Page 36 of Diligence

“It’s okay. Maybe I shouldleave Kev and send him back tonight by car?”

But Chris shakes his head and addresses his comment to Kev. “You stay at the White House with Shae,” he tells him. “Your job is there, and that’s what I need from you right now. Come to the funeral, but you and I will have some time alone at the residence after the funeral.” He reaches up and cups Kev’s cheek. “Be my good boy and take care of my girlfor me, okay?”

Kev covers Chris’ hand with his. “I will, Sir. I promise.”

Chris leans in for another kiss. “That’s my good boy. You’re doing an amazing job.”

I know what Chris is doing, though. Kev thrives on praise from him, and he’s trying to help Kev not get bogged down by the same kind of guilt trying to pull me under.

Only I’m better at navigating that emotional swamp than Kev is. I’vebeen doing it alone for so long and had far better footing to start out on than he did.

Chris pulls us in for another long hug. “I love you both so much.”

“Guess I won’t be spending overnights as often,” Kev says.

“Why not?” Chris and I ask in unison.

He stares at us. “Uh, because of the kids?”

“You’ve stayed over before when they were there,” I say.

“Yeah, for holidays.”

“Doesn’t matter,”Chris says. “Nothing about that changes, except we need to remember to lock the bedroom and living room doors. If anything, it makes more sense to have you stay over. The kids see you as family.”

Kev, however, doesn’t look convinced. I don’t need to be a mind-reader to know Prophet is thinking of the optics. “We can discuss it later.”

“Nodiscussion,” Chris says. “This is anorder,boy.”

Kevand I both suck in sharp breaths of nearly identical need as the sadist sticks his head out and sayshowdyfor a precious moment.

“Yes, Sir,” we both say in unison, prompting an exhausted smile from Chris. He kisses Kev again, then me. “That’s my good boy and good girl,” he whispers.

Later, as we fly back on the chopper, I lay my head over on Kevin’s shoulder as we hold hands. There’s no presswith us today, just me, Kev, Leo, Secret Service, and the flight crew. I wanted as few people as possible.

That means we don’t need to worry about who sees him drape his arm around my shoulders and nuzzle his face against the top of my head as I break down crying.