Chapter 19
Kelsey somehow managed to get through the holiday crowds at the Virginia Mall to pick up Abbey's gift to the President. For some reason, the salesclerk took forever finding the gift in the
back of the store. If Kelsey had really thought about it, she probably would have suspected something was up. But she was just glad to get out of the maddening crowds of holiday shoppers.
It was dark when she got home and all Kelsey wanted to do was curl up in front of a roaring fire and celebrate her birthday quietly with her mom.
From the porch, she noticed that the only light on was the one in her mother's room. She unlocked the door and stepped inside wondering why the nurse had turned off the other lights.
Reaching over, she turned on the lights.
"Surprise!!"
It took a moment for Kelsey's eyes to adjust to the sudden burst of light and then another moment to realize that all her friends were standing in the living room yelling "happy birthday!"
There in the middle of everyone sat her mom, in the wheelchair, smiling.
"How did you do all this?" asked Kelsey, through tears as she hugged Anne.
"With a little help from C.J. and Donna. Happy Birthday, baby!"
"Oh, mom! This is great!"
Kelsey turned to Abbey. "What exactly was I picking up at the mall for you?"
"Just a ring I sent out to be cleaned," replied Abbey, smiling. Kelsey shot her a look of disbelief.
"Well, I had to come up with a reason for you to stay away from the house."
"Good job, Mrs. Bartlet!" answered Kelsey and then accepted a hug from the First Lady.
The party was wonderful! Most of the people Kelsey worked closely with were in attendance. Josh was telling jokes; bad ones and the President was trying not to bore everyone with inane
birthday trivia. Finally, Anne whispered something in Josh's ear and he asked for everyone's attention.
"Okay, now I wanted to do something special for the birthday girl tonight. So, I decided to ask her lovely mother what would be a perfect form of entertainment for this party. Well, Anne
told me that Kelsey used to go out with a group of doctors from the hospital to this bar and karaoke!" Josh proclaimed.
"Mother! Tell me you didn't!" begged Kelsey.
Anne just smiled at her daughter knowingly.
"So, it gives me great delight to present Ms. Kelsey Saufl performing "Let Me Into Your Heart".
Kelsey took the microphone from Josh and glared hard at him.
"I'm only performing if you promise to perform too, Joshua."
"Sounds fair to me," remarked Sam.
"Fine…fine," Josh acknowledged.
Kelsey waited for the music to start and then performed the song as well as Mary Chapin Carpenter had first performed it on her album. She tried hard not to look in Toby's direction as she
sang the words, knowing how well they described their relationship.
"You're like a cool breeze to a hot spell.
You're like a long drink to a dry well.
Oh, I know by now there's no use thinking
That's it something in that water I've been drinking.
Cause I would not need even one more drop,
If you'd just let me into your heart.
You're like a blue sky to a grey day.
You're like a new try to an old way.
Oh I never needed much convincing
'Bout that something in my life I've been missing.
But I think I know where to find that part,
If you'd just let me into your heart.
I got a past baby, now who doesn't?
I wouldn't ask you to think that I wasn't
Who I was back then, yes, it's true.
But that was when I didn't know you.
You're like a sweet sight to these tired eyes
You're like the first light after a long night.
Oh, I never believed in the hands of fate.
But to be with you baby, I believe I'd wait.
'Til the end of time, for a chance to start.
If you'd just let me into your heart.
You're like a sweet smile to these tired eyes.
You're like the last mile on a long ride.
Oh I never believed in the arms of fate,
But to be in yours darlin' I believe I'd wait
'Til the end of time for a chance to start.
If you'd just let me into your heart.
'Til the end of time, baby I can start
If you'd just let me into your heart."
The partygoers erupted into applause and cheers when Kelsey finished. She smiled and curtsied before handing the microphone over to Josh.
"How am I supposed to compete with that?" he demanded.
"You're the one who'd thought it would be fun for me to sing. Now, pay up, Josh!" replied Kelsey.
Josh then launched into the ultimate drunk karaoke song, "Brandy". Soon, everyone was singing along, but only to drown out Josh's rendition. After Josh, C.J. was persuaded to do "The
Jackal". When she was done, the mic was handed over to Abbey who proceeded to do a version of "There Are Worse Things I Can Do" from "Grease" that brought down the house.
