Madame President - Tara Sue Me Page 0,40

And when I look back over the last week in an attempt to discover when Anna began to first distance herself from me, it was that day, which makes me think it has something to do with the flowers or the strange way David acted.

Actually, now that I’m thinking about his actions, they do strike me as being very out of character based on what I’ve both learned and observed.

He’d asked Anna about files of his she’d taken. Unfortunately, as much as I’d like to know more about the files, I’m not about to break into the Chief of Staff’s office to do so. I need to follow him without being caught. Maybe doing that will uncover something or at least give me something else to investigate.

While I think Anna was covering up just how not normal his behavior was, I don’t believe he’s the reason for her standoffish behavior. It must be the flowers.

I’m surprised she let a little ribbing over flowers make her decide to pretend I don’t exist. Honestly, I doubt she received a fifth of the heat I got for that little gift.

Regardless, she may have been able to ignore me on the sly without anyone on the Press Pool noticing, but if she insists on remaining that way, today’s the day everyone will find out. Because today she’s visiting a children’s hospital in a nearby city in Virginia for their reopening of the oncology wing after a fire nearly destroyed it months ago. In an attempt to decrease the risk to the children’s already weakened immune system, it’s been requested for only two members of the Press Pool to attend with Anna.

As luck would have it, I was one of the two randomly selected to go. I only wish I had been able to see her face when she found out.

The downside to being picked to attend this particular outing is that since it’s nearby, we’ll all be traveling by motorcade. I generally don’t care about the transportation used to get the group of us anywhere. When you factor in everyone who has to travel with the President, it’s not like we can all hop in one car and go.

But a motorcade means we’ll be in separate cars, separated by even more cars, and the only time we’ll have together is when we’re at the hospital. Not that I plan to confront her about her actions, I really just want to see her sweat. She can ignore me all she wants, that doesn’t make me believe she wants me any less than I can tell she does every time she looks at me. Which is more times than she’d probably care to admit.

By the time we reach the hospital, it’s obvious someone already informed her of my attendance. She acknowledges me with a curt nod on her way to meet with the hospital executives.

“Madame President,” I say in return.

Once she’s past us, we follow behind, heading into the small conference room Anna and the executives are meeting in. This assignment may mark my first time on the Press Pool, but I’ve interviewed past presidents and a large number of world leaders. I’ve watched how they interact with those they come in contact with. More times than not, there is an air of sorts that seems to surround those leaders. I don’t think it’s intentional, rather, it’s just part of the job, and part of what makes them difficult to approach, much less have a conversation with.

Anna isn’t like that based on what I’ve seen so far. Don’t get me wrong, she still has that air about her, but it’s different. People aren’t hesitant to talk with her, especially since she actually listens. Most of the time when someone’s talking, all the person they’re talking with is thinking about is what they will say next. Not so with Anna. Whenever Anna talks with someone, whether it be a world leader or your average Joe, she’s always fully engaged.

After introductions are over, Anna takes a seat, and she asks the three executives present what the government can do to aid in their fight to beat childhood cancer. She’s well versed in the subject, and the discussion the group engages in is much more detailed and substantial than I had anticipated. As someone who has not only confronted childhood cancer up close and personal, but also continues to research new therapies and potential treatment, I’m able to follow the hospital Chief of Staff as he updates Anna on