by Combs, Sasha
“What were you and the president’s daughter talking about?”
“Hmmm...?” Pamela had been in deep thought.
“I was just asking about your conversation with Holly. You two seem to have something in common and I was wondering what was the topic of your conversation.”
“I was wondering the same thing.” She said, while watching his eyebrows raise in question.
“William, I was ushered out of the dinning room by a man I’ve never met. Then, I was taken to a room to be amused by the president’s daughter. I’m sure you may wonder what my topic of conversation was about...but first, I want to know what was so important that the president felt the need to whisk you away, then stash me in another part of the house.”
“O, nothing really. Just a job that he want’s to offer me.”
“A job?”
“Yes, a job. An Ambassadorial post. Quid pro quo.”
She smiled then answered him by saying...
“Holly had to leave school when her father was voted in as president. Since then, she’s had a host of private tutors. She’s tired of the isolation. She wants to go back to Aubrey and I told her she could write to me as a friend.”
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?”
Pamela would never mislead Holly. Nor would she nurture dreams with false hopes that would never be realized.
“William, I won’t do or say anything without always suggesting that she keep an open line of communication with her parents. I promise, I won’t cause you or her any trouble.”
With that settled, she turned to face him. Doing this had not been an easy task. Her growing belly pulled at the fabric, demanding that she lift to ease the tug. William helped by repositioning his suit coat, then resting his arm along the edge of the back seat.
With her body turned in a way that would allow her to clearly see him; Pamela exhaled loudly, while William’s face held a dashing smile.
“Now, tell me more about this appointment that the president is trying to offer you.”
Here we go, he thought to himself. But William explained everything, exactly the way it had been explained to him. With so little to go on, Pamela didn’t know what to tell him.
“William...do you want to be an ambassador?”
He shrugged. “I never thought about it...that is until today. Being a senator is the only political job I’ve ever wanted. There once was a time that I would have considered running for president but those were dreams planted in my camp by others telling me that I had great potential.”
“And now...” she said, leaving William to complete her sentence.
“Now...I guess I need time to think about what is best for my family. I definitely have no aspirations for the White House. As for being an ambassador, quite frankly Pamela, I really don’t know.”
“But the idea isn’t outside the whelm of possibilities.”
He nodded, then said...
“No...I guess it isn’t. But we still need to talk about this as a family.”
“Certainly. How soon do you have to give the president your answer?”
Pamela never amazed him. She was always so quick to get to the heart of a matter especially as it pertained to him. Now he understood Michael’s rants over his new office manager. At his law firm, Pamela’s expertise was sorely missed.
William reached across the distance, taking her slender fingers into his hand. He stroked the finger that wore the diamond wedding ring, he’d put much effort in having designed specifically for her. In a casual tone, he responded.
“O, maybe one or two months...but I really don’t want to wait that long. If I’m going to do this, more than likely I’ll give him my answer right away.”
He eased his other hand along the seats back edge, moving ever so slightly until his arm wrapped around her shoulder to pull her back into his embrace. Now, instead of holding her ringed hand, William’s hand rubbed her belly; attempting to make contact with the child that eagerly grew inside of her womb. Immediately when he felt a kick, their eyes met, and a lighthearted feeling consumed them, making the president’s request seem trivial and unimportant.
Pamela lay her head in the crook of his arm. She thoughtfully considered what he’d just said. She peered through the darkened windows, seeing the busy streets of the capital from where she sat. At first, it had been difficult for Pamela to accept William’s decision to pullout of the senate race. Now with his days numbered, she was beginning to feel a sense of relief. A reassurance that she feared would soon pass away. She wondered if this new opportunity would be enticing enough to tempt William’s nature. Every persons life tells a story and she wondered if this offer was the beginning of a new chapter in William’s life.
“William...?” she said in question.
“Yes, darling.”
“I’m behind you one hundred percent. I just thought you ought to know that.”
“I know darling. That’s one of the reason’s I love you.”
Pamela tilted her head back giving her lips to him in just the right angle. His tongue stroked across her lips in a sensuous way making her wish that they didn’t live so far outside of the city.
Pamela thought back on the days that preceded this one. The turmoil, and the awkwardness of meeting his friends. People wondering what he saw in such a young woman, then later telling him how lucky he’d been to marry her. It took a while for both of their family and friends to understand, that love had found them and not the other way around. It had been William who’d put it best in these words.
“When life dealt me a horrible blow, I wondered if my heart would ever recover after losing the love of my life. Then, without any warning, and when I least expected it, a charming woman drifted in, attaching herself to my soul. Pamela became the link that kept me grounded and connected to the world. Our paths were destined to cross then merge into one narrow lane.”
This is the speech William gave when their closest friends and family gathered at Michael and LaShawn’s home for a private dinner party. Pamela had blushed, hearing William describe her in such an intimate way but she agreed with every word and now their love was steadily growing.