"Danny Concannon, if this performance ends up on "Hard Copy", I'm going to come looking for you," Abbey jokingly threatened Danny who was videotaping the party.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Bartlet, this is only for our eyes," assured Danny.
"Don't forget that I want a copy of this tape for myself," the President added.
"Over my dead body, Jed Bartlet!" declared Abbey.
Jed leaned over and gave his wife a kiss and a hug. "Don't worry, sweetheart, I'll only show it when our girls visit."
Following the First Lady's performance, Donna, C.J. and Kelsey performed "My Boyfriend's Back" having a blast mimicking the dance moves. Then Sam and Josh attempted to do "I Saw
Her Standing There". Attempted being the operative word. Finally, the President persuaded Leo to take a turn, abruptly ending Sam and Josh's duet. Leo decided to go back to the classics
and performed Sinatra's version of "The Way You Look Tonight".
The President wanted to sing some Puccini next, but thankfully Anne announced that it was time for the cake. C.J. and Mrs. Landingham carried in a large chocolate cake with thirty-five
candles for Kelsey to make a wish on.
After the cake was served, Anne encouraged Kelsey to open her gifts. The first present she opened was from her mom. Inside the box was a bracelet with a cameo charm on it. Each gift that
followed was another charm to go on the bracelet.
The President gave her an eagle charm with a note that read, "for your spirit". Abbey's charm was a four-leaf clover "for good luck". The next charm was from C.J. A microphone with a note
saying, "for your dedication". Leo presented Kelsey with a White House charm - "for the history you'll make". A Cinderella charm from Donna was "for romance". Sam gave her a quill and
scroll charm with a note that read, "for the words you create". Josh's charm was of a camera that stood for "the humor you find in life." Mrs. Landingham presented Kelsey with a cookie jar
charm with a note that said, "for your hunger for life." Danny's charm acknowledged her "quest for knowledge" and was a book. The final present was from Toby. His note said, "for your
generous heart". Kelsey opened the gift with trembling hands. Inside was a heart charm.
After the presents, the living room furniture was quickly moved out of the way to create a dance floor. Sam and Josh had loaded up the CD player and soon the music of Sinatra was filling the
room. The President asked Kelsey for the first dance. Toby sat down next to Anne, watching everyone else dance.
"Don't feel like dancing, Toby?" inquired Anne.
"Not yet. Maybe later."
"You'll forgive me for being blunt, but what kind of relationship do you and my daughter have?"
Toby stared at her, forgetting for a moment just how direct Anne was. "Well, I'm not sure how to answer that."
"Come on, Toby, you must have some idea."
"All I can tell you is that I love your daughter very much. She means a great deal to me and all I want to do is make her happy."
"That's a good start. Kelsey's a sensitive soul so I'll warn you now. Don't do anything to hurt her or I'll come back and haunt you."
Toby smiled. "I have no doubt that you would too."
Kelsey danced with everyone that night, including her mom who moved her wheelchair in time to the music. She was having such a great time; it was almost a shame when the party started
winding down. As the guests left, she thanked each of them for their thoughtful gifts. Josh and Donna were the last ones to leave. Turning around, she found Toby sitting on the sofa, in
front of the fire waiting for her. She walked over and curled up into his arms.
"I hope you had a good birthday," he said.
"Of course I did. How long has mom been planning this party?"
"Since just after Thanksgiving. She swore all of us to secrecy and you know how difficult it is for some of us to keep quiet."
"I'm really surprised Sam or Josh didn't blow it."
"That's because we didn't let them in on it until the very last minute," explained Toby.
"Thank you again for my beautiful locket."
"You're welcome."
"Abbey knows all about us now."
"I figured you'd tell her. So, when do we tell everyone else?"
"Not for a while. I want to keep you all to myself," Kelsey replied.
Toby leaned over and pulled her into a passionate kiss. As they kissed, he began to unbutton her blouse while she undid his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. They pulled apart a moment later,
breathless from the kiss.
"I should probably go,"
"Toby, stay with me tonight."
"Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't. I need you here with me. Please?"
In one continuous motion, he stood up and swept her into his arms, carrying her upstairs to the bedroom.