"I dunno… bed?"
"Yes,"
Lauren breathed. She was pretty sure if this torture didn't end soon, she'd
find herself on the other end of a federal prosecution for hurting the
President of the United States.
They stood on
slightly wobbly legs and walked slowly towards the large four-poster bed along
the back wall. At the foot of the bed, Dev stopped. She cupped Lauren's chin
with her palm and gently tilted her head upward so she could look deeply into
her eyes. Despite the butterflies in her belly, Dev smiled and spoke with a
quiet certainty. "If you want to stop, you just say the word."
Lauren gave a quick
nod, frantically trying to remember how to form a coherent, verbal response.
She finally settled on, "Okay." Like that's gonna happen! her mind
snorted incredulously. Nothing short of a nuclear attack on the United States
was going to stop what was happening in this bedroom tonight. She drew in a
deep, but ragged, breath when she felt her sweatshirt being tugged up her body.
Yes. Too many clothes. The idea was more than welcome, and Lauren lifted her arms
over her head to assist in its removal. Her jeans and panties were next. And
when Dev trailed her fingers down her thighs, as she swept the material off her
body, Lauren felt as though she might faint. Thin, satin bra straps were
lowered one at a time, and kisses left in their place. Lauren closed her eyes
and moaned softly.
Devlyn took in the
sight before her and licked very dry lips as Lauren's bra fell from her
boneless fingers. "Beautiful," she whispered reverently.
"Absolutely beautiful." She slowly reached out and allowed her
fingers to make contact with smooth skin that glowed slightly in the faint
light of the room.
The way Dev was
looking at Lauren sent a flood of blood to her belly and a rush of heat between
her legs. She felt as though she were being worshipped by those incredible blue
eyes and wasn't nearly as nervous about her nakedness as she thought she would
be. Any remaining uneasiness was fading fast as her body reacted to Dev. Lauren
took in the rapid rise and fall of the taller woman's chest, and the flare of
her nostrils, as she stood open before her, exposed and inviting.'
Dev's breath caught
as her hands slowly slid over more soft skin. She leaned in and placed a tender
kiss on Lauren's cheek. "I love you."
Lauren turned her
head and captured Dev's lips in a sweet kiss. She laid her hands on Dev's hips
and gave a gentle tug, bringing their bodies together all along their lengths.
When their lips separated, she pulled back a little and smiled. "I love
you too, Devlyn. Very much," she said softly. "With all my
heart." Her gaze quickly dropped back to the full lips she already wanted
to taste again. Lauren threaded her fingers through long, dark hair, and she
went back for more, offering herself to Dev in every way she could convey with
a heartfelt, passionate kiss. She was rewarded with a deep moan and a rush of
breath as the kiss turned hungry, and she gave herself up to the passion of the
moment.
A hot path was cut
across flesh now slightly damp from anticipation and desire. Dev's fingernails
caused a tingling sensation up and down Lauren's back as the President grazed
her skin. A tremor tore through Lauren as a rush of desire hit her so hard she
felt her knees go weak.
The writer's hands
soon found themselves working their way under Dev's shirt, pushing it up as
they sought silky skin. Dev ducked as Lauren pulled the material over her
shoulders, then her head. She felt her shirt slide down her back as Lauren
simply dropped it the second it cleared dark tresses.
Lauren's gaze burned
a path from Dev's face to her chest. She grinned broadly, fully appreciating
Dev's braless condition. "Definitely a nipple." Lauren chuckled as
Dev lowered her arms.
A dark, elegant brow
lifted. "Mom was right. You do recognize the important parts."
"Umm, Dev?"
Lauren questioned, never taking her eyes off Dev's breasts. She licked her lips
and swallowed.
"Yes,
sweetheart?"
"We're about to
make love, right?"
"God, I hope
so," Dev breathed. "I'd hate to have to go swimming in the
Potomac."
"Then leave your
mother out of this."
"Deal." Dev
laughed, but it quieted quickly when she felt Lauren's fingers begin to work
the buttons of her jeans.
The smaller woman
instantly dropped to her knees and began sliding off Dev's jeans and panties at
the same time. Where Dev's fingers had trailed down her thighs, Lauren used her
lips to tenderly pay homage to every inch of newly exposed skin. She worked her
way down one leg, then back up the other, as she slipped off her fleece
slippers then pants and panties. By the time she reached Dev's hip, both women
were visibly shaking. She placed one last kiss on Dev's hipbone before rising
to her feet.
It felt as though
fire was rushing through Devlyn's veins, and her furiously pounding heart was
threatening to escape the confines of her chest. She wrapped her arms around
Lauren and slowly began leaning her back towards the bed. Both women moaned
loudly at the first exquisite feeling of skin on skin as their bodies met
again. Dev prayed nothing would interrupt them. She was sure if they had to
stop now, she would simply die. "Oh, God…" she groaned as
Lauren came to rest on top of her, and soft breasts pressed into hers. Their
legs tangled together, igniting a new fire in her soul.
For Dev it was an
expression of absolute love, trust, and devotion to the woman now in her arms
and bed. To touch her like this, to finally add a physical dimension to the
deep love they shared, sent her spirit soaring and set her body aflame.
Dev savored Lauren's
tentative touches, which were growing bolder by the second. This was where she
wanted to be. Always. She didn't give her heart easily, but once she did, she
held nothing back. Anything she had, anything she was, was Lauren's for the
taking. I want her for the rest of my life. For an instant, the thought
surprised her, then she felt Lauren's breath caress her neck as she left a
gentle trail of kisses on her neck and shoulders.
"Lauren…"
The younger woman
smiled when she heard Dev say her name. She had never heard it said with such
passion and urgency before, and her own body responded with enthusiasm. God,
it's never been like this before. So good. So right, her mind thrilled. There
was no denying her reaction to the combination of soft skin, toned muscle, and
womanly curves beneath her. And she admitted to herself that she should have
given into some of her curiosities years ago. But when Dev whispered her name
in her ear, and sure hands drifted from the small of her back to her bottom,
pulling them closer together, she knew it was more than gender. It wasn't just
a woman making her feel this way. It was Dev. And that made all the difference.
There was no way on the planet that Casey would have evoked these sensations or
emotions. It was the person. And she was hopelessly in love with the person.
Remembering that she
was the one who had done this before, Dev rolled them over and slowly began
kissing her way down Lauren's body, the blonde woman's soft whimpers and moans
urging her on.
Every muscle in
Lauren's body went rigid with pleasure, and she heard herself moan just as her
very sensitive nipple was enveloped by a hot, wet mouth. Her hands found
purchase in Dev's hair, and she gasped, pulling Dev tightly to her breast,
desperate to be closer still "God, yes…" she encouraged,
shifting her body and making more room for her lover to take her places they'd
never been together.
Dev hummed her
approval into Lauren's breast, her own body pulsing in time with the gentle
ministrations of her lips and tongue. She knew it wouldn't take much before she
would simply explode from the pleasure she was giving and receiving.
They crested together
as a couple, and again as individuals. And when their bodies finally came to
rest, the room was filled with soft whimpers and labored breaths. They cuddled
together, pulling the sheet up over their damp bodies.
Lauren snuggled close
to Dev and hummed quietly, waiting for her to say something. She kissed the
hollow of Dev's throat, feeling her lover's ribs expand against her as Dev drew
in a deep breath and let it out slowly, ruffling Lauren's hair.
Dev kissed the writer
on the forehead. "I love you, and I'm keeping you, Mighty Mouse."
Lauren laughed and
poked Dev in the side, drawing a muffled squawk. "I love you too. And you
certainly gave a new meaning to Wonder Woman."
Now it was Dev's turn
to laugh. "And here I was afraid I'd lost my touch."
"Oh, no,
darlin', your touch is just fine." Lauren closed her eyes, feeling the
irresistible tug of sleep. "Trust me, it's juuuust fine."
Saturday, September 18th
Dev woke
automatically at 4:30 A.M., only this time the warm body curled up next to her
gave her a very good reason not to get up. She rolled over and wrapped her arm
snugly around Lauren's waist, spooning their bodies together. Without waking,
the writer laid her hand on Dev's arm. Dev sighed happily. Yup. I am staying
right here. Not moving a muscle. Besides, it's Sunday, and Lauren would kick my
butt if I got up this early.
A few more moments
ticked by, and Dev gave into temptation. She grinned and swept back Lauren's
hair, placing several soft kisses at the nape of her neck. Dev was greeted with
a long, steady growl she was pretty sure wasn't Gremlin. "Mornin',
sweetheart."
"Sleep."
Lauren captured her hand. "Dark. Nighttime. Sleep."
Dev chuckled.
"You're cute when you're monosyllabic."
"Nighttime has
two syllables, you damned Yankee. Go back to sleep," Lauren mumbled. She
rolled over and tried snuggling in that way, burrowing into warm arms.
"Yes, ma'am.
Anything you say." Dev kissed Lauren's forehead.
"But when you do
drag your backside out of bed," Lauren teased, reaching out a fraction of
an inch to kiss just blow Dev's collarbone. "I'll have two poached eggs,
toast, coffee with cream, two sugars, and a glass of milk."
Dev's eyebrows
jumped. "Oh, you will, huh? What? You think this is a fancy hotel or
something?" The President couldn't wipe the stupid grin off her face. Hell,
she couldn't muster the willpower to even try. She had wondered many times what
a ‘morning after' would be like with Lauren, and she was delighted to
find it was pretty much what she had expected.
Lauren groaned, more
awake than she wanted to be. "Well, last night you were trying to impress
me. Taking me out, buying me root beer floats." She sighed and let her
fingernail graze over a nipple that was too close to ignore. Dev jumped a
little and squealed in surprise, causing Lauren to laugh. Immediately contrite,
she covered the spot of her attack with the warm palm of her hand. "I just
kinda figured I'd get breakfast too."
"Would you like
me to cook it for you?" Dev grabbed Lauren's evil hand and brought it to
her lips, kissing it soundly.
"Oh, that'd be
wonderful," Lauren uttered softly as she buried her face between Dev's
shoulder and the pillow.
"Okay, then I
will." Dev struggled and broke free of the laughing woman's grasp.
"Where are you
going?"
Dev stalked across
the room, naked as the day she was born.
Lauren pulled Dev's
pillow to her face and nuzzled it as the tall woman slipped into a robe.
"I'm going to
the kitchen to make you breakfast."
"You are
not!" Lauren shot up a little too quickly and had to give herself a second
to stop seeing stars.
"Yes, I
am." Dev wiggled her feet into her slippers.
"The President
of the United States is not going to the kitchen to make me breakfast."
Dev leaned over and
kissed her nose. "You're right, the President's not, but Dev Marlowe
is."
"Do you even
know where the kitchen is?" Lauren moved towards Dev and tugged on the
belt of her bathrobe.
"No, but I'm
sure someone around here can direct me." Devlyn put her hands on Lauren's
shoulders and pushed gently, guiding her back to bed. "You just stay right
here. I'm going to go fix you breakfast."
"God, I love
you." Lauren snuggled back down into the covers and rolled one eyeball in
Dev's direction.
"You're not so
bad yourself." The President winked.
"When you get
lost trying to find the kitchen, I'll send Gremlin to find you." She heard
Dev make several mumbled, derogatory comments about her dog as she walked
across the room. "But not for a few hours," Lauren added softly just
the bedroom door, and her eyes firmly closed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter X
October 2021
Monday, October 4 th
"Come here, you
little..." Dev ground out as she struggled to get further under the bed to
retrieve several more puppies. "Your time here is over, you little
beasties. Now you get to go and terrorize other parts of the world."
Lauren came back in
from the bathroom where she had had to lock Gremlin and Princess before Dev
could even get near the puppies. She covered her ears at the sounds of
Gremlin's and Princess' howls. "God, I feel like a kidnapper!"
"Don't think of
it as kidnapping, sweetheart," Dev offered. Lying flat on her belly, she
reached under the bed, cursing as the puppies scooted away. She rose to her
knees and looked at Lauren. "Think of it as liberation day." Dev
gestured towards the bed. "I could use a hand here."
Lauren flinched as
two of the puppies poked their noses out from behind the comforter, bared their
teeth at the President, and growled. "You'd better count your fingers when
this is over, Devlyn. Because they don't seem to want to leave." The
writer cautiously moved forward and picked up two of the more docile puppies;
they were nearly asleep, despite the commotion their brothers and sisters were
causing.
"Oh, sure, take
the easy ones. I was hoping you could coax out the ones that were growling at
me." She gestured to the two Lauren was putting in the box. "I could
have done that. And if I get bit, you have to kiss it and make it better."
A lascivious grin
twitched at Lauren's lips. "I'll do that anyway, darlin'."
Dev quirked an
eyebrow. "You have a dirty mind. Just like my mother. No wonder she loves
you." She looked back under the bed where the snarling puppies had once
again taken refuge.
"Watch out,
Devlyn. I've discovered I have a thing for older women."
"You-" Dev
strained, trying to get under the bed again, "couldn't handle my mother.
She'd kill you." Dev laughed recklessly, waiting to see what kind of a
response that got. But before she got an answer one of puppies nipped her finger.
"Ouch! Dammit!" The puppies all began to bark and whine.
"Hey."
Lauren's eyes snapped. "Quiet!" The puppies instantly went silent.
She dropped to her knees and gently began examining Dev's finger. Please don't
let it be bleeding.
"I'm okay. He
missed. Mostly." Before Lauren could get a good look, Dev pulled her
finger away and began wiggling it in front of her face. "I still have all
ten, and there's nothing broken or bleeding." She smiled at the sound of
Lauren's relieved sigh. "You know why they don't want to leave, don't
you?"
"You're sure
it's okay? You don't need a Band-Aid or anything?" Lauren wanted to see
for herself, so she captured Dev's finger. She studied it carefully, finding
only a small red scratch, which she promptly kissed. "They just like
sleeping under my bed 'cause it's so nice and quiet."
A sexy smirk overtook
Dev's face. "I can change that right now, sweetheart."
Lauren rolled her
eyes and laughed, feeling a sudden heat in her cheeks. "Sorry, Devil. I've
got a meeting with Wayne in fifteen minutes. And you've got one with the
Secretary of Transportation in ten. I'm surprised Liza hasn't been here looking
for you already. Not that I'm not tempted. Because I am." More than you
know, darlin'.Her eyes twinkled.
Dev poked out her
lip, then smiled when Lauren leaned in for a kiss.
"But,"
Lauren diverted her kiss at the last second, denying Dev's lips and giving her
a playful peck on the cheek instead, "can I have a rain check?" She
laughed again at the look of shocked outrage on her lover's face.
"Brat."
"Later,"
Lauren promised, earning an instant smile. She turned back to the puppies and
gazed at them affectionately, even the ones who had inherited Gremlin's dislike
of the President. "Let's get this over with, so I can stop feeling like Cruella
DeVille."
"Well, then get
your little fanny under there, Mighty Mouse, and dig the little beasties out. I
think you'll fit more easily than I will." The President sat back on her
heels. "Then I can take them and make the coat."
"That's not even
close to funny, Devlyn." But Lauren giggled anyway as she scooted her
upper body under the bed and pulled out two reluctant puppies. "Hello, my
little demons." She lifted them both up and gave them sloppy kisses,
receiving an enthusiastic face-licking in return.
"Well,
eeewww!" Dev grimaced as she watched the scene unfold. "Hurry up and
put them in the box, and I'll take them to their new vict... I mean owners.
Heh, that's another perk to being President. You can give away really ugly
puppies, and people have to take them." Dev wrinkled her nose and pointed
at Lauren's mouth. "And if you think you're gonna get another kiss from
me, you'll need to, at the very minimum, brush your teeth. With bleach."
Lauren jerked her
chin towards the door. "Out! Before I decide to keep them all," she
drew out the last word, watching with satisfaction as blue eyes widened
perceptibly.
"Going,"
Dev squeaked as she shuffled towards the door, trying to keep hold of the
jiggling puppy crate.
Lauren puttered
around her room for a few moments before taking Wayne's video call. She pulled
out some hand-written notes, and her publishing agent's secretary brought Wayne
on the line.
"Hiya,
sweetheart," he said affectionately.
Lauren smiled.
"Hi, Wayne. How's life in the Big Apple?"
"Eh." He
moved his hand in a teetering motion. "Could be worse. Could be Cleveland.
How are you?" He wriggled eyebrows liberally dosed with gray. "Been
doing anything lately you'd like to tell your old buddy Wayne about?" He
gave Lauren his best wishing look.
Which had never
worked on her anyway.
"God, Wayne, why
do I work with you again?" Laughter bubbled up inside Lauren when the man
patiently began listing all his virtues, which, in actuality, didn't take very
long. "Okay. Okay." She held up her hands in defeat. "I get the
picture."
Wayne continued
unaffected. "And when you're finished slumming with the President of the
United States," he grunted, "don't forget to give me a call. Some
people still appreciate a charming yet rugged man."
"Wow. Rugged
andcharming?" Lauren crossed her arms over her chest and tried not to
laugh as both eyebrows edged their way up her forehead. "Uh huh. I'll be
sure to call you, Wayne," she drawled.
Wayne blew out a
disgusted breath. "No, you won't." He clutched his heart. "But
I'll love you anyway." His face grew serious. "Even when you mess
with a winning formula."
Lauren worried her
lower lip. She'd figured this was coming. "You didn't like it?"
"Oh, I liked
it." He threw his hands in the air. "Hell, I loved it. But it's not a
good idea, Lauren."
Her eyes went round
and innocent. "What's not a good idea?"
"Lauren."
Her name came out a low, raspy growl.
"You need to
quit smoking."
"Don't change
the subject." He shook his head ruefully. "It's dangerous ground.
Your Adrienne Nash books are bestsellers, for Christ's sake. Why you would
jeopardize that now, is beyond me. Well? I read the draft. I can't stand it,
and I have to know!"
Lauren's eyes widened
a little. Geesh."Well, I don't think I'm exactly jeopard-"
"No. No,"
Wayne said irritably. "Not that." He rested his chin on a fist.
"Are they or aren't they?"
Ohhhh..."Adrienne
Nash and her new partner are friends," Lauren replied a little defiantly.
"That's obvious.
But I want to know if Adrienne is shaggin' her lovely, new sidekick. Sometimes
I think yes, sometimes I think no."
"That you think
at all is beyond me," Lauren mumbled.
"Well?" he
insisted.
Lauren sighed.
"I'm not sure." Her face grew pensive. "Let's just say I'm
strongly considering it."
"Well,
don't," he said flatly. "I've got the numbers right here, and the
gain isn't worth the risk."
"I sent you the
first rough draft five days ago. And you've already done market
research?!" she asked incredulously, slipping off her glasses and setting
them in her lap.
"Please."
He rolled his eyes. "Ye of little faith. When Adrienne still had no
boyfriend after your second novel I ran the stats." Wayne picked up a
stack of computer printouts and waved them in the air. "You've got an 89%
female following. Of that number, a third would pray for your immortal soul and
stop reading outright if Adrienne took a female lover."
"They can go to
hell," Lauren snorted.
Wayne tossed the
papers back on his desk and 'tsked' the writer's shortsightedness. "But
only after buying the book." He pointed to the stack. "A third of the
readers say they don't give a shit who she sleeps with, as long as she's
getting some. Then again, they also indicated that if Adrienne came out as a
lesbian, they weren't sure whether they'd keep reading. By the way, they want
the bad guy from your first book to come back."
"Come
back?" Lauren's brows drew together. "I drowned him. He's dead! He
can't come back!"
"Fic-tion,"
Wayne reminded in a singsong voice.
Lauren slumped back
in her chair, looking completely bewildered. "My readers are idiots?"
"Ahem!" He
shot her a pointed look, and she reluctantly quieted. "The last third
approve of the idea, but insist on graphic sex scenes. Our research shows that
their attention will wane if they don't get one at least every 63.4
pages."
Lauren's face dropped
into her hands. She closed her eyes and groaned. "Oh, God."
"That's a start,
sweetheart!" he praised. "But how about adding a 'Take me now!' right
after that?"
Sunday, October 10 th
They entered quietly,
going wholly undetected as three sets of socked feet tiptoed stealthily across
the floor. The Secret Service could take lessons from the Marlowe children.
This morning, the game plan was to pounce on their unsuspecting mother before
she woke up. On the rare occasions when they were out of bed first, this had
become a tradition of sorts. They usually ended up in her bed for a while,
telling stories or discussing their upcoming day. It was a fun time that both
mother and children enjoyed.
Ash noticed immediately
that something was different this morning and shushed her brothers as she
pointed at the extra lump in their mother's bed. She stopped and studied her
mom, who was snoring lightly. Then she moved to the other side of the bed to
find Lauren. A wicked grin curled the little girl's lips, and she dropped to
her knees. Ashley crossed her arms and rested them on the edge of the bed. She
propped her chin on her wrists and kissed Lauren's nose, barely touching the
skin.
Her brothers fought
hard to stifle their giggles.
Lauren's nose
twitched as she was slowly drawn from a blissfully deep sleep. Another kiss and
the blonde woman scowled, instantly aging features so youthful in slumber. Pale
eyelashes fluttered open to find an unexpected pair of brown eyes staring back
at her from only a millimeter away. "Holy-!" Lauren's eyes popped
wide open, and she bolted upright, sending the sheet into a puddle around her
waist. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute, and she stared wide-eyed at a
smiling Ashley.
Still half asleep,
Dev rolled over to see what was causing the commotion next to her.
"Lauren? Sweetheart?" She pushed a stray lock of dark hair from her
eyes, trying to focus. "What's wrong?"
Lauren snatched up
the sheet to cover her nakedness. She was only partially successful, and her
befuddled mind couldn't quite understand why Dev's children were all standing
in front of her giggling hysterically. "I... I don't know. I woke up, and
these eyes were right in front me!" Lauren rubbed her own eyes in confusion,
her voice still hoarse from sleep.
"Uh huh."
Dev pushed up on her elbows and glanced past Lauren, quickly figuring out
exactly what had happened and not buying her children's 'Who me?' looks for a
moment. "Yup. Morning raid." She sighed. "I probably should have
mentioned those before." She glanced apologetically at Lauren and helped
tug up the sheet again, this time covering the crucial areas.
"All right, you
little monsters." Dev glared at her children. "Everyone turn around
and look at the wall. Lauren and I need a minute to wake up."
"Aww, Mom!"
Three whining voices joined forces.
"Don't 'Aww,
Mom' me. Do it." She made a spinning motion with her hand, then nudged
Lauren's shoulder once they were no longer being watched. "You okay?"
she asked quietly
"I guess."
Lauren suddenly realized that the children had just caught her naked in bed
with their mother, and she flushed from head to toe, her red skin causing her
fair eyebrows to stand out in vivid relief. "Oh, God, Dev, this is bad,
right?" she whispered, clearly upset as she unconsciously tightened the
sheet around her. "This is bad. Bad. So not good," she babbled,
pulling up the comforter as well. "I should have gone back to my room last
night. I fell asleep-"
"Sweetheart,
this is not bad; at least not for them. I promise. True, we need to get you
some-"
"Pajamas."
"Right."
The older woman nodded. "But they're fine. They adore you, and this won't
kill them." Dev wanted to hug Lauren, but she didn't think this was a good
time to get physical with her. "They come wake me up once in a while, and
we all snuggle. From now on I'll make sure they know they have to knock."
"But,
Devlyn-"
"But
nothing," Dev said seriously. "I love you and won't sneak around to
be together. I'll have a talk with the children." She softened her voice.
"You know I love it when you stay with me at night." Unable to stop
herself, Dev reached out and grazed Lauren's bare shoulder with the back of her
hand. She sighed at the feeling of soft, warm skin. "We'll make some
changes so this doesn't happen again, okay? They have to learn to respect your
privacy, too."
Lauren glanced
uncertainly at the children who were talking among themselves. They giggled and
punched each other periodically, and she thought she heard the words 'boobie'
and 'naked'. Oh, God!she groaned inwardly. Lauren turned back to Dev and
gestured between them with a quick hand. "Isn't this the kind of thing
that turns kids into serial killers and stuff?" She was half teasing, but
this was painfully awkward for her, and she fought the urge to simple bury
herself under the blankets or bolt from the room. A grown up she could have
dealt with. Hell, what could be worse than Dev's own mother walking in on them
at the cabin? It didn't matter that it was purely innocent. Janet didn't know
that. But this... this was different. These were kids!
Dev had to bite her
lip to keep from laughing as she reached to the end of the bed to fetch her
robe. "No." She handed it to Lauren. "It's a lack of honesty
about things like this that turns them into serial killers. Lauren, they've
seen me naked before." Dev decided to tease Ashley, so she raised her
voice. She waited until Lauren had slipped into the robe before she said
loudly, "I was naked and in a swimming pool when I gave birth to Ash, for
heaven's sake." She grinned when the little girl whirled around and
narrowed brown eyes at her. Dev shot the small brunette a 'serves you right'
look and ordered all the children to turn around and apologize to Lauren.
"We're
sorry," they muttered, pointedly looking at Dev and not Lauren.
