by Gini Koch
All I got was that we had the Bots that fell under Gardiner and probably Tobin, and the Death Becomes Her group of cyborgs under Stephanie and the Tinkerer. None of these seemed like flying pests.
The bake sale was set to be outside, so maybe the big warning was that we were going to attract flies and mosquitos? While that could be challenging, it didn’t seem worth all the warnings.
Then again, we did have Wasim with us, and the oncoming big issues with the Club 51 True Believers World Tour. Didn’t see flying pests being an active worry there, but maybe that’s what the Powers That Be considered all the anti-alien/anti-everyone people to be. I certainly felt they were annoying pests, and that was putting it mildly.
Decided I wasn’t going to get anywhere with all of this, so headed back to bed to get a few more hours of sleep before my Day In Hell began. Wasn’t sure if I was hoping for dreams or not, but other than feeling like Terry was just somewhere I couldn’t see her, I dreamed nothing concrete. Why I was feeling that it was Terry instead of anyone else was beyond me, let alone whether it was a clue or just my own subconscious at work.
Woke to the peppy sounds of “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake. Listened to the full song, since I figured this was likely to be the nicest part of my day.
Was wrong, since Jeff and I showered together and I got to enjoy a few mind-blowing orgasms in one of our favorite spots to do the deed. So that was nice and quite refreshing. Almost felt ready to face the Evil Kangaroo. Almost.
While we got the kids ready for school, gathered up all the various baked goods, ensured my now-vast entourage was prepped, and verified that Naveed was given Secret Service access and a team of agents to help him protect Wasim, tried to run over my dreams and such in my mind. But this was a big day for the kids and all of the parents, too, so I ultimately gave up and hoped that I’d figure it out on the fly.
Denise was practically out of kids to watch at the moment, so she came over to the White House with Becky so they could spend the day with Nadine and Charlie. Had to figure it was good for him—maybe with the two of them focused solely on just the two youngest kids he might not get away with lifting everything he could spot. Hey, a girl could dream.
Gave him lots of hugs and kisses. “You be good for Mommy, Daddy, Jamie-Kat, and Lizzie, my little man. We’re counting on you to behave for Nadine and Miss Denise while it’s just you, Becky, and them.”
Charlie grinned at me. “Yes, Mommy.”
Hugged him tighter. “Thanks for taking one worry off of Mommy’s mind.”
He hugged me back. “Aunt Terry says it’ll be okay, but you have to listen like a thief,” he whispered.
Reared back and stared at him. “Um . . .”
He gave me a really innocent look, turned away, and reached for Jeff. Who apparently hadn’t picked up any of this, including what I had to figure was my loud emotional reaction.
Jeff took Charlie and gave him an airplane ride. Charlie seemed once again like any little kid with his father. Eyed Jamie and Becky. Neither one of them seemed to be actively extending any kind of talent, but then again, Becky was so young that she could be doing whatever and I’d have a hard time telling. And Jamie had gotten very good at faking me and Jeff out when she was using talent and didn’t want us to know, and she’d been training the other talented kids, at least insofar as I’d been able to determine. Sidwell had no idea what it was in for.
Heaved an internal sigh about the excitement that was my daily life. Reminded myself that Jeff’s mother and sisters had been worried that I couldn’t handle our talented children, especially if Jeff wasn’t around. Well, it was time to pull up the Big Girl Panties and represent in the Efficient Mother category.
The Secret Service had decided that security concerns meant we were taking a gate over, because Sidwell had allowed American Centaurion to install gates at the school. With the number of kids we had attending, if we drove our big, burly, black SUVs it would look like a freaking parade every morning and afternoon, and the school wanted that even less than we did. Meaning we all met up at the Secret Service offices on the ground floor.
Because we had so many going over, it was decided that Len and Kyle and any other security personnel who weren’t going to be staying at Sidwell would remain here and join me at the Intergalactic School, meaning only Evalyne and Phoebe from my Secret Service team and my Field security team were going with me, and most of the Field security was going to stay at Sidwell to guard the kids.
