Chapter 3: Baking Lessons and Birthday Wishes

4

“But he became President, and Presidents always have people chasing after them.”

Aubrey pouted, twirling an ivory letter opener between her fingers.

I lowered my head, running my fingers over the old piano keys. “Yeah. In life, whatever you gain, you have to give something up.”

I taught Aubrey how to make sugar cookies.

Derek loves sweets. Every so often, he craves them and begs me to bake sugar cookies for him.

I kneaded the dough and laughed, “If you learn this, you’ll win his heart through his stomach.”

Aubrey grumbled she wasn’t a baker, but for the sake of winning Derek, she reluctantly learned.

Flour dusted the marble counters, sunlight catching the mess like we’d set off a sugar bomb. After an hour of chaos, our faces and clothes were covered in flour. We pointed at each other and burst out laughing. The kitchen smelled of vanilla, and the air was filled with our giggles.

Just then, a figure in a bright blue suit sneaked in.

Derek stood with his hands behind his back, face stern: “First Lady, you’re getting bolder—sneaking out of the White House and abducting my beauty.”

I know him too well. I can always tell if he’s actually mad or just acting. He always raises one eyebrow when he’s bluffing.

I picked up a fresh sugar cookie and offered it. “Want some? It’s hot.”

Derek snorted, Adam’s apple bobbing, and turned his head away. “Don’t try that trick.”

I slapped my forehead. “Oh no, you definitely don’t want what I made. But you must want what the beauty made, right?”

I gave Aubrey a look.

Aubrey picked up her over-baked, blackened batch, and fed it to Derek, putting on a sweet, high-pitched voice: “Mr. President, have a bite.”

Derek eyed the cookie like it was radioactive. He bit down, eyes watering, but forced a smile like he was on camera. “Tastes...unique,” he choked out.

After that performance, he glanced at me sideways, trying to gauge my reaction.

I played along, smiling. “Speaking of which, Mr. President should settle Aubrey’s title soon.”

Derek paused, raising his eyebrows. “In your opinion, what title should she have?”

I said, “Aubrey has no family to rely on—she might be looked down on. I intend to adopt her as my honorary sister and give her the title of Special Advisor.”

With this status, it would be easier for Aubrey to become the next First Lady.

The moment I finished, both Aubrey and Derek froze.

Derek’s face darkened. “The First Lady is always so kind, always better to others.”

He turned and left the kitchen. His footsteps echoed down the hall, heavy with something unsaid.

Aubrey tugged my sleeve. “Are you two giving each other the cold shoulder?”

I smiled. “After I got sick, I started to distance myself from him. I thought, this way, when I die, he’ll be less sad.”

I even hoped he would hate me. When I die, maybe he’ll feel relieved.

Aubrey was silent for a long time, rubbing her reddened eyes. Then she threw away the burnt cookies and started kneading the dough again.

“Teach me one more time. I’ll get it right this time.”

The kitchen clock ticked on. I leaned in and gently showed her how to shape the dough, feeling the weight of unspoken words in the warm air.

5

Derek had already left. But the President’s limo was still waiting in the driveway.

His limo was more spacious than those of the staff—you could lie down in it. My back isn’t good, so whenever we went out, he always had me ride with him.

Mr. Carter, the head of staff, bowed. “The President specially left word, granting Special Advisor Aubrey permission to ride this car back to the White House.”

After Aubrey got in, Mr. Carter whispered to me: “He said that to annoy you, but it’s really for you.”

I smiled at him and turned to get into my own car.

Since I’m going to neglect him, I’ll neglect him to the end.

Bumping along the way, just as my illness flared up, I coughed up blood. The window reflected my pale, haggard face.

Suddenly, I felt a little relieved. Luckily, he didn’t see me like this.

Derek arranged for Aubrey to live in the same wing as me. He said my suite was close to his office—convenient for him to visit Aubrey.