Dev tilted her head
towards her lover and turned up the heat in her glare. "What was that,
kids? And to Lauren, not me."
"Sorry,
Lauren." This time the voices were clear, and the blonde woman was
presented with three contrite faces.
Christopher bravely
spoke up. "We didn't mean to scare you."
"S'okay,
kids." Lauren smiled to make sure they knew she wasn't angry with them and
was instantly greeted with three relieved sighs. "It just takes my brain a
few minutes to wake up." Her eyes flicked back to Dev. "And let's not
talk about giving birth, shall we?" She shivered at the thought of all
that gore. "I'm still traumatized from watching Princess have those
puppies."
"And Ash was
probably just as ugly!" Chris exclaimed, to his brother's delight. Both
boys began laughing.
"Was not!"
the little girl shouted back, punching Christopher hard on the arm.
"Ouch!"
"All right,
guys, that's enough," Dev snapped. "Go into the living room and give
Lauren and me a minute or two. We'll meet you out there."
"'Kay."
Ashley rousted her brothers towards the door, but ran back to Lauren's bedside
before leaving herself. "I really didn't mean to scare you. Sorry."
She grinned tentatively. "We like it when you're here. You can sleep over
as much as you want."
Lauren couldn't help
but smile. She reached out and smoothed Ashley's sleep-tousled hair.
"Thank you, honey. I'll remember that." She cupped the little girl's
chin and tilted her head so that they were looking eye to eye. "And I'm
sure you were a cuter baby than Grem's puppies." She stuck out her tongue
and scrunched up her face. "Barely."
Ashley giggled and
gave Lauren a hug, "Mom says I was the most beautiful girl baby. And she
never lies."
Lauren gazed fondly
at Ashley. "I know, sweetie."
Ashley pulled away
when Dev cleared her throat and jerked her thumb towards the door, reminding
her eldest that she was supposed to be vacating the room.
"Gotta go."
Ashley giggled as she ran out to meet her brothers. "You were uglier than
me, Chris! There are pictures to prove it."
Lauren laughed and
shook her head, thinking that she should have guessed Devlyn would have such a
precocious daughter.
"Oh, yeah,"
Dev sighed, leaning back against the headboard and opening her arms to Lauren.
"It's happening."
"What's
happening, darlin'?" Lauren sank back into Dev's embrace, sighing
contentedly. Surprisingly, she already felt a lot less embarrassed. She would
make sure it didn't happen again, and Dev seemed okay with it. The kids seemed
to consider it more funny than traumatic. Of course she was a little
traumatized, but she'd get over exposing herself to three munchkins.
"You're turning
into a mom," Dev said with an air of finality. She brushed her fingers
through Lauren's hair. "You'll know the process is complete when you're
cleaning 'fudgesicle-face' with a napkin wet with your own spit."
"Ewwwwww!"
Lauren moaned. She buried her face against Dev's warm skin, then laughed.
"That particular aspect of motherhood is something I will never
experience, Madam President."
"And the other
aspects?" Dev felt her heart skip a beat. "I'm sort of a package
deal." She held her breath and waited.
Lauren pulled back to
look at Dev's face. "I know, honey." She smiled reassuringly and laid
her hand over Dev's heart. The pounding under her fingertips sent a pang
through her own chest. "Everything else I take one day at a time."
"It scares the
hell out of you, doesn't it?"
"Pretty much.
But not as much as it did before." Her gaze softened, and she found
herself wanting to kiss Dev in the worst way. Lauren leaned forward and gently
brushed her lips against Dev's, savoring their warmth and her lover's tender,
heartfelt response.
The darker woman
hummed into the soft mouth pressed against her own, returning the kiss with her
whole heart. "Things are going to be great, Lauren," she muttered
softly, taking a final nip of Lauren's lower lip before pulling away.
"You'll see."
Lauren licked her
lips and grinned happily. "Things are already great."
* * *
Dev knelt down,
tugging on Aaron's jacket as she zipped it up. He was about to protest again
when she raised a finger to silence him. "It's chilly out today. You're
wearing a jacket."
"But-"
"Or you can stay
home today while Lauren, and your brother and sister and I, go to the zoo. You
choose, son."
He lowered his head,
then looked back up. "Yes, ma'am. I'll wear the jacket."
"I kinda
figured." She nodded and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She glanced
up at Lauren, who was standing next to her wearing a grin. "And where's
your jacket, missy?" A playful brow quirked. "I'll be happy to take
you to your room to get it, if you need me to."
Lauren wrapped her
arm round Dev's waist as the President stood to her full height. She lowered
her voice. "You just want to get me alone in my room." I just want
you to get me alone my room,her mind admitted happily.
"Do you blame
me? We always have so much fun there. Besides, you want me to get you alone in
there too." She winked. Oh, yeah. I read your mind."Sorry to
disappoint, but right now I have a much more wholesome motive. I just want to
make sure you're warm enough. You're just getting over being sick." She
held up her hands to forestall any interjection. "Yes, I know it was last
month. But you see, in mom and girlfriend time, that would be 'just getting
over being sick'. Humor me."
Lauren rolled her
eyes, but couldn't keep from smiling. "Okay, mom," she teased.
"I'll grab one on the way out... just like I was planning on doing
anyway." She rose up on tiptoe and kissed Dev softly on the lips.
"But it's nice that you care." Another tender kiss. "It's sweet,
like you." And makes my heart feel like bursting.
"I'll give you
'mom'." Playfully, Dev swatted Lauren's behind as the entire troop began
heading down the hall towards the waiting motorcade. "I'll remind you of
that little wisecrack tonight, when you want to be tucked into bed." She
chuckled.
"Ewww..."
Lauren made a face. "Why must you keep doing that? You need help,
Devlyn."
"Ah, probably
true," Dev agreed unrepentantly as they stopped outside Lauren's room.
"It comes with the job. I think my brain cells are dying faster now."
She tapped on the door as the kids giggled and romped all around them. "G'wan.
Go get a nice warm jacket."
Lauren ducked into
her room, grabbing a lined denim jacket from the closet next to the door and
her camera from the top of her desk. "Is this good enough?" She held
it for Dev's inspection with one hand and looped the camera strap around her
neck with the other.
Dev nodded her
approval and freed Lauren's hair from the strap around her neck. Another few
seconds and Lauren was wearing the jacket. Dev blinked in mild surprise when
Ashley and Christopher each took one of Lauren's hands the very second they
popped through the jacket's sleeves and began leading her biographer down the
hall without a backwards glance. Dev looked down at her youngest. "You're
stuck with me, buddy. Will I do?"
He nodded and smiled,
reaching up with both arms so Dev would pick him up.
Dev looked at him
doubtfully. "You think I can lift a chubby thing like you, do you?"
His grin broadened,
putting dimples in his plump cheeks. "Yup."
Dev pursed her lips.
"Lucky for you I work out." She scooped up her husky son easily,
settling him against her good shoulder as they moved to the door.
As usual, the Press
was waiting outside, snapping pictures of the First Family as they walked. Out
of reflex, Dev shielded Aaron's face and was pleased to see Lauren using her own
body to block their view of Ashley and Christopher. Several members of the
Press Corps had been invited to the zoo in order to take photos. They, however,
knew better than to be too obtrusive. Dev had been very generous with Press
access. And none of the Corps was anxious to do anything that might harm that
relationship. As they settled the children into the car, Dev leaned over to
Lauren and whispered, "Thank you."
"You're
welcome," Lauren whispered back, her expression turning sour. "I
don't know how you do this year after year, Devlyn. Sometimes I think if I have
to deal with one more of those bast-" She finished the mumbled word with
Dev's palm clamped firmly over her mouth.
Dev shook her head
and grinned. "Careful there, Mighty Mouse. You almost slipped in front of
my innocent," she glanced at her children and contorted her face into the
silliest pose she could come up with, "impressionable kids."
The children all
giggled, looking at Lauren and saying in unison, "But she's very, very
sorry, mom. And she'll try to do better in the future."
With wide eyes,
Lauren nodded and crossed her heart. "I'll try to do better in the
future," she dutifully repeated when Dev removed her hand.
"That's a good
girl. My father is a bad enough influence. But I love you anyway," Dev
said fondly, ignoring her children's groaned protests over her mushiness. She
took a moment to look at the notes Liza had given her earlier in the morning.
"Did you know I'm delivering a speech at the zoo today – at the monkey
house? I'm dedicating it." She nudged Lauren. "Do you think someone
is trying to tell me something about my administration?"
"I hope
not." Lauren intentionally kept her voice light as she carefully studied
her lover. She knew Dev was apprehensive about this. It was her first local
appearance since the shooting. Lauren wrapped her fingers around Dev's, feeling
an uncharacteristic chill. "Hey," she whispered softly, her gaze
straying for just a moment to find that the children had begun playing with the
activity books Emma had sent along for them. She looked back to Dev. "Are
you okay?"
"Umm...well..."
Oh, boy, Marlowe, she's got your number."I'm a little nervous, you know? I
can't seem to help it."
Lauren leaned closer
to the President, worry coloring her tone. "Is there any reason to be
worried? More than normal, that is?" She knew Dev didn't really believe
there was a high level of danger. Otherwise, neither she nor the kids would be
coming along. Still, when Dev had mentioned giving her speech, a tiny, worried
crease had appeared in her forehead.
"No, of course
not. The zoo is actually only open to government employees today. And while
that doesn't mean everyone there loves me, it does make things a little more
secure than usual." She turned and caressed Lauren's cheek. "Besides,
you know I'd never allow you or the children to be put in harm's way. I've just
got butterflies." Dev swallowed and licked suddenly dry lips. Her voice
grew even softer, so that the children wouldn't hear. "Sometimes I can
still hear the shots." She gazed out the window, her eyes unfocused.
"I guess it's going to take longer than I realized to get over that."
Lauren squeezed the
hand she was holding, part of her wishing she'd been there that day to help
Devlyn, the other part relieved beyond measure that she hadn't. I'd have gone
crazy seeing her like that. The writer forced herself away from the dark
thoughts and smiled gently. "It's okay to talk about it, whenever you
want."
Dev nodded, but said
nothing.
Lauren exhaled
slowly. Later, Devlyn.She smiled tentatively, her eyes searching for Dev's.
"You're going to be great today, darlin'. You always are. And I know David
will have security as tight as a drum." A smile shifted into a
full-fledged grin. "And after your speech you can hang around with us and
eat junk food all day long."
Dev couldn't maintain
her solemn expression when faced with such a delightful prospect. "Ooo, a
woman with a plan. I like that." She leaned in for a quick kiss, which
inspired another round of giggles from the munchkins across from them. Dev turned
her head slowly and smiled at them. "And, of course, should they realize
they're short three monkeys at the zoo, I'll be more than happy to make a
donation."
* * *
The motorcade stopped
at the private entrance the President and her family would be using to enter
the zoo. Dev had to put her arm out to hold back the mad rush for the door.
"Easy, kiddos," she laughed. "The doors on this car are eight
inches thick. Let's let the guys outside open them so you don't rupture
anything." Ashley dropped back onto her mother's lap with a sigh. She
turned her head and they rubbed noses. "What's up, Moppet?"
"Can we see the
penguins?"
"Absolutely.
We're here to have a good time and see all the animals today. I only have this
one little thing I need to do this morning, and then I'm yours for the
day."
Lauren couldn't help
but smile when the limousine was filled with wild cheers. It had been a while
since they'd gotten a full day with Dev. And while she, Emma, and Amy did their
best to fill in, it just wasn't the same as having their mom with them.
Christopher plopped
down in Lauren's lap, wrapping his little arms around her neck, while Aaron
stood between them. "What animal do you want to see?" Chris asked.
"Yeah,"
Dev's head turned slowly, and she raised an evil brow. "Which animal do
you want to see, Lauren?"
"Well," she
looked at each child in turn, "I already see a baboon, hyena, and
wildebeest on a daily basis. How about something different?"
Three little voices
all shouted together once they realized Lauren was actually talking about them.
"Hey!"
Ashley turned to her
mom and whispered indignantly, "You gonna let her talk about us like
that?"
"Why not? It's
the truth. I just can't believe she didn't peg one of you as an enormous,
stinky warthog.
"Mom!"
"Only if you're
good today. Otherwise, I'm pretending I don't know you," the President
teased as the doors were opened from the outside.
Dev helped the kids
out of the car and into the custody of their respective Secret Service agents.
Before getting out herself she leaned over and leered at Lauren. "And in
case you're wondering what I'd like to see most, it's a tiny, incredibly
precious tattoo of a leprechaun, right on your-"
"Oh, God."
A bright blush turned the tips of Lauren's ears scarlet, and she buried her
face against Dev's chest. "You'd better hush up, Madam President. Or I
won't be responsible for my actions. I might have a tiny tattoo, but you've got
the cutest dimple right on your lovely-"
"Why, Ms.
Strayer," Dev's eyes went round. "I didn't realize that you were
taking inventory of my dimples." She smirked. "I have three you
know." Dev exited the car and then reached back in to help Lauren out.
Lauren stepped out of
the limo, shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun with her hand. She
could tell that Dev was much more relaxed and was a little shocked by how much
it bothered her when Dev was anxious and worried. She leaned in close to Dev
and whispered, "Believe me, darlin', I now know every square inch of your
body."
Dev sighed with
contentment and zipped up her jacket. "Yes, you do. And my body thanks
you." She wiggled her brows at Lauren who grinned back as the agents began
preparing for them to enter the zoo.
* * *
Dev met up with Liza
while Lauren went with the kids. The President rolled her shoulders, wishing
Lauren were there to rub them. She had learned where her muscles kinked the
worst and the best way to work out the pain that settled there far too often
now. Dev wondered if that was because of the job or the shooting.
She felt a hand brush
her arm; turning, she found Liza slipping her last minute note cards into her
pocket. "Thanks." Dev cleared her throat, wondering if she looked as
nervous as she felt. This was a real trial by fire for her. Some of the people
in this crowd had been present when she was shot. They had seen her taken down.
They had seen their President taken down; seen her crumple and fall like a mere
mortal.
For Devlyn Marlowe
this was the closest thing to a panic attack that she had ever really
experienced in her public life. She looked at her hands and realized they were
actually shaking a bit. She rubbed them together, took a deep breath and walked
out on the stage.
Lauren stopped at an
exhibit and allowed the kids to point and talk to the animals while she turned
around to observe her lover. Because the spot she had chosen gave her an
excellent view, she didn't look like she was hovering. Which, of course, she
was. But she was worried, dammit. Lauren lifted her camera and began to focus,
zooming in on Dev. Jesus. She's shaking. She almost left the kids with the
Secret Service and went up there. But before she could move, Dev strode to the
podium.
She smiled and licked
her lips, once again shoving down her nervousness. Her eyes moved more rapidly
over the crowd now. The applause she was hearing was barely audible in her
world as her eyes landed on Lauren. The smile that she had on her face softened
and became one that Lauren would know was just for her. There's your strength,
Marlowe. Latch on and take it."Good morning, everyone. They tell me I'm
here to talk about monkeys this morning, but since I don't like to tell stories
about my Chief of Staff, I guess they mean the real thing..."
* * *
Dev didn't have
problems tracking her family like everyone else who got separated in a
situation like this. She was being guided along quite nicely by the Secret
Service detail, which knew exactly where every member of the Marlowe family was
at all times. And right now, she was being escorted to the seal exhibit.
She did take the time
to shake a few hands and sign a few autographs for the crowd, hoping that would
help her later in the day, when she would be less social as she spent time with
her family.
Devlyn slowed her
pace as she approached her four favorite people, a huge smile brightening her
face. She wrestled it away immediately, glancing around to make sure there
wasn't a drinking fountain anywhere nearby. There wasn't. Dev shoved her hands
in her pockets as she closed the remaining distance between her and her family.
She stopped alongside Lauren, who was kneeling in front of Aaron. They appeared
to be in the midst of a very in-depth conversation. She still had to fight to
keep the grin off her face as she watched Lauren cleaning something from her
son's face, oblivious to her presence.
"Umm,
Lauren?"
Lauren glanced up.
"Oh, hi. You're back." She smiled affectionately. "We missed
you. And why are you looking at me like I grew a mustache while you were gone?
Do I have something between my teeth?" Lauren immediately swirled the tip
of her tongue across pearly whites, searching for the offending piece of food.
A small laugh bubbled
up that Dev was helpless to control. "No. Your teeth are fine." Dev
looked pointedly at Lauren's hand. "I was just wondering how exactly you
wet the napkin you're using to clean his," her gaze drifted to her son,
and she grimaced, "filthy face."
"Huh?"
Lauren looked down at the wadded up, chocolate ice cream-covered napkin in her
hand. She frowned. "Well, there was no drinking fountain or bathroom
nearby, and it was all over his little face, and it wouldn't come off, and I
couldn't stand it. So I-" Gray eyes widened to an almost comical degree.
"Oh, my God."
The look of pure, unadulterated
shock on Lauren's face was priceless, and what had started out small was now a
full-fledged belly laugh. Dev wiped tears from her cheeks as she leaned back
against a rail and offered Lauren her hand so she could pull her up.
Lauren hadn't even
made it all the way to her feet, before she was pulled into a heartfelt hug.
She grinned against Dev's chest as she felt the older woman's silent laughter.
"Very funny." She pinched her hard in the belly for the teasing,
drawing a muffled squawk that ruffled her hair.
"Welcome to the
club, sweetheart," Dev finally said. "It's been a wild year for you,
hasn't it?"
Aaron looked between
the women. "What club?"
"The one where
they clean your sticky old face with their spit, stupid-head," Christopher
added helpfully.
"Oh." Aaron
just shrugged. What did he care?
"I... I..."
Lauren stuttered, still a little wide-eyed. "I didn't even think about
it."
Dev shrugged casually
as she found something terribly interesting about her shoes and kicked at a
non-existent pebble. "Yeah, comes pretty naturally to us mom types."
Lauren was
speechless, and Dev took pity on her friend, giving her a moment to compose
herself. She looked up and found Aaron's Secret Service agent lurking close by.
She motioned the young man over and in a few quick strides he was ready for his
orders. "Could you please take Aaron to the men's room and give him a
little clean up? Even though clinical research has proven that 'mom spit' and
hydrochloric acid are exactly the same thing, I think a little soap would come
in handy for this job." Dev reached down and cupped her son's chin, so she
could get a good look at the damage. "Eww... now I gotta go wash my
hands!" She arched a well-shaped eyebrow at her son. "You're a slob,
buddy."
Aaron blushed.
Ashley, who had
finally pried herself away from the railing where she was watching the seals,
joined her brothers. Her voice took on a sage quality. "Grandpa says if it
isn't on your face, you're not enjoying it properly."
Dev's eyes went round
as an entirely X-rated thought popped into her mind at Ashley's innocent
statement. She felt a sudden, burning heat sting her cheeks.
Lauren looked at Dev
quizzically. "Why-?" Her jaw sagged with her realization, and she
blushed so fiercely she felt lightheaded. Lauren covered her eyes with her
hands. "You're such a pervert, Devlyn Marlowe."
"What?"
Ashley questioned. "What? And why are you guys all red?" She hated
being left out of the loop.
Lauren narrowed her
eyes at Dev who stared back at her with devastating innocence. "No wonder
your parents call you Devil."
Dev just wriggled her
eyebrows.
Ashley put her hands
on her hips and waited.
Lauren looked down at
the girl. "It's nothing you need to worry about, sweetheart." The
blonde's gaze flicked back to Dev, and she glared at the grinning woman.
"Your mom was just making a very privatejoke."
Lauren reached out
and took Dev's hand. "C'mon, you; we're leaving the kids with their agents
for five minutes so I can buy you some ice cream." In a much lower but
still teasing voice she added, "And keep you from traumatizing them with
your wicked ways."
Dev felt herself
being tugged away. She waved at Ashley, who had already hooked up with Amy and
was heading towards the alligator exhibit. "Keep an eye on your brothers;
we'll be back in a minute. Be good and don't give Amy any trouble."
The little girl threw
her hands into the air. "Do I ever?!"
"Yes," Dev
called over her shoulder. "I've got an FBI file on you an inch thick. Be
good till we get back."
"Yes,
ma'am."
Once the women were a
few feet away, Lauren eased up on their pace. She leaned closer to Dev and
spoke quietly, concern coloring her tone. "Your speech was wonderful,
Devlyn." She looked for a tactful segue, but in this instance there didn't
seem to be one. Lauren let go of Dev's hand and gently rubbed her back as they
strolled along at a snail's pace. "You okay?"
The President nodded
slowly. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just needed to get back out there and do it.
Kind of like falling off a horse for the first time. You just have to get up
and get back on before you lose your nerve." She smiled wryly.
"Funny, when I was on tour after the bombings, being out there didn't
bother me, but this, here at home, where it happened – this shook me up."
Dev felt her guts begin to churn when she thought of the shooting, and she
quickly pushed the thoughts away, focusing on the here and now. "I don't
understand it, but I survived it, and that's all that matters."
Unexpected tears
pricked Lauren's eyes, and she felt her throat close.
"Hey." Dev
stopped walking and wrapped her arms around the shorter woman's waist.
"None of that, okay?" She tilted her head in entreaty. "Today's
supposed to be fun."
Lauren nodded and
drew in a deep breath. "You're right. I'm sorry." She smiled weakly,
and they resumed their trek.
"It helped
having you here today. Keeping watch over me, were you, Mighty Mouse?"
Lauren laughed
lightly. "You know it, Wonder Woman. Somebody's got to keep you out of
trouble."
Dev's hand let go of
Lauren's waist as they maneuvered around a popcorn stand and a large family.
"Get any nice pictures?"
"Hmm.
Absolutely. A bunch of the kids and several great ones of you. Not that just
about any picture of you isn't great."
"Right,"
Dev snorted.
Lauren rolled her
eyes at the suddenly bashful look that had overtaken Dev's face. "Trust
me, Devlyn. You and the camera are carrying on a love affair that should make
me green with jealousy. You're gorgeous, and you damn well know it."
Dev's mouth opened,
but no sound came out.
Lauren laughed in
earnest, retaking her lover's hand and twining their fingers together. She
wanted to talk more about how Dev felt about the shooting. Dev needed that. But
she also sensed that the President wasn't quite ready. She needed more time,
and that was okay by Lauren. She could be patient when she had to be, and she
had no intention of going anywhere anytime soon.
The women approached
the front of a brightly-bannered concession stand that smelled so good Lauren
was sure she had gained five pounds just by being within sniffing distance.
Thank God we work out so much.There were no lines, and Lauren walked right up
ahead of Dev, taking a spot at the counter. "Pick your poison, Madam
President," she said brightly. "I'm buying."
Dev sighed happily.
God, she's wonderful. I'm keeping her.Taking a deep breath, she wrapped her
arms around Lauren from behind, and rested her chin on the shorter woman's
shoulder as she considered the menu. She pressed her lips against Lauren's ear
and in a sexy purr said, "Fudgesicle."
Oooo... Lauren nearly
swooned on the spot. She held her fingers up for the vendor, who was openly
staring at his most famous customer. "Make that two."
Wednesday, October 13 th
"She looks
nervous." Dev elbowed David, who was perched next to her on the edge of
her desk in the Oval Office. "Don't you think she looks nervous?"
David nodded.
"Oh, yeah. She's nervous." The man winced. "And that was just
the promo."
Lauren was about to
be interviewed by the nation's number one, live, early morning talk show, Wake
Up, America. It was a 'feel good' program that eased millions of Americans into
the day. The show's anchor, the irrepressible and ever-so-palatable-before-breakfast,
Debbie Charles, was a personal friend of Dev's, who had interviewed her several
times over the years, first as Governor of Ohio, then as President-Elect. The
woman was fair and likeable and knew how to stick to relevant topics, never
letting her questions drift into areas that were too personal or gossip-laden.
Dev's face grew
pensive. "Lauren will be fine, right?" Her glance flicked sideways to
David just as the promo for the show ended and a coffee commercial took its
place. "I mean, she's done tons of personal appearances to promote her
biographies. She told me so herself. This is just like that."
"Were they
televised?" David asked absently, wishing he had a big, jumbo mug for his
coffee like the incredibly happy-looking man on television.
Dev chewed her lip as
she thought. "Umm... now that I think of it, I guess they wouldn't have
been. There was no tape included with her background check. If she'd done TV it
would have been there." Dev chastised herself for being so busy the last
few days that she hadn't really bothered to find out how Lauren felt about the
interview ."She seemed fine with it, right?" Other than the younger
woman's mentioning it earlier in the week, during breakfast, the subject had
never even come up.
"Well, she was a
little reluctant to do it when she found out it was going to be televised
nationally. Especially since it was live." David frowned, resigning
himself to his own, now apparently inadequate, coffee mug. "But once I
explained how good publicity that showed her in a professional, rather than
personal, light would be – and how it would go a long way towards keeping the
party dogs off your back about your relationship," he shrugged, "she
didn't seem to have a problem with it."
Dev sprang to her
feet, knocking a folder containing the day's agenda to the floor in the
process. "You said what?!"
David looked up in
surprise. "What?" His eyes widened at the look on Dev's face.
