Madame President - Tara Sue Me Page 0,43

as well, is a bit unsettling to say the least.

I don’t want to let on how much the picture affects me. “It’s a decent enough shot of me, I guess.”

David’s mouth drops open at my words. Even Nicole, whose face is always eerily blank, looks at me as if I’ve completely lost it.

“If all you can say about this photograph is that it’s decent enough,” David finally manages to get out. “Then you are clearly overworked, and I’ll get with Ms. Tanner,” he says, referring to Nicole. “And have her schedule you some downtime.”

“And a long weekend at Camp David,” Nicole pipes up to add, and David nods, far too enthusiastically.

“As it is,” he says. “I need to send The Daily a thank-you note for sending Roger to be part of the pool.”

“Why would you do that?” I ask.

David’s forehead wrinkles as if he’s worried about something. “You know, I was mostly kidding before, but maybe you do need a few days off.”

Now it’s my turn to look at him as if he’s lost his mind because he’s not making any sense at all.

“Roger,” he says, like he’s explaining something to a child, and I don’t appreciate his tone one bit. “From The Daily is the man who took the picture.”

Of course I know who Roger is and where he works. I search my mind and flip through my memories of the day before. I’m not sure if I remember seeing Roger after we left for the tour. I want to think it was Navin I saw out of the corner of my eye while I was reading to Emma.

I hadn’t turned my head to see full on who was taking my picture and while if you saw Roger and Navin standing side-by-side, you’d never think it possible to confuse one for the other, I suppose stranger things have happened. Was it possible I’d thought I saw Navin since my focus at the time had not been who was taking my picture, but rather, on the little girl in my arms?

Not to mention, the photo’s credit clearly has Roger’s name.

And why would Navin have been taking pictures yesterday, anyway? Maybe I only want Navin to be the one who took the photo.

I need to stop any thought David might have that I’m under too much stress or need a break. “Sorry,” I say. “Emma’s doctor’s name is Roger and when I saw the picture of her, that’s where my mind went.” I flash him my fake smile. “I was trying to come up with a reason why we’d send The Daily a thank you note for him.”

David chuckles and shakes his head.

“You know,” I say to him, wanting to change the subject. “I was thinking yesterday, we should organize an event to raise awareness and research funds for childhood cancers.” I point to the newspaper he’s placed on a nearby table. “If this photo is drawing that much interest, let’s harness all that publicity and those good vibes and work them into something beneficial.”

“That is an excellent idea, Madame President,” David says and I’m pleased he’s no longer talking about me taking time off. “Let me talk to a few people and make some phone calls, and I’ll see what we need to do to make this happen.”

He leaves seconds later, looking thrilled at the prospect of using the photograph for a worthy cause. I turn to Nicole. “Where were we?”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Him

White House

Washington DC

When I took the picture of Anna and Emma, I knew it was a good shot. It never occurred to me it would go viral, and I’m not prepared to handle Roger when it does. He’s freaking out because everything lists him as the creator.

“But I’m not, Navin,” he says for what must be the fifth time today, eyes pleading like there’s something I can do. “I didn’t take that picture.”

It’s three days after the photograph was published and to be honest, I wish the entire thing would just die. I’m afraid if something newsworthy doesn’t happen soon, I might take matters into my own hands. Literally. I’m going to end up strangling Roger, and then I’ll be the one making the news.

“Roger,” I say, taking a deep breath. “I’m going to say this once, and after I finish, if you bring it up to me again, I will kick your ass.” His eyes grow wide, but he nods. “It was your camera that took the picture. If you had been there instead of me, you would