Madame President - Tara Sue Me Page 0,75

I say and then add, “Well, about that anyway.”

“You lied?” Sunshine asks, thankfully before my admission can lead to an uncomfortable silence.

“Yes, but only a lie of omission.”

Then, because she’s my sister and therefore feels like it’s her responsibility to do such things, Sunshine rolls her eyes. “That’s the same.”

“Yes, and trust me, I learned my lesson."

At that moment, the door leading to the dining room opens. Anna leads the way inside.

The rectangular table has been set with no obvious head. Rather, there are two places on one side, Mom and Dad take those, and three on the other. Sunshine heads straight for the middle, allowing her to sit next to me and Anna both.

Any worries I’d had about the potential for dinner to be awkward are gone within seconds. Dad is a history buff, and soon he and Anna are talking about the history of the White House. Sunshine gets in a comment or question every so often, but for the most part seems content to sit and observe the President. Anna’s even able to get Mom engaged in conversation a few times, a rare feat since Mom would rather sit and take in as opposed to being an active participant.

To see my family and Anna interact so effortlessly, makes me wonder what it would be like if Anna wasn’t President. Or what if Anna was wrong about what would have happened if Sunshine had never been sick. Would it be possible at all for us to have made it? Would we have had the connection we do now? Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps it’s only because of what we’ve been through in our past that makes us who we are now. Would we be the same people if just one of the trillions upon trillions of details making up our history changed? I don’t know. No one does.

All I know for certain is now. And now isn’t giving me a chance with Anna.

I watch Anna while we eat. Sunshine whispers to her a few times. I want to tell her whispering at the table is rude and she shouldn’t do it ever, and certainly not now. But before I have a chance, Anna leans down and, using a hand as a shield, whispers something back to her. I can correct my little sister, but not the POTUS. If Anna’s fine with whispering at her table, who am I to correct her?

I catch Mom watching me from across the table and I’m curious about how much she can pick up on. She obviously knew which direction I was heading with Sunshine because she gives me a look. Calm down.

Sure, easy for her to say. But I nod because she’s my mother, and she also happens to be right. There’s nothing to worry over about the dinner. Everything is going well, and we can worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

I lean back in my seat and try to relax.

Dinner runs much later than I’d anticipated. The conversation rarely stops between talking about tomorrow, asking Anna two thousand questions, and hockey. As we’re finally getting up from the table, Anna asks if anyone wants to see the bowling alley. Sunshine’s in, of course, and Dad isn’t about to turn down the offer, but Mom says she’ll sit and wait for them to get back.

Anna meets my gaze for a second, worry in her eyes.

“Why don’t you let me take you to the China Room?” I ask my mom and when she agrees, I feel rather than see Anna’s relief.

The three of them head off. Sunshine right by Anna’s side, and Dad a step behind, letting the two of them talk. When they turn to go down another hall, Mom turns to me.

“She’s incredible,” she says. “You always wonder if what you see portrayed on the news is accurate or a bunch of PR. She’s the real deal.”

“You do remember that I work for the news?”

“Worked. You don’t work there anymore, but because you did, you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

I don’t reply because she’s right on all accounts.

“Is it because she’s President? Is that why the two of you aren’t together?” she asks.

I run my hands through my hair. I’d expected her to pick up on the vibe between the two of us. I hadn’t anticipated her bringing it up so boldly. “Partially,” I say. “It’s…we’re complicated.”

She frowns. “I’ve never liked it when people use that as an excuse. Of course it’s complicated. It concerns people, and people by their very nature complicate