"It's the truth, Dev. Lauren's a big girl. She asked me if this would help
you, and I said yes."
"I don't care if
it is the truth." Dev's gaze hardened. "I don't want you pressuring
her."
"And I
didn't!" David defended, slightly miffed.
Jane and Liza, who
were sitting on a sofa that had been pulled over next to Dev's desk so that
they could have a better view of the television, both looked at each other
knowingly. If David and Dev didn't have at least three good disagreements a
day, the world as they knew it might come crashing to a halt.
The commercials
ended, and the music for Wake Up, Americastarted. Lauren and the show's
co-host, a young, clean-cut man in a cable knit sweater, were now sitting in
side-by-side chairs, chatting quietly over their morning coffee. "Jesus
Christ." Dev pointed at the image. "Does that freakin' coffee company
own the world or what?" She reached behind her, picking up her steaming
mug of that exact brand and sighed with pleasure as both she and Lauren took
sips simultaneously.
David narrowed his
eyes enviously at Lauren's enormous, super-sized mug . I don't care if it is
nothing more than mug envy. After the show, I'm calling Beth.Beth knew the
proper store for everything and its exact location.
"Wow. She looks good
on TV," Jane commented appreciatively. "I don't see that extra ten
pounds people are always complaining about."
Liza squinted.
"Me neither."
"Shhhhh!"
Dev leaned forward eagerly.
The man sitting next
to Lauren turned to the camera and smiled brightly, his blindingly white teeth
fairly sparkling in contrast to his tanned skin. "And next, Traci Corbin
will be filling in for Debbie Charles, who called in sick with... if you can
believe it... the chickenpox! Our very special guest this morning is Lauren Strayer,
biographer to the President."
Jaws dropped in the
Oval Office.
"But
first," the young man continued, "the weather." A large map of
the United States appeared and Wake Up, America's much beloved weatherman
materialized right along with it.
"David!" Dev
growled, her entire body shaking.
"I'm on
it!" Liza thrust a phone into the Chief of Staff's hand, and he
frantically began calling to find out whose head was going to roll, and how
they could stop this interview before the portly weatherman worked his way to
California.
Lauren shifted
uncomfortably in her chair, running a nervous hand through her hair the second
the camera panned over to the weatherman.
Traci Corbin brushed
past the show's male co-host, who was on his way for a makeup retouch before
his interview with the Washington Redskins' quarterback, which was going to
take place in the next segment. She took the seat opposite the writer and
extended her hand. "I'm Traci. Sorry I didn't get a chance to introduce
myself earlier."
Lauren grasped the chilled
palm and gave it a companionable squeeze. "Lauren Strayer. It's a pleasure
to meet you."
Traci looked slightly
harried. "I just got the call they needed me to come in an hour ago, and I
had to make a mad dash for the studio." The forty-something woman needed
all the time in makeup she could get. "I made a few notes while they were
fixing my hair." She smiled. "I hope you don't mind if my questions
are a little rough."
The older woman's
friendly demeanor instantly put Lauren at ease. "No... I ..." She
blushed slightly and forced her hands to stop twitching. "That's fine. As
long as you don't mind a slightly nervous guest. I don't really do TV
interviews, so this will be something of a first."
Traci nodded and gave
Lauren's arm a sympathetic squeeze. "Live TV is always a little nerve
racking. But you'll do fine."
A man suddenly
appeared a few feet in front of Lauren and Traci, but well off camera. He held
up five fingers. Then four, three, two, one. Traci smiled. "Welcome back
to Wake Up, America. I'm Traci Corbin, filling in for Debby, who is home sick
today. With us this morning, we have Presidential biographer, Lauren
Strayer." She turned to face Lauren. "Good morning."
"Mornin'."
"That's quite a
job you have, Ms. Strayer! Following around after President Marlowe. Is it as
exciting as it sounds?"
Lauren smiled as just
a little more of her nervousness floated away with the simple question.
"Sure. Sometimes. The White House is a whirlwind of activity. Always. And
sometimes it's just a lot of hard work. I spend most of my time experiencing
what the President does throughout her day, and the rest of my time doing
research and organizing what I learned, so that, in the end, I'll be able to
distill four years into a single book that's an accurate portrait of President
Marlowe."
"Interesting."
Traci tapped her chin as though she were truly considering her next question.
"So how do you produce an," her fingers fashioned quote marks in the
air, and her eyes took on a slightly predatory gleam, "'accurate portrait'
when you're sleeping with your subject?"
Dev's face dropped to
her hands as she groaned. "Oh, my God."
The sounds of the
President's groans were nearly drowned by the other moans echoing around her.
Dev peeked between
her fingers so she could continue to watch the interview. "Come on, Mighty
Mouse; don't let that bitch fluster you. You're better than that,
sweetheart."
Lauren blinked at the
interviewer, momentarily stunned by the blunt question.
Traci stared back at
Lauren and a tiny, almost imperceptible smile twitched at her lips . I just got
my Associated Press quote. Fuck 'Wake Up America'! I want my own show. And
Marlowe can kiss my ass.
Dev had denied
Traci's repeated requests for a one-on-one interview. Traci had been
persistent. Too persistent, actually. And she'd gotten a little visit from the
Secret Service, who not so politely asked her to tone it down or risk
prosecution under DC's stalking laws and a host of other federal statutes
enacted to protect the President. They'd even revoked her press credentials for
a short while, placing her on a probationary status. Her! Traci Corbin!
"Ms.
Strayer?" Tracey reminded, absolutely loving the long seconds of stunned
silence that were ticking away.
For a split second
Lauren was confused. She'd been promised this interview would be about her
work, and wouldn't venture into private matters like who she slept with. Then
she caught a glimpse of the look on Traci's face. Her eyes narrowed at the
sight as a flash of understanding passed between the women.
Dev paled. "Uh
oh. She's pissed."
David finished
yelling into his phone. He furiously snapped the cover closed and threw it to
the floor at his feet. Stomping it. Twice. " Wake Up, Americaclaims they
didn't know that her press credentials had been pulled earlier this year.
Apparently, the show's other correspondents refused to do the interview with
Lauren. They didn't want to look unprepared. The show has used Traci in the
past, and she was the best they could do on an hour's notice." He glared
at his phone as though this were all its fault. He stomped on it again.
Lauren shifted in her
chair, meeting Traci's gaze directly. "That's a good question, Ms. Corbin.
And, to be truthful, I don't think I can be totally objective."
Traci smiled
triumphantly. "You don't?"
Dev, David, Liza, and
Jane all grimaced.
"No. But then
again, no writer is one hundred percent objective, is he?" Lauren picked
up the gauntlet and ran with it. "Everyone brings his own life experiences
to bear on what she writes, despite the best intentions. We're only human,
after all." Unlike the members of certain professions!Lauren began to warm
to her topic. "I think the keys to being as accurate and honest as
possible are good editorial support, meticulous research, and a heartfelt
commitment to serve your readers."
Traci's smile began
to slip.
"You can still
maintain those things no matter what your relationship is with your
subject," Lauren drew out the last word with evident distaste. Not that
she hadn't used it herself in the past. She had. But she was sure she'd never
said it in a way that conveyed that the people she wrote about were laboratory
rats... to be dissected. Lauren grinned sweetly. "Did that answer your
question, Ms. Corbin?" she asked innocently, knowing full well she'd just
rained on the interviewer's parade. Bitch.
"That's my
girl!" Dev shouted gleefully.
"Go get her,
Mighty Mouse! Ask about her boob job and nose jobs!"
All three women
stared at David.
"What?" he
complained. "I'm Chief of Staff. I know things!"
Traci glanced down at
her notes. "Um... yes, actually, it does." She looked up and smiled
at the camera.
Dev shivered.
"Ah... yes. Now,
Lauren-"
Lauren bit her lip to
keep from asking 'Who in the hell said you could call me by my first name?'
Instead, she tried to look interested, wondering how long a three-minute
interview could possibly last.
"President
Marlowe is the first female President."
Lauren nodded,
fighting hard not to roll her eyes. And you said you didn't have time to do
research.
"She's also a
very attractive woman, wouldn't you agree?"
Lauren's eyebrow
twitched. "Anyone with eyes would agree, Traci."
"They sure
would! Can you tell America what President Marlowe thinks about being named the
world's most eligiblewoman?"
The temperature in
the studio dropped ten degrees. What? She is not eligible, and you know
it!"I'm not sure what Devlyn thinks about that." Lauren's hands
shaped into fists, though her face remained impassive.
"Don't take the
bait, Lauren," Dev said to the image in front of her. "I'm
noteligible!"
Jane nodded.
"Off the market."
"Totally
taken," Liza agreed fervently.
Lauren leaned forward
in her chair, looking at the magazine Traci had suddenly thrust in front of
her. Dev was pictured on the cover with her arm wrapped around Hollywood's
newest starlet, Takesha Vasquez. It was clear that the picture was doctored and
merely intended to show how good the two women looked together. Which, Lauren
admitted reluctantly, they did. "This is total and utter crap," she
announced crisply, tossing the magazine down on a small table that sat between
her and Traci.
Dev's eyes widened,
and she sucked in a nervous breath. "Don't kill her on live TV."
"I could fix
that," David stated confidently.
Everyone in America
waited for Lauren to blow a gasket. Instead, she smiled charmingly and said in
a soft, southern accent, "I happen to know that President Marlowe prefers
blondes."
Several members of
Wake Up, America's crew chuckled. And Traci joined in reluctantly.
Off camera, a man
held up his hand and began counting down on his fingers.
Traci dutifully read
the teleprompter. "Thank you, Lauren. Join us in our next segment where
America gets to wake up and meet Redskins star quarterback, Elvis
Simpson."
On the television in
the Oval Office a commercial replaced Traci and Lauren's images. Dev turned to
David. "She did okay, right?" No bloodshed. Yet. I'd be running if I
were you, Ms. Corbin.
"Oh, yeah, very
professional." Thank you, God!"She was wonderful. And she only looked
like she was going to hit Traci for a minute there."
"Too bad she'll
never hear those compliments, pal," Dev said wryly.
Liza and Jane turned
sympathetic glances towards David.
The red-haired man
frowned, but took the implication seriously. "She's going to kill me,
isn't she?"
Dev nodded and
slapped her best friend hard between the shoulder blades. "I regret that
you have but one life to give for your country... and that my girlfriend is
going to snuff it out when she gets home."
* * *
Traci marched off the
set in a huff, upset she hadn't gotten more of a reaction out of Lauren. What
could have been a lead story on the news had been reduced to a meaningless
sound bite that wasn't sensational in the least. She stopped dead in her tracks
at the sound of a hard voice coming from behind her.
"That wasn't
very nice." Lauren stood three paces behind the slender, older woman, her
facial muscles twitching with the force of her pent up anger and frustration.
She'd taken enough shit from the Press over the past ten months. But now... now
there was finally a face attached to that malicious, big mouth.
Slowly, Traci turned
to face the woman behind her. "I'm a news correspondent, Ms. Strayer. I'm
paid to get a story, not to be 'nice'. If I wanted to be 'nice', I'd write
biographies for a living."
Lauren took another
menacing step forward. "I don't think you were trying to get a story at
all. You were trying to get a reaction." And you almost did."Those
were nothing more than cheap shots. And something I'd expect more from the
tabloids than a supposed 'news correspondent'." Another step forward.
"It takes skill and talent to write for a living, Ms. Corbin. Don't kid
yourself. Your obvious inadequacies are the reason you can't do it."
"Oooo,
ouch!" The reporter gave Lauren a less than sincere smile. "I can die
happy now. The President's girlfriend has told me off. Are you finished having
your little tantrum, Ms. Strayer? Because I'm going home. Besides, I'm sure
you're due back at the White House to do a little Chief Executive back
scratching."
Lauren's face turned
an angry shade of purple. She calmly slid off her glasses and tucked them
safely into the pocket of her jacket. "Oh, there's going to be
scratching." The writer's eyes glittered with rage. "But I was
thinking more along the lines of bloody streaks down your face." Lauren
smiled a cold smile, enjoying the look of shock and poorly masked concern on
Traci Corbin's face. "Though I'll be sure to give Devlyn your regards
tonight."
"Hi,
Lauren!" A nervous and very familiar voice interrupted their conversation.
Lauren didn't even
turn her head; she just continued to burn holes through a wide-eyed Traci with
her withering glare.
Oh, shit. David was
right. Thank God I was so close to the studio.David's frantic call had reached
his wife when she was only two blocks away from the studio and on her way to a
downtown meeting. She could be there more quickly than anyone else, and by the
tone of David's voice she knew she needed to hurry. Beth rushed forward and stepped
into the small space that remained between the women. "Hi, I'm Beth
McMillian." She reached out and took Traci's hand, shaking it vigorously.
"And if I were you, I'd leave now, before my friend Lauren claws your eyes
out, and my husband has to find a place to hide your worthless," her gaze
dropped to Traci's chest, "silicon-filled body."
"Oh, the
cavalry!" Traci leaned in and stage-whispered to Beth, her bravado
returning now that it appeared she wasn't about to be pounded within an inch of
her life. "And just in time too. I would hate to have broken blondie's
nose." She took a deep breath and looked over Beth's shoulder at Lauren.
"Give the President my best, won't you?" Traci smirked.
Lauren finally
snapped and lunged forward, but Beth turned around more quickly than anyone
would have thought possible for a basically sedentary history professor. She
used her greater weight to hold Lauren back by the shoulders. The younger woman
looked as though she was going to spontaneously combust if she didn't kill
someone.
"Let. Me.
GO!" The writer watched angrily as Tracy took this as her cue to leave.
"Lauren, don't
do it," Beth soothed. "The legitimate media will tear you and Dev
apart. Take a deep breath and think of Dev and the kids." She could see
her words having an immediate effect. "That's it. She's not worth
it."
Lauren blew out an
unhappy breath and tried to calm herself. "Bitch," she seethed in a
whisper, feeling hot tears spring to her eyes. "It's always something.
They're always lurking and lying and distorting. And they never stop, even when
you try to play their game!"
"No, they
don't." Beth sighed, glad that when Lauren finally had this meltdown she
was away from the White House. Beth had seen it building over the past few
weeks as Dev's popularity began to slip further in the polls. In addition to
the furor over the bombings and subsequent FBI raid, Dev's own party, along
with the Republicans and several conservative Democrats, had begun to question
the President's morals. After all, she was shacked up with her girlfriend in
what was considered by most people to be a public residence. "If you
intend to have any kind of a relationship with Dev, you're going to have to
learn to ignore most of this."
"Easier said
than done," Lauren admitted. She brought shaking hands to her eyes to wipe
the tears away, then to her temples, where she was developing a horrendous
headache. God, what is wrong with me?She let out a ragged breath, more upset by
her lack of control than Traci Corbin. "You're right, Beth. Let's
go." The two women began walking towards the exit. "I'm not even
going to ask why or how in the hell you got here not thirty seconds after that
joke of an interview ended."
Beth laughed.
"My loving hubby called me on my cell phone." She shrugged. "I
just happened to be nearby. He told me that if I didn't get over to this studio
A.S.A.P. he was never coming home again because he'd be busy trying to explain
how a simple interview turned into a homicide."
Lauren nodded.
"David is a smart man. Too bad he has to die for talking me into
this." A small grin edged onto Lauren's face. "He knows the early
morning hours are when I'm most likely to commit murder."
Beth chuckled,
linking her arm through Lauren's. "I suggest we let him live and just
torture him for the rest of our natural lives. It's far more fun that way.
Never let them see you sweat and never let them forget it when they do
something stupid. Now, how about I buy you breakfast?"
Lauren laid a hand on
her churning belly. She'd been too nervous to eat anything and had already been
up for nearly four hours. "Will there be alcohol?"
"Absolutely.
Nothing wrong with a Bloody Mary at," Beth glanced at her watch,
"7:30 A.M."
"Mmm hmm... or
Mimosas."
"Or
Screwdrivers."
"Or beer,"
they both said together, bursting into unexpected laughter as the tension
surrounding them plummeted. They pushed through the front doors of the building
and were hit with a blast of moist air.
Beth suddenly stopped
walking and stared out at the street lined with cars and rain puddles.
"Uh... you're going to have to drive."
"Sure."
Lauren shrugged, her eyes tracking Beth's gaze. "What are you looking
at?"
"The empty space
on the road behind that car in the handicapped spot." Her shoulders
slumped. "Where my car used to be."
"Oh."
Lauren grimaced and wrapped her arm around Beth's shoulders, steering her
towards her own car. "Sorry." Her brows drew together as she thought.
She glanced at her friend as they stepped down off the curb. "Do you think
Dev could have Traci Corbin deported?"
Beth laughed.
"I'm sure David's looking into it as we speak."
Friday, October 15 th
"Gentlemen."
Dev leaned back in her chair, allowing her gaze to sweep over every
Emancipation Party member present. She closed her eyes briefly in a silent bid
for control. "I don't give a good God damn what you think on this issue.
This is my private life you're prying into!"
Party Chairman Bruce
Jordon loosened his necktie with thick fingers. He was only a few years older
than Dev, but had silver hair and a deeply creased, hangdog face. "No
offense, Madam President, but when the Party agreed to hire Lauren Strayer to
write your biography, we didn't realize that you'd be getting into a..."
he momentarily fumbled over his words, torn between what he wanted to say and
what was appropriate. "Ahem We... ah... we never seriously contemplated a
physical relationship between the two of you."
"Good." Dev
crossed her arms over her chest. " Because neither did I." She looked
at David, but he just shrugged. Dev was on her own here. This had to come
directly from the President's mouth. Thanks a lot, buddy.Dev refocused on Party
Chairman Jordon. "What happened between Lauren and me happened just like it
would have for any other couple. Over a period of months, by working together
and helping each other through some rough spots, we developed a close
friendship which, in turn, blossomed into love."
She stopped and drew
a deep breath, resenting the hell out of every second of this. She pointed
directly at the main source of her antagonism. "It wasn't you, Bruce, in
the hospital holding my hand after I got shot. And I don't recall your being
the one to go in and help soothe my children's fears when they thought their mother
might die." Dev wanted to shout at the top of her lungs that she didn't
have to justify her actions to the Party or any other bastard on earth. But
that wasn't totally true, and she knew it.
"Dev..."
The man sat up a little straighter in his chair. "Look, you know I have a
great deal of respect for you. I have no problem with your... lifestyle. What I
do have a problem with is that National News Magazineis about to release a
nearly twenty page cover story about you and Lauren. They've got pictures of the
two of you out together."
"Yeah, well
since we've been out together in public, I'm sure they do. What is the real
problem here?!"
Chairman Jordon
slammed his palms against the table, the resulting bang causing nearly everyone
in the room to jump. Dev didn't move a muscle. "Don't screw around with
me, Dev. You know damned well that you got elected by being honest about your
sexuality, but not by rubbing people's noses in it. Samantha-"
Dev's face turned to
stone, her voice dropping to a dangerous level. "Don't you dare bring her
into this. Not one God damned word about her!" she boomed.
Mentioning Sam's name
was taboo, and the Party knew it. After her death, they'd wanted to exploit
public sympathy for Governor Marlowe, and they'd nearly lost Dev because of it.
If it hadn't been for David's cooler head, Dev would have broken with the
Emancipation Party then and there. Since then, however, they'd always been able
to work through their differences. Until now.
Bruce Jordon threw
his hands in the air and let out a disgusted grunt. "Not this time."
He jutted his jaw defiantly. "I'm not catering to your ego for one more
second! We've got problems that won't go away by ignoring them. Half of
Washington is calling your morality into question. They've got big problems
with the fact that she's living in the White House, under the same roof with
you and your children, while you're carrying on an affair with her. They
believe that your children are being exposed to something less than moral. And
that by continuing to pay her, the Emancipation Party is encouraging this
amoral behavior."
"And the Party
would rather not be subjected to that kind of publicity?"
"Exactly."
"Yet the party
doesn't have a problem when some half-assed gossip magazine calls me 'The
World's Most Eligible Woman'?"
Mr. Jordon looked
confused. "Dev, that's true." And it was good publicity. There is a
difference.
"Like hell it
is. One, I'm not eligible. Two, the article in National News Magazineis
accurate. I saw a copy of it last week, and I have no problem with it. Three,
if people want to talk about my morality let's discuss the fact that before
Lauren, I spent the last four years alone. It's all well and good that then I
wasn't 'rubbing the public's nose' in anything," Dev sneered. "But I
had no one in my life. No one. I served my term as governor, and then ran for
President, by myself." She enunciated her last two words with excruciating
precision, letting everyone know just how she felt about that time. "For
God's sake, Bruce, you've been with Olga for over twenty years, and now you've
got the nerve to criticize me for finding someone who makes me happy?"
"It's not the
same thing."
"Bullshit. I'm in
love with a woman who loves me and adores my children and suddenly I'm immoral?
I feel like I'm going backwards in my life! Doesn't make sense."
"If you were
married to her it would be different." Chairman Jordon shifted in his
seat. "But this living together-"
"Wrong!"
Dev sprang to her feet. "You seem to be conveniently forgetting that same
sex marriages still aren't legal in almost half the states! We've made strides,
yes. But..."
"But!" The
Chairman jumped up, joining Dev. "It islegal in your home state." He
squared his shoulders and sucked in his stomach, throwing his chest out in the
process. "Or is she just a distraction and a quick roll in the sack that
you have no intention of getting serious about? Because if she is-"
"You son of a
bitch!" Dev turned on the man and advanced, her hand curling into a tight
fist.
David was between
them in an instant. What is it with Dev and Lauren this month?! Time for
another vacation!"Don't do it. It's not worth it." He held his hand
firmly against Dev's chest and his eyes met hers. "You and I both know
you're in love with Lauren. He's just pissed and scared." He lowered his
voice and pleaded with his friend, knowing he couldn't stop her if she really
had a mind to punch Bruce. "Don't let him get to you."
David looked over his
shoulder. "Mr. Chairman, I think it would be in your best interest to
leave right now. We can continue this at a later time when heads are cooler and
the facts are clearer. Let us run some numbers-"
"Screw the
numbers, David! I will notlet a damned poll tell me who I'm allowed to love and
who I'm allowed to invite into my home." Dev pushed against his hand,
still trying to get closer to Chairman Jordon as the rest of the party leaders
quickly shuffled out of Dev's office.
David and Dev were
left alone to look over the scattered coffee cups and meeting agendas that were
left on the table when the Party members fled the room. Each of them took a
chair and sat quietly, wondering how the hell things went so wrong so fast.
Saturday, October 16 th
"This last one
is from me." Christopher thrust a package into his sister's hands.
"Happy birthday, Ash."
"Thanks,
Chris." Ashley grabbed the box and tore open the paper. "Wow!
Scientist Barbie with her laboratory! Thanks, Chris!"
The little boy smiled
brightly and adjusted his glasses. "You're welcome." He leaned in and
whispered conspiratorially, very aware that Lauren, his mom, and Emma were
listening. "Can me and Aaron play too? Even though it's a girl toy. We can
blow up the laboratory and kidnap Barbie!"
Ashley was about to
tell her brother to keep dreaming when she got a warning glare from Dev. She
relented with a tiny huff. "Sure, Chris. C'mon." Ashley picked up the
disk containing the Nancy Drew Mysteries that Lauren had given her, the tickets
to The Nutcrackerthat were from her mom, the sweatshirt from Emma, and the
glow-in-the-dark necklace from Aaron. She turned to follow her brothers, who
had already run from the room, when Dev's voice caused her to turn back.
"Aren't you
forgetting something?" Dev reminded gently. Ashley had already politely
thanked Lauren and Emma. But it never hurt to say it again.
"Thank you,
Lauren and Emma," the girl dutifully repeated. Then a genuine smile
creased her cheeks. "I love my stories and sweatshirt. I'm going to show
my friends at school!"
Lauren chuckled.
"I'm glad you like it, Ashley. I was just your age when I started reading
those. Only I used the actual books."
Ashley made a face.
"Wow. You're really old."
Dev and Emma
dissolved into laughter.
"Gee, thanks, kid."
Gray eyes twinkled.
"You're
welcome," Ashley answered sincerely as she ran for the door.
Dev called out
another 'Happy birthday' to her eldest, and Ashley skidded to a halt. She ran
back to her mother and hugged her fiercely. "Happy birthday to you too,
Mom. It's so cool to share a birthday. Are we really going to go to the ballet
just the two of us?"
Devlyn closed her
eyes and squeezed her tightly, feeling a nearly crushing guilt over the lack of
quality time she could lavish on each child individually. "I promise,
Moppet. Just you and me. A special afternoon for the two of us." Dev felt
her chest constrict and decided if she didn't think about something different,
and fast, she was going to cry. " How does it feel to be so big? Eight
years old!" She sighed wistfully. "I can hardly believe it."
Ashley beamed.
"It's great! Bye." And this time when she ran out of the room, she
didn't turn back.
"Well, now,
Devlyn," Emma said, "I think I'm going to retire for the evening and
call my son, Tommy." The matronly woman smiled tiredly. "It's been a
busy day." And it had. Ashley had had several girls from her class spend
the afternoon at the White House, and then had another smaller family party
that was just wrapping up.