Their past mistakes were a distant memory, never to be repeated. There would be those nagging ups and downs but nothing like their rocky start. Now, as new memories are being formed, this passage of time is headlined with caring sentiments and compassion for what they have and all that is to come.
_____________________
Epilogue
Mount Sinai Hospital
Monday Morning
The sound of the fetal monitor beeped with a reassuring steady beat, loud enough to be heard at the nurses station. The tocos graph picked up a few hills signifying that she was contracting but the O.B. Doctor wasn’t concerned over that. After chatting with his patient and the father about the baby and the procedure; the doctor went out to conference with his team waiting down the hall at the desk. Earlier the room had been filled with Pamela and William’s parents. Morgan had arrived late Friday evening. She wanted to spend the weekend with her parents before the baby arrived. William had half expected Pamela to request this time alone before she delivered their child. He would have completely understood because soon her life would experience a change that would be altering and she would never know what it’s like not to be a parent again. When he’d made note of this fact, she had laughed saying...
“William, when we got married, that’s when I became a parent. Even if I wasn’t convinced that Morgan would accept me as her mother; I knew being her mom was part of the job when I became your wife. So, you see, there’s no need for me to be alone. In fact, I think we should spend the weekend together as a family. Let’s allow Morgan to have her last free weekend as your only child.”
William hugged and kissed her, then he called his secretary, instructing her to make all the arrangements for Morgan to come home to be with them over the weekend.
Due to the baby’s breech presentation, Pamela an
d William elected to deliver by way of a cesarean section. The surgery had been scheduled weeks in advance, which gave everyone time to make the necessary adjustments on their calendars. When they arrived at the hospital, they were greeted in the lobby by William’s parents. Since early in the pregnancy, it had already been decided that Pamela would deliver her baby in Wilmington; they stayed in the guest house at her parents home over the weekend. First thing in the morning, in two separate vehicles, they caravanned to the hospital like tailgaters going to a big game. Once Pamela’s admission, I.V. and lab work had been completed, the men left her room, in search of fresh coffee and danishes for the women. To her dismay, Pamela couldn’t eat or drink anything, but she smiled, pretending that this wasn’t a hardship. As she waited, Pamela fiddled with her gown, the nervousness finally settling in. All her concerns weren’t strictly dealing with the surgery. She worried over what kind of mother she would be and if she’d ever be as good a mother as her own mom. Thoughts flitted through her brain, causing concern. She puzzled over William and whether he would compare her parenting skills to a woman, who by all accounts had been a perfect mother. She placed her trembling hand on the fundus of her belly, feeling a strong kick. She wondered if even her baby questioned the wisdom in her ever believing that she could do as good a job raising children as LaShawn and Mildred. Her eyes landed on these two mothers’ talking quietly amongst themselves. She couldn’t make out every word but she knew they spoke about layettes and how long her convalescence would be before they returned to Boston. So many plans had been made for her and her baby. The child that had nearly dashed all hopes of her having a peaceful family; now everyone’s anticipation ran high and they all wanted to meet this child. They still didn’t know if the baby was a boy or a girl. Not knowing the sex had been a joint agreement and it made the wait more exciting.
As Pamela’s brain ran rampant over countless thoughts, she watched as Morgan came to sit on the side of the bed where Pamela lie, impatiently waiting.
Earlier that morning, before they left the house, Morgan had gone into LaShawn’s greenhouse to gather fresh cuttings of flowers. The sprigs that she’d bound and placed in a vase were a collection of hollies and a few other species that Pamela didn’t know by name.
Morgan placed her hand on top of Pamela’s in a kind gesture.
“Are you nervous?” the young girl asked.
Pamela tried to remain relaxed but her face betrayed the truth.
“Does it show?” she asked. Morgan nodded, then she added...
“Yes, but don’t worry. We all understand and you can count on the grandparents not uttering a word because they are just as nervous as you.”
Out of the mouths of babes, she thought to herself, but Morgan wasn’t a baby. In a few months, her fourteenth birthday would arrive. As a high school freshman, her dorm room at St. Margaret’s would be changed to one of the upper class-man's buildings and her responsibilities would reflect this change as well. Her preparatory tract for college will be mapped out. Pamela was certain one of the Ivy League Schools lie in her future.
Morgan’s brain drifted in another direction, to a topic that Pamela thought had already been settled. She looked at her stomach and said...
“I wonder why the baby didn’t turn on it’s own. That has to mean it’s a boy. Boys can be so stubborn. Then on the other hand...I’m kind of stubborn too. Daddy said my stubbornness is part of mommies Latin blood that makes me so colorful. He uses the word colorful instead of calling me a brat.”
Pamela laughed. “You’re not a brat... But I guess you are a lot like your mom. I really liked her and you’re turning out to be a lot like her.”
Morgan squinched up her noise before saying... “Daddy says that I look a lot like my mommy did...but I don’t see it. Who do you think your baby will look like?”
