Page 108 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

“We haven’t spent much time apart,” Sam said, “but I can definitely see the benefit of living above the store.”

“I believe you’ll find your husband will be more readily available to his family than he was as vice president,” Gideon said.

That might be true, Sam thought, but will I be less available to them? Ugh, that would suck.

When they walked into the West Wing, Sam noted it was more subdued than it had been when she’d visited in the past, probably due to the president’s death and the transition currently under way. Plus, it was Sunday on a holiday weekend.

Even the desks outside the president’s office were vacant. “What happens to all the people who worked for President Nelson?”

“A few will remain to work with President Cappuano, but most of them will be looking for new positions,” Gideon said. To the Secret Service agent positioned outside the Oval Office, Gideon said, “Mrs. Cappuano would like to leave a gift for her husband in his office.”

The agent nodded and opened the door for Sam. “I’ll be right out,” she said to her sisters, wanting to take this mission on her own. Inside the Oval Office, Sam noticed that President Nelson’s personal effects had already been removed to make way for the new president and his belongings.

Sam went around the Resolute desk, which she’d once done a report about in a high school history class, never dreaming that her husband might one day be the temporary custodian of the desk, the office and the people’s house. She sat in his seat and took in the majesty of the most powerful office in the world, letting it settle on her that this was really Nick’s office and their home for the next three years. Would they be here longer than that? If someone asked him that today, he’d say no way. In a year or two, he might feel differently, and she was prepared to support him, no matter which path he took.

She withdrew the silver-framed photo they’d taken on Thanksgiving with Scotty, Elijah and the twins, the first photo of them as a family, which she’d asked Tracy to have printed and framed for her so it could be the first photo to grace President Cappuano’s desk. She placed the photo on the desktop and then opened a drawer to find a piece of paper. The only paper in the drawer had the Office of the President of the United States of America embossed in gold at the top along with the presidential seal.

Hoping he wouldn’t mind if she borrowed a piece, she grabbed a pen from her bag and wrote him a note.

Dear Nick, We love you so much and we’re so, so proud of you. Love, Sam, Scotty, Elijah, Alden and Aubrey.

On a second sheet of paper, she wrote, Sam loves Nick, and drew a heart around the words. She folded it in half and tucked it into the top drawer. Then, since there was nothing else she could mess with on the pristine desktop, she got busy moving around the few other things he’d already put in the drawers, making sure he’d know she’d been there. She smiled as she imagined him discovering her handiwork. She’d messed with all his previous desks, so she had to keep the tradition alive.

It was important, she knew, to keep it real between them going forward and to take Mrs. Nelson’s wise advice not to get so caught up in their new roles that they lost track of what was truly important. She also couldn’t wait to tell him they had plenty of bedrooms to use as a makeshift loft in their new home.

After taking another long look around the room that would be Nick’s office for the next three years, Sam went to rejoin her sisters in the reception area. To Vernon, she said, “Would it be possible to make a stop on the way home?”

“Of course, ma’am. Just let us know where you’d like to go.”

“Let me check to see if she’s home.” Sam sent a text to Shelby. Could I stop by for a minute to talk to you about something?

Oh lord, I’m a mess and so is my house.

Stop it. We both know your definition of mess and mine are two very different things.

Haha. We’re here. Come on by.

Will be there in a few.

Sam gave Shelby’s address in Adams Morgan to Vernon. “It’s the home of FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Avery Hill,” Sam told him.

“That’s good to know, ma’am. Thank you.”

Sam hugged Lilia. “Thanks for coming in to be here with me for this.”

“It was a pleasure. I hope you enjoyed the tour.”

“I’m dazzled and overwhelmed.”

“Don’t be. You’ve got this. We’ve got this.”

“I’m a thousand times more confident that’s true because you’re here to make it so. If I forget to say so later, thank you for what you’re going to do for me over the next three years.”

“I’m honored to serve you and your family.” She leaned in to whisper, “Are you going to ask Shelby to be your social secretary?”

“How’d you guess?”

“She’d be perfect.”