"You do that,
Emma. And thank you so much for everything." Dev smiled wryly. "I
don't pay you nearly enough."
Emma snorted.
"Isn't that the truth?" She began padding slowly towards the door.
"Night, ladies."
"Night,
Emma," Lauren and Dev called back.
"Wow."
Lauren shook her head in admiration. "She did a great job this afternoon.
I could barely hear all those screaming second graders from my room today. With
my door shut. And my headphones on. And my head buried in a pillow."
Dev rolled her eyes.
"Wimp."
"True,"
Lauren chuckled. She liked her quiet time, and life at the White House
certainly was never that. At least not with the Marlowes in residence.
"So..." Lauren sidled up to Dev and molded her body to the
President's lean, lanky form. She dropped a kiss on Dev's throat. "What
does the big birthday girl want today?"
Dev growled as she
captured Lauren's lips in a passionate kiss. When she heard the younger woman
moan softly, she deepened the kiss, reveling in the taste and scent of her
partner. When she pulled away, Lauren looked a little dazed as she slowly
licked her lips. "Does that give you a hint?"
Lauren swallowed.
"Uh huh." She grabbed Dev's hand and began leading her out of the
living room. "We're going to my place. And I'm not letting you out until
morning."
Dev was willingly led
along as far as her front door. Then she pulled Lauren to a stop.
"What?"
Lauren asked in exasperation. "I've been waiting my turn all day!"
Dev smiled. "I
know, sweetheart. But couldn't you just stay here? What if the kids need
something, or David could-"
"Nope. It's all
arranged." She tugged hard on Dev's hand, nearly taking her right off her
feet.
"But-"
"God." Lauren
rolled her eyes, laughing when Dev didn't get a chance to close the door behind
her before she was dragged out into the hall. "Emma knows. David knows.
And probably the entire Service knows that I'm having," she
unceremoniously pushed open her door and ushered Dev inside, "a sleepover
tonight."
"Is that what
you told them?" Dev chuckled, scanning the floor for Princess and Gremlin.
She was always wary of surprise attacks. And since coming to the White House,
Princess had taken on Gremlin's decidedly unpleasant disposition. Well,
unpleasant to Dev. Everyone else, except for Michael Oaks, who Dev suspected
hated Santa Claus and his own mother, seemed to adore both dogs.
"Yup. That's
exactly what I told them." Lauren finally stopped her march when she stood
in front of her couch. She lifted Dev's hand and kissed it softly. "Sit.
It's time for me to give you my present now."
"Heh." A
lecherous grin raced across Dev's face. "Do I get to unwrap it?" She
reached out and slipped her hands under Lauren's University of Tennessee
sweatshirt, resting her palms against a warm, firm belly.
Lauren smacked Dev's
hands away and pushed her down onto the sofa, pausing to kiss her soundly.
"Yes, you do. But not till later."
Dev threw out her
lower lip, and Lauren couldn't help but laugh. "Sit tight for one second
so I can get your present, okay?"
Dev nodded
indulgently. "Yes, ma'am."
"Thank
you." Lauren patted Dev's shoulder as she disappeared behind the President
and headed for her desk. She retrieved an envelope from its shiny surface,
surprised by her own nervousness. Relax. This was a good idea. She won't think
it's stupid.Lauren winced inwardly. I hope.
The blonde woman
dropped down on the couch next to Dev, sitting Indian style.
Dev's gaze drifted to
Lauren's hands. She waited a few more seconds before her curiosity got the
better of her. "Aren't you going to give it to me?" she prompted.
"Uh... of course
I am." Lauren shook her head in dismay, suddenly wishing she'd gotten Dev
a more traditional gift. But knowing it was too late now, she screwed up her
courage and slowly passed over the thick envelope. "Happy birthday,
Devlyn."
Dev smiled brightly.
"Thanks." With a gleam in her eyes she tore it open, blinking at what
appeared to be a contract from Starlight Publishing. She glanced up in question
at Lauren, who simply gestured back to the papers.
"Read it. You
went to Harvard." The writer's eyes twinkled. "I know you can
understand a simple contract between Lauren Gallagher and her unnamed
co-author. The co-author for her next Adrienne Nash novel."
"I..."
Dev's face grew pensive. "I don't understand."
"I know how much
you enjoy my Adrienne Nash novels. I thought you might like to help me with the
next one." She worried the inside of her cheek. "I start planning the
next when I'm about three-fourths finished with the one I'm working on."
Lauren shrugged one shoulder. "That's where I am now. The contract is a
50/50 royalty with me and my yet to be named co-author. Nobody ever has to know
about it but you, me, and the IRS." She grinned.
Blue eyes widened.
"You want me to work on your book?" Dev whispered.
Lauren nodded slowly,
not sure how to take Dev's reaction. "Only if you want to," she
clarified quickly. "oh, crap. It's a stupid idea, right? I should have
gotten you a sweater or something. I mean, you're only the busiest person on
earth, and there's no way you'd-" Her words were cut off by an incendiary
kiss, the force of which nearly sent her off the other end of the sofa.
"It's
great," Dev muttered against Lauren's lips. "Next to Ash coming on my
birthday, it's the best birthday gift anyone's ever given me. It's another
wonderful reason to spend time with you." Dev paused to slowly draw her
tongue along Lauren's top, then bottom lip, earning a deep growl from her lover
that sent shivers down her spine. "Even though being crazy in love with you
is more than enough reason for me." She pulled the rumpled contract from
between their bodies and dropped it to the floor, moaning softly as Lauren's
hands slid under her shirt and around to her back, where they began teasing the
sensitive skin between her shoulder blades. "Lauren?"
The writer was
quickly getting lost in a sensual haze, which caused Dev's muttered words to
roll right over her. She pulled Dev closer, moaning as her fingers threaded
into soft, dark hair, and she felt Dev's entire body came to rest solidly atop
her.
"Lauren?"
"Mmm?" she
breathed faintly.
"Can I unwrap my
other present now?"
"Oh, yeah."
Lauren's eyes slid shut as her shirt was nudged over her breasts, then head.
"God, I love your birthday."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter XI
November 2021
Thursday, November 4th
"What in blazes
is taking so long?" Dev complained.
"Don't worry so
much. Whatever happens, we'll be fine." Right?
"But-"
"Darlin', it's
only been thirty minutes," Lauren reminded as she crossed, then uncrossed,
then crossed her legs again.
"I can see that
you're not worried."
"Very
funny."
The two women were
sitting in side-by-side, wingback chairs, clutching throw pillows that had
large, gold, Presidential seals embroidered on their centers. They were in one
of Dev's sitting rooms, the Treaty Room, waiting anxiously to find out whether,
by the end of the day, Lauren would no longer be the President's biographer.
Things had come to a
head last month when the Emancipation Party officially called for Lauren's resignation.
Privately, Dev had been told that if her girlfriend didn't resign by
Thanksgiving, Lauren would be fired outright. Dev's response, which was that if
Lauren were fired she would break with the ‘bastards' for good, could
be heard at the opposite end of the White House. It had been a shout fest of
epic proportions that even David couldn't smooth over.
Wayne and two lawyers
from Starlight Publishing had arrived in D.C. yesterday. They were now in a
meeting with Party Chairman Jordon, the Party's lawyer, and David, who, with
great difficulty, had convinced Dev and Lauren to wait in the Treaty Room and
leave the negotiating to the lawyers.
"You know,"
Dev began, pitching the pillow across the room and jumping to her feet,
"they can't make you leave. They can't!"
Lauren exhaled
wearily. "Devlyn, think about this for a moment. My credibility has taken
a serious hit. They have a right to be upset. No matter what now, they're not
going to get the biography they paid for."
"Bullshit! But
you can still stay here, whether you're doing the book or not."
Lauren tightened her
grip on her pillow, her soul aching. "I don't think that would be such a
good idea," she said so softly that Dev barely heard her.
"What?" Dev
marched back to Lauren and dropped to her knees in front of the younger woman's
chair. She felt a surge of panic tear through her. "What… what
did you say?" No! I did not hear that. I didn't!
The look in Dev's
eyes sent a stabbing sensation straight to Lauren's heart, and she found her
mouth refusing to repeat the words. "This is hurting you," Lauren
finally whispered, fighting back tears. "The polls-"
Dev rested her palms
on Lauren's knees, a determined glint in her eyes. "I don't give a damn
about the polls! This is still my home, Lauren. I won't be told who can stay
with me and who can't. I love you, and I don't want you to go anywhere."
"I love you
too," Lauren insisted. "But if my staying here is ruining your
career, then I should leave." It was the last thing she wanted to do, but
she'd be dammed if she would take Devlyn down with her.
"Polls go up and
down. I'm higher in the numbers than I was last month, and things are already
looking better. It was the bombings that really hurt me in the public eye, sweetheart.
Not you. And despite the Party's complaints to the contrary, most people
couldn't care less who I'm in love with and where she lives. This is just the
bastard conservative wing flexing its muscles. And the head bastard, Bruce
Jordon, is posturing and trying to gain a better foothold for himself within
the Party. If they can get me to ask you to leave the White House, it will be a
great show of strength. If I refuse, then they'll just wave their
‘superior morals' in America's face and blame every ill in government
on our relationship. This is the ugly side of politics, Lauren."
"There's an
attractive side?" A small smile began to twitch at Lauren's lips.
Dev shook her head in
amused exasperation. "I'm sort of partial to the power, doing things to
help mankind, shape the future…" She shrugged. "Little
things like that."
"You would be,
Wonder Woman."
Dev relaxed a little.
Lauren was teasing her. That was a good sign. "For some reason I can't
fathom, they can't seem to get it through their thick skulls that I would never
ask you to leave. Never. "
Lauren opened her
mouth to speak, but Dev pressed two fingers against her lips to forestall her
words. She needed to clear this up once and for all. Because she, for one, knew
she could never live with the doubt. With her free hand, Dev gently fingered
the ends of pale hair that barely brushed Lauren's shoulders. "Do you want
to leave?"
Lauren shook her head
vigorously.
Thank you, God.
"Are you happy living with us here?"
There was a second's
hesitation, while the events of the past year raced through Lauren's mind like
wildfire. The battles with the Press. Dev's shooting. The loss of a great deal
of her personal freedom. Never being truly alone, but never being lonely.
Dealing with idiots like Michael Oaks. The increased responsibility and fear
that came along with loving Dev and her children. She quickly nodded. Lauren
had never been happier.
Dev let out a
shuddering breath and licked dry lips. A single second had never seemed so
long. "Okay, then," she muttered. "Good." The President
drew back her fingers and kissed Lauren gently on the lips. "Then no
matter what happens with the job, you'll stay, right?" Her eyebrows lifted
in entreaty. "Promise?"
Lauren smiled, giving
in to what she really wanted in the first place. She had faith that Dev would
be able to fend off the political attacks that her presence here would bring.
And with her next breath, Lauren reached out and grabbed onto the life that Dev
was offering. "I promise. They'll have to bomb me out."
Dev's heart started
beating again. "It's about time you gave up on that selfless crap and got
with the program, Mighty Mouse."
They both laughed,
but the sound died quickly when there was a knock at the door; David opened it
and poked his head inside. "Ready?"
Dev pushed herself
off Lauren's knees and stood, offering her hand to her lover. When they were
both on their feet, Dev nodded to him and David opened the door, allowing the
small group of men and women to file into the Treaty Room.
Lauren held her
breath as her eyes darted to Wayne. He gave her a smug smile, and she almost
ended up in a heap on the floor from the sudden release of tension.
David was the first
person to speak. "Madam President, I think we've come up with a solution
that we can all live with."
Dev crossed her arms
over her chest and glared at Bruce Jordon. "Is she fired?" She
casually draped an arm over Lauren's shoulders and pulled her close, raising an
eyebrow in challenge.
The silver-haired man
crossed his own arms and jutted out his chin. "One way or the other, Ms.
Strayer will no longer be employed by the Emancipation Party." His
defiance was obvious, and Dev felt her temper begin to flare.
The President lifted
her arm from Lauren's shoulders and took a step towards Chairman Jordon. Her
hands twitched, wanting to form fists. "You mother-"
But David slapped her
on the back – hard – causing her to cough and sputter, and
cutting off Dev's snarl mid-sentence. "You really ought to see to that
cough, Madam President."
Dev turned murderous
eyes on her best friend.
David cleared his
throat, figuring he'd better get to the heart of the matter before Dev had a
stroke or killed him. Or both. "As I was about to say, this is the
arrangement that, with Ms. Strayer's consent, we'll implement immediately.
Lawyers from the Party, as well as Starlight Publishing, agree that, should the
matter go to trial, there is a reasonable likelihood that Lauren's romantic
relationship with you, Madam President, materially alters her ability to
perform in a manner that is consistent with the terms and reasonable
expectations of her contract. In other words, she may be found to be in breach.
Though, at this point, all parties concerned want to avoid litigation."
Lauren threw up her
hands and rolled her eyes.
"What in the
hell does that mean?!" Dev roared. "Speak English, not lawyer."
David pursed his
lips. "Here's the deal, Madam President." But he glanced at Lauren as
well. "Starlight Publishing has offered to buy out the remainder of
Lauren's contract with the Emancipation Party. In addition to taking over her
salary for the next three years, they will compensate the Party for the salary
she's already been paid over this past year. Starlight will also pay a
reasonable fee for the biographical information Ms. Strayer gathered while
working for the party."
"If you can call
two million dollars reasonable," Wayne snorted.
David ignored him.
"In return, Ms. Strayer will deliver a biography as planned. However, she
will be under the direct employ of Starlight Publishing, who will receive all
profits."
Lauren finally joined
the fray. "So, I can continue to do my job, write the book, live here, and
the only thing that changes for me is that I report to Starlight and sever any
ties with the Emancipation party?"
Wayne winked at
Lauren. "That's the deal, sweetheart. You can thank me later."
"Where do I
sign?"
There was a knock on
the door.
"Madam
President, I have the contract that Chief of Staff McMillian requested,"
Liza called from the outer office.
"Come in, Liza,
and thank you," David answered as the President's tall assistant brushed past
the attorneys and Wayne and presented David with three copies of the contract
they'd just negotiated.
Wayne handed Lauren a
pen. "I think this is where you sign."
Starlight Publishing
and the Emancipation Party's attorneys each took a moment to give the document
a quick once over before their solemn nods declared that it was, indeed, an
accurate reflection of the deal they'd struck.
Bruce Jordon signed
first, then Wayne, and finally Lauren, who launched herself at Wayne and gave
the flustered man a firm kiss on the mouth for his efforts. When he figured out
what was happening, he pulled Lauren into an affectionate hug, laughing when
she squeezed him so hard he could barely breathe. "Thank you, Wayne,"
she whispered in the stocky man's ear. "You don't know how much this means
to me."
"You don't have
to thank me, sweetheart. A bestseller will be thanks enough."
Lauren laughed then
gave David a hug as well. "I know this was mostly your doing, David,"
she said softly, her face and voice conveying her true gratitude.
David's already ruddy
skin took on a darker shade of red. He shrugged lightly. "Just doing my
job." But his warm brown eyes glittered with pride over a job well done.
Lauren raised an
eyebrow. "Uh huh."
"What about my
hug?" Dev griped playfully. "I'm last on the list?"
Lauren grabbed the
President's hand. "You rate a full-blown celebration, Madam President.
Liza," she said, never breaking eye contact with Dev, "how long until
the President's next appointment?"
"Twenty three,
nearly twenty four minutes," Liza answered without hesitation, causing
Wayne to raise both eyebrows. The woman was a human organizer and alarm clock
all rolled into one. He wondered whether she was single.
"Good."
Lauren smiled at Dev. "Would you like to take a walk with me?"
Dev's face instantly
mirrored the happy grin. This was turning out to be a great day. "Lead the
way."
Lauren and Dev padded
slowly to the door, hand in hand. The writer opened it for Dev, who was just
about to walk through when she felt Lauren let go of her hand.
Lauren spun around
and stomped back to face Bruce Jordon.
"Mr.
Jordon," Lauren squared her shoulders, "you are an asshole of the
highest order. And it will be my supreme pleasure to let America know that fact
in Starlight Publishing's biography of the President." She smiled
insincerely and spoke in her sweetest southern drawl. "Have a nice
day."
And with that, Lauren
marched past Devlyn and out the door.
Dev looked back to
the Party Chairman with a smirk so perfect David wished he had a camera to
capture it. "What she said."
Then she ran to catch
up with Lauren, who was already half way down the hall.
Sunday, November 7th
"C'mon, Daddy.
Pick up the phone. You're always home after dinner." Lauren punched the
speaker phone and video functions and waited, hoping tonight would be the night
he would answer. She'd dutifully called her father once a month since her mother's
death, just as she had since leaving home thirteen years ago. Only, since Anna
Strayer's suicide, Lauren's father was suddenly never home when she called.
The generally stolid,
retired plumber had told his daughter in no uncertain terms that when she chose
to go back to Washington, D.C., after Dev's shooting, and while Anna was still
in the hospital, she was choosing Dev over her own mother.
Lauren hadn't
disagreed with her father. Though the circumstances weren't quite the way he
had made them sound, Lauren knew in her heart that if there were a real
contest, she would always choose Devlyn.
His attitude had
softened immediately following his wife's death, however, and when Lauren came
home for the funeral, he welcomed her with open arms. But it only took hours
for bad feelings to rear their ugly heads again, and for Howard to assign blame
for his loss to Lauren. If she'd only stayed to help. The stress of reading
about her daughter having an affair with the President was simply more than the
fragile woman could be expected to take. If she'd only sent Anna to different
doctors… The list went on and on, and Lauren found that she couldn't
leave Tennessee fast enough.
But that was four
months ago, and though they'd never been close, she'd never gone this long with
no contact at all. While she was quite certain that she'd never have the kind
of relationship with her father that Dev had with Janet and Frank Marlowe, she
still loved him and wanted to know that he was okay.
Lauren was about to
give the verbal command for her phone to hang up when her father picked up. A
flashing green light on Lauren's phone let her know that there was no image
available. She remembered that her father had always hated that part of the
phone and only allowed a visual link to please her mother. Now that her mother
was gone, he must have disabled everything except for the simple voice
transmission.
"Hello."
"Daddy?"
Click.
Lauren blinked at the
sound of the buzzing dial tone. "Oh, that went well. Guess you figured out
how to turn off the caller ID. Still mad at me, by any chance?" she
muttered sarcastically. But she was hurting, despite the fact that she tried to
brush it off.
The blonde woman
snatched up Gremlin and Princess' leashes from the top of her dresser. Both
dogs magically appeared from nowhere, beating Lauren to the door. "How do
you do that?" she asked the short pooches, feeling herself slipping into a
full-fledged bad mood. She bent over and snapped the leashes on the collars and
grabbed her jacket from the coat rack near the door.
When she opened her
door she was surprised to find Ashley standing there. "Hi, Ashley."
Lauren peered down the hallway, looking for, but not finding, Ashley's
brothers. "I was just on my way out to walk the dogs. What can I do for
you?"
Ashley dug her toe
into the carpet. "I dunno." She reached down to pet Gremlin and
Princess, who were howling, their bodies shaking in utter delight at the sight
of their friend.
"Okay,"
Lauren drew out the word. "Well, we could talk when I come back, or you
could join us? Grem loves it when you walk him."
Ashley smiled and
reached for the leash. "I was coming over to see if he and Princess could
play. I'm bored."
"Ahhh…
I see," the writer stated seriously, trying to remember what she had done
for fun at Ashley's age at, she glanced at her watch, 7:30 P.M. Somehow she
didn't think throwing rocks at the abandoned house at the end of the street,
putting pennies on the railroad tracks so passing trains could flatten them, or
staring mindlessly at the television for hours on end would be high on Dev's
list of approved activities. "Wanna borrow a jacket of mine?"
Ashley's eyes lit up.
"Sure!"
Lauren chuckled
softly. "Okay, you can have this one." She held up her worn jean
jacket for the girl's inspection. "Or," she put the end of Princess'
leash between her teeth and grabbed a second jacket from the rack, "Dhis
un."
The girl selected the
butter-colored suede jacket and shrugged it on. It swallowed her whole, and
Lauren gave her a fond look, helping her push up the sleeves before she shut
the door to her room.
Lauren said to the
first agent they passed in the hallway, "We're going to the south lawn to
walk the dogs." A few seconds more, and the agent normally assigned to
Christopher joined them at the top of the stairs, remaining several respectful
paces away. Lauren glanced down at Ashley. "Amy's night off tonight?"
"Uh huh."
Gremlin could tell
they were getting near the door, and he began pulling Ashley along.
The dark-headed girl
was trying to pull him back into line, but failing miserably.
"Gremlin!"
Lauren barked.
He slowed for a
moment in response to his mistress' cross use of his name, but soon began to
tug on the leash again.
Ashley laughed; her
arm was fully extended, and she was skipping every third step. "He really
wants to go out!"
"Apparently."
Lauren shook her head. "Let's trade." She took Gremlin's leash,
giving it a sharp tug to slow down the Pug, and then handed Ashley Princess'.
The Pomeranian show
dog was acting like, well, a show dog, prancing quietly down the hall like
royalty. She was the very picture of serenity and obedience. "Why do I
think instead of you getting better behaved, you'll just drag Princess
down?" Lauren asked Gremlin flatly, more to hear Ashley laugh than to
scold her beloved pet.
They opened the doors
to the south lawn and were greeted with a blast of chilly autumn air that
smelled heavily of wet leaves and soil. "Brrr!" Lauren shivered as
she stuck her hand in her pocket. "We'd better make this a short
trip."
"Okay,"
Ashley agreed, snuggling deeper into the warm suede.
"You going to
tell me what's wrong?" Lauren asked casually. Ashley was a chatty, bright
child who wore her emotions on her sleeve for the world to see. It didn't take
a rocket scientist to figure out something was up with her. "You didn't
seem too happy when you came to my door."
"You didn't look
too happy either," Ashley shot back.
"You're too
smart for your own good." Lauren snorted. "Just like your mama."
She moved to the left, guiding Ashley and the dogs around a large, muddy
puddle. "Well, you gonna tell me?"
"You
first."
That earned Ashley a
raised eyebrow, but Lauren didn't refuse. "I tried to talk to my daddy on
the phone, and he hung up on me."
Ashley frowned.
"That's not very nice."
"No."
Lauren sighed and pulled the collar of her jacket closer around her neck.
"It's not."
"Is he mad at
you?"
Lauren nodded.
"I think so. Mad and disappointed, I guess."
Ashley made an
unhappy face. There was nothing worse than having a parent disappointed in you.
"How come?"
Lauren exhaled
wearily and glanced down at Ashley, considering how much to tell her. She
decided she was old enough to understand the simple truth. "He's
disappointed because I didn't stay in Tennessee to help my mama this
summer." There was a pause. "When she was sick." They approached
a bench, and Lauren motioned for Ashley to sit down.
They both took a
seat. "Let's let ‘em run around for a while," Lauren said
as she unhooked first Princess' then Gremlin's leash. "They're already
going to need baths."
"How come you
didn't stay home then, when she was sick?"
Lauren winced at the
complicated situation being distilled into a child's simple question.
"C'mere," she held out her arm, and Ashley scooted closer, pressing
tightly against Lauren. "I didn't stay home because, in my heart, I didn't
think there was anything I could do for my mama. But your mama needed me, and I
thought I could make her feel better." She shrugged. "So I decided to
come home… this home."
"When she got
shot," Ash recalled.
"Uh huh. So
that's why my daddy is mad at me.""
"That doesn't
seem fair." The girl hugged Lauren. "I'm sorry."
Lauren leaned down
and kissed the top of her head. "I'll be okay, sweetie. It just makes me
sad. We'll work it out eventually." Or not.
They were both quiet
for a moment as they watched Gremlin and Princess playing in the yard and
splashing through the leaf-strewn puddles.
"Mom didn't come
home for dinner tonight," Ashley commented very softly. "She's
working late."
Ahhh… so
that's it. "I know. She's in a meeting tonight with some people from
Mexico."
"She couldn't
come to The Nutcracker with me last week. It was my birthday present; it was
going to be just the two of us. Emma took me, but it's just not the same."
"Oh,
honey." Lauren closed her eyes and tightened her hold on Ashley. "She
wanted to go with you. Your mama felt terrible about that." She was nearly
in tears that night when she told me. "But it was an emergency and-"
"And she had to
work late," Ashley finished glumly. "She always does."
Lauren let out an
unhappy breath. She had no good answers for this. Ashley didn't give two shits
about the global economy. "You know she has a very important job that
takes up most of her time, right?" she began rhetorically.
"Yeah." A
dark head nodded. "I know."
"But when she
has to miss out on being with you and your brothers, it's not because she
thinks y'all are less important than what she's working on."
Ashley's eyes widened
a little, and she looked up at Lauren's face to see if she was telling her the
whole truth. "It's not?"
"No way, Ash.