Even so, we had a ton of adults and a whole lot of kids in black pants or skirts, white shirts, and dove gray sweaters. Considered if Vance had chosen Sidwell simply for the uniforms, because the only thing that wasn’t like what the adults wore was that the school uniforms weren’t made by Armani.
Ready with all of our baby ducks in a row, and several rows of big ducks, we started through the gate, with Manfred going first and Devon Jones, the P.T.C.U. agent I’d requested to be mine forever during Operation Madhouse, going through right behind him.
Manfred and Devon shared that they were unscathed at the school, so started through, with the gates calibrated so each kid could go through with an adult. Siler and Lizzie went through first, while Jeff hugged and kissed me and Jamie. “You two have fun. Jamie-Kat, remember that you need to not try to show up all the normal kids.”
“I know, Daddy. Lizzie told us to try to fit in the first week until we have the lay of the land. Then we’ll figure out what needs fixing.”
Jeff and I exchanged the “God Help Us” look. “Ah, right.” He kissed her again, then hugged and kissed me, though rather chastely considering the number of people that were around. “Hang in there, baby. It’ll go fine and you’ll make all of us proud.”
“God, I hope you’re right. I’ll do my best to get to the Intergalactic School before the end of the morning.”
He nodded. “I’ll have someone advise you if you’re needed earlier so that the First Lady can get back to her work.”
“Yeah, I doubt the Evil Kangaroo is going to go for that, but hope likes to spring eternal and all that jazz.” Gave Jeff one last kiss, took a deep breath and let it out slowly, steeled myself for the gate, then took Jamie’s hand. Managed not to squeeze her hand too hard as we stepped through the horrible gate and exited into what I truly wasn’t expecting.
CHAPTER 42
“UM, ARE WE IN A BROOM CLOSET?”
It sure looked like a broom closet. There were brooms, cleaning supplies, a sink, and metal racks holding other supplies. It was roomy, for a broom closet, but as gate locations went, it wasn’t all that much better than a bathroom.
Devon was there, waiting for us, and he moved us away from the gate, which was near the sink, so that Keith could step through. “Yes, this is a broom closet. It’s also on the floor of the school where the administration is, and where, therefore, children, parents, and teachers rarely are.”
“Every school I went to had a very active administration section.”
“This one does, too. However, this broom closet is in the area that’s the least trafficked. We chose this location for obvious reasons, therefore. And you three need to move on out, so that the rest of the group can come through.”
Keith opened the door, went through first, then nodded to me and Jamie. The coast was apparently clear, so we stepped through the doorway.
Looked around. Looked like every other school administration area I’d ever seen. Boring hallways with lots of doors, some open, some shut, all with those little windows so near and dear to school builders’ hearts.
Manfred was up ahead, but Siler and Lizzie were waiting for us. So was a plump, attractive black woman I took to be the principal, since she was dressed in a nice gray suit, looked to be somewhere in middle age, and had an air of authority.
There was a slender Asian man behind her who was in a black suit. Possibly the assistant principal. Po
ssibly the principal’s secretary. Possibly a parent.
Realized I had no idea who was who around here because I hadn’t paid one bit of attention to any of this—for all I knew, this woman was the school nurse and the man was the janitor and we’d invaded his broom closet. Gave myself another Terrible Mother Award.
Before I had to engage these people, Wasim and Naveed came out. Naveed looked fine but Wasim looked rather green. “You okay?” I asked him quietly.
“That gate transfer was rather horrible.”
It was always nice to find someone, anyone, else who didn’t enjoy the gates. Put my arm around his shoulders. “Yeah, I hate them, too. They’ve never been easy for me.”
“Do they bother everyone?”
“No, we’re just lucky. Doctor Hernandez has created several things that he’d hoped would work on me to handle it, but so far, nothing has. However, once we’re back at the White House we’ll ask him to see what he’s got. Just because nothing’s worked for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.”
