“As a pig in a mudslide. So, Em, here is my problem. I need to know what the gossip is. You’re the only one I can ask. I know your staff hears it all and tells you because that’s what women do. Now, mind you, I’m not judging,” Gabe said, his eyes twinkling.

“Are you asking for a certain type of gossip about a certain individual or just gossip in general?”

Gabe reached for a second sandwich as he rolled his eyes. “You and I agreed never to play games with each other, Em. What have you heard?”

The First Lady got a little testy at that moment. “Sometimes, I don’t understand you, Gabriel. One minute, Lincoln Moss’s name is never to pass my lips, and you tell me not to listen to gossip. And then you turn around and ask me what the gossip is. I think you need to tell me what is going on. And before you can ask, yes, he did buy a whole table for ten for the gala Saturday night. However, he did not return his personal RSVP.”

Emily had called him Gabriel. When his wife addressed him by his given name, the President knew he was in some serious hot water. He plucked at a crisp chunk of cucumber and popped it into his mouth. He waited to see if she would elaborate. When she simply looked at him and did what he did, popped a wedge of cucumber into her mouth, he knew he had both feet in the hot water.

The President polished off the wine in his glass and poured another. He looked over at his wife, who shook her head. “Let’s hear it.”

“Listen to me, Gabe. No matter what I say, you are going to take it personal. As in there is no love lost between Lincoln and me. I don’t like the man, I never did. Actually, Gabriel, I detest him. Just so you know, there were many times when I almost gave you an ultimatum, him or me. The reason I didn’t was because, in my heart of hearts, I believed you would have chosen Lincoln. There, I finally said it out loud. Who would you have chosen if that came to pass, Gabriel?”

Gabe brought the wineglass to his lips as he tried to imagine his life with either Emily or Lincoln missing. His hesitation did not go unnoticed by his wife. “I would have chosen you, Emily.” He wondered if his response was really true, and he could see that his wife was wondering the very same thing. His stomach churned, and now he wished he’d passed on the second sloppy joe sandwich.