Nothing is more important to your mama than you guys," the writer
announced firmly. She cupped Ashley's chilled cheek. "But the stuff she's
doing is very important, and she knows that the people who love her will cut
her some extra slack when there just aren't enough hours in the day to get
everything done. Nobody except her family will do that."
"They
won't?"
Lauren shook her head
gravely. "No."
Ashley's face turned
contemplative. "I didn't know that."
"I know. It's a
hard thing for even grown ups to understand. And it's not fair to you or your
mama. But she's doing the best she can, Ashley. If she could, she'd spend all
her time with you guys."
An enormous grin
broke out across her face. "She would? Really?"
"Of course!"
Lauren hugged her again. "She's very proud of you and loves you like
crazy. Besides," she pressed her forehead forward against Ashley's,
"I happen to know she got tickets again for this week, so you guys can
still go to the ballet."
"I know. It's still
going to be just the two of us." Ashley tugged on Lauren's coat a little.
"That's okay with you, right?"
Lauren smiled warmly.
"Absolutely. You'll both have a wonderful time, and you can tell me all
about it. And maybe, if something comes up, and your mama absolutely can't make
it… even though she wants to more than anything… maybe we
can go?"
"Sure!"
Ashley blurted out. "I would miss Mom. But that would be fun too."
Impulsively, Ashley kissed Lauren on the cheek. "Thanks, Lauren."
"You're welcome,
sweetie."
"I love
you."
Lauren swallowed
hard. "I love you too."
Tuesday, November 9th
"We're finished
for the day, right?" Dev shifted on the sofa anxiously.
"Sure,"
Lauren answered slowly. "If you want to be." She sat down her notebook
on the coffee table, a little put out that Dev wanted to end their interview so
soon. This hour had been set aside all week. Then again, it's not like we're
getting anywhere. It had been thirty minutes of pure frustration, with Lauren
having to pry every single word out of her normally chatty partner. Dev had
been nervous and withdrawn, her gaze finding the antique grandfather clock,
which had been an October addition to Lauren's room, every few minutes. Dev's
sudden restlessness left Lauren confused and on edge herself.
The blonde slipped
off her glasses and began gnawing on the tip of an earpiece. "Do you have
a hot date or something tonight?" she asked teasingly. But her words were
laced with annoyance and insecurity.
"No. No."
The President waved her hand dismissively. "I've got nothing going
on." Dev groaned inwardly. Shit. That was convincing.
Five minutes into
their work, while Dev was thinking about how much she loved Lauren and how much
she wanted to be married to her, she'd suddenly remembered she had an evening
appointment with a jeweler to pick out a ring. Ever since then she'd been a
nervous wreck, just thinking about how she was going to make a quick exit in
the middle of their scheduled meeting without arousing Lauren's suspicions.
God, I'm helpless without Liza and Jane to keep my schedule.
The jeweler had also
asked for Lauren's approximate ring and hand size, stating unequivocally that
this was crucial information if Devlyn wanted to pick out a truly flattering
piece of jewelry. Personally, Dev thought that was a load of crap, but where
Lauren's happiness was concerned, she wasn't taking any chances. "Nothing
is going on," she repeated when it looked like Lauren was waiting for her
to elaborate. She reached for Lauren's hand, only to have it subtly pulled
away.
"I see."
Lauren sprang to her feet, easily detecting Dev's lie. She picked her notebook
up as she rose and walked back to her desk, setting it down carefully. The
clock chimed seven times, and Lauren wondered if Dev might be hungry. Lauren
spoke with her back to Dev as she gently tossed her glasses alongside her
computer. "Would you like to have dinner together? I'm sure the kids have
already eaten."
Arrghhh. "I'm
not really hungry."
"Okay."
Lauren's own appetite disappeared. Stop being such a big baby. She doesn't have
to spend every evening with you. Maybe she just needs a little time to herself.
She consciously kept her voice light. "I'll see you tomorrow morning
then."
Dev was on her feet
and at Lauren's side in an instant. "How about a late supper? I'm sure
I'll have an appetite in... say... two hours?"
"Are you okay,
Devlyn?" Lauren searched her face. "You don't seem yourself
tonight."
"I'm fine,"
Dev blurted out more harshly than she'd intended. She let out a muffled curse
and glanced at the clock. "I'm just not hungry, that's all." And that
was the truth. Dev couldn't even think about food right now. Casually, she
reached for Lauren's hand again, only to be denied. Dev cursed again.
"What is wrong
with you? And don't you dare tell me nothing." A slender, fair eyebrow
lifted. "You're acting all anxious. And why do you keep trying to grab
me?"
"I'm not trying
to grab you, I'm trying to hold your hand and talk to you." Dev's voice
took on that deep tone she normally reserved for when things weren't going well
in a meeting.
"You are trying
to grab me!" Lauren's temper snapped, and she held her hand up in front of
Dev's face, snatching it away just as Dev reached for it again.
"See!" An angry flush began crawling up her cheeks. "And you're
not ‘talking' to me. You're lying to me."
"I am not lying
to you! I've never lied to you!" It was like a slap in the face, and Dev
took a step backwards, stung by the accusation that was technically true,
though she knew this wasn't the sort of lie Lauren meant. She chewed on her lip
as her own temper reared its head. "Thanks so much for thinking so highly
of me. I am not a liar."
"Then why do you
keep looking at the clock every ten seconds, but insist you don't have any
place to be?!" Lauren shot back. She marched up to Dev and poked her in
the chest with a rigid finger to get her attention. "You don't have to
spend every minute with me, Devlyn Marlowe. But don't tell me you don't have
someplace to be when it's not the truth. I'm a big girl. If you've got other
plans, just say so!"
"Okay,
fine," Dev put her hand up in defense. "You're right! I have
someplace to be. I have an appointment tonight. There. Are you happy now?"
She crossed her arms over her chest and waited.
A large part of
Lauren's anger deflated, only to be replaced with genuine hurt. "No, I'm
not happy. All you had to do was say that in the first place." She turned
her back on the President, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Judd lied
to me whenever it suited his purposes. I won't put up with that again,
Devlyn." Not from someone I love.
"That's
nice." She purposely ignored the barely detectable slump of Lauren's
shoulders. "Thanks. Thanks for comparing me to the slime ball, cheating
ex-husband, who was screwing his girlfriend and lying to you about it. Excuse
me if I happen to have a meeting I can't really discuss." She stopped and
grabbed her jacket off the couch, nearly taking the arms off as she pulled it
on.
Lauren whirled
around, gray eyes flashing. "How did you know about that?" she spat.
"I know I never told you that."
"How in the hell
do you think I knew that?" she huffed, buttoning her jacket. "I did
the damned math when the FBI gave me your background file." Lauren opened
her mouth, but Dev kept right on talking. "And before you go and get all
pissed off at me for that, you don't really think the Party would have hired
you without doing a complete background check first? Or that I would invite you
into my home, with my children, without doing one! God dammit, Lauren! I've
always been straight with you. This one time I have something I can't talk
about, and you act like it's the end of the world. Well, it's not. It's just something
I can't talk about."
Lauren's face
contorted in anger as she ground out, "Get out!"
"Fine!" Dev
turned on her heel and marched towards the door. "You know where to find
me when you come to your senses."
"Why should I
bother to find you? I'm sure you've got your spies watching every move I make.
You can come to me!" Lauren rushed past Devlyn and flung the door open for
her. It slammed so loudly against the wall that a picture hanging in the
hallway outside crashed to the floor.
Dev took a deep breath
and stepped calmly out of the room. She picked up the picture and hung it back
on the wall, glancing back at Lauren when she was finished. "I don't have
anyone watching you. I love you. But I won't be treated this way either. I'm
not out to hurt you. And you know that." She felt the tears in her eyes
and forced them back. "But apparently you can't afford me the same
courtesy." Dev took a deep breath. "Good night, Lauren. Sleep well. I
love you." She fussed with the picture for another few seconds before
turning and slowly walking away.
Lauren's chest
constricted at Dev's words. She nearly went after her, but her stubbornness and
anger won out, causing her feet to stay firmly rooted to the ground. After all,
she wasn't the one who had lied. Why should she chase after Dev to apologize
when she hadn't done anything wrong? Lauren snorted derisively, completely
disgusted with herself. She knew that one more look into those watery blue
eyes, and she'd be saying she was sorry whether she wanted to or not. "Damn.
Damn. Damn," she muttered to herself, before quietly closing her door.
Gremlin and Princess
poked their heads out from under Lauren's bed now that the loud, unpleasant
lady was gone. With dark, beady eyes, they watched Lauren shut the door, then
lean against it for a long moment with her eyes closed.
"You can come
out now, you cowards." Lauren sighed dejectedly, wondering how in the hell
things had got out of control so quickly. "She's gone." Lauren
flopped gracelessly onto the bed and hugged her pillow. She blinked rapidly,
sending a scattering of hot tears cascading down her cheeks.
Gremlin jumped up
onto the bed and snuggled alongside his mistress, who pulled him close and
kissed him on the top of the head.
"Thanks,
buddy," she whispered to her pet. "You were right. I definitely
needed a hug."
* * *
Dev entered her
private office in the residence to be greeted by a smiling David and the
jeweler. Her jaw was clenched shut like a steel trap as she tried to shake off
her hurt and anger. She shrugged out of her rumpled jacket and hung it on a
coat rack near the door. As soon as Dev let go of it, it slipped off the wooden
hook and fell to the floor. But Dev remained frozen, not giving a damn about
the blazer. She stood that way, staring at the wall, for a long moment before
taking a deep breath and turning around to greet her guest.
"Good
evening," Dev said, still not leaving her spot by the door.
"I'm," she stopped and cleared her throat, coughing a little.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I was unavoidably detained."
One look at Dev's
face and David made his way across the room as quickly as he could without
alarming the jeweler. "Are you okay?" he queried under his breath,
reaching down for the jacket and settling it on a hook.
"Maybe we should
wait on this, David." Her voice cracked. "Now might not be the
time."
David blinked rapidly
as his mouth worked for several seconds before any sound came out. He lowered
his voice. "What do you mean now is not the time?"
"Lauren and I
just had a huge argument." She bit her lip. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe
I'm rushing things."
"What?"
David hissed, gently grabbing Dev by the forearm and leading her out of the
room. He glanced over his shoulder at a waiting Alvin Cartier. "We'll be
just one moment. Please sit down." Once they were safely in Dev's den,
David put his hands on his hips. "What happened?"
Dev paced for a
moment and then turned to her friend. "I forgot about the appointment
tonight, and when I remembered I got so nervous Lauren picked up on it and
asked me what was wrong, and then it all just went downhill from there."
It had all come out in a rush, and she took a deep breath and sighed. "We
had an argument; she accused me of lying to her and of being like her
ex-husband and…" She rubbed her temples. "I'm not like
that. I know she was upset, and it was a silly argument, but…"
Dev felt confused and
suddenly very tired. All she wanted to do now was go to her room and shower and
go to bed. She knew that tomorrow it would probably all be over, but right now
it just hurt.
"But do you
really think you're rushing it? Because if you do, then I'm marching out there
right now and telling that man to go home and keep his mouth shut." David
squeezed Dev's shoulder comfortingly. "This one is your call, Madam
President." The red-haired man didn't think for one second that Dev would
take him up on it. But it was in the ‘Best Friend and Chief of Staff
Handbook' for him to offer anyway.
She closed her eyes
and took a deep breath. "God, I must be out of my damned mind. No. I'll
take a look. I love her too much to let her go. She's not getting away from me
that easily. I'll just have to show her what this Yankee is made of." She
grinned. "And then use the guilt I'm going to be able to milk this for,
for the first two years we're married."
David let out an
explosive breath. "You had me worried there for a minute, Devil. I thought
you were going to do something stupid over one argument." He smirked.
"Not that it would be the first time." His face grew serious.
"And what in the hell did you do to rate a comparison to Lauren's ex? I've
never even heard her mention him."
"You know,"
she shook her head, "I'm not sure. She said I was like him because he lied
to her. But I know deep down in her heart she doesn't believe that. At least I
hope she doesn't. She was just mad because I'm an idiot. I'm so nervous over
this whole thing I'm not handling her very well right now. I'll have to figure
out a way to make it up to her."
David rolled his eyes
and shook his head, knowing Dev would be one of the Devil's own until she made
up with Lauren. "How about you start by going out there and picking
something really special? You can grovel later. I've always found that
particularly effective with Beth."
Dev laughed, already
feeling better. "Nice to know I can get groveling lessons from an expert."
She slapped her friend on the back. "Now let me go find the perfect ring
for my lady."
Wednesday, November 10th
Dev had completed her
stretching routine three times, waiting for Lauren. She finally realized that
the writer wouldn't be coming this morning. "She must really be pissed off
at me."
"Ma'am?"
Jack, her running partner, and the one agent Dev was particularly fond of,
lifted a brow. "Are you okay?"
She blew out a
breath, sending her bangs into disarray. "Yeah, I'm fine for an idiot. C'mon.
Let's give the boys and girls a good run this morning."
After the shooting it
was Dev's shoulder that gave her, and continued to give her, problems. Her hip
had fully recovered, and she was pretty much back to her old self as far as
jogging was concerned. Despite that, it was her hip that ached whenever it
rained or it was particularly cold. And since it was both on this crummy,
pre-dawn November day, they were relegated to running laps in the gym. Dev was
angry… with herself and with Lauren. She took out that anger on the
track, and, by extension, on the agents who ran with her. Her blistering pace
caused two of them to fall out, leaving them panting on the floor.
Jack was keeping up,
but it wasn't easy. He could tell the President was working through something
in her mind, and he hoped to God that she would find the answer soon, before
the entire detail was reduced to a gasping, heaving mess. But he had to admit
it; there was something kick ass about having a President who could give the most
fit agents a run for their money.
By the time Dev was
finally finished running, nearly an hour later, she was limping slightly and
her hair, shorts, and T-shirt were soaked with sweat. She walked the track a
couple of times to cool down, before grabbing a towel from her bag and wiping
away the sweat that was pouring down her face. As she lowered the towel, Liza
entered the gym.
"Good morning,
Madam President."
"Not really,
Liza," Dev groaned as she waved good-bye to the men and women who had run
with her this morning. She received several barely veiled dirty looks as the
agents filed out of the gym. The run had done Dev good, giving her time to set
her resolve. "But I have hopes that I can salvage it."
"Ma'am?"
"Nothing. What's
on the agenda for today?"
"Well, since
it's Saturday, it's very light. But I have some good news for you."
Dev smiled a
pathetically grateful smile. "Wonderful. I could use it."
"The Secretary
General of the United Nations called this morning. He regrets to inform you
that he will be unable to attend lunch with you today. He is currently snowed
in, and the storm is keeping everything grounded." Liza gave a little grin
as she looked at her organizer. "I assured him that we could reschedule
next week, and then I managed to make your afternoon appointment with Secretary
Wisecroft a lunch meeting. So after your meeting with Press Secretary Allen,
you have lunch with Secretary Wisecroft, and then you're free for the rest of
the day."
"You know,"
Dev's smile grew larger, "you're a good kid, Liza. I may just have to
adopt you."
Liza smiled,
genuinely glad that she had made her boss happy. "My parents might
protest, but I appreciate the thought, ma'am."
"Okay,
then," Dev began as she exited the gym and headed towards the residence
with Liza hot on her heels, "I have a couple of things I need you to do
for me, then you can take the rest of the day off too."
* * *
Skipping their usual
run rather than facing Dev before she was ready to talk, Lauren had spent the
day alone in
Lauren discovered
that she needed a day away from the White House, Secret Service, and especially
the Press, more than she'd realized. She'd never understood what a valuable
commodity privacy was until it was in short supply.
When it became public
knowledge that she and Dev were a couple, the two women had had a huge argument
over Lauren's turning down the Secret Service protection that Dev was
determined to pay for out of her own pocket. It wasn't just the money. Dev and
her family were very well off, and this wouldn't affect their standard of
living in the least. It was the principle more than anything. Lauren couldn't
stand feeling like she was under lock and key.
She had just been
fooling herself, of course. Lauren had been recognized twice today. Once by a
middle-aged construction worker who was working on the building next to where
she'd parked her car. When he saw who she was, he began screaming something
about taxes, alimony, and President Marlowe. Lauren didn't stick around for an
in-depth explanation. Instead, she picked up her pace.
Next, a clerk at a
toy store had recognized her when she was purchasing David, Liza and Dev
matching, hot pink stress balls. Lauren was surprised when the frizzy-haired
teenager asked for her autograph. She was about to ask the girl which one of
her biographies she'd read, when the clerk started peppering her with questions
about the relationship between her and Dev. What kind of shampoo did Dev use?
What was it like living in the White House? Were the President's eyes really as
blue as they looked on television? Lauren actually answered that one, laughing
out loud as the girl nearly swooned when she confided that somehow, impossibly,
they were even better in real life.
Lauren had to face
the bitter truth. While she had achieved moderate success in her own right, her
private life had never been public. Not like it was now. But even though her
patience had been pushed to the limit time and time again since she'd moved into
the White House, in her heart she believed Dev was worth every moment of it.
Now, after having her
bags full of Christmas presents for the Marlowe children searched and x-rayed,
she was back in the East Wing and ready to search out Dev and try to settle things
between them before they got any further out of hand. The writer's brows came
together when she found a note taped to the front of her door. Fumbling with
her bags, she pulled off the note and managed to open the door and stumble into
her room without dropping anything. "Okay, next time, when the porter asks
if I want help, I say ‘yes'," she muttered.
Gremlin appeared from
behind the sofa and began whimpering with joy as he wound himself around
Lauren's legs. She laughed. "I love you too. Gimme just a second, and you
can slobber on me all you want."
She gently dropped
the bags on her bed and perched on its edge. Gremlin jumped up next to her and
laid his face on her lap, where he received an immediate scratching behind his
ears. "Pleasure hound." Grem's tail, had it been able to reach the
bed, would have begun to thump wildly against it, as he let out a happy moan.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll take you for a walk in just a while. Let my feet rest
for a minute, will ya? Should we see what's in the envelope?"
Lauren slid her nail
under the flap of the envelope, and it opened with a tiny pop. She pulled out
the note card, her face creasing into a brilliant smile before she even started
reading. Devlyn's hand writing. Taped to the note was a piece of milk chocolate,
wrapped in bright silver foil. "Mmm…" Lauren let out a
sensual groan at the aroma, as she immediately opened the wrapper and popped it
into her already watering mouth.
Gremlin whimpered.
"Sorry. No
chocolate." She petted him sympathetically. "I could never be a
dog."
Lauren allowed the
rich chocolate to melt in her mouth, pooling on her tongue as she read.
Sweetheart,
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to hurt
you or lie to you. I've been a little preoccupied by something very important
these last few weeks, and I had a meeting last night that brought me a step
closer to my goal. I'm afraid I can't talk about it right now. Just this once,
you'll have to trust me.
I wasn't thinking,
and I made a poor choice. I know none of this makes sense to you. But I'll
explain the best I can if you let me. Just know that I love you, and I don't
like it when we argue. I thought of you all day today.
There's something I'd
like to share with you. All you have to do is follow the trail I left for you.
With all my love,
Stinky
She laughed at Dev's
signature . Always the charmer, Devlyn. I shouldn't have thrown you out of my
room before we could work things out. It was immature, and Lauren knew she'd
simply let her anger get the best of her. Now, however, she was more than ready
to talk. The trail I left for you? She scratched her jaw then jumped off the
bed, sending Gremlin scampering over to Princess, who was sleeping on her back
at the foot of the bed in her favorite dog position. Trail?
Lauren opened the
door and peeked out into the hallway. Sure enough, there were chocolates
sprinkled down the hall in the opposite direction from where she'd just come. I
need to look down every once in a while.
Closing her door,
Lauren moved a few paces down the hall and picked up another foil-wrapped
chocolate. A few more feet, and there was another. And so the trail continued,
with Lauren scooping up the candy, until she was led right to the door of the
President's formal dining room.
The writer paused at
the door to chew and swallow, having popped no less than four pieces of
chocolate into her mouth on the way there. She wiped the corners of her mouth
with her fingertips, realizing that she was a little nervous. "Relax. It's
just Devlyn," she whispered to herself. They'd argued occasionally over
the past eleven months. But rarely did it reduce either one of them to tears.
And this time it had done just that to both of them.
Lauren took a deep
breath and screwed up her courage, ignoring the sudden churning in her belly.
She lifted her hand to knock but noticed that the door was just a crack open.
The blonde woman hesitated with her hand still in the air, not sure whether the
open door was an invitation or an oversight on the part of the President.
Deciding that Dev made very few mistakes, Lauren pushed open the door and made
her way inside.
The Presidential
dining room was one of the younger woman's favorite places in the magnificent
house. It had a light, airy feeling that was aided by its high ceilings and
floor-length, mint-colored drapes. A delicate crystal chandelier hung high over
the dark wood table, and a pristine, white marble mantelpiece surrounded a
fireplace. The chairs were upholstered with a green, pale yellow, and rose
floral print cloth, whose colors were repeated in the beautiful bouquets of
fresh flowers that adorned the tabletop and mantel. It was elegant without
being excessive.
Dev looked up from
her seat at a small intimate dining table that was set for two. The lights were
low but several candles were lit and the curtains were open, allowing the last
remnants of daylight to spill through the window. Dev quickly jumped to her
feet. She'd been waiting for over an hour, hoping that Lauren wouldn't just
toss her note in the garbage can. She tried to find her voice as she gestured
to the table. "Would you like to have an early dinner with me?"
Lauren let out a
relieved breath and nodded quickly, crossing the floor to stand in front of her
lover. "Absolutely," she said softly. Lauren reached up and
affectionately raked her fingers through Dev's slightly askew bangs. God, I
think I'd forgive her anything. "I'd... I'd love to."
Dev smiled. She
reached out to take Lauren's hand, but stopped herself. There was no way she
was going to invade her personal space without her permission, despite the fact
that Lauren was still, seemingly absently, running her fingers through Dev's
hair. "I'm so sorry," she said sincerely, pulling out a chair for
Lauren.
Lauren didn't say a
word. The look of indecision on Dev's face, when she began to offer her hand
but quickly withdrew it, pierced Lauren's heart. She reached out and took Dev's
hand, wrapping strong fingers around Dev's longer ones. She tugged the taller
woman towards her and surged forward herself, pulling Dev into a desperately
tight embrace. She buried her face in the crook of Dev's neck, smiling when
long arms immediately wrapped around her, returning the heartfelt gesture.
"I'm sorry too," Lauren said on a slightly ragged exhale.
"I hate it when
we argue," Dev whispered back. She tightened her arms around Lauren.
"Let's not do that again anytime soon, okay?"
Lauren nodded against
Dev's shoulder. "Deal."
The viselike grip on
Devlyn's chest eased, and she said a small prayer of thanks as her world began
to right itself.
Lauren greedily drew
in a breath that brought with it the warm, clean scent of Dev's skin. She found
it comforting in the extreme and didn't want to move from this spot. But after
a moment she did, knowing they weren't quite finished yet. Apologies were one
thing, but this particular argument called for explanations as well. She licked
her lips and leaned back in Dev's embrace, tilting her head so that she could
watch Dev's face as she spoke. "Can we talk about what happened?"
"I think two
reasonable adults can sit here over a wonderful dinner and talk about it, if
you'd like." Dev began to move towards the phone, but Lauren held her
firm.
"Later.
Please."
Dev turned back to
Lauren, swallowing hard. "Okay. I… but I need to know if you
really think I would ever intentionally lie to you." Dev sat down in her
chair and gestured for Lauren to sit in hers. Then a bleak thought entered her
mind. Oh, God, what if she says yes?
"No,
darlin'," Lauren reassured quickly, seeing the pleading look in Dev's
eyes. She sat down and scooted her chair closer to Dev, not stopping until
their knees were touching. "I don't. At least not if it was a planned
thing."
Dev's gaze dropped to
the floor.
"I can
understand your having a private meeting," Lauren paused here, treading
very carefully as she reached out and grabbed a fork from the table and
restlessly ran her fingertips over its prongs. "You've gone to lots of
private meetings concerning security issues or whatever. And I've tried hard
not to make myself a nuisance." A wry smile curled Lauren's lips.
"Which is no easy task, considering I start missing you like crazy after a
few hours."
Dev dared to glance
up and meet Lauren's steady gaze. A stupid, happy grin creased her cheeks.
"You don't know how many meetings I've sat through where you were the main
thing on my mind. I don't just miss you when we're apart. Hell, I start missing
you before you're even gone." Dev laughed quietly. "I actually
anticipatorily miss you."
Lauren blushed
slightly, but continued. "I wasn't upset that you had to go. I was upset
because when I asked you whether or not you had plans, you said no, even though
that wasn't the truth." She stared at Dev with a painfully open
expression. "Why would you do that, Devlyn?" Lauren asked quietly.
Dev nervously twisted
the napkin she's picked up while Lauren was talking. "Lots of reasons, I
guess." And they all suck. "I'm dealing with something now that is
downright nerve-racking for me. I had a very important appointment last night,
which I nearly missed because I scheduled our time together to work on the
biography right over it. I forgot all about my prior commitment until a few
minutes into our time together."