He nodded. “I’m willing to try anything safe and legal.”
“Well, Doctor Hernandez would never give you anything dangerous.”
“I know my medical records have already been sent to him, so I’ll plan to check in after school.”
Was about to take one for the team and head us over to Lizzie and the people I didn’t know but should have, but fortunately Vance came out of the broom closet and hustled us over. Paws were shaken and I was introduced to Mrs. Miranda Paster, who was indeed the principal, and Mr. Hiroki Yamaguchi, who was the assistant principal. Felt amazed at my prescience, but didn’t let my having guessed right go to my head.
We exchanged the usual pleasantries but I didn’t have to interact too much, because the rest of our kids and their parental escorts were exiting the Stealth Broom Closet and were being introduced in turn. Was not at all disappointed by this.
Vance had and kept the lead in this situation, since he’d been the one to enroll all of our children into the school. Apparently he and Mrs. Paster had created quite the friendship, because it was clear she was happy to see him.
“With all those from American Centaurion, we’ll have just about twelve hundred students, which is large for us,” Mrs. Paster said as she led us downstairs. Wondered if she was counting our phalanx of security in those numbers, but managed not to ask. Hey, I was keeping it low-key.
“The camera crews are already here,” Yamaguchi said. So much for that low-key idea. “We have them set up where you’ll be running the bake sale.”
“Oh. Good.”
He gave me an encouraging smile. “We truly appreciate your willingness to get involved so quickly and with such a big undertaking. This kind of publicity is very good for the school.”
Had the choice to respond or run. Earning at least one small Good Mother Point, I did neither. Instead, I merely smiled and kept hold of Jamie’s hand. I had to escort my little girl into her classroom, and not even the Evil Kangaroo was going to prevent that.
We trooped down three flights of stairs and were now on ground level, where we were greeted by a small cadre of women, most of whom looked tense. One in particular did not. She was a little taller than me, had her blonde hair done in an up-do, was wearing a linen sheath dress without a wrinkle on it, low-heeled pumps, and a whole lot of pearls. Knew without asking that this was my new nemesis.
She gave us all a tight smile. “Ah, the new arrivals are here to fill our classrooms full to bursting.”
Mrs. Paster gave her a polite look. “Missus Cordell, this is Missus Katt-Martini, otherwise known as the First Lady of the United States. Madam First Lady, may I introduce Missus Charmaine Cordell, the President of the PTA.”
“We’ve met on the phone.” Looked at the women behind the Evil Kangaroo. They all seemed nervous and uncomfortable. Time to channel what I could of the Washington Wife class. “I’ll be with all of you to handle bake sale things after I ensure that all the children are settled. Until then, my Chief of Staff and my other assistants can handle whatever it is you need.”
Vance went to the other ladies and started discussing bake sale needs. Abigail and Mahin followed, as did those lucky security agents who were carrying our various foodstuffs. All these women seemed just fine with this.
But, naturally, the Evil Kangaroo sniffed and her eyes narrowed. “I think you need—”
“I don’t care what you think,” I interrupted sweetly. “My daughter, my ward, and the other children in my care come first.” Nodded at the nearest Secret Service agent, who happened to be Keith.
He took the hint, and started barking official-sounding orders. None of the other agents argued, though Phoebe winked at me as she moved Charmaine and the other women out of our way.
Mrs. Paster led us on to the various classrooms. Fortunately, we’d arrived early, because the campus was a huge triangle that took up twenty acres, at least according to Yamaguchi, who was providing the color commentary. Each school set was in its own buildings and areas, so Lizzie and Wasim were separated from the other kids in the upper school building near the athletics areas, just as the middle school kids were in what I’d foolishly thought was “all” of the school—a wood-clad building with a lot of ecological bells and whistles.
Lizzie and Wasim were definitely sticking close together, and Devon broke off with them and shadowed Lizzie just as Naveed was doing for Wasim. The kids hugged me and Lizzie hugged Siler, waved to the others, then went into their building. Sent Marcus and Lucas along with them, just in case.
