Page 166 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“For the moment.”

“And no word from the judge?”

“Not yet,” he said, sounding as dejected as she’d felt all day hoping for news.

“Since we can’t do anything about that, what do you say we have some fun?”

“Let’s do it.”

Chapter Thirty-One

He was simply devastating in a tuxedo. Sam knew it was uncouth to gawk at her own husband, but she couldn’t resist the temptation to let her gaze follow him as he made the rounds, greeting friends and family. The White House photographer was hot on his trail and got an adorable photo of him with his dad, stepmother and two half brothers, who were also decked out in tuxedos.

They’d debated whether to make the party formal, and Sam was glad now that they had. The kids were crazy excited about their fancy outfits, and everyone looked stunning.

Tracy and Angela came up to Sam and linked their arms with hers.

“Most fabulous Christmas Eve party ever,” Tracy said. She’d worn a black gown with one shoulder bare and her hair up in an elaborate style.

“The kids are so cute.” Angela, whose abdomen was round with the pregnancy of her third child, pointed to her son, Jack, who was following Scotty around the way he always did, and her daughter, Ella, in a fancy green velvet dress, in the arms of her dad, Spencer.

Tracy’s kids, Brooke, Abby and Ethan, were taking a tour of all the decorations with Celia and her sisters, who were possibly the most excited members of the group tonight. Sam had taken all the kids to see the famous White House gingerbread house that the twins were obsessed with. They wanted to know when they’d be allowed to eat it.

“Jack was so excited about sleeping at the White House that I was afraid he’d wet himself on the way over here,” Angela added.

Sam laughed. “Jack is way past the point where that would happen.”

“The White House might be the exception.”

“Are the kids okay with Santa coming here?” Sam asked.

“We had a lot of questions from Jack,” Angela said, “but I think he understands that Santa will find him and Ella wherever they are.”

“Gideon was terrific about coordinating all the gifts so everything is ready for an epic Christmas morning,” Tracy said as she accepted another glass of champagne from the waitstaff that circulated through the East Room. They’d be dining shortly in the State Dining Room and then back to the East Room for dancing.

“He’s the best,” Sam said of the chief usher, who’d been so integral to pulling off this evening.

Shelby, Avery and Noah approached them.

Sam took Noah from Shelby and gave him a tight squeeze. “How’s my big boy doing?”

“Santa,” he said.

“That’s his only word these days,” Shelby said, glowing with excitement.

“Only you could pull off the sexiest pink maternity gown in history, Tinker Bell,” Sam said, in genuine awe of how Shelby managed to rock pink for every occasion.

“I do what I can for the people,” Shelby said with a saucy wink.

“Hey, that’s trademarked,” Sam said, laughing.

Everyone they loved was there—Freddie and Elin; Freddie’s parents; Gonzo, Christina and Alex as well as Gonzo’s parents; Joe and Marnie Farnsworth; Jake Malone and his wife; Lindsey and Terry; Harry and Lilia; Graham and Laine O’Connor; Scotty’s former guardian, Mrs. Littlefield; Derek, his parents and daughter, Maeve; Andy and his wife, Elsa; Darren Tabor and his girlfriend; Jeannie and Michael; Archie, Cameron, Gigi, Dani and Matt.

Sam and Nick had invited the Reverend Canon William Swain, the childhood friend of Skip’s who’d presided over his funeral, to say a blessing before dinner.

“Let us please join hands and bow our heads to ask for God’s mercy,” Swain said when the group was gathered around a large square table that took up most of the gorgeous State Dining Room.

Sam reached for Nick on her left and Scotty on her right, closed her eyes and bowed her head.