Page 164 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“I sure as hell hope so.”

“You’ve done everything you can,” Sam said. “Now you have to let it go so you can enjoy Christmas with your family.”

“Is it fair for me to enjoy Christmas with my family when Arnold can never again do that with his?”

“What would he say to that?”

“He’d tell me to quit saying stupid shit and go home with my wife and son to enjoy my life.”

“Then maybe you ought to take his advice, huh?”

Gonzo offered his longtime friend and boss a small smile and nodded. “I’d give just about anything to have him back.”

“We all would.”

Since there was nothing any of them could do to make that happen, Gonzo put his arm around Christina and led her to their car to go home to their son. For whatever reason, the universe had seen fit to take his partner and leave him to carry on without him. Gonzo was determined to live for both of them while ensuring that no one ever forgot the name of the earnest young officer who’d given his life in service to the District.

With one day to finish shopping for everyone, Sam hit the local stores on Wednesday with Vernon and Jimmy along for the ride. She let them drive her so she wouldn’t have to worry about parking and so she could pop in to surprise startled store owners, many of whom she’d known for years, having grown up in the District.

Thankfully, people mostly left her alone to do what needed to be done, and by that afternoon, she felt somewhat ready. She’d struggled over what to get for Nick and had decided to surprise him with an “experience” rather than a gift. In January, they’d spend a weekend at a spa in Virginia with private accommodations that would keep them separate from the rest of the guests so they could enjoy the time away without intrusion. Their package included facials, a couples massage and a wine tasting, among other things. Now if only the rest of the world would cooperate to allow him to take an entire weekend off…

With the help of online shopping, she’d gotten what she needed for the kids and Elijah as well as her sisters, nieces, nephews, Celia, Shelby, Noah, Freddie, Gonzo’s son… The list felt endless, but she was done. She stayed up late on Wednesday wrapping and drinking wine with Celia.

“How’re you holding up?” Sam asked her stepmother as she refilled their glasses for the second—or was it the third?—time.

“I’m surprisingly okay,” Celia said. “Thank you again for asking me to be here with you all. I think that’s made such a difference for me.”

“You’re helping me more than I could ever help you.”

“We’re helping each other equally, and I love being part of this exciting time in your lives.”

“We love having you.”

“If only we’d hear something from the judge,” Celia said.

The wait was wearing on all of them. “I know. It’s ridiculous.”

Sam was on the way to drunk by the time she crawled into bed with Nick shortly after two a.m., thrilled to have her gifts ready to go.

Not surprisingly, he was still awake and wrapped an arm around her to tuck her in close to him.

“You’ll be glad to hear that this won’t be the year without a Santa Claus.”

“Mom for the win,” he said.

“I had to get four more stockings for this Christmas, including one for Skippy.”

“What a year, huh? We got three more kids and a dog out of it.”

“In some ways, the best and worst year of my life.”

“I know, babe.”

“I can’t wait for tomorrow night.”

“It’ll be fun. Everyone is so excited.”

“And you’ve got it locked down so it’s entirely private, right?” she asked.