The middle school kids did the same—hugged their parental unit, waved, and went into their cool Save The Planet building shadowed by their Secret Service or Field agent of what I presumed was Mom’s choice.
Once these kids were done, Siler escorted Mrs. Maurer back to wherever the heck Vance was, and Kevin, who’d been the Lewis parent chosen for the first day, nodded to me and went toward the side drive that allowed school vehicles to get from one main street to the other, as well as to the parking lot and parking garage, more easily. There was a big, black, SUV waiting for him. He got in, but the car didn’t move. So, he was now on P.T.C.U. duty, meaning the car’s driver was probably Buchanan and that Siler would likely be in there shortly if he wasn’t already. Worked for me.
The littlest kids were in a complex of buildings that had once been hospices, which were the farthest from where we’d entered the complex. The only part of this gigantic city triangle that wasn’t part of Sidwell was a post office. Manfred pointed it out to me. “That’s where you’ll come in, gate-wise, if you’re coming to this part of the campus.”
“Nice to know the post office is also representing. Are there gates in every post office?”
He chuckled. “No, and you know this because if there were, no mail would ever be late.”
Early-starters kindergarten was in a nice room painted in pastel colors. It reminded me a lot of the school we had at the Embassy. The temptation to ask why we were shoving our children out of the safety of our cocoon was strong, but I kept my mouth shut. There were reasons, I’d heard them all, and they were all valid.
Got hugs from all the kids and kisses from Jamie, then the little ones bounded in to meet their teacher, Miss Lisa, who was young and pretty, with a cute short haircut and what appeared to be a great deal of energy. She’d need it.
Louise Valentino was here, too. She ran over and hugged me and all the other women, then hugged all the kids. Jamie took her hand, looked up at me, and smiled. “We’ll be fine, Mommy. Louise is here.” Decided to accept that Jamie was right and did my best to relax.
Wanted to stick around, and I knew Lorraine, Serene, Claudia, and Doreen did, too. However, all of us had jobs to get back to and I had the Bake Sale From Hell to manage. Besides, the kids were focused on the other kids in class, Miss Lisa, and Louise. So far, so good. For them. For us, we were all kind
of down when we left them under Keith, Daniel, and Joshua’s watchful eyes.
Manfred took us to said post office so the other gals could gate it home easily and I could see where this gate was. Shocking absolutely no one, it was in the post office’s public bathroom. What actually surprised me was that the women’s had a gate as well as the men’s.
“My legacy.”
Doreen snorted a laugh. “True enough. Hang in there. Call me if you need more backup.”
“That goes double for Alpha Team,” Serene said, as Lorraine and Claudia nodded.
“Just figure out what we’re going to do at the fundraiser party tonight and we’ll call it good. It’s a bake sale and I have help. I mean, what could go wrong, really?”
We all stared at each other. “The mind boggles,” Lorraine said finally.
“Yeah,” Claudia added. “We’re on your speed dial. Thankfully.”
With that my friends stepped through the gate. Heaved a sigh as I turned to Evalyne and Phoebe. “What do you guys think?”
Evalyne grimaced. “In the relatively short time we’ve known you, what I’ve really learned is to expect anything and everything.”
Phoebe shrugged. “And we also expect that, whatever happens, you’ll roll with it. And so will we. So, let’s go get this bake sale done so that we can all go visit the Intergalactic School.”
“You think things will be calm there?” I mean, we could hope, right?
“No,” Evalyne said flatly. “I think that if something’s going to go wrong, it’s going to be there. Which is why I want you there sooner as opposed to later.”
CHAPTER 43
THIS WAS A NEW ATTITUDE. “You’re okay with me getting into the action, whatever it happens to be, now?”
“Yep,” Phoebe said cheerfully as Manfred called Vance to find out where they were. “We’ve decided that it’s in our best interest to listen to Keith. His view is that you’re the commander and we’re just here to follow orders.”