Devlyn shrugged one
shoulder. "Then it sort of hit me between the eyes, and I panicked. I was
embarrassed by my mistake and didn't want to make you feel bad or..." she
winced, admitting this to herself as well as Lauren, "look foolish by
having to cancel our meeting. So I tried to end it as quickly as possible. And
then, to make matters worse, I tried to cover for the rotten decision I'd just
made."
Lauren let out a
slightly shaky breath. "That's it?" When Dev instantly nodded, she
couldn't help but roll her eyes at herself. She'd been imagining all sorts of
rotten things. She liked Dev's simple explanation much, much better. The blonde
woman set the fork back down and reached out to still Dev's nervous hands.
"It's okay," she promised.
Dev let out her own
ragged breath as relief coursed through her.
Lauren lifted Dev's
hand and brought it to her lips, tenderly kissing a sensitive palm. "I
guess we sort of pushed each other's buttons yesterday, huh?"
Dev nodded and took a
sip of melted ice water. "You really hit both of mine by comparing me to
Judd. I've told you things about myself that no one on this earth but you and I
know. And I trust you to protect them implicitly. I've been honest with you even
when it would have been easier to omit or color the truth. So when you compared
me to your ex-husband, who I knew had cheated on you..." A breath.
"That hurt a lot."
Lauren's stomach
twisted at the thought of causing Dev pain. "That's not what I meant. At
least not completely. I was trying to tell you that when you lied, it made me
feel like I felt when Judd did it, which was lousy."
The writer studied
their linked hands. Time to open up a little yourself, Lauri. It's your turn.
"By the time Judd had started having an affair, for all intents and
purposes, our marriage was over. I couldn't muster enough concern over our
relationship to even begrudge his looking for happiness... or sex, I guess,
elsewhere. But even though we weren't lovers anymore, I still considered him a
dear friend." Lauren's voice was soft, but Dev could hear the frustration
leaking into her words. "When I asked him outright if he was seeing
someone else, he denied it. And he did it over and over again." Lauren
shook her head, not quite understanding it herself. "I know it sounds
funny, but in my mind that, and not the affair itself, was the real
betrayal."
Lauren felt Dev
squeezing her hand, and she returned the comforting pressure. Her face took on
a slightly lost expression. "God, Devlyn, the thought of our drifting
apart like that and not even caring… and..." She stopped and
swallowed around the solid lump that was forming in her throat.
"That's not
going to happen to us, and you know why?" There was a fierceness in Dev's
eyes that Lauren found oddly comforting. "Because we can do this after we
argue. We can sit down and talk about it and make it better." Devlyn
caressed Lauren's cheek with her thumb and smiled. "Let me tell you this.
What I'm working on now is absolutely the most important thing I have ever
done. The moment I can talk about it, you will be the first to know."
Lauren smiled a
broad, genuine smile for the first time all day. "Fair enough." She
leaned forward and brushed her lips against Dev's, pulling away only a hairsbreadth.
"Thank you for inviting me to dinner," she whispered, kissing Dev
again. "I love you. All of a sudden I've decided that I'm incredibly
hungry."
A soft moan was Dev's
reply.
Saturday, November 13th
It was beginning to
look and feel like the holidays at the White House. Everyday Dev was amazed to
see more and more early Christmas decorations – some antique, some
new – going up. It was kind of like going to Disney World as a kid. She
started, realizing that soon all her children would be old enough for that
particular family trip. Maybe next August, before school starts.
Right now, however,
she needed to have a chat with Lauren about one of the most cherished Marlowe
family traditions. Dev prayed that her plans regarding Lauren's inclusion would
be well received. She shifted the box she was holding under her arm and knocked
on Lauren's door.
The door opened, and
an arm shot out, nearly pulling her off her feet as she was yanked inside by her
collar. Then there was the kiss that followed. Wow! Devlyn grinned when the
writer finally let her go. "Hi."
"Hi. I missed
you today." Lauren smiled at the slightly flushed look on Dev's face,
feeling the heat in her own.
"Me too."
Dev reached around behind her and shut the door. "How was your day?"
Lauren tucked a
strand of hair behind her ear and took off her glasses. "It was okay. I
got a lot done." She gave Dev a little smirk. "Found a couple of your
high school yearbooks."
Dev's smile
disappeared and was replaced by a petulant frown.
Lauren reached out
and tugged on the protruding lower lip, keeping it up until Dev laughed and
slapped her hands away. "Jane also came by and brought over a couple of
boxes of her own personal mementos." The blonde woman winked. "I
guarantee you don't know some of the stuff she's got in there. I had no idea
she's known you since you were in college. And she's got photos to prove
it."
Dev covered her eyes.
"Oh, God. This is what my secretary does on her day off?" The President
groaned as she took a seat on Lauren's couch, giving it a pat so the younger
woman would join her. "The new bio is going to have a more extensive
picture section, isn't it?"
"You know
it." Lauren smirked, dropping down on the sofa next to Dev. "Your mom
has already donated baby pictures. Wayne is just wild about the picture of
naked baby Devlyn on the bearskin rug, by the way."
Dev's head dropped,
but Lauren could see her shoulders shaking with silent laughter. "I'm
gonna kill my mother."
"Wayne offered
me an extra 5% on royalties if I could produce a current photo in the same pose
for a ‘now and then' comparison."
"In his
dreams," Dev growled.
"And mine."
Lauren wriggled her eyebrows. "Okay, what's up? I didn't expect to see you
until tonight."
Dev sobered. "We
need to have a little talk. You have a minute?"
Lauren's brows
knitted together. She didn't like the suddenly serious look on Dev's face.
"I came to the door, didn't I? Shoot."
"Okay. Every
year at Thanksgiving the Marlowes set up candles that burn through the
holidays, for our family and friends. White candles for those who are with us.
Blue ones for those who aren't. We put them on the mantel." Dev glanced at
Lauren, who was listening interestedly. "There are two reasons I'm telling
you this. First, there is a set of candles for Samantha and her parents."
Dev's gaze softened. "If they make you uncomfortable, I won't put them
up."
Lauren laid her hand
on Dev's knee and gave it a gentle squeeze. She smiled softly at her friend. Her
feelings about Samantha were so mixed up. Part of her admired Devlyn's wife. By
every indication she had been a strong, funny, interesting woman in her own
right. A wonderful, loving partner to the young, ambitious politician, Devlyn
Marlowe. Another part of Lauren felt helpless and angry. There was no competing
with the memory of Dev's first love and the woman who gave birth to Christopher
and Aaron. But Lauren realized these were her own insecurities, and they
existed despite the fact that Dev had never done a thing to encourage them.
The blonde woman
swallowed. "Devlyn, darlin', that's not necessary." Lauren mustered a
smile. "Samantha doesn't disappear just because I'm in your life now. Not
for you, or the kids. Don't get me wrong," she snorted a little, ready to
admit her own shortcomings. "I'm not above petty jealously. But this is a
beautiful tradition that must be important to you and the children. I don't see
a reason to change it."
Dev's posture
instantly relaxed. "Thank you." She leaned over and gently kissed
Lauren on the lips, allowing the contact to linger and then deepen. Dev didn't
pull back until she felt the rise and fall of Lauren's chest begin to grow
uneven, and her own breathing was ragged.
Lauren groaned softly
when the lips against hers disappeared. "Have I ever told you what a great
kisser you are?"
Dev smiled roguishly.
"No. But feel free to do so. In great detail. You are a writer after
all."
Lauren's eyebrows
crawled up her forehead and disappeared behind pale bangs. "No, thanks. I
was just checking."
"Brat." Dev
stuck out her tongue.
Lauren chuckled, then
poked the box. "So what do we have here? Something for me?" she
hinted.
Dev repositioned the
box on her lap. "Well, actually, with your permission, I was planning on
making an addition to the family tradition, which is the second thing I needed
to ask you about. Here, this is for you." Dev handed the box to her lover.
"It's sort of an unofficial welcome to the family."
"Whoa."
Lauren jaw dropped open in surprise at the weight of the box. "You didn't
have to..." She stopped when she lifted off the lid and released the rich
aroma of vanilla into the air. Inside the box were two white candles and one
blue, each about four inches in diameter and ten inches long. Carefully, Lauren
moved aside the candles to find the source of the weight: three sturdy, silver
candleholders. "They're beautiful," she whispered, picking up one of
the candleholders. ‘Anna Gallager Strayer' was engraved in bold
letters across its front. She sucked in a surprised breath, feeling tears
spring into her eyes so quickly that she was helpless to stop them.
Dev reached out
slowly and pulled Lauren close to her. "I love you. I want to put those up
with the rest of my family. Is that all right with you?"
Lauren sank into
Dev's embrace. "I love you too," she breathed softly, then sniffed.
The writer pulled away and cupped Dev's cheek, tenderly brushing a prominent
cheekbone. "Are you sure, honey?" she whispered emotionally.
"I'm not really-"
The President placed
her finger over Lauren's lips to quiet her protests. "No, this is a
tradition to celebrate the lives of the people who have touched us. The people
who love us. And the people we want to remember. You belong there now. You
belong there just as much as David and Beth do, or Emma, or Amy. We're adding
one for Liza this year, too."
A blonde head nodded
once. "Thank you," she whispered when Dev's finger dropped from her
lips. Lauren smiled affectionately at Dev, wishing she could put into words how
special it made her feel to belong to Dev's clan, whom she loved more than she
would have believed possible. She sniffed again. "I… I don't
know what to say."
Dev hugged her close
and scooted down to get comfortable and make it clear she intended to stay
there for a while and hold her lover. "You could tell me that you'll get
that baby picture back from Wayne," she teased, placing a kiss on soft,
fair tresses.
Lauren laughed and
pinched Dev's belly. "Nuh uh. It's too cute not to share. Suffer, Madam
President."
Monday, November 22nd
"Good morning,
Madam President. Good morning, Lauren." Liza handed Dev a file and her mug
of coffee. They were in the Oval Office, Dev sitting behind her massive wooden
desk, with Lauren sitting several paces away in a high-backed, leather,
upholstered chair. They were together, but lost in their own work, as Lauren
prepared questions she had for an interview later that afternoon, and Dev
mentally went over a short speech she was giving that morning about the new
healthcare reforms she intended to officially propose in January 2022.
"It's a light
day today, Madam President," Liza continued. "First, you have to
pardon a turkey."
Dev looked up from
her folder, and Lauren snickered, taking a quick shot of the surprised look on
the President's face. "Excuse me?" Dev suddenly began paying closer
attention. "Did I hear you say that I was pardoning a turkey?"
A soft click and
muffled chuckle indicated that Lauren had just captured the surprised look on
Dev's face on film again.
Liza grinned, but
refrained from asking Dev if she had ever bothered watching anything any of the
past Presidents did. She didn't think it would be a wise career move.
"Yes, ma'am, it's a Thanksgiving tradition," Liza explained
patiently, somehow looking at and speaking to Dev while entering something into
her hand-held organizer. "The President always pardons a turkey; then it's
sent to live at the zoo."
Dev tossed her pencil
down and retrieved a pen, opening the file Liza had given her. "Liza, if I
pardon the turkey, what will I be having for Thanksgiving dinner?"
"Turkey, of
course; just not the one you pardon." Liza struggled for words, not sure
how to explain this rather bizarre ritual. She finally settled on saying,
"It's just a tradition. Vegetarians and children love it."
"Not my
kids," Dev snorted. "They're carnivores and not ashamed to admit
it."
"Especially
Aaron," Lauren chimed in. "That boy could eat an entire turkey
himself. I swear he's going to be a sumo wrestler when he grows up."
Dev sighed and took a
sip of her coffee as she read through the rest of her agenda. "So,
basically, it's become tradition for the President to give the country the bird
on Thanksgiving?"
Liza and Lauren both
rolled their eyes, but still burst out laughing at Dev's lame joke, as the
President searched her desk for something.
Dev's assistant
recovered first and glanced at Lauren, who just shrugged. "I guess you
could say that."
"But don't say
it in front of a live microphone, Madam President," Lauren suggested,
taking a few more pictures, including a very nice one of Dev and Liza together
looking over something on the desk.
"Picky,
picky." Dev snorted without looking up. "You're starting to sound
more and more like David everyday."
"David is a very
wise man," Lauren teased.
"How much did he
pay you to say that?"
"Nothing. But he
did get on my good side by donating a photograph of your college dorm room. Now
I know where Aaron gets his slob tendencies."
"Very
funny." Dev looked up from the document she was reading. "Take note
that two people shared that room, and one side of it was neat and clean, while
the other was a vile pigsty. Then go have a good look at David's office and
tell me which side of the room was mine. Those are his sweat socks lying on the
floor in the picture."
Lauren rose to her
feet and put her hands on her hips. She narrowed her eyes. "How did you
know there were sweat socks on the floor in that picture?"
"Because the
entire time David and I roomed together, there were sweat socks on the floor.
And what's really scary is that part of me believes they were the same
pair."
Lauren and Liza both
went ‘Ewwwww' at the same time.
Dev shivered. "I
know."
David strode into the
room, his face buried in a file as he did so, causing him to run right into
Lauren. "Oh, sorry." He tucked the file under his arm as he looked
around the room at the grinning women. David began chewing his mustache nervously.
"Uh oh. Those smiles are nothing but trouble. I've seen my wife,
mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, all in the same room together, smiling just
like that. The next day our den was painted lavender."
"You're right,
David. You should be afraid of us all." Dev didn't let Lauren's sniggers
deter her. "But in this instance," she looked up, tapping her pen on
the desk, "we were discussing turkeys, and your name just naturally popped
up."
David gave a fake
laugh, complete with raised upper lip. He lifted the file folder. "If
you're not nice to me, I won't tell you what Santa got you for Christmas."
"I already know
what Santa got me for Christmas." A satisfied grin curled Dev's lips.
"It's the same thing I got for my birthday," she informed David
casually, her eyes never straying to Lauren, who still blushed a bright red.
David looked between
the women for an explanation, but gave up quickly. "Yeah, okay. But his
elves also just delivered the Republican and Democrat-suggested amendments to
your DNA Registration Act."
Dev jumped up from
her desk and joined David, peering down at the file. "What did it cost
me?"
"Just the first
time offender clause. And …" David paused, looking so
completely pleased with himself that Dev thought he might burst. He couldn't
help but puff up his chest. "We also managed to rewrite it so that it has
the full support of the NRA and all of the major law enforcement advocacy
groups. You, Madam President, are a very popular person at the moment. Your
latest numbers just came in, and it looks like you've finally gotten past that
bombing mess. Christmas is going to be good to you, Dev. Lots of people will be
wanting to ride on your coattails."
Dev scowled.
"And I thought my coattails where short and unpopular."
David tilted his head
up as he exclaimed, "Ha!"
Dev jumped back, her
eyes widening just a little.
"That's why I'm
here. I make them long and popular ."
Lauren regarded David
carefully. "What did Beth put in your cereal this morning, David?"
Dev rolled her eyes.
"Don't pay any attention to that. He always falls in love with himself
every time he does a good job." Dev gave her Chief of Staff a ghost of a
wink.
Liza glanced at her
watch. "Shall we go pardon a turkey, ma'am?"
Dev stood and
retrieved her jacket. By rote, David moved forward and took it from her hands,
helping her shrug into it and smoothing the sleeves.
"Wonderful job,
David," Dev said softly, all teasing gone from her voice.
The tall man picked a
piece of lint from Dev's navy blue jacket. "You deserved this one,
Dev," he answered back equally quietly. "It's a good piece of
legislation."
Dev nodded and
cleared her throat, breaking the intimate moment between friends. "By all
means, let's go save a fowl, little life." She looked at Liza and Lauren
whose faces remained impassive. "Oh, come on, that deserved at least a
little groan." She encouraged them by making a ‘hurry up' motion
with her hands until she got the desired response. "Thank you. Now that
didn't hurt, did it?"
* * *
Lauren found Dev in
the music room that had been added and decorated during Bill Clinton's
administration. It displayed instruments donated by some of America's most
respected musicians. The walls were adorned with an eclectic combination of
gold records, sheet music signed by Broadway's great composers, photographs of
artists who had visited or performed at the White House over the years, and
painters' renditions of singers and musicians ranging from Louis Armstrong to
John Denver to Kathleen Battle. Dev had it outfitted with the latest electronic
equipment, and the room was now a music lover's and a techno geek's delight.
The writer entered
quietly, enjoying the soft sounds of Vivaldi that filled the room. It wasn't
until she was nearly on top of Dev that she realized the woman was sound asleep
in a large, padded recliner.
"It's been a
busy life, hasn't it, honey?" Lauren said softly, gently brushing her
fingers through Dev's hair. The President had been running herself to near
exhaustion trying to wrap everything up as best she could, just so she could
start all over again on January first.
Lauren smiled down at
her lover, and gently increased the pressure of her fingers moving across Dev's
forehead. "Devlyn?" she cooed in a hushed voice. "Darlin'?"
"Hmmm?"
"Your mom and
dad are due in about an hour from now."
Dev's eyes remained
closed as she reached for Lauren and tugged her onto her lap. She wrapped her
arms around the smaller woman and nuzzled a sensitive spot behind Lauren's ear.
"I'm not speaking to my mother," she said softly, her voice rough
with sleep. "She gave you that nasty, little picture."
"That is a
perfectly charming, bare-naked baby picture. I love it."
"My mother is a
troublemaker."
Lauren waggled her
finger at Dev. "Your mother is a wonderful, kind, sweet woman."
A single blue eye
opened very slowly and looked into the smiling face that Dev adored. "Do
you have a fever? Are you delusional?"
"Dunno; maybe
you should check."
Dev's hand worked its
way under Lauren's T-shirt. "Oooo, that's nice and warm."
Lauren wrapped her
arms around Dev's neck, which started a mini make-out session that neither one
wanted to end anytime soon. Dev groaned and threaded her fingers in Lauren's
hair, crushing her lips against hers.
"Oh, yeah, they
got it all figured out, Frank." Janet clapped her hands together. "I
knew that book was a good idea!"
Lauren's head snapped
up, and suddenly the arms around her were gone and she was toppling backwards.
The dark-haired woman tried to grab her, but it was too late, and Lauren's
bottom hit the floor with a glorious thump that was immediately followed with a
not so glorious "Ouch!"
Dev grimaced as she
leaned over and helped Lauren to her feet, "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
Lauren rubbed her
backside, mumbling something about Janet learning to knock. "S'okay."
Dev gave Lauren's
backside a little pat "Weren't you the one who, not two minutes ago,
called her a wonderful, kind and sweet woman."
"How nice of
you, dear." Janet Marlowe beamed at Lauren and opened her arms to the
blonde for a hug. "I knew there was a reason I liked you so much."
Lauren moved over to
Janet and gave her a hearty hug. "Welcome back, Janet. Dev was just saying
how thrilled she was that you dug up those old photographs." Gray eyes
danced with mischief. "I hope you brought the other ones we talked
about."
Janet winked.
"And more."
"Oh,
yippie," Dev groaned, watching Lauren give her father a hug. Dev fell in
after Lauren and gave both her parents hugs. She elbowed her father. "I'm
so doomed."
"You sure are,
Devil. But it's a good kind of doomed." He leaned in close and whispered
in Dev's ear, "That's a fine young woman you've set your sights on. Or
your mother wouldn't think so highly of her."
Dev pulled back and
looked into her father's eyes, soaking up the acceptance she'd always seen in
the blue-green depths. "That means a lot, Dad, knowing that you and mom
like her."
"She's a
sweetie, and your mom adores her."
"Good."
Devlyn glanced over at Lauren and her mother who were chatting
conspiratorially. She looked back to her father. "I'm going to propose to
her on Christmas Eve." Dev raised her finger to her dad. "But don't
you dare tell mom," she whispered urgently. "There is no way she
could keep from spilling the beans. David and I are having a hard enough time
keeping it from Beth. And the fact that I'm so nervous I'm ready to swallow my
tongue isn't helping at all."
"Devlyn, that's
wonderful. And I promise, not a word to your mother." He wrapped his arm
around his daughter's shoulders and began leading her out the door. Frank had
grandchildren to spoil, after all.
Lauren and Janet
looked up to find they were alone in the room. Bewildered, they glanced around
for a few seconds then shrugged and sat down on the sofa, laughing and
continuing their conversation.
Frank nudged his
daughter. "Your mom will have a wonderful time planning a wedding. Thank
God our stock portfolio is healthy."
"It's more than
healthy, and you know it," Dev snorted. "But I sure hope mom wants to
do something, because there is no way I'll have time." She sighed again.
"If I had to do it, we'd end up getting married in front of a Justice of
the Peace. Hey," she nudged her father back. "You weren't due for
another hour or so, and how did you find us?" Dev looked around, noticing
for the first time that her parents didn't have a Secret Service escort.
"Lord, you know
your mother. She told that sturdy, young agent who wanted to walk us around the
halls to go find someone else to guard, that she wasn't going to steal the
china."
Dev laughed softly.
"Sounds just like something Lauren would say." She shook her head.
"No wonder they get along so well."
Frank scratched his
neatly trimmed, white beard. "Could be. I have noticed a few subtle
similarities." He winked at his daughter. "Lucky you. But, to answer
your question, we caught a tail wind and arrived early. I personally think it
was divine intervention."
Dev stopped walking.
"What?"
"I know that
other passengers were praying that the flight would be over soon before your
mother talked them to death."
This time the
President burst out laughing. She linked hands with her father and looked
behind her, surprised not to see Lauren or her mom following. "Should
we-"
"Now, Devil,
let's not be too hasty. They'll notice we're gone. Eventually." Frank
patted the hand he was holding. "Besides, don't forget, I was on that
plane myself."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madam President
Chapter XII
December 2021
Friday, December 3rd
L auren didn't even
bother to remove her jacket or shoes before she collapsed, face down, across
her bed. Gremlin and Princess both hopped up on the bed and were studiously
licking her ears when she heard the knock on the door.
"Enter at your
own risk," she called across the room before dropping her face back onto
the soft mattress.
Dev stepped inside,
took one look at her lover, and an indulgent grin immediately broke out across
her face. "Poor baby," she offered with sincere sympathy, crossing
over to Lauren and kneeling near her head.
Princess had already
jumped down and scurried under the bed, where she became uncharacteristically
brave and growled at the President.
Dev just snorted.
Gremlin, on the other
hand, was bolder. He remained standing on the bed, backed up a step and planted
his butt directly on Lauren's head, where he could guard his mistress and take
a stand against the President sitting down.
Lauren was too tired
to care, but she managed to raise her head just a hair to nip the tail that was
tickling her nose.
Gremlin gave a
surprised yelp, then resettled himself, baring tiny, spiky teeth.
Dev wondered when the
portly beast had learned to narrow his eyes at her.
He barked.
Dev barked back, and
Grem scampered off Lauren's head, falling onto the bed with a high-pitched yelp
before jumping down to the carpet to join his mate. Dev rolled her eyes when
his growls grew fiercer once he was safely under the bed where she couldn't
reach him. "Chicken," she taunted.
Turning her attention
back to Lauren, the President gently stroked long fingers through blonde
strands of hair, trying to coax their owner into looking up, and doing her best
not to think about how Gremlin's butt had just been there.
"Sweetheart?"
"What?"
came the muffled reply.
"How was your
day?"
Lauren rolled over
with a groan, throwing her arms out to her sides. Her voice was a pitiful
whine. "It was awful. Just awful."
"Uh huh."
Dev stood up and walked around the bed. Reaching over, she pulled the smaller
woman upright. Lauren slumped forward like a rag doll while Dev removed her
blazer and then blouse, leaving her clad in a crimson-colored, silk bra.
A tiny grin danced
across Lauren's face as she fell back onto the comforter and sighed. She loved
every second of the attention Dev was lavishing on her, and Lauren happily
abandoned herself to it.
"So tell me
about it then," Dev encouraged. She gently removed one of Lauren's
earrings, then the other, rubbing her earlobe with her thumb before setting
both earrings on the beside table.
"Hmm?" the
writer groaned, feeling her shoes being slipped off and the room's cool air
tickling her toes as strong fingers began an attentive massage. She instantly
forgot Dev's question and closed her eyes in pleasure. "Oh, God, that's good."
Dev smirked.
"Your day? Tell me about your day."
"Oh,
right." Lauren let out a satisfied grunt at Dev's ministrations.
"Well, I knew it was going to be one of those days when my alarm didn't go
off this morning. I need a new one. And not one of those obnoxious talking
ones. I hate those."
"So that's why
you were AWOL from our workout this morning." Dev settled down on the
floor and continued to rub slender, achy feet. She glanced down to see two
black doggie noses, one tiny and delicate, the other large, flat, and covered
in drool, poking out from under the comforter. They snarled, and Dev snarled
back. She watched smugly as the noses promptly disappeared.
Lauren was going to
scold Devlyn for teasing the dogs, but the thought was swept from her mind when
Dev flexed Lauren's toes, stretching them one at a time. "Sweet Jesus,
that feels good."
Devlyn waited a
moment for Lauren to go on. When she didn't, Dev prompted, "Lauren?"
