Home Free - Fern Michaels [22]
“Maggie, I don’t think she’s calling you to rattle off the nuclear codes. Just call her, and I’ll bet you anything you want, she will be the one doing the talking, not you. Or, you can go to the ladies’ room and talk. But we want to hear! Just call!” Alexis hissed.
Sally slid a small Post-it note across the table with the number Maggie was to call.
Maggie shrugged, looked around furtively, and punched in the numbers. “This is Maggie Spritzer from the Post. I am returning—”
The voice on the other end of the phone cut her off and said, “Hold for the president, Miss Spritzer.”
Maggie rolled her eyes for the benefit of the girls, then jerked her head slightly to tell Sally that she should leave, which she did reluctantly.
And then she heard the voice of the president. “Miss Spritzer, this is Martine Connor. Is it all right to call you Maggie?”
Stunned, Maggie said, “Uh-huh. I mean, yes, Madam President. Everyone calls me Maggie.” She rolled her eyes again at her brilliant repartee. “What . . . what can the Post do you for, Madam President?”
Maggie heard a tinkling laugh. “Oh, dear, I should have made it clear at the beginning. I’m not calling concerning the Post. This is a personal call.”
Maggie almost fell off her chair. “Me personally! Wow! I mean, oh my gosh, what can I do for you, Madam President?”
The tinkling laugh again. “I’m calling to invite you to Thanksgiving dinner at Camp David. I realize this is short notice, but that seems to be the way I do things lately. At the last minute so I don’t go crazy with details. If there’s someone you would like to bring with you, by all means, do so. Just stay on the line so my secretary can fill you in on the details. If you’re going to dinner with family, I understand.”
“Thanksgiving dinner at Camp David! Wow! I mean, oh, my gosh, of course I would love to come. What should I wear?” Maggie blurted.
The tinkling laugh sounded. “Whatever you feel comfortable in. It’s informal. I usually wear slacks and a sweater. Camp David can be drafty. I look forward to seeing you, then. Stay on the line now.”
“Uh. Okay. Thanks for the invitation.” Maggie whispered for the benefit of the girls, “I have to stay on the line for details. Do you believe this? I’m going to Camp David for Thanksgiving. I’m going to take Jason with me. She said I could. Sort of my swan song with him. Shhh.”
“Yes, ma’am, I can hear you. I think that’s a great idea. Just shoot me an e-mail, and I’ll take it from there.” Maggie rattled off her personal e-mail address, then broke the connection.
Maggie looked first at Nikki, then Alexis. “Is this a coincidence or not?”
“I don’t know what it is,” Nikki said, a frown building between her brows.
“I’m not getting this,” Alexis said.
“I’m not, either,” Maggie hissed. “Why me of all people?”
“Why not you? Our president never does anything without a reason, according to Lizzie. I guess you’ll have to wait till you get to Camp David to find out. The bigger question here is, how are you going to tell Annie you’re blowing her off for the president of the United States?”
“I don’t even want to think about that right now.” Maggie reached for the check and drew some bills out of her wallet. “Don’t look at me like that. I said this was my treat. Me, personally. I can’t put this lunch on my expense account. I have ethics, you know.”
“Cranky, aren’t we, all of a sudden?” Alexis laughed. “And the best part is, not one of the customers in here knows you were conversing with the president of these here United States.” She laughed again at the expression on Maggie’s face.
“How upset do you think Annie will be?” Maggie mumbled as she followed Nikki and Alexis out of the restaurant.
“I think she’s going to go up in smoke. This is her first dinner at her new house. And she’s cooking it herself. I really think she’s going to be pissed to the teeth,” Nikki said with a straight face.
“You might even find yourself on the unemployment line. Annie, as you know, can