The First Lady & Me

Chapter 1

I met her on accident. I didn't even know who she was-who she'd be. She wasn't supposed to happen, but she did. She did & I'm a terrible human being for allowing it. I knew it was wrong, from the moment it happened. But, it felt so right. She felt so right. I need to stay away from her. It's clear she's no good for me. But I can't. I've tried, God knows I've tried, but I can't keep away & it's slowly eating at me. It all started with a plane ride.

"Yes I'll be careful Brenda" I said to my lovely wife. I love her with all my heart but the constant questioning. "And you'll make sure to call me when you get to DC, right?" She asks yet another question. "I'm sure I answered that in the car when you asked half an hour ago" I reply with a trace of irritation. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'm stopping now" she says, shaking her head. Thank you God, she caught the hint! I smile warmly & kiss her cheek. "I'll miss you while I'm gone" I say as I kiss her forehead. "I'll miss you too, more than you can imagine" she replies. I can't help the chuckle that escapes me. "I don't know about that one. I've quite the imagination. Remember last night when I got the idea where you straddle me while I-" Brenda interrupts by covering my mouth, fervently checking the surrounding area for eavesdroppers. "Alright, alright, hot stuff, I get it. Geez, maybe I won't miss you that much" she says. Oh really? To her surprise, I hold the side of her face & smash my lips into hers. It takes a moment but soon, she is kissing me back as passionately as I dished it out. "Flight 323 to Reagan National from LAX, now boarding" I hear the flight attendant call. They can wait. Brenda tries to break the kiss but I'm not letting go so quickly.

After a few more moments, I pull back, both of us out of breath. She looks at me, dazed & confused. Good. What she gets. "You sure you won't miss me that much?" I ask, smug smile on full effect. "Your flight is boarding" is all she says. I shake my head with a smile. Not enough, huh? I lean down & give her another passionate kiss, not nearly as long as the first one. I pull back moments later & ask again "You sure you won't miss me that much?" She doesn't answer right away & I know why. I know what I'm doing. "I'll miss you so much more now" she says. She pulls my face down to hers & kisses me. "Flight 323-Final Boarding" I laugh in the kiss as I pull myself away. "My flight is boarding" I use Brenda's words against her as she pouts. Yeah. Think about that while I'm away! "I love you kitten!" I say to her before I go through the terminal. "I love you too Barbar! Be safe in DC!" She calls back & that's the last time I get to see my baby for the rest of the year.

I check my plane ticket as I glance at the seat numbers I pass by. "71A? 65... 69... 71B?" I say when I see my seat number. A should be right next to it. I look up to see someone already in the seat-my seat. "Excuse me ma'am but I believe you're in my seat" I say as kindly as possible. "Am I? I'm sorry. I didn't actually read the seat letters. I just saw '71' & sat on down" she says collecting her things. Well, nothing to get worked up about. "No, you can stay there. It's not a big deal, right? We're all going to the same place" I say, sitting down with my computer bag. "Home to the District" she replies, doing something on her phone. Oh yes, I must make a mental reminder about putting my electronics on airplane mode.

"What?" She asks, leaving me confused. "Huh?" I respond. "You were staring at me" She replies. I was? I didn't even realize. I mean, no doubt she's very nice to look at but, staring? "Sorry. I hadn't realized" I say, now feeling highly embarrassed. "Oh it's fine. Just thought you had something to say" she replies, before opening a book. The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe? "Yes. It's one of my favorites" she replies. Did I ask that out loud? What is going on with me? "Is that why you're on your way to DC? Going to take the train to Maryland to his museum?" I ask. Might as well ask aloud since I can't seem to in my head anymore. "Oh no. I've been to the museum already, loved it by the way. I'm actually going because my husband lives in DC" she replies. Husband? I take a glance at her left hand. Well, there's a ring on it. "So, California, business or pleasure?" I ask, unbiddingly. Ugh. Maybe that was personal. "Both. I had the pleasure of taking care of some business with some family of mine. What about you?" She replies. "Oh I live here. I got relocated temporarily to DC for my job. It's supposed to be until the end of the year" I say. Why do I feel the need to tell this complete stranger everything about me?

"Oh okay, nice. Wife? Children?" She asks. Children? Haven't thought too much about that in a while. "No, no children. I do have a lovely wife named Brenda. We've been together for 5 years & have been married for 3. You?" I ask. "No children for me either. But, my husband & I have been together since junior year of college. We've been married for almost a decade" she replies. For some strange reason, I get this ping of envy for this husband I've never met. "He's a lucky man" I admit. She snorts. "Huh. Well he's something, I'll give you that" Hm... Trouble in paradise? Chuckling at her comment, I ask: "so where is this husband you speak so highly of?" She shrugs. "Who knows with Hugh? He's always so busy, always moving. I swear he doesn't take a break, never sits down" she replies. "What about your wife? Is she always out & about?" She adds. I think about her question for a moment. Is Brenda always moving? I wouldn't say so, not more than any other person who needs to get things done. "Not as much as anyone else. She's not as much of a homebody as I am but she doesn't really go out" I reply honestly.

The flight attendant gets on the intercom to let everyone know that we are about to depart & everyone should turn off their electronics. I hear a groan next to me, sounding my exact feelings. "I hate this part. They explain these things to us like we're small children. Just simply say 'turn your shit off until we say when', we'll get it". I nod my head in agreement "Really? Like, very few times do you get people who have never been on a plane before anyway" I add. "Exactly! Even so, it's not rocket science to know not to have electronics on when the plane is trying to take off. It's common knowledge now but these airplane robots have to butter everything up & try to sound sweet, clearly working on commission" I chuckle at her comments. She really is quite the character. I stick my hand out to her "I'm John" I say. She confidently takes my offered hand & we shake "Eliza" she replies.