I thought this was great. It made it easy for me to be with Aubrey, and for her to be there for him.

I wanted to arrange for Aubrey to spend time with him as soon as possible. But Aubrey always said it was too soon. She blushed and waved her hands: “We modern people value feelings. It should happen naturally. I’m not there yet with the President.”

I wanted to say more, but just then an assistant rushed in.

“Madam, something bad has happened—Advisor Quinn and Advisor Grace are fighting again!”

Quinn and Grace are sworn enemies. Today I insult you, tomorrow you snap at me. Only when I’m around do they behave.

When I got to the Rose Garden, there was no one in sight. I was puzzled when laughter suddenly sounded behind me.

All the staff and advisors gathered from all directions, singing out in unison: “Happy Birthday, Madam First Lady! Wishing you happiness and health for years and years!”

I froze on the spot. My hands flew to my mouth, and for a moment, the world spun in slow motion.

A staffer handed me a White House mug with my name in gold. Someone else brought out a homemade apple pie, still steaming.

Quinn presented a tray of fresh fruit, smiling: “I heard from the kitchen that you haven’t had much appetite lately, so I made these to help you eat better.”

Grace offered a hand-stitched blanket: “I noticed you’ve been unwell, so I stayed up several nights to make this for your health.”

“Madam, I got you a pearl bracelet...”

“Madam, do you like this tabby cat?”

“Madam...”

Every year, Derek always wanted to throw me a grand birthday celebration. I scolded him for wasting resources, preferring to donate the money to charity, and ordered that my birthday never be celebrated again.

I never expected the women in the West Wing to secretly prepare a surprise for me.

At the party, everyone recited poems and played games. Laughter and jokes filled the air. When the games got heated, they even chased each other around. Even the Secret Service cracked a smile or two.

Aubrey stared in amazement. “Never seen such a harmonious staff.”

Quinn laughed. “The harmony of the staff all depends on the First Lady’s kindness.”

Grace teased, “Exactly! If not for the First Lady, I’d have snapped at you ages ago.”

Quinn waved her fist. “Careful I tape your mouth shut!”

I squinted and smiled, picking up a slice of salmon for Aubrey.

“Managing the West Wing isn’t hard or easy. The most important thing is fairness. No favoritism, no bias, all judged by the rules, impartial. Treat people sincerely and you’ll gain sincerity; balance strictness and leniency, and win people’s hearts.”

Aubrey held her head. “Boss, please stop lecturing.”

Grace cut in: “Don’t listen to all that. We love the First Lady because we really like her. She’s someone who would rather wrong herself than make others uncomfortable.”

Quinn sipped her wine and added, “Last winter, when the White House ran out of heating oil, the First Lady gave her best blankets to the junior staff and caught a cold herself.”

With that, the advisors began to chime in one after another.

“When my dad was wrongly accused, the First Lady helped me, so my dad could hold on until he was cleared.”

“I was young and scared when I started here, and the First Lady was the first to smile at me. She’s dearer to me than my own sister.”

“Me too, me too. To be honest, compared to the President who always has a stern face, I prefer the gentle First Lady...”

“Hahaha, the President only puts on a stern face for us, but in front of the First Lady, he’s as obedient as a puppy!”

“Shh, can we say that?”

Everyone chatted and laughed, their laughter fluttering like butterflies. A golden retriever belonging to one of the aides wandered under the buffet table, looking for crumbs, adding to the hominess of it all.

I hugged my heating pad, smiling as I watched everyone having fun.

Suddenly, my sleeve was tugged by a small hand.

I looked down; it was a little girl, round as a dumpling, smiling sweetly at me.

“Happy birthday, Mrs. First Lady! I hope you live forever and ever!”

Aubrey’s eyes immediately turned red at that.

I happily ruffled the little girl’s hair.

“Thank you.”

Happiness and health, long life. Blessings as vast as the ocean, longevity as the mountains. It’s just a pity, I probably won’t be able to achieve that.