The Best of Wives and The Best of Women

There's a million things i haven't done

Click. Click. Click. Ainsley strode past the chaos of the Communications Bullpen. 'It was too good to be true. Why did I think that President Bartlet 'wanted to hear from me', as Leo had said? Bruce and Harriet were right. They just wanted to say that they were bipartisan. Or maybe they wanted to be bipartisan but changed their minds.' Regardless, she was determined to return to the White House one day because she still had a million things to do for the country.

She arrived in the waiting room outside the Oval Office while Charlie filed paperwork at his desk. "The President will see you now." He informed her as he opened the door.

'That's not the look I would expect to see from someone who knew I was about to be fired.' she thought.

The soft mid-afternoon autumn sunlight streamed through the windows as she entered the Oval Office. 'This isn't how I wanted to meet the President of the United States.' She held back tears.

The President looked up from his copy of the Washington Post and motioned for her to sit across from him. 'This is an awfully casual way to fire someone.'

"So Ainsley Hayes- did I say it right? I heard that some of the staff did not say it right initially. How do you like it here so far?"

'It's okay, you'll be back. And next time, this'll be your office.' Ainsley stiffened as she looked down. "It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve you, Sir."

"I understand you got off to a rough start and that some of the White House staff displayed less than tolerant behavior." The President furrowed his brow. "I'm sorry about all that."

"I'm sorry for all of the trouble I caused, Mr. President." Ainsley said.

"Oh, no matter. Tribbey's always been a hotheaded asshole. He stormed in here screaming with a cricket bat in hand, ranting about how you had been hired during the Radio Address. And from what I understand, Brooks and Thompson, or whatever their names are, should have been fired a long time ago." He said. "But anyway. The reason I called you in here today was because I heard about your plans to volunteer at the Soup Kitchen this Thanksgiving. Would it be all right with you if we – my family, my Senior Staff, and I- joined you?"

'Wait what?' Ainsley thought. "Wait could you repeat that?"

"I asked if we could join you when you volunteer at the Soup Kitchen." Bartlet repeated. "Why? What did you think I was gonna say?"

"It would be an honor, Sir." Ainsley replied.

'This is definitely not what I expected.'

"And what are your Thanksgiving dinner plans?"

"My friends and I were gonna go out to eat."

A look of horror overcame the President's face. "At a restaurant? You're spending Thanksgiving with us."

"But sir, I don't wa-"

"Don't be ridiculous. As your Commander in Chief, I order you and your friends to spend Thanksgiving with us."

"Yes, Mr. President." Ainsley obliged.

"So what time on next Thursday?"

"Noon. Dinner starts at 5 pm, so they'll need us ready to go by 1 pm to get ready and it should take around 30 minutes to an hour to get to the Church."

"Noon on Thursday. Got it." He stood up.

Ainsley stood up. "Thank you, Mr. President." 'This is definitely not what I expected.'
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Sam sat on a couch wearing a black knit sweater as Toby swayed side to side in a chair across from him in the dimly lit spare office. "Well over three and a half centuries ago, strengthened by faith and bound by a common desire for liberty," Sam read aloud from a notebook as his forearms rested on his knees. "A small band of pilgrims sought out a place in the New World where they could worship according to their own beliefs... and solve crimes."