Page 78 of These Summer Storms

Sam went silent, as though Jack had sped up time and Sam’s silence was required.

“Good morning,” Jack said to the family before meeting Alice’s gaze. “Alice.” Why did he have to say her name like that? In that deep rumble, as though he’d been standing here in the dark, waiting to say it?

She lifted her chin. Made sure she didnotmatch his tone. “Jack.”

“The Secret Service will be here in an hour and a half,” Jack said calmly, looking at his watch. “They make it a point to be on time.”

“You’re meeting them?”

“I had planned to. It’s not the first time I’ve managed these visits for Storm.”

“I can manage it,” Sam said, petulant. “I’m a grown man.”

“Be that as it may,” Jack said, “it will take a few hours.”

Which meant Sam would be rendered silent for part of the time they were here.

Sam’s gaze narrowed on Jack, his knuckles going white on his phone. He couldn’t possibly be thinking of having a run-in with Jack—a man well out of his league. “You did that on purpose.”

As though on cue, Greta’s alarm went off. Emily smiled broadly. “One more minute.”

“You can’t speak, Sam,” Elisabeth said dreamily. “Whoever meets with them should probably be able to speak. They protect thepresident.”

“You know,” Sam said, spreading his hands wide, “maybe it’s for the best—then I don’t have to explain to the Feds why Mom is high as a kite.”

“Which brings us back to…whyisMom high as a kite?”

Everyone looked at Emily and Claudia, who knew better than to deny it. Emily began. “There may have been a miscommunication. Regarding the tea. Earlier.”

“Oh, you mean the tea Mom’sfavoritebrought in this morning?” Greta said, looking to Claudia.

“You didn’t tell them?” Claudia said to her wife.

“I didn’t think it would…” Emily waved a hand. “I thought it would calm her down!”

“Well, to be fair, it has done that,” Alice said, before adding, “Emily, I mean this in the best possible way, but what were you thinking?”

Emily’s eyes were huge in her face. “Honestly, I really did think it would just…chill her out.”

“She was up all night worrying about your mother’s anxiety,” Claudia defended. “About making it easier for everyone. Especially Greta.”

“Why? I’m fine,” Greta insisted, as though they hadn’t all witnessed her near emotional meltdown. “I don’t need it to be easier.”

“Hmm,” Claudia filled the disbelieving silence that fell after the pronouncement. “I must have misjudged the quantity she could handle. Have you been eating, Elisabeth?”

“Of course not,” Emily and Greta replied in unison.

Claudia made a pained noise and addressed the room. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be, darling,” Elisabeth said softly, taking Claudia’s hand in her own. “I feelfiiiine.”

Alice was the only one who laughed.

“Okay, Mom,” Emily said, all calm, measured action. “How about we skip the visit from the Feds and go sit under a tree?”

“Maybe Franklin’s tree.” She turned to look at Claudia. “Oh! We’ll have a picnic! There’s that chicken salad you like!”

Claudia nodded and met Emily’s gaze. “Perfect. I’ll get it.”