When Morgan called the baby hers, this slip didn’t go unnoticed and Pamela didn’t like the idea of Morgan dissociating herself with her soon to be half sibling. It was a minor slip but after they had made so many positive strides in the right direction, Pamela didn’t want to allow one tiny seed of misunderstanding to take root. So she plucked it out before the idea has time to grow.
“Sweetie... I don’t know who this baby will look like but I have to agree with your dad. You do take after your mom. Also, I see hints of your dad in you. You’re kind and loving just like him. Your nose has the same slope and your eyes... Well, they aren’t blue like William’s but I do see the same shape. Maybe this baby will have those hints. Do, you know what I mean?” She asked, hoping that Morgan understood. Morgan nodded, while she contemplated this. Pamela added.
“Morgan, the important thing to remember is that you and this baby share the same daddy and no matter how you look on the outside...it’s what’s inside that counts. You each will have a part of him inside of you.”
Hearing this had sparked something special in Morgan’s eyes. Her eyes lit with another question.
“Are you still considering the name that I suggested if the baby is a girl?” William and Pamela had drafted a list of names. They didn’t chose one over the other because they wanted to see the child first. They each believed, once they saw their baby, the right name would spring off the page, tagging the child immediately. When Morgan added her name to the list, she’d toiled over a boys name, then she gave up all together.
“Of course your name is being considered. This baby will be your little sister or brother.”
“I hope it’s a girl. Boys can be so annoying.”
Pamela couldn’t tell if this was another one of Morgan’s larks or if she was being honest. So, she wanted to focus her attention in another direction.
“But brothers can be fun too. Especially when they grow up. They can be protectors.”
“But I’ll be the oldest.”
“In time...age won’t matter.”
“Like you and daddy. Daddy is the same age as your dad. My father is old enough to be your dad.”
How perceptive teenagers can be, Pamela thought. She nodded then said... “That’s true. But in our case, the relationship is quite different from the one that I share with my father.”
Pamela knew if she said anything further, her words would exceed the young girls comprehension. Morgan was exceptionally mature for her age, but even young girls with good grades didn’t fully understand the complexities involved in mature adult relationships.
Morgan casually looked around the room, appearing satisfied with things as they stood. Pamela noticed, her mom and Mildred walking over in their direction. She was quite certain smidgins of her conversation had been overheard.
“Morgan...let’s go find your poppy. With his sense of direction, I think he must have gotten lost.” Mildred held out her hand to Morgan. When Morgan looked at LaShawn, immediately she knew that this ruse was to get her and her grandmother out of the room.
Morgan leaned forward placing a light kiss on Pamela’s cheek.
“If I don’t see you before you go in for your surgery, I want to wish you good luck and I can’t wait to meet my new brother or sister.” She said with a wide smile.
“Thank you Morgan and I can’t wait to see the baby either.”
Morgan eased off the bed, then watched as her grandmother kissed Pam in the same spot where her lips had just landed.
“Take care dear. When I find William, I’ll send him back to your room.”
This sounded like a good idea, and Pamela’s face lit with her appreciation. After this, they left the room, and Pam was finally alone with her mother. Tiny tears began to fall from LaShawn’s eyes, and this sparked a waterworks from Pamela.
“Mom, don’t.” She begged but her words did little.
Through her tears, LaShawn said...
“As soon as I get use to the idea of you being pregnant and married to William...he decides to take an ambassadorial position in the United Kingdom. Now, I’ll never get to see my grandchild.” She said through tears.
“Mom...you
will see us. It will take effort on our part to make it happen, but we will see each other. Look at it this way. London is better than the other choices that would have taken us farther away. Plus, the country is loaded with history and you know how much I love an adventure. The change will be good for William and I know that he’s looking forward to the challenge.”
Pamela smiled, hoping that in some way she had relieved her mother’s concerns. In truth, her role as an ambassador’s wife would be much like her role as a senator’s wife. There would be little time for her wanderings and when she did leave the secure areas surrounding the embassy, her ventures would rarely be unescorted. All the same, she would miss her family, but the idea of living outside of the country thrilled her and like William, she too looked forward to the challenge.
A light tapping captured their attention, causing eyes to shift in the direction of the door.
“LaShawn, stop that.” William said in a joking voice. He had silently entered the room and found them in their current state. LaShawn with puffy red eyes and Pamela looking pretty much the same. This wasn’t the first time these two had cried over the separation that was soon to come and he knew it wouldn’t be the last. But, the decision had been made and as a family they all agreed; William was an outstanding negotiator with a keen understanding of foreign politics. He enjoyed working in this area and his talents would be wasted in the private sector.
LaShawn mopped her tears with a tissue as she spoke.
“William...I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be keeping her calm.”
“No worries LaShawn. If you weren’t crying, then I would be worried and we wouldn’t want that.”
She giggled, then lay her hand on Pamela’s hand. This little cry had been good for them and she didn’t regret the tears.
“Michael wants you to join him in the waiting room. My parents and Morgan are there too. And by the way... You’ll never guess who we ran into.”
She looked at him puzzled, so did Pamela.