Martha Washington

Disclaimer: While place descriptions and news events may coincide with the real world, all characters and the plot are fictional. 
== Biography ==
=== Early Years ===
Clyde and Martha met when she was 16-years-old, and Clyde came up from Texas with a college choir to sing in churches throughout the Northwest. They corresponded for 4 years before he was licenced to preach, and Martha was in college herself. He was hired by the Portsmouth church, and they were married that spring. 
=== Education ===
She finished college at the Multnomah School of the Bible while pregnant with Gregory.
=== Work ===
As well as being a pastor's wife, Martha Washington is a founding director of the charity We Help. 
==== Book 3: Don't Go ====
Due to COVID, Mrs Washington is working from home. She has become pretty much an in-office director as the charity has grown, spending most of her time on management and grant writing, and more time speaking to the city council than to the homeless themselves.
Before founding the charity, she worked for Child Protective Services (CPS). She remembers Ryan's case, and feels the system failed Ryan and his brother. The case was made more difficult because his biological family was wealthy, with political connections, and his parents had expensive attorneys to defend them. She hadn't realized Ryan was the child involved, until her husband mentioned that Dr Clarke was treating J.J, and that Ryan already knew her.
== Physical Appearance ==
Martha Washington is in her late 40s, tall, slim and beautiful.
== Personality ==
Mrs Washington is outspoken.
Martha has had migraines in the past, and keeps some Excedrin on hand.
== Relationships ==
=== Family ===
Martha Washington has lived with her husband, Rev. Clyde Washington at the Portsmouth parsonage for over 25 years. They have three sons: Gregory, Cage, and Corey who regularly visit for dinner on Sunday afternoons. 
Friends of her sons are also welcomed, particularly for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ryan has been there for Christmas a couple of times. 
==== Book 3: Don't Go ====
On Tuesday, October 20, Cage, Sarah, Emily, Ryan and Rafael join Clyde and Martha Washington for dinner at the Portsmouth parsonage. Rev Washington says he's picking J.J. up the following morning, and they will have a long discussion. Rev Washington has been visiting, but J.J. has been very quiet. Mrs Washington asks what Ryan's plans are for Rafael. Ryan says he's still shell-shocked, but the Loft is no place for a child, and he knows nothing about caring for Rafael. Mrs Washington says he'll learn like everyone does, and offers for both Rafael and Ryan to stay with them at the parsonage. An alternative would be to ask Gregory and Bianica to take in Rafael, but that wouldn't give Ryan a chance to bond with him and might be traumatic for Rafael. Ryan suggests a combination - they both stay, but he pays Bianica to babysit while Ryan is at EWN. Mrs Washington approves. Emily offers to help with the dishes, but Mrs Washington says it's Clyde's turn to clean the kitchen. Ryan tells Rafael to stay with Mrs Washington, and passes him to her. They talk about Rafael's language skills, and about Teresa. Emily is anxious to return to EWN, so Mrs Washington shows Ryan to a bedroom with twin beds, and gives him a key. After Ryan leaves to return to EWN, she texts him a list of items to pick up at Target on his way back that night.
The following morning, Mrs Washington is cooking breakfast when Ryan comes downstairs. Rev Washington and Rafael are already sitting at the table. Ryan helps Rafael clean up after breakfast, and Martha says that it's good that the two of them are starting to bond. Ryan thinks Teresa was preparing Rafael. as Rafael called him Papa that morning. Martha says Ryan will need to commit to Rafael, as it's not fair to create a bond and then abandon it if it becomes inconvenient. Ryan says he won't abandon his son. Mrs Washington says that as she's working from home, she suggests that Bianica takes Rafael part of the day when Ryan is in classes, and she take him in the early evenings and weekends when Ryan's in the newsroom. She suggests he takes Rafael with him to EWN sometimes too. Bianica and John Lewis arrive. Ryan introduces them to Rafael. and Mrs Washington takes the two boys out into the back yard to play. When Mrs Washington brings the boys back inside, both are giggling. Ryan leaves for EWN and classes while Rafael stays with Mrs Washington and John Lewis.
When Rev. Washington returns home late on Thursday, November 5, 2020 Martha greets him with a warm dinner, and a postcard from Ryan Matthews. They had both been worried, and Ryan has a long road ahead of him before he is whole. He takes the card, smiles, and hugs Martha.
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At 2am on December 2, 2020, Martha takes her husband to with COVID symptoms. He is admitted to ICU. Family are not permitted to visit. Clyde dies on the afternoon of December 5, 2020.
On December 14, 2020, Martha packs up the family's belongings at the Portsmouth parsonage. The church deacons have hired a new pastor, and the parsonage is his by right. The furniture stays with the parsonage. They vacate the parsonage the following day, with Martha moving in with Gregory's family.
Category:Character