"Yeah?" the
blissful woman replied dreamily.
Dev stifled a laugh.
"You were going to tell me about your day."
Lauren flexed her
toes in Dev's very attentive hands before continuing. "I was?" She
lifted her head a little and forced her eyes open to be greeted by a sharply
raised eyebrow. Her head dropped back to the mattress. "Oh, right. Yes,
that's why I missed our workout. Then I put my thumb through two perfectly good
pairs of hose while I was hurrying to get dressed."
"Gotta hate it
when that happens."
"Uh huh. So, I
made a mad dash to my appointments this morning. And I got a flat tire in
Georgetown. Lucky for me, my first appointment was for breakfast with Beth. But
she forgave me for being forty-five minutes late and called Triple A."
"Why didn't you
just call them on your cell phone?"
"Because I
dropped it on the sidewalk and watched it shatter into about a million
pieces." Disbelieving but playful blue eyes pinned her. "Okay, it was
only three pieces," the writer conceded with a sigh. "But it was
still broken!"
Twin dark eyebrows
rose. "Go on, sweetheart."
Lauren sighed and
removed one foot from Dev's hands, only to replace it with the other.
"After breakfast, where they got my order wrong, but I was running too
late to send it back, I finally arrived at General Brendwell's office with two
minutes to spare. Then that son of a bitch kept me waiting for nearly a hour
longer than I had expected he would."
"How long did
you expect he would?"
"Half
hour."
"The
bastard."
"Exactly. Then
he had the nerve to get mad when I cut his interview short in an effort to keep
my schedule intact. You know, he is a total prick."
"I agree. But
he's also very highly respected and has a brilliant military mind." Dev
smiled when Lauren groaned with delight as she pushed her thumbs up the center
of her foot from heel to toes.
"After that, I
locked my keys in my car and forgot the override code. Just a little harder.
Ahh… right there. That required another call to Triple A. After
that, I got trapped on Dupont Circle." Lauren raised her head briefly,
narrowing her eyes at Dev. "Surely you can do something about that."
Dev shot Lauren a
regretful look. "Sorry. I'm not on the street zoning and planning
commission, but I'll send a memo."
Her head dropped back
down to the bed. "You do that."
Dev stood up, hearing
Lauren's mewing protests that her massage was over. She reached back down and
unzipped Lauren's skirt. "Lift."
The writer lifted her
hips as her skirt and hose were pulled off in one deft motion. A single eye
popped open, watching as Dev moved across the room to her dresser and opened
her second drawer.
"Aha!" Dev
swung around and pointed an accusing finger at Lauren. "I wondered where
this set of sweats went."
"Oh,
right," Lauren snorted softly. "Like you'd even notice if a pair went
missing. You have a hundred sets of sweats."
Dev began rummaging
through the drawer. "And my socks, too! You little thief." She
laughed. "Can't you just steal the towels like everyone else?"
The President
returned to the bed and knelt down long enough to put the socks on Lauren's
feet. She realized she'd forgotten to get something out of Lauren's dresser and
ran her fingers around Lauren's hip and gave her bottom a pinch.
"Commando?"
"Ugh, no
panties?" She shrugged weakly. "Sure. You only live once."
"That's my
girl." Dev worked the sweatpants up her legs.
"Devlyn,
darlin', I don't mean to criticize. But you're doing this all wrong."
"No criticism
there."
"Aren't you
suppose to be un dressing me?"
"Later."
Lauren wanted to
protest, but it really didn't matter how Dev touched her. Just as long as she
did. Besides, later was good too. "Okay."
"Lift."
Lauren lifted her
hips once again and felt the sweatpants pulled all the way up, warming her
legs. Then a hand circled her wrist and pulled her upright.
"Bra on or
off?"
A blonde brow lifted
faintly. "You need to ask?"
Dev chuckled and
lovingly removed the undergarment.
Lauren groaned
softly. "Later?"
"Absolutely.
Later." Dev tossed the bra on the pile with the rest of Lauren's rumpled
clothing. Lauren helped Dev put on her sweatshirt by lifting her arms. Dev
couldn't resist allowing her hands to drift under Lauren's sweatshirt and move
across warm skin.
Lauren sucked in a
surprised breath when Dev used her knuckles to graze the silky skin on the
underside of firm breasts. Before the blonde could utter a word, Dev's thumbs
ran lightly across her nipples, causing them to instantly go painfully erect.
"Devlyn,"
Lauren warned in a low growl, "be nice."
Blue eyes went round
and innocent. "That was nice. Mean would have been if I'd lifted your
shirt…" Which she did. "And lowered my
mouth…"
"Stop!"
Lauren pulled back and shook her index finger in front of Dev's face. "You
got me dressed again for a reason. So unless ‘later' has arrived,
don't start something we can't finish." She pulled down her shirt.
"What's the plan?"
Dev frowned, but
quickly got over the fact that Lauren's shirt was now back in place. "You,
me, the kids, Jr. Monopoly in the living room? Emma baked cookies and made
cocoa."
"Wonderful."
Lauren sighed contentedly, feeling much better than she had moments ago. She
leaned in and gave the tall woman a heartfelt kiss that she just barely
resisted the urge to deepen. "So how was your day?" She wiped a tiny
lipstick smudge from the corner of Devlyn's mouth.
Dev shrugged.
Standing, she tugged Lauren to her feet and wrapped her arm around her lover's
trim waist as they began a slow walk towards the door. "Flew to New York this
morning to give a speech in front of the United Nations."
"Show off."
Saturday, December 18th
Dev's gaze flicked
down to her meeting agenda, which was resting next to her notepad, then to the
clock on the wall. She covertly rolled her eyes at the young man at the end of
the table, who had just initiated what had to be the fortieth holographic visual
aid explaining crop destruction.
She knew she should
be paying attention to what he was saying, but she couldn't help it. Dev had
already decided she was going to back the request for aid to the farmers, whose
infant, winter wheat crops had fallen victim to this year's unusually early and
harsh blizzards. To Dev, this young man was ‘preaching to the choir',
as her dad would say. She didn't need to be convinced.
Besides, it was
Saturday, she had a hot date, and he had already talked a lot longer than
expected. Her thoughts had begun to wander to Lauren's newest Adrienne Nash
novel. Though her pseudonym would appear as co-author, she was leaving the
actual writing to Lauren and confining her contribution to plot and character
development ideas. What she couldn't understand was why Lauren had decided to
bring in a beefy character named Dirk. And, worse yet, why Dirk had to have the
hots for Adrienne!
Dev scowled and put a
line through the circle that contained Dirk's name on the agenda. "Better
be a damned redshirt, meant to bite the dust before he gets anywhere near
Adrienne!" she mumbled, glancing up sheepishly when she realized she'd
said that aloud.
"Madam
President?" The Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, the toothy young man
making the presentation, looked at her with round eyes, terrified that she
might actually have a question.
Dev gave him a
regretful smile and a little wave. "I'm sorry. I wandered there for a
second. Please, go on."
He nodded, and gave
the voice command for the hologram to project a new picture. This one was of
two stalks of wheat. One was clearly damaged, while the other was not.
Dev glanced at the
other faces in the room, and, after confirming the Secretary of Agriculture was
still awake, let her eyes travel back to her notepad. You're gonna screw up the
perfectly good subtext, Lauren. God, it will be just as horrific as it had been
on ‘Xena'. It had been twenty years since that show ended, and she
was still pissed off that the writers were forever inserting the boyfriend of
the week. Xena and Gabrielle loved each other. End of story.
Her attention
wandered to the pages they had worked on the night before. Dev had not been
happy with the way Lauren had ended that chapter. She drew a picture of
‘Dirk', complete with noose around his neck, on her notepad.
"I'll kill the rat bastard!" she growled, and every pair of eyes
turned in her direction.
The Deputy
Secretary's eyes bulged, and he gulped audibly.
"Okay, ladies
and gentleman." David reached over and patted Dev's arm, smoothly taking
charge of the meeting. "I think we're all set. The President has another
meeting she's late for, so…"
The Secretary of
Agriculture was the first on his feet, looking as relieved as Dev felt. He
wasn't sure why the President was about to commit homicide, but he most
certainly didn't want to be the target. And while his Deputy Secretary did have
a propensity to drone on and on, he was fond of the young man and didn't want
to lose him either. "Thank you for your time, Madam President. Can we
count on the support of the White House?"
David nudged Dev, who
looked up from her drawing, which now included something that looked like a gun
to Dirk's head. "Absolutely!" she said, even as she slammed closed
her notebook and rose to her feet. "You'll have everything you need from
my office first thing Monday morning. Isn't that right, David?"
"Yes, Madam
President." He stood and buttoned his jacket. "I can finish up here,
ma'am, if you'd like to get to that next meeting." He motioned her to the
door.
"Right. Thank
you, David. I'll see you Monday."
Dev did her absolute
best to hold back her laughter until she was well within the residence. She
ended up in front of Lauren's door, and used her forehead to gently knock
against it. When the door opened, she smiled at her lover who was holding her
glasses in one hand and her camera in the other. "We need to talk about
Dirk."
"Dirk?"
Lauren was truly confused. "From my books?"
"Oh, yeah.
Because of Dirk, the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture now thinks I want him
dead."
* * *
Lauren lay on her
belly on her bed. Scattered around her were dozens of papers, outlines,
reference books, and even a few world maps. Her chin was propped up by one
hand, and she was turned around so that her head was at the foot of the bed.
The writer had a pen between her teeth, which she pulled out occasionally so
she could scratch some notes on one of the several tablets of paper.
She had scrubbed her
face, and brushed her teeth for bed, and she was supremely comfortable in a
threadbare, University of Tennessee T-shirt and a pair of thin, dark gray
sweatpants that were so worn, if you held them to the light you could see
through the knees.
Dev sat alongside
her, back propped against the headboard by several large feather-filled
pillows. The area around her was free of her own mess, though Lauren's had
spilled over into her work area and now covered the entire bed. She held a
single note pad and a pencil, which she alternately chewed and tapped against
the paper restlessly.
Devlyn's hair was
slightly damp from a quick shower she'd taken nearly an hour before. She wore
soft, red, flannel pajamas and thick sweat socks that didn't quite manage to
keep her toes from being chilled.
Although the
temperature inside the White House rarely varied more than a degree or two, the
rest of Washington, D.C. was in the throes of a blizzard. The relative silence
of the room was periodically broken by the howling wind that scattered dry
snowflakes against the tall bedroom windows.
Gremlin and Princess
had taken up refuge on the sofa and were snoozing happily on opposite ends.
Lauren had speculated earlier that the dogs must have had a lovers' quarrel
since Princess usually slept right on top of Gremlin and the portly pug didn't
seem to mind a bit.
Tap. Tap.
Tap… Tap. Tap. Tap.
Lauren swung her head
around and peered with obvious irritation over the top of her glasses to see
Dev nervously tapping her note pad with her pencil again. The President seemed
to be oblivious to her actions, and Lauren bit her lip to keep from saying
something rude. She let out a slightly impatient breath and slowly turned her
eyes back to her own work. Lauren had just about figured out how Adrienne Nash,
intrepid explorer, could escape from her latest capture when she heard,
‘Tap. Tap. Tap… Tap. Tap. Tap.' She closed her eyes
briefly, schooling herself in patience, before turning her head and glaring at
Dev, who was deep in thought. "Do you mind?"
Dev's head jerked up.
"Huh?"
Lauren sat up a
little so she could reach back and lay her hand over Dev's, effectively putting
an end to the tapping. "You're making me insane."
Bewildered, Dev just
looked at her. "What are you talking about? I'm trying to think of ideas
for Adrienne Nash. I'm not doing anything to you!"
Lauren groaned
inwardly. Dev was used to working in the constant background noise of her
endless meetings. She, on the other hand, while in attendance at most of those
meetings, would slip back to the silence of her room to really get things done.
"Okay. You're right. I'm sorry. That tapping was just breaking my
concentration. Go back to your thinking." Lauren patted Dev's thigh and
lay back down, spreading out her papers even more and jotting down an idea that
suddenly came to her.
Dev glanced down at
Lauren and frowned. "We need more light."
"No, we
don't."
Dev balanced her
notepad on her thighs. "Yes, we do. Working in low light is bad for your
eyes."
Lauren set her own
pen down and turned around again. "That's not true. Not unless you have to
strain to see. I work at night all the time. The light is fine. I can see
perfectly."
Dev snorted.
"Don't you say a
damned word about my glasses, Devlyn. My vision ‘issues' have nothing
to do with poor light, and before you start up again, I am not having anybody
poking my eyes with needles or lasers or whatever they use," she huffed,
going back to her work, now thoroughly distracted. After a moment of dead
silence she added. "And that's final. No how. No way."
"Baby." Dev
stuck out her tongue and petulantly kicked at the papers surrounding her feet.
"God, you're messy." She picked up a paper containing nothing but
Lauren's doodles and crumpled it into a tight ball. She aimed for the waste bin
by the desk across the room and, in perfect free-throw style, took the shot.
Which she promptly missed by several feet.
Lauren's eyes flicked
up from her outline. "Dev," she whined in frustration. "What if
that was important?"
"It
wasn't," the President announced firmly, silently vowing to retrieve it
from the floor later just in case Lauren was right. Better safe than sorry.
"The bed is a pigsty." Dev's kicking grew a little more vigorous.
"How can you work like this?"
Lauren was about to
snap back with a smartass reply but got a good look at the maps and papers and
reference books that were covering the bed. She let out a grumpy breath,
cringing inwardly. Okay, so it was just the tiniest bit messy. Without a word,
Lauren grabbed Dev's big toe and used it to lift the long leg. With her other
hand, she scooped out the papers that were underneath.
"Hey!" Dev
squawked indignantly, her eyes wide with mild outrage.
"Hush."
Lauren let go of the toe, causing Dev's leg to drop back to the bed with a dull
thud, bouncing once. She tugged on Dev's socked foot affectionately and went
back to her papers.
"Grab my
toe…" the words trailed off as Dev mumbled under her breath.
Lauren began to
rhythmically wiggle her own foot as she thought. Adrienne could escape on
horseback. Oh, yeah, folks would love that. The blonde woman pulled over a map,
wondering if this particular island would. I'll check online tomorrow.
Unconsciously, she continued to move her foot back and forth.
Dev glared down at
the offending body part, trying her best to ignore the shaking bed. Lauren's
foot suddenly stopped all movement and the President sighed in relief, her
thoughts drifting back to her own project. Dirk the jerk. Dirk the dick. Dirk
must die. He's only in the way. Why can't Lauren see that Adrienne would be so
much better off with that hotty redheaded sidekick of hers? What does Lauren
mean she's ‘thinking' about getting them together? What's to
‘think' about? They're perfect for each other.
Don't worry,
Adrienne. I'll straighten out this mess. Dev smirked. So to speak.
The bed began to
shake again with what was now a full-fledged bouncing of Lauren's entire leg.
Dev was jolted out of her plans, and she fixed her gaze on the source of her
annoyance, watching in dismay as it continued to bounce, and bounce, and
bounce, and bounce. "Stop shaking the bed!" she blurted out when her
patience had dwindled to nothing.
"Sure,
honey," Lauren answered absently, patting Dev's calf. She was so fully
caught up in her newest idea that she didn't bother to turn her head as she
spoke.
Dev rolled her eyes
when the movement stopped for all of two seconds then continued, albeit at a
less forceful pace. Trying to get more comfortable, she scooted down further in
the bed, inadvertently bumping Lauren's elbow and causing the younger woman to
draw a black line right across the notes she'd just completed. "Oh,
sorry," Dev said quietly. But she didn't move her foot. "Can
you-"
"Yes?!"
Lauren scooted over, putting at least two feet between her and Dev to give the
President more room. "Better?" she mumbled.
"A little."
A few minutes more
and Lauren heard the ‘Tap. Tap. Tap… Tap. Tap. Tap.'
again.
"Arghhhh!"
The blonde women dropped her head, letting her forehead hit the bed. She ground
her teeth together.
‘Tap. Tap.
Tap… Tap. Tap. Tap.' Pause. ‘Tap. Tap. Tap…
Tap. Tap. Tap.'
Lauren hastily sat up
and scrambled to the head of the bed to join Dev. She reached out and plucked
the pencil from Dev's fingers, tossing it across the room with a quick flick of
her wrist.
Dev stared at her in
mute shock as the pencil bounced off Lauren's computer screen and fell to the
floor.
Lauren smiled
sweetly. "That's much better. Thank you."
"You," Dev
gestured angrily with hands, "you… you just can't do
that!"
Lauren nodded her
head wildly, her lips forming a tight, white line. "Oh… oh, yes
I can, Madam President!"
"Fine."
Blue eyes narrowed. "If that's the way you feel."
Lauren threw her
chest out and crossed her arms over it. "Oh, yeah," she growled.
"It's the way I feel."
A slightly predatory
grin flashed across Dev's face, and Lauren's eyes widened at the sight.
Casually, Dev swung her feet over the edge of the tall bed and pushed off,
landing on the floor.
Lauren's brows drew
together. "Devlyn, where-"
Dev reached down and
grabbed the comforter. She raised the edge of the thick, soft cloth and brought
it back down in a lighting-fast move that sent most of Lauren's papers sailing
straight into the air. For a split second, they floated around Lauren's head
and legs, then drifted down to the comforter like large, rectangular pieces of
snow. "That," Dev smoothed the comforter back into place, "is
the way I feel." Take that, messy… messy…
err… foot shaker!
"Ooooo!"
Lauren's face turned bright red, and she launched herself at her lover,
wrapping her arms around Dev and swinging her back onto the bed with a loud
grunt. "I can't believe… uuff… you… did
that!"
Dev instantly rolled
over, pinning Lauren down with her body weight. "Believe it!"
Lauren's nostrils
flared. "Get off me!"
"No! You're
making me crazy!"
"Me? Ha!"
Lauren began pushing against Dev, trying to dislodge her. "You're the one
driving me crazy!" the writer choked out forcefully, her face turning even
redder.
The veins in Dev's
throat, and one in her forehead, began to bulge as she pushed back against
Lauren with all her might, refusing to release her captive. "I'm not
letting you up! You'll just make more mess and bounce, and bounce, and
bounce," Dev bounced against Lauren to emphasize her words, causing the
headboard to slam against the wall with her every movement.
Lauren exhaled
explosively, and perspiration beaded her upper lip as she threw her entire body
into her escape attempt.
"And then you'll
nag," Dev grunted, fully realizing for the first time just how much
strength Lauren's compact body contained as the shorter woman nearly wriggled
free.
"Nag? I think
not, Queen Nag!" Lauren was finally able to sneak her arms out from
between their bodies, but her wrists were quickly caught by Dev, who held them
over her head and pressed them into the soft pillows. "Dammit! Get off me
so I can kill you!"
"Never! Never!
Never!"
Their eyes locked,
and they held each other's defiant gazes for all of two seconds before they
both burst into helpless laughter. Dev let go of Lauren's wrists, and this time
it was their giggles that shook the bed.
Lauren let out a deep
breath, shifting slightly so that Dev wasn't pressing so firmly against her rib
cage. She wrapped her arms loosely around her partner, feeling soft, dark hair
slide between her fingers. "I think we've both officially lost our minds.
The pressure has finally caused us to snap." But she was smiling the
entire time she spoke and truly couldn't think of a nicer spot on earth than
right where she was.
"Uh huh,"
Dev agreed. She leaned forward and brushed her lips against the soft ones only
a few inches away, parting them easily with her tongue and deepening the kiss.
Lauren moaned softly
and pulled a leg out from under Dev, immediately wrapping it around Dev's legs,
holding the older woman in place. They were both breathing heavily and
perspiring from their roughhousing and the unexpectedly intense kiss they'd
just shared.
"We're fussing
and nagging like an old married couple," Dev murmured, placing another
small kiss at the corner of Lauren's mouth before pulling back slightly, and
loving the intimate way their bodies were now twined together.
Lauren nodded. She
cocked her head to the side speculatively as she truly considered Dev's words.
"We do sound married, don't we?"
Dev laughed.
"Oh, yeah." The writer's body felt hot against her skin and, unable
to resist, she nuzzled the smooth, hot skin of Lauren's throat.
Lauren gasped as
attentive lips and teeth found a sensitive spot along her jugular. "So why
don't we then?"
"Why don't we
what?" Dev's lips tenderly began working their way around Lauren's throat,
and the blonde arched against the touch.
"Get
married." The words were out before she could stop them or think about
what she was saying.
Dev's lips halted mid
kiss, and her body went deadly still. Her eyes slid closed for several
heartbeats as her mind raced. Then she pulled back slowly and opened them.
"Did you just propose?"
Lauren blinked. Oh,
my God. That's exactly what I did! I didn't mean to do that, did I? A bolt of
sheer panic raced through her, but she was surrounded by the reassuring weight
of her lover, who grounded her in more ways than one. And with every breath
came the reassuring scent her mind would forever tell her was Dev. Her anxiety
passed almost as quickly as it had appeared, replaced instead by an unyielding
certainty she hadn't even known herself capable of. Even if she hadn't intended
to say it, deep in her heart it was what she wanted. "I..." She
licked her lips, unable to gauge Dev's response by the look on her face.
"I guess so." Lauren steeled herself for… she wasn't sure
what. "Yes, yes I did." Firmer this time.
Dev couldn't help but
smile. Part of her wanted to choke Lauren for completely ruining all those
weeks of planning. All the worry and fear she had put herself through were for
nothing! But a bigger part of her was thrilled senseless. So senseless, in fact
that for just a moment she forgot to answer Lauren's question until she felt
the increased thudding of Lauren's rapid heartbeat against her own chest.
"Yes." She smiled and quirked a brow.
Lauren studied Dev's
face carefully; her own tentative smile appeared, and she released a slightly
shuddering breath. But Dev had taken so long to answer she wasn't sure they
were even talking about the same thing anymore. "Yes, what?" Lauren
held her breath, her heart skipping a beat at the sudden twinkle in Dev's eyes.
Dev shot her a mildly
exasperated look. "Whaddya think? Yes, I'll marry you, ya goof."
Lauren was
speechless. "Wow," she finally breathed, hugging Dev with all her
might. "This is so great." Lauren buried her face in Dev's hair.
"I love you so much."
Dev tightened her
hold on Lauren. "I love you too, sweetheart."
Pale brows drew
tightly together. "Can we even get married here?" God, Lauri, you
might have checked before you asked.
Dev smiled at the
sudden worry that colored Lauren's voice. She propped herself down on one elbow
and traced the writer's cheeks, then fair eyebrows. "Every state,
including DC, will recognize another state's marriage. But not every state will
perform the ceremony." Dev's eyes conveyed true regret. "Tennessee
won't. I'm sorry, honey."
Lauren shrugged. It
hadn't crossed her mind to go back there anyway. "But I bet Ohio does,
right?" she asked innocently, batting fair lashes and waiting for the
response she knew she'd get.
A brilliant smile
broke out across Dev's face, causing tiny creases around her eyes.
Oh, yeah. That was
the right thing to say.
"It sure as hell
does!" Dev blurted happily, rolling off Lauren and onto her back. "My
folks will be thrilled." She turned her head and regarded her companion
lovingly. "I'm thrilled," she whispered, her voice cracking.
Lauren rolled onto
her side to face Dev. Her smile mirrored the dark-haired woman's. "Me too,
darlin'." She slipped off her glasses, and, without turning her head,
reached behind her and set them on the nightstand.
"You just don't
want to be part of the spectacle of a White House wedding," Dev teased.
Lauren chuckled
softly and rolled on top of Dev, settling heavily there. "I just want to
make you happy." A slender brow quirked. "And if we happen to be able
to piss off the Press in the process…" Lauren could feel Dev's
silent laughter.
"No wonder I
love you. You're evil. Who could resist that?"
"Uh huh,"
Lauren agreed, leaning forward and tasting the soft skin just below Dev's
throat. She reached up and unbuttoned the top button of the President's pajamas
so her lips could drift lower. "Really evil," she agreed softly,
unable to resist opening a second button, and releasing more of Dev's shower-clean
scent.
Dev sighed softly and
pushed her hands underneath Lauren's thin T-shirt, trailing them up her naked
back.
The smaller woman
murmured her approval at Dev's gentle touch. A third, then fourth button was
slowly undone as Lauren worked her way lower still, exposing more warm,
slightly salty skin to her lips and tongue. When the last button was freed she
reached up and pushed the flannel shirt open and nuzzled the silky underside of
Dev's left breast. "Mmmm… God, Devlyn," she groaned, her
tongue darted out, tracing a hot path from the underside of Dev's breast to the
center breastbone, "you are so soft."
Dev gasped, and her
eyes slid closed, a flood of warmth spreading down from her belly and settling
between her legs at Lauren's sensual touch. She sat up, taking the smaller
woman with her and covering Lauren's mouth with a passionate kiss.
Lauren swept the
pajama top from Dev's strong shoulders, hazily marveling at the combination of
sleek muscles and smooth skin beneath her hands as the President continued to
kiss her senseless. Her hands moved into thick, dark hair, where her nails
grazed Dev's scalp. She deepened the kiss further, swirling her hot tongue
around Dev's as she swallowed her lover's moans.
