Page 142 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

She’d really gone soft with all the new friends she’d made recently. That made her think of Roni, whom she still needed to check in with. Outside Lenore’s tidy freestanding home, Sam signaled to Vernon that she was going inside. After a glance toward the driveway where Calvin’s life had ended, Sam went up the stairs and knocked on the door, wondering how Lenore could stand to live in the place where her son had died.

Lenore answered with a welcoming smile for Sam. As she had been from the first time they met, Sam felt like a wannabe next to Lenore’s effortless beauty. “Come in. Welcome.”

“Thank you for seeing me.”

“Always happy to see you, Lieutenant. Come back to the kitchen. You remember my daughter, Ayana, right?”

“Of course. Nice to see you again.”

“You too. Congrats on the big promotion.”

“I didn’t actually get promoted. My husband did. I just got another full-time job.”

Both women laughed.

“I think it’s awesome you’re planning to keep your job,” Lenore said.

“I’m glad you think so. A few days in, and I’m already questioning my sanity in trying to do three jobs, if you count motherhood.”

“That definitely counts,” Lenore said. “These are my grandchildren, Calvin the second and Layla. Kids, say hi to my friend Lieutenant Holland. And can you believe she’s our new first lady too?”

“Do you live at the White House?” Layla asked. She was about six, and her brother maybe eight.

“Not yet, but we’re moving there on Friday. And you guys should call me Sam.”

“Ms. Sam,” Lenore said.

The children were at the table eating grilled cheese sandwiches and carrot sticks.

“Have a seat,” Lenore said. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Water would be great.”

Lenore returned with the drink and a tray containing a bowl of tomato soup and a stack of grilled cheese sandwiches. “We’re all about the comfort food around here this time of year.”

“It’s perfect. Thank you for feeding me. My partner is jealous because no one ever feeds us when he’s with me.”

“He’s welcome to join us,” Lenore said. “Freddie, right? He’s adorable. Is he single? My Ayana is back on the market.”

“Mother! Stop.”

Sam laughed. “No, he’s very happily married and dealing with a broken-down car at the moment.”

When the kids finished eating, they cleared their plates, loaded them into the dishwasher and then took off to play in an adjoining room that was visible from the kitchen.

“How do you get them to do that?” Sam asked, amazed by the dishwasher action.

“You make them do it every time,” Lenore said. “That’s how they grow up to not be useless.”

“Good tip. I’ll keep that in mind. This tomato soup is the best I’ve ever had.”

“Mom is famous for it,” Ayana said. “She makes it in huge batches.”

“It’s delicious.” Sam pulled her notebook from her back pocket and put it on the table, flipping it open to the page she’d noted earlier. “I was wondering if we could talk about Calvin’s cousin D’Andre.”

Both women seemed alarmed at the mention of his name.

“What about him?” Lenore asked.