Changes Ch 13
The week went smoothly for CJ. Both of her
doctor’s appointments went well. She was doing well
under the circumstances, and the baby was fine.
Everything went well in the West Wing that week.
Everyone, including her, was adjusting to her new
schedule. It was Saturday now though, and she wasn’t
at work. It was her first wedding anniversary.
Before leaving to attend temple services that
morning, Toby had brought her breakfast in bed. He
had placed a note on the tray with the fruit. She
smiled as she read the note for the millionth time.
The side of Toby she knew and saw everyday was so
different from the man who had the reputation of being
a major pain in the ass. In truth she could not have
hoped for a more gentle and loving husband.
“You really liked the card.” He remarked to her as he
came through the door and saw her reading it again.
“I was thinking I would keep it like I did the card
that was on the flowers you sent me the day you
proposed and the one on the flowers you gave me when
we found out the baby is a girl.”
“You kept those?”
“Yes, I’m very sentimental.”
“So I just noticed.” Toby sat down on the couch
beside her. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good.”
“What time are we leaving.”
“The party’s at six, so I was thinking we would leave
at four. We are the guests of honor so they can’t
really start without us.”
“That’s true.” CJ laughed.
“Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Ziegler.” Toby said, taking
a small package out of his pocket and handing it to
CJ.
“I wonder what this could be?”
“You could open it and find out.”
CJ opened the package and found a jewelry box. She
opened it and found a heart-shaped diamond necklace.
“I love it. It’s very beautiful.”
Toby took the box from her and took the necklace from
it. He put the necklace around her neck. “You know
that you own my heart.”
“Toby...” CJ started to say and then choked on her
tears.
He gently wiped the tears from her eyes. “I love
you.”
“I love you too.” She whispered back. “Happy
Anniversary.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As he was driving to Camp David, Toby glanced over at
CJ every few minutes. She had fallen asleep shortly
after they had left the apartment. As he drove, he
remembered how happy they had been a year ago.
Looking back, even Sam misplacing the rings was funny.
“Are we almost there?” CJ asked sleepily.
“Just a little bit longer. Go back to sleep.”
“I should probably be awake when we get there.” CJ
said as she put the seat back into an upright
position.
“Okay.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Bartlets had decided that the party should be a
small dinner party for the senior staff. After
finishing dinner, the entire party retired into one of
the small dens in the house.
CJ and Toby were sitting on the couch, when the
President came toward them with a package.
“We’re are giving this to both of you. It’s a gift
from all of us. Now before you open it, can you guess
what it is?”
“No sir.” CJ said.
“Well, then I guess I’ll just have to give it to
you.” Jed said and handed the gift to them.
They opened the gift together and found a large photo
album inside the box.
“It’s a photo album sir.” CJ said after she saw what
it was.
“That’s a smart deduction, CJ, considering that it
has photo album written on it. Now can either of you
guess what the photos are? And you can’t look yet.”
“No, so what are they?” Toby asked.
“I’m glad you asked. They are photos of you and CJ
taken by White House photographers over the last
year.”
CJ took the album from the box and opened it. One
the first page was an eight by ten of she and Toby
dancing on their wedding day. She sat the album
between her and Toby and they began to look through
it. There was a photo of them walking out of the Oval
Office on the first day they were back from their
honeymoon. One of them embracing after Bartlet had won
reelection in a landslide. The next one was taken at
Christmas. They were kissing under a bunch of
mistletoe. The next was taken at the inaugural ball
and they were dancing. There was one taken at the
state dinner in Moscow. Jed was standing behind them
as they were looking at the album.
“You’re almost up to my favorite one.” He said to
them.
Toby turned the page and found a picture of them
asleep on Air Force One. It was taken on the return
trip from Moscow.
“That was taken...” Toby said.
“Just after we found out I was probably pregnant.”
CJ finished.
“That’s what I thought.” Toby said.
“Mr. President I don’t think we can thank you enough
for this.” CJ said.
“You both are very welcome. It’s late and I’m
certain everyone is tired. So why don’t we all call it
a night.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CJ was sitting in bed looking at the album when Toby
got in bed beside her.
“I wonder where they got some of these pictures
from?” Toby said
“Especially the one from Air Force One.” CJ said.
“Yeah, but I really like that one.”
“So do I.”
“It’s late and you should be asleep.” Toby said
taking the album from her.
“Hey, I was looking at that!”
“You can look at it tomorrow.” Toby said as he
turned off the light and laid down beside her. “I
love you.” He kissed her and drew her into his arms.
“Love you too.”
“Go to sleep.”
to be continued...