Calling The Question

by: Evelyn

“Hey baby girl.”

“Mom,” Donna dropped her bags, and walked into her mother’s arms. It was almost midnight, and she was finally home. Carolyn Moss just held her daughter in a tight hug for several minutes and then stood back.

“Come on into the kitchen, honey. Are you hungry?” she asked, walking with her arms around her daughter’s shoulders.

Donna shook her head and sat down at the round oak kitchen table. The same table where she’d done her homework fifteen years earlier. The same place she’d announced that she was dropping out of school to take a job and support Phillip, her new boyfriend. It was in that same seat where she told her mother, two years later, that she was leaving Phillip and going to New Hampshire to join the campaign of Governor Jed Bartlet. And tonight, Donna again sat in the chair and put her head down on her arms. Her mother put some water in the tea kettle, set it on the stove, turned on a flame, walked over to her daughter, and put her hands on Donna’s shoulders.

“Want to talk about it?” Carolyn asked quietly.

“No,” Donna whispered.

“OK. Do you know how long you’ll be here?” Carolyn asked.

“I’m thinking of moving home, Mom. I need to get away from D.C., from...” but Donna didn’t finish the thought. She was quiet for a moment and then said, “Maybe I’ll get a job at the University and finally finish my degree,” her voice muffled because her head was buried in her arms.

The tea kettle whistled and Carolyn moved to turn it off and poured two mugs of chamomile tea.

“Drink this. It will help you sleep,” Donna sat up and took a sip. Carolyn leaned back to take a good look at her daughter, whose eyes were red and ringed by dark circles.

“Been working a lot of late nights, Donnatella?” her mother asked.

“We’re in the middle of the campaign. The days are endless,” Donna answered absentmindedly.

“And the numbers seem to be coming back for your man, right?”

“I think the turnaround was the State of the Union. President Bartlet was brilliant that night,” Donna asserted. Then looked up and smiled at her mother.

“I’m not angry with the President, Mom,” she smiled weakly.

“I didn’t think you were,” Carolyn answered with her own smile. “I’m guessing that boss of yours did something incredibly stupid, however,” she continued.

“It’s not a matter of Josh being stupid,” Donna interrupted.

“Oh,” Carolyn said quizzically, arching one eyebrow.

“I just realized that the whole situation is hopeless and always will be. Tonight I finally snapped and said enough is enough.” Donna took another sip of her tea.

“Well, that’s good, Donnatella. I don’t want you to stay with someone who doesn’t appreciate you.”

Donna’s eyes started to fill up with tears. “Well he’d probably tell you that I’m the best damn assistant he’s ever had, so I guess you could say he appreciates me, at least in some ways.” She brushed the back of her hand over her cheeks, wiping away the tears that were trickling down.

“Shhh, we’ll talk more in the morning. Let’s go to bed,” Carolyn pulled her daughter up and walked to the door, flipping the light switch.

In the darkness, Donna whispered, “I picked another loser, Mom. She made me bring him coffee tonight.”

“Who’s she?” Carolyn asked.

“His girlfriend, or ex-girlfriend, or I don’t know what the hell she is anymore,” Donna said angrily.

“And did he want coffee?” Carolyn probed.

“No. He knew it was a line that was being crossed, but he didn’t say anything to stop the situation. I mean he tried to say he didn’t want any coffee, but then Amy insisted that the First Lady wanted coffee and the whole thing was a mess.”

“Mrs. Bartlet was there?” Carolyn asked.

“Yes. I could tell she was uncomfortable. You’d like her even if she is a Democrat,” Donna gave her mother a small smile, then brushed her hand across her cheek as the tears started to flow again. “I’m going to miss them. You know what I mean, Mom?”

“Yes, Donnatella. I’m beginning to understand,” Carolyn answered thoughtfully. “It’s late. Let’s talk in the morning.”

Donna and her mother climbed the stairs to her girlhood bedroom. Donna dropped her suitcase by the side of the bed. She grabbed her flannel pajamas and toothbrush from her duffel while Carolyn pulled back the covers. Donna went into the bathroom, changed, brushed her teeth, and came back into the room. She smiled when she saw her old teddy bear laying on the pillow.

“There’s one friend who’s never deserted me,” she said with a smile.

“Get in bed, Donna. I love you baby girl.”

“I love you too, Mom. Thanks.”

Chapters - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Sequel - Like A Bad Penny

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