"Here you go." Donna said handing Caitlin a glass of red wine. Donna then sat down next to her on the couch curling her legs beneath her.
"Thanks. For getting me out of the House too. I was starting to go a little stir crazy."
"No problem. So no luck finding an apartment?"
"Nothing I really like. But your apartment is gorgeous. Any available apartments in this building?"
"Not that I know of but I will check."
"You know Donna. It was so much easier in college. I lived with my freshman roommates, Rachel and Olivia, for all four years. After we moved out of our dorm we moved into a town house in Foggy Bottom and stayed there for the duration." Caitlin took a sip of wine. "Truth is every apartment I've seen has been beautiful. I think I'm just a little afraid."
"Of what?"
"Living alone. I never have before. I went from my parent's home, to college, to Oxford where I again had roommates. I think I'd get lonely." Caitlin said smiling.
"Does any of this have to do with what happened in England?"
Caitlin paused and took another sip. "Probably, a little. You know I still feel like I'm being followed."
"You are being followed."
"I am being followed." they said at the same time, then laughed.
"I know. I guess I would never be lonely either then. The Secret Service will always be there." Caitlin said with a mock ominous tone.
"That's true." They sat together in companionable silence for a few moments."Donna?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think this thing with Sam and Mallory is serious?"
"Ah, I was wondering when we got to this."
"Well?"
"Truth?"
"I'm not sure. Yeah I might as well hear it now."
"A few months ago I would have thought so. I mean you don't casually date your boss' daughter. But recently, he hasn't seemed all that interested."
"Really?" Cailtin asked trying not to sound all too eager.
Meanwhile, at Houston's Restaurant in Georgetown
"Sam, Sam. Are you listening to me?" Mallory had been talking about her day but she realized that Sam wasn't paying attention.
"What? Oh, I'm sorry Mallory. I guess my mind was somewhere else."
"I'm sorry I'm not more entertaining for you."
"No, no." He said patting her hand. "Work is just more hectic than usual these days. Did you see the President's speech last night?"
"No"
"Oh, I wrote it."
"Was it any good?"
"I thought so. I think I really caught the essence of the issue."
"What was the issue?"
"Campaign finance reform."
"Oh"
"Yeah" Sam took a bite of his food, hoping Mallory would say more than 'Oh'.
"The new Spielberg movie is out." She said with a suggestive tone.
Not what Sam was hoping for, "Really? I haven't been to the movies in...actually I can't remember what the inside of a movie theater looks like."
"Well I was thinking maybe we could..."
"What are your dreams Mallory?" Sam interrupted.
"What?"
"Your dreams?"
"Well I usually don't remember. But last night had something to do with a pink Cadillac, a banana, and you." She replied with a seductive tone in her voice.
Sam just looked at Mallory and then started to laugh. "No, I meant your hopes and dreams. Goals, where you see yourself in 5 years or so. Stuff like that."
"Oh" Mallory said a little disappointed. "I never really thought about it. I guess I'll still be teaching, hopefully married with children. And I would love to be living in a small town in like North Carolina. I've always lived in a big city. I'm ready for a change."
"Hmm"
"How about you?"
"Five years? Hopefully still working with President Bartlet in the White House. Possibly married."
"What if the President isn't re-elected?"
"I think I would still like to stay in DC, either back in private practice or still in politics. These past couple of years have been the most stressful, but the most rewarding and invigorating of my life. I don't think I will ever give it up."
"Oh, couldn't get two more different views of the future, huh?"
"No I guess you couldn't." Sam said remembering his conversation with Caitlin.
"But no one can foresee the future, right?""Right"
"And this is today. And we are here having a nice dinner, enjoying each others company."
"Yes." Sam replied taking another bite of food. T
he two of them fell into a reflective silence as they finished their meals.
TBC