Reluctantly, Dev
began to pull away. "You too," she encouraged raggedly, her chest
heaving.
Lauren's eyes
fluttered open, and she looked at Dev blankly for a several seconds as the
words penetrated her brain.
"You too. I need
to touch you, too." Dev tugged at the hem of Lauren's shirt.
Lauren lifted her
arms high over her head, and her T-shirt was tugged off in one swift motion and
tossed to the floor. Their movements slowed, as they traded kisses and tenderly
whispered words. Next came flannel, sweats, and panties, until at last they
fell together in a tangle of arms and legs, groaning at the flawless contact of
naked skin on naked skin.
"I want to kiss
and taste you everywhere," Dev murmured against Lauren's chest. A low but
enthusiastic moan answered her, and she turned her head to the side to nip and
lick against a sensitive nipple.
"Oh, Dev,"
Lauren whimpered, her body jerking slightly at the delicious sensation.
"You enjoy teasing me, don't you?" Then she felt as though she
couldn't draw in enough air as Dev began doing anything but tease.
As she used her mouth
to entice the woman in her arms, Dev's hands slowly traced hot paths up the
sides of Lauren's slightly damp body. She moved from knees to shoulders, and
then back down again, soaking in the exquisite feeling of soft skin under her
hands.
The sensation of
short, well-manicured nails gently grazing her back and shoulders sent shivers
through her own body, causing a moan to escape Dev's throat. The President
never realized how much she ached for this woman's touch until she was
receiving it. Lauren simply had a way of eliciting every emotion that Dev was
capable of feeling.
They made love
slowly, passionately. Taking the time to truly enjoy each other, to caress and
gently kiss, experiencing the best of what each offered the other. Sensual hums
of delight mixed with low, throaty groans.
A smile curled Dev's
lips when her ears picked up the soft but nearly constant moans that spoke of
Lauren's arousal and love, with just a little impatience thrown in, as the
smaller woman tried to get her body closer to Devlyn's. Dev had come to
recognize these as the signals of her lover's impending climax. She held Lauren
closer still, wanting it as much as Lauren did, her own body reacting strongly
to the sights and smells and sounds surrounding her.
Dev whispered words
of love and devotion as their bodies instinctively found the rhythm that would
cause them to experience together the pleasure that only they could bring each
other. And when Lauren threw her head back and cried out softly, Dev followed right
behind her. The sight of her lover's face as she released, the feeling of
Lauren's sweat-slicked body bucking beneath her and the fingers that had become
talons digging into her shoulder blades, were more than enough to bring her to
her own precipice and beyond.
Heaving chests slowed
and pulses calmed, as they began to relax, nearly melting together. Lauren
slowly ran her hand down the smooth skin of Dev's back and tiredly pulled up
the comforter, which had somehow ended up half on, half off the bed, around
their entwined bodies. She kissed a damp shoulder, eliciting a contented hum
from deep in Dev's chest and a murmured ‘I love you'.
Lauren couldn't have
been more contented herself as she felt more than heard Dev's breathing even
out and her heart slow further as sleep overtook her partner. "I love you,
too," she whispered softly. Gray eyes fluttered closed, and she smiled
faintly as Dev's arms tightened around her.
Saturday, December 25th
"Lauren?"
Silence.
"Lauren?"
The whispered voices were more insistent now.
"Go
‘way," the writer slurred, pulling the pillow over her head.
Three sets of giggles
nudged Lauren closer to wakefulness. "It's time to get up," Aaron
insisted. "Santa came!"
Lauren whimpered
softly and lifted her bedraggled head from her pillow. She was in Devlyn's bed,
but the President was nowhere to be found.
"Santa came; we
get to open presents. C'mon!" Christopher grabbed one of Lauren's hands
and Ashley grabbed the other as they began literally dragging the writer out of
bed.
"Okay, okay, I'm
coming," Lauren laughed. She looked over at the clock. 3:30 A.M. God, no
wonder I'm tired. I only went to bed three hours ago. "Do you always get
up in the middle of the night for Christmas," she asked Aaron as she
fumbled for her glasses.
"Uh huh. As soon
as Santa comes, we can open presents. That's the deal," he crowed
excitedly, tugging at Lauren's T-shirt as the woman stumbled out of bed,
yawning.
"Where's your
mama?" Lauren's voice was still hoarse with sleep, and she stuck her
fingers under her glasses to rub her eyes.
"She's in the
living room. C'mon, we'll show you!"
Lauren looked
wistfully at the bathroom as she was tugged past it and out into the living
room.
"Here she
is," Ashley announced, her voice still a whisper. The room was pitch black
except for the twinkling of the white Christmas tree lights, which illuminated
Dev's sprawled form. She lay on the floor in front of the tree, with Ashley's
new bike assembled and waiting, Christopher's half way there, and Aaron's still
in the box. A wrench was still clutched in one hand, and the trail of drool
leading from her mouth to the carpet was glistening with every blink of the
lights.
Lauren bit her lip to
muffle a chuckle. It was exactly where she had left Dev several hours ago, with
the President promising she'd be coming to bed soon, and that she didn't need
any help; that this would only take a few moments. Good grief, Devlyn. What am
I going to do with you?
Christopher stared at
his mother curiously. "How come Santa's elves didn't put the bikes
together? Isn't that their job?"
Lauren's eyebrows
jumped up into her hairline as her mind scrambled to come up with a suitable
answer.
Ashley looked at her
brother impatiently. "You're so stupid, Chris. The Secret Service probably
made the elves leave the packages downstairs. The elves couldn't very well put
them together in the North Pole, because ‘put together' bikes would
take up too much room in the sleigh."
Gray eyes widened as Lauren
listened to Ashley's explanation. With an imagination like that, we may have
another writer in the family.
"So mama had to
do it here," Ashley continued in a clear voice.
"Oh." Chris
nodded, finding his sister's explanation completely believable. "Of
course."
Aaron tugged on
Lauren's hand, and she peered down at the small blond boy. "Can we wake
her up? It's Christmas!"
Lauren smiled.
"Sure, honey. Go ahead and wake her up." The words were still hanging
in the air when Chris and Aaron let go of Lauren's hands, and all three
children ran over to their mother, happily shaking her awake.
Lauren watched with
amusement as Dev sleepily tried to fend them off for a few futile seconds
before waking up enough to realize what was going on. The President exclaimed
‘Merry Christmas', pulling all three children into a group hug that
went on longer than any of the kids could stand.
"Okay, ya little
monsters." Dev released her captives and frowned as she wiped her drool
away with the back of her hand. "Have at it. And help Aaron read the names
on the packages."
Three shrill cheers
rang out, causing Dev to jump back a little. Ashley quickly grabbed Aaron's
hand, and they both ran to the stockings with Chris hot on their heels. Each
child grabbed his own, and plopped down in front of the cold fireplace to
examine the booty it contained.
Dev padded over to
Lauren who was still watching quietly with a grin plastered across her face.
"Mornin'. Sort of," Dev whispered, placing a soft kiss on Lauren's
lips. She wrapped her arms around the smaller woman.
"Mornin',
darlin'." Lauren squeezed Dev back, sinking deeply into the warm embrace.
"I fell
asleep."
Lauren laughed.
"I know. I'm sorry. I crashed myself, or I would have come and gotten
you."
"Did the kids ask-"
Lauren shook her head
and led Dev by the elbow to the couch, where they both dropped down with twin
groans. "Ashley blamed your being passed out under the tree like an old
drunk on the Secret Service."
Dev laughed, then
smacked Lauren's arm playfully. "I was asleep," she whispered loudly.
"That is not the same thing as passed out!"
Lauren stuck out her
tongue.
"I need
coffee," Dev whined.
"Me too. I'll
get some coffee for us and some juice or something for the kids."
"You don't have
to do that." Dev's protest was half-hearted. "We just sat down. I can
wait."
"Please."
Lauren rolled her eyes knowingly. "You're the biggest coffee addict I
know. And besides, if I don't get some caffeine soon myself, I'll die. And I
hear that sort of thing is a real downer on Christmas morning."
"Thank
you." Dev wrapped her arm around Lauren's shoulders as they both stood.
"I love you."
Lauren bumped hips
with Dev. "I love you too."
"It seems
strange without Emma around," Dev commented, not quite ready to let Lauren
go.
"True,"
Lauren allowed, smiling at Ashley's squeal of delight when the little girl
discovered some brightly colored nail polish in her stocking. "But the
woman does deserve a vacation. I can't believe you sent her and her sister on a
cruise. That was so sweet. It's all she's talked about the last two
weeks."
Dev shrugged and
found something interesting about her feet. "She deserved it."
"I know."
Lauren smiled indulgently and gave Dev a little shove. "Go on, take some
pictures and start passing out presents. I'll be right back with some coffee.
Maybe I can bribe a couple of agents into taking Gremlin and Princess for a
quick walk, too."
"A couple? Why
not just one?"
"They're still
not talking to each other."
Dev looked confused.
"The agents?"
"No, Grem and
Princess."
Dev snorted
disgustedly.
Lauren winked at her
lover then lifted her hand to gently rake her fingers through dark, disheveled
bangs that were sticking out in several directions. "Then we can find out
what Santa left for you under the tree."
Dev leered at the
blonde, wriggling her eyebrows. Her voice dropped to a purr as she pressed her
lips to Lauren's ear. "I thought I got my present last night."
Lauren blushed, then
burst into embarrassed laughter. She glanced towards the kids who were lost in
their own world of chocolate, toys, books, and clothes. What could be better?
"Well, I consider that the gift that keeps on giving."
"If I'm
lucky."
The biographer
smacked Dev on the bottom and turned for the kitchen. "Trust me,
Devlyn," she said, smiling over her shoulder. "We're both
lucky."
* * *
David knocked on
Dev's door for the third time. It was nearly 11:00 A.M., and Dev was expecting
them. The agent outside the door could only shrug. He'd heard movement in the
apartment very early this morning, but since walking Gremlin several hours ago,
and taking him back to the President's apartment, he hadn't heard a blessed
thing.
"Good Lord,
David, just open the door!" Beth moaned. Her arms were full of gifts, and
the puppy Dev had given them as a ‘gift' was jumping anxiously at
their feet. "The kids will be up; it's not like we'll catch Dev and Lauren
naked on the couch or anything."
"Of course
not!" David snorted. Then he paused and started to truly consider what his
wife had just proposed.
Beth rolled her eyes
and pushed passed David. "Keep dreaming, pervert. But it will never
happen." She juggled her packages and turned the knob. "Hello?"
She stuck her head around the door and peered into the room.
"Awwww… we should have brought a camera."
The living room was
strewn with bright-colored wrapping paper, and Bing Crosby was softly crooning
about a ‘White Christmas'. The lights were off, except for the tree,
and the fragrant scents of pine, burning oak, and chocolate filled the air.
David and Beth moved
quietly farther into the room, and David bent down to let his puppy off his
leash. The little dog immediately toddled towards the Christmas tree, where he
carefully navigated his way between the piles of open boxes and paper. He found
a large stuffed bear and plopped down next to it, closing his eyes. The puppy
had seen Dev and fully intended to bare his teeth in a ferocious growl. He was
saving it for after his nap.
The McMillians looked
at each other with huge smiles on their faces. Dev was sound asleep on the
sofa, wearing a Santa hat and a sweater that still had tags hanging from its
arm and neck. Tucked safely in her arms was Lauren, who was snoring softly and
clad in a worn T-shirt, pajama bottoms, and new snow boots.
All three children
were asleep in various parts of the room. Aaron was half under the tree, and
Beth had to duck down to see the little boy's face. He was asleep in a pile of
candy wrappers with chocolate staining most of his cheeks and lips.
Christopher was
slumped in a chair, a half-completed puzzle in his lap and a racing car at his
feet. He wore a crisp Hawaiian print shirt, complete with tags, over his navy
blue, footie pajamas.
The small brunette
was stretched out on her belly in front of the fire, which had burned down to
bright orange coals. Ashley was snoring louder than Lauren and wore a pair of
sunglasses and a white baseball hat that proudly proclaimed
‘Tennessee Volunteers' in bright orange letters. She held a Barbie
loosely in one hand and a comb in the other. Barbie's blonde mane was standing
straight up.
Gremlin was snuggled
up against one side of the little girl with Princess snuggled up to the other.
Doggy estrangement was an odd thing.
Blue eyes opened
wearily, and Dev gave a little wave to her guests, careful not to jostle
Lauren. "Merry Christmas," she mouthed silently, tightening her hold
on the woman sleeping in her arms before closing her eyes.
Beth and David
deposited their packages on the ground in front of the tree. David held a hand
out to his wife as they wandered over to an empty loveseat. They sat down
quietly and snuggled together, closing their eyes. It had been a solid month of
formal parties, visiting dignitaries, tuxedos, banquets, champagne, gowns and
speeches. Both David and Beth let out a long, contented sigh. They always did
like the Marlowes' idea of a quiet family holiday.
Monday, December 27th
David watched from
the wings as Sharon continued her morning briefing of the Press. He was
expecting the room to go up in flames in about thirty seconds. David glanced at
his watch, wondering how Dev managed to live without one. Then again, I don't
have Liza following around after me, briefing me on my agenda every five
minutes.
"And, finally,
the White House is happy to announce the engagement of President Marlowe to Ms.
Lauren Strayer of Nashville, Tennessee. The President and Ms. Strayer became
engaged just before Christmas and will be wed in the President's home state of
Ohio sometime next year. No official date has been set for the wedding."
David smiled at the
collective gasp that went through the group. He watched carefully as it took
everyone a moment to grasp what Sharon had just said. Then the room erupted in
a flurry of questions.
"Who
proposed?" the newest CNN correspondent managed to get out first.
"One of the two
parties involved," Sharon offered with an absolutely straight face.
Half the room groaned
while the other half chuckled. When Sharon responded with this kind of
answer… they weren't going to get a damned thing out of her, and
they knew it.
Another question.
"Where did the proposal take place?"
Sharon sighed
inwardly, wishing that Dev had been a little more forthcoming with the details.
"The President and Ms. Strayer were at home in the residence over the
Christmas season." She held up her hands to forestall what she knew was
coming next. "I know… I know. If possible, I will provide more
details at a future press conference."
The Washington Post
reporter politely raised his hand, and Sharon pointed to him. "When
exactly did this happen?" he asked.
Sharon looked over at
the reporter and resisted the urge to be a smartass. "A few days before
Christmas. If possible, I will provide more details at a future press
conference," Sharon said again. Ah… my new mantra.
"What were the
circumstances of the President's proposal?" The man from the Times held
his tape recorder high in the air.
"The exact
circumstances surrounding the proposal are a private matter for the happy
couple."
Another groan from
the more seasoned reporters. That was Sharon speak for ‘You're never
gonna get that particular bit of information'.
David's smile shifted
into a shit eatin' grin. He just loved the way Sharon handled the Press. That's
it, Sharon; give them your world famous ‘bite me' answers.
A new reporter from
the Boston Globe caught Sharon's eye from the back of the room. "Is this a
push by the President for all states to legalize same sex marriages?"
Ahh... an
intelligent, if inappropriate, question. "Absolutely not. This is simply
an announcement by the White House to keep the public informed." Sharon
sighed and looked down at the podium, even though she had absolutely no notes
on the subject. David had told her only moments before, explaining that Dev was
so damned excited she was practically shouting from the roof tops, so Sharon
had better make the announcement before it leaked out. Sharon nodded to a tall,
black man in the front row.
"Will Ms.
Strayer be taking over the traditional duties of First Lady? And will she
continue work on the President's biography?"
Sharon pushed her
hands into her blazer pocket and stepped away from the podium. "Ms.
Strayer will continue to write the President's biography. As far as taking over
the duties of the First Lady, that will be for Ms. Strayer to decide for
herself."
"Will the Press
be invited to the wedding?"
"I know this is
all very exciting, and it's been a hundred years or so since the last
Presidential wedding, but this is simply an announcement of the engagement. No
wedding plans have been made yet, so the guest list is obviously
undecided."
"Will Ms. Strayer
continue to live at the White House? Has she moved into President Marlowe's
room?"
"Ms. Strayer
will continue to maintain her own room within the residence until after the
wedding. Just as she has done since her arrival here at the beginning of the year."
David smirked as he
watched Sharon finish up the briefing with the announcement that she would take
one more question.
"Has a spot for
a Presidential honeymoon been selected?"
"Nothing has
been decided as of yet. As soon as the President and Ms. Strayer decide to
release more information regarding their nuptials, and plans for after, I will
let you know. Let's take things one step at a time." Sharon moved back to
the podium and picked up her notes. "Have a good day, ladies and gentleman;
I'll see you at the five o'clock briefing."
With that, Sharon
strode off the small stage and joined David. She nudged him as they began the
walk back to the West Wing. "Couldn't she have just declared war on
someone? I would have been much better prepared to answer questions about
that."
David chuckled.
"Ah, Sharon, don't you get it? Knowing Dev's, but most especially
Lauren's, penchant for privacy…"
The Press Secretary
groaned, imagining the endless questions that Dev and Lauren would never
provide the answers to just for spite. "David?"
"Yeah?"
"I want a
raise."
Friday, December 31st
It was late, and
together Dev and Lauren had tucked the children in before returning to the
living room. Dev jammed her hand in her pocket, feeling for the ring box nestled
deep inside. She wondered for the hundredth time if she should just go ahead
and give it to Lauren. So what if she wasn't going to be doing any asking.
She'd still gotten it for Lauren. Dev was old fashioned enough to want her wife
wearing a wedding ring from her. But, to her dismay, she wasn't sure exactly
how Lauren would feel.
Dev had been totally
thrown when Lauren proposed to her. Thrilled, but thrown. All those weeks of
worry and planning had gone up in a glorious poof of smoke in the wake of Lauren's
natural tendency to cut straight to the chase. It was a characteristic that Dev
adored. But, in this one instance, it left her not quite knowing what to do
with herself or the ring in her pocket.
The writer's face
crinkled into a smile, and she sucked in a deep breath of pine-scented air. The
presents were gone from beneath the tree, but Dev had insisted it remain up
until New Year's. To take it down even a day early was to risk bad luck for the
entire new year. Lauren shook her head at the surprisingly superstitious custom
that came from such a reasonable, down-to-earth family.
The President took a
calming breath and screwed up her courage. Just because Lauren wanted to get
married didn't mean she'd wear the ring. She sighed and tightened her hand around
the box. "Lauren?"
It had been years
since Lauren had a Christmas tree, and it was downright embarrassing how happy
the simple but comforting tradition made her feel. "Mmmm... nice."
She turned to Dev and extended her hand, wrapping her fingers around Dev's,
which were slightly chilled, and pulling Dev down onto the carpet to join her
in front of the tree. "What's up?"
"Ahhh ..."
Dev's mind went blank for a moment, and the muscles in her face twitched
nervously. It was stupid, she knew, since she wasn't actually proposing. But
still… it was as close as she hoped to ever come again. She licked
her lips and cleared her throat a little. "You remember when I told you
that I was working on the most important thing I had ever done, and that as
soon as I could talk to you about it, you'd be the first to know?"
"Sure."
Lauren leaned forward, her curiosity brimming. But thoughts of that evening and
their nasty argument caused her to wince internally. Then and there, despite
the fact that it was several hours before midnight, Lauren made her New Year's
resolution. Well, she admitted privately, it was more of a vow than a
resolution, but it would have to do. She'd been given an extraordinary chance
at happiness with Devlyn and her children, and she was going to do whatever it
took to hold on to it. She'd never had so much to gain and so much to lose at
the same time. And she promised herself that when things got scary, and she
knew they would, she would hang on tight, and ride the storm out, secure in the
knowledge that what awaited her afterward would be more than worth the
sacrifice. Wow. Who knew being in love would make me so profound?
Dev turned over the
hand she was holding and placed the box in the center of Lauren's palm, curling
small fingers around it. "Well… I love you. And this is
it." Dev wasn't sure how to explain, so she babbled nervously as Lauren's
gaze darted from the box to Dev and back again. "I had it made for
you." She bit her lip as Lauren cracked open the black velvet lid.
"That's what took so long. I… um… I hope you like
it."
Lauren blinked
stupidly at the ring, too shocked to really take in its detail, as her mind
processed exactly what it symbolized. The most important thing she'd ever done.
Oh, God. Her gaze jerked up to meet Dev's very serious-looking face. "You
were going to propose?"
Dev nodded.
"Yes," she said quietly.
Lauren felt a sinking
sensation in her belly. "And the night we quarreled, and you left for an
appointment you couldn't tell me about?"
The President laid a
hand on Lauren's leg. "Oh, sweetheart, that's not important." She
gestured towards the ring with her chin, her eyes hopeful. "Can I put it
on your finger?" When Lauren didn't answer, Dev began reaching for the box.
Lauren grabbed Dev's
hands, stopping their motion. Her voice was low and harsh and startled Dev with
its sound. "I'm so, so sorry."
Dark brows drew
together as Dev searched Lauren's face, not quite understanding whether she was
declining or accepting the ring. Her heart began to thud in her chest when she
saw tears in Lauren's eyes. She immediately brushed them away with gentle
fingertips. Damn! She's trying to let me down easy. If she had wanted to
exchange rings, she'd have given me one, right? Dev's jaw worked silently, and
she forced herself to continue, pushing down her disappointment. "Sorry
for what?"
"For the
argument. Things got so out of hand. If I'd only known-"
"Stop," the
President interrupted, taking a few seconds to let out a long, slow breath. Dev
felt nearly lightheaded with relief. She's not turning it down. At least not
yet. She smiled and carefully plucked the ring from the box Lauren still had
clutched in her hand. "Sweetheart, if you had known," she took
Lauren's left hand in hers and slipped the ring on her finger, "it
wouldn't have been much of a surprise, now would it?" Then she held her
breath and waited.
Lauren gasped when
she got a good look at the ring. The heavy platinum band was so wide it nearly
touched her second knuckle. In its center was nestled a large, flat,
rectangular emerald with four small diamonds clustered at its corners. The
twinkling glow of the Christmas lights reflected off the dark, green stone.
"Oh, Devlyn." Lauren made a fist and held it up a little, allowing
the diamonds to pick up the light and sparkle gently. "It's so
beautiful," she said reverently, running the tip of her index finger over
it.
"I'm glad you
like it. I wanted something as beautiful and as special as you are." Dev
grinned, reading the look of undiluted joy on Lauren's face and knowing that
right now, she was sporting the exact same expression. "And, just like
you, it's one of a kind." She paused, "Uh ...is it okay? I wasn't
sure you'd want to wear one." Lauren looked at her with a gaze so filled
with adoration Dev felt a heat creeping to her cheeks.
"Yes, I'll wear
it." Lauren tucked a strand of wavy, fair hair behind her ear as she
examined the beautiful piece of jewelry. "I've never worn one
before." She chanced a glance up at Dev. "I told Judd it was because
I really didn't like rings. But that was a lie." Lauren shrugged one
shoulder and turned her attention to the tree laden with decorations and
ribbon. "I guess I didn't feel like what we had was forever. And I wasn't
ready."
"And now?"
Dev questioned softly.
Lauren smiled
wistfully. "And now I can't predict the future any better than I could
back then." She grabbed Dev's hand and pressed it to her chest, directly
over her heart. "But I can't imagine loving you," she smiled warmly,
"or your kids more. If anyone's got a shot at forever, Devlyn, it's
us."
Blue eyes twinkled,
and a slender, dark eyebrow arched. "Yeah. That's exactly what I was going
to say. You just beat me to it."
Lauren burst out
laughing.
The President gave
Lauren's ring a little tug. "Does it fit all right? I had to guess at your
ring size. We can have it resized if we need to."
Lauren was about to
wipe away the renewed tears that shimmered in her eyes, threatening to fall.
But they were happy tears, and such a rare and wonderful occurrence she let
them fall. She wiggled the ring with her thumb. It was a bit loose, but
wouldn't come off. "It's a little big." Grey eyes found Dev's.
"But that's good, right? I've always heard your fingers get bigger as you
get older." A sniff. "So this should be fine, and since I don't
intend on taking it off, I'll live with it "as is'."
"Okay,
but-"
Lauren's eyes
suddenly widened. "Shit!" she exclaimed loudly, causing Devlyn to
jump back.
"What?!"
"I was supposed
to get you a ring, wasn't I?" Lauren threw her hands up in disgust. "I
didn't even... Oh, God, I didn't think or plan-"
Dev chuckled,
gathering her into her arms. "Sweetheart, the ring isn't the important
part of the proposal. The words are. And you had the courage to say the words.
That's all that matters. And what matters to me is that, when I march up to
that altar, you'll be there."
Lauren grabbed
Devlyn's shirt and pulled her forward into a searing kiss. When the kiss ended,
and they separated, a happy laugh bubbled up from inside Lauren. She cupped
Dev's cheeks and looked directly into beautiful, blue eyes, seeing the spirit
that had captured her so completely. "That's one thing you don't need to
worry about, darlin'. I'll be there."
THE END.
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