Page 49 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

They nodded.

“It was so much fun,” Aubrey said. “Thank you for the party.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I wanted to talk to you about something that happened the other night. It’s nothing bad, so don’t worry. But on Thanksgiving, after you guys went to bed, Nick got a phone call from the White House. You remember he works there, right?”

“He’s the vice president,” Alden said.

“That’s right. Do you know what one of the most important jobs the vice president has is?”

They shook their heads.

“If something happens to the president, the vice president has to be ready to become the president. And the other night, when the White House called, they told Nick that President Nelson had died.” They’d been advised when the twins lost their parents to use words they’d understand. Died versus passed away, for example.

“Like Mommy and Daddy?” Alden asked.

“Yes, honey.”

“Is he in heaven with them?”

“I’m sure he is. But the thing is, because President Nelson died, Nick had to become the new president.” She watched them carefully, noting the way their little eyebrows furrowed as they tried to make sense of what she was telling them. “Do you know where the president lives?”

“At the White House!” Alden said.

“That’s right, and so that means Nick will have to live there.”

“Won’t he be lonely?” Aubrey asked.

She was the sweetest, most compassionate child.

“Not if we’re there with him,” Sam said. “That’s what I wanted to tell you. We’re going to move to the White House to live there with him for the next three years.”

Alden bit his lip as he thought about that. “So we won’t live here anymore?”

“This will always be our home, but we’re going to stay at the White House most of the time. It’ll be like when you go to a hotel, but you still have your house at home.”

“Can we come home to sleep at night?” Alden asked.

“No, honey, we’ll sleep at the White House. You’ll have your bed and all your toys and clothes right there with you. And most important, you’ll have us—me and Nick and Scotty and Eli when he’s home from school. He’ll have his own room at the White House just like he does here.”

Aubrey’s chin wobbled, and her eyes filled with tears.

“We don’t want you guys to worry about anything,” Elijah said. “Sam and Nick and Scotty will be with you every day, and I’ll come home on weekends whenever I can. The most important things aren’t going to change.”

“I don’t want to move,” Aubrey said.

“I know you don’t, honey.” Sam hugged her close. “I don’t either, but we don’t want Nick to be lonely at the White House by himself.”

“You know what’s really cool about the White House?” Scotty asked.

Alden perked up. “What?”

“We’ll have a pool, a bowling alley and our own movie theater!”

Alden’s eyes widened. “No way.”

“Yes way,” Scotty said. “We’re going to have so much fun.”

Aubrey reached for Elijah, who took her from Sam.