“See ya on the flip side.”
As she showered and got dressed, Sam thought about Scotty and how fun it had been to watch him mature into a delightful young man.The best thing she and Nick had ever done was to take him into their home when they were barely married.Even though the timing hadn’t been ideal, they had zero regrets and loved him with all their hearts.Well, the one regret she had was that they hadn’t met him sooner.In four years, he’d be heading off to college, a thought that made her profoundly sad.
Thankfully, they’d have the twins to keep them entertained after Scotty left.
That reminded her that their lawyer friend Andy Simone had texted yesterday with an update on their plan to adopt Alden, Aubrey and Elijah, even though Eli was a legal adult.They hoped that would fend off any future attempts by their maternal grandparents, aunt and uncle to get at the money the kids’ billionaire father had left them.
Hi there,Andy had written.Wanted to give you an update… We’ve started the paperwork on the adoption, and it should be fairly straightforward since Elijah is the twins’ legal guardian.As such, his approval is the only one needed, and he’s completed all the initial paperwork.Will keep you posted and apprised of the future court date at which it will become official.Let me know if you have any questions!
Sam composed a reply to him.Hey, sorry for the delay in responding.As I’m sure you’ve heard, yesterday was a bit nuts around here.Good times.Thanks for the update.We’ll all rest easier when this is done.Appreciate your help, as always!
Then she forwarded Andy’s note to the secure BlackBerry she used to communicate with Nick and Eli, who’d decided to be adopted along with his siblings so they’d all belong to the same family.
As she unlocked the bedside drawer where she kept her service weapon, cuffs and other items for work, she felt weirdly off her game as she went through the rote motions of a regular day.Nothing about this day was regular, however.Hanging over everything was the reality of what’d happened yesterday and how close they’d come to disaster.
She went downstairs to meet Vernon and Jimmy, feeling the weight of it all on her shoulders and hoping she could put it aside to focus on her job after a long weekend with her family.
“Good morning,” Vernon said.
“Morning.”
Harold, one of the ushers, held Sam’s coat for her.
“Thank you, Harold.”
“My pleasure, ma’am.You have a good day.”
“You do the same.”
“Every day at the White House is a good day.Well, some are better than others.”
That made her laugh.“Indeed.”
Vernon held the door to the back seat of the SUV for her.“How’re you holding up?”
“Just dandy.Anything new?”
“Nothing much.The investigation is ongoing.Yada, yada.”
He closed the door and got into the driver’s seat.
When they were on the way to HQ, she got a text from Andy.Can’t believe the news.Thank goodness you’re all safe—and everyone else is, too.
Thanks.Unsettling, to say the least.
“What can you tell me about what you’re not supposed to tell me?”she asked Vernon and Jimmy.
“Honestly, nothing,” Vernon said.“We’re no closer to knowing who sent those drones than we were yesterday.”
“That does nothing to calm my nerves.”
“Our nerves are pretty raw, too.”
“I’m sure they are.Thank you for the fast action yesterday, even if I seemed angry about the kids.I was terrified more than anything.”
“We totally understand,” Vernon said.“Don’t give that another thought.I’d want my kids close to me during a situation like that, too.”
“I can’t believe how feral I can get over them.”
