that. It’ll be fine. I’m more concerned about the press pool missing the dinner and arousing suspicion.”
“Would you rather we let them go to the dinner and then to Andrews in a car that follows yours?” Melanie asked.
“Yeah, I think that’s safer. I don’t want anyone to suspect anything until we are on the ground in Afghanistan.”
“I understand. It’s no problem. I’ll have the press office handle the logistics,” Melanie said, rubbing her head as she sent Annie an e-mail asking her to call the press secretary in right away.
“You look terrible. Are you coming down with something? Go see Dr. Holden for some Ambien or something. You look like you could use a good night’s sleep,” Charlotte said.
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Take care of yourself, Melanie. I need you in fighting form.”
“It’ll be good to catch up while you guys are gone. I’ll spend some time with Ralph, and we’ll get a plan together for the campaign,” Melanie told her.
“Yeah, how’s that going? I gave Ralph permission to poll on everythingfrom my hair to my clothes to my children’s after-school activities. Anything come out of the data that’s encouraging?”
“Not sure. We didn’t go over it in detail yet,” Melanie said.
“Melanie, I’m not an idiot. I know that barring some act of God, I’m in deep shit. All we have to do is leave everything on the field. And we should be able to come up with some way to turn my political position into an asset, don’t you think? We should run the ‘nothing but the truth’ campaign or something that conveys that we have nothing to lose, so we’ll put it all out there and let voters decide.”
“Put it all out there, huh?” Melanie asked.
“Sure, why not? Stand on our record, take questions from real people, do some interviews, and let the chips fall where they may,” Charlotte urged.
“Madam President—” Melanie started to say.
“Uh-oh, I’m Madam President now. Something really is wrong.”
“Is there anything going on that I should know about—anything on the personal side of the house?” Melanie asked.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“It’s just, you know, I need to be read in on everything to do my job effectively, and if there’s something out there that could have an impact on the administration, it’s best if I can plan for it,” Melanie said. “Whatever it is.”
“I’m not sure what you’re suggesting, but I think I resent the implication that I’m withholding information from you.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. It’s just, if there’s anything else I can do to help—to support you,” Melanie said.
“You can start by agreeing to run the campaign and then coming up with some glimmer of hope for getting me reelected.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Melanie said.
Charlotte turned and flung the ball so far that the dogs lost its scent and started to whine for a new one.
“Emma, Emma, it’s over there!” Charlotte shouted, pointing as though the dog could understand her wild gestures.
Melanie watched Charlotte try to cajole the dogs. She wasn’t having much success, and after a few attempts to get them to run down the hill after the lost ball, she pulled another one out of her pocketand flung it toward the two younger dogs. Cammie remained seated by her side.
Melanie turned to Cammie and knelt down on the ground to scratch her head. The dog raised her lip to bare her teeth and growled.
“Jesus, was it something I said?” Melanie stepped away from the dog.
“Cammie, stop it,” Charlotte said. “Ignore her. She’s tense. She senses that I’m leaving again.” Charlotte planted kisses on the dog’s head.
Melanie sighed and turned to walk back to her West Wing office. “I’m going to go make these changes to the departure plan, Madam President.”
“Thank you, Melanie,” Charlotte said, swinging the Chuck-It back and forth and looking out toward the Washington Monument.
“Anything else I can do for
“Would you rather we let them go to the dinner and then to Andrews in a car that follows yours?” Melanie asked.
“Yeah, I think that’s safer. I don’t want anyone to suspect anything until we are on the ground in Afghanistan.”
“I understand. It’s no problem. I’ll have the press office handle the logistics,” Melanie said, rubbing her head as she sent Annie an e-mail asking her to call the press secretary in right away.
“You look terrible. Are you coming down with something? Go see Dr. Holden for some Ambien or something. You look like you could use a good night’s sleep,” Charlotte said.
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Take care of yourself, Melanie. I need you in fighting form.”
“It’ll be good to catch up while you guys are gone. I’ll spend some time with Ralph, and we’ll get a plan together for the campaign,” Melanie told her.
“Yeah, how’s that going? I gave Ralph permission to poll on everythingfrom my hair to my clothes to my children’s after-school activities. Anything come out of the data that’s encouraging?”
“Not sure. We didn’t go over it in detail yet,” Melanie said.
“Melanie, I’m not an idiot. I know that barring some act of God, I’m in deep shit. All we have to do is leave everything on the field. And we should be able to come up with some way to turn my political position into an asset, don’t you think? We should run the ‘nothing but the truth’ campaign or something that conveys that we have nothing to lose, so we’ll put it all out there and let voters decide.”
“Put it all out there, huh?” Melanie asked.
“Sure, why not? Stand on our record, take questions from real people, do some interviews, and let the chips fall where they may,” Charlotte urged.
“Madam President—” Melanie started to say.
“Uh-oh, I’m Madam President now. Something really is wrong.”
“Is there anything going on that I should know about—anything on the personal side of the house?” Melanie asked.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“It’s just, you know, I need to be read in on everything to do my job effectively, and if there’s something out there that could have an impact on the administration, it’s best if I can plan for it,” Melanie said. “Whatever it is.”
“I’m not sure what you’re suggesting, but I think I resent the implication that I’m withholding information from you.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. It’s just, if there’s anything else I can do to help—to support you,” Melanie said.
“You can start by agreeing to run the campaign and then coming up with some glimmer of hope for getting me reelected.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Melanie said.
Charlotte turned and flung the ball so far that the dogs lost its scent and started to whine for a new one.
“Emma, Emma, it’s over there!” Charlotte shouted, pointing as though the dog could understand her wild gestures.
Melanie watched Charlotte try to cajole the dogs. She wasn’t having much success, and after a few attempts to get them to run down the hill after the lost ball, she pulled another one out of her pocketand flung it toward the two younger dogs. Cammie remained seated by her side.
Melanie turned to Cammie and knelt down on the ground to scratch her head. The dog raised her lip to bare her teeth and growled.
“Jesus, was it something I said?” Melanie stepped away from the dog.
“Cammie, stop it,” Charlotte said. “Ignore her. She’s tense. She senses that I’m leaving again.” Charlotte planted kisses on the dog’s head.
Melanie sighed and turned to walk back to her West Wing office. “I’m going to go make these changes to the departure plan, Madam President.”
“Thank you, Melanie,” Charlotte said, swinging the Chuck-It back and forth and looking out toward the Washington Monument.
“Anything else I can do for
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