Page 9 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

They were taken to the East Room and offered refreshments.

“Nothing for me, thanks,” Nick said, glancing to Sam and Scotty.

“Could I please have a Coke?” Scotty asked the tuxedo-clad butler.

“Absolutely.”

“I’m Scotty Cappuano.” He extended a hand to the older Black man. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Clearly delighted by the boy’s manners, the man said, “I’m LeRoy Chastain, one of the White House butlers, and it’s a pleasure to meet you too, young man.”

“This is my mom, Sam.”

LeRoy shook hands with her. “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

Sam wanted to tell him that he didn’t have to call her ma’am, but she knew that would be pointless. “You as well, LeRoy.”

“May I get you anything, ma’am?”

“I’m good, but thank you.”

LeRoy nodded and went to get the drink for Scotty.

“Way to finagle another Coke,” Sam said. “They’ll be told to limit you to one per day.”

“There has to be some benefit to being the first son. I mean, if a man has to live his life surrounded by Secret Service, he ought to be able to have a Coke at the end of a long day.”

Derek choked back a laugh that he tried to cover with a cough.

“He’s going to be on the Supreme Court someday,” Sam said.

“If I can pass eighth-grade algebra, that is,” Scotty said.

“We’re waiting for Mrs. Nelson,” Hanigan said. “She’s en route from Pierre.” The Nelsons had been living apart since Nelson’s affair with a campaign staffer became public. “We thought it would be important for the optics to have her here when you take the oath. She’s two hours out.”

So they’d have to wait. Great… Sam was impatient at the best of times.

LeRoy returned with a tall, icy cola for Scotty as well as a pitcher of ice water with glasses and a tray of cheese, crackers, grapes and cookies.

Living at the White House might have a few perks after all.

“Thank you, LeRoy,” Sam said.

“You’re most welcome, ma’am. If there’s anything at all we can do for you, please let us know. I’ll be close by.”

“That’s very kind of you.”

“We’re here to serve you and your family.”

They would have a household staff. Sam had no idea what to think about that. The very idea of it made her exquisitely uncomfortable as someone who’d grown up with a blue-collar work ethic and parents who’d made their daughters do chores and learn to take care of themselves.

Hanigan asked for a word with Derek, which gave Sam, Nick and Scotty a second to themselves.

Nick put his arm around her and kissed her temple. “How’re you doing?”

“Just dandy. You?”

“Even dandier.”