Page 55 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“I thought you’d decided on Senator Sanford, the Chanel No. 5 lady,” Sam said.

Senator Jessica Sanford wore the same perfume his deadbeat mother had worn all her life, which had given Nick an intense aversion to it.

“They want Sanford to take Ruskin’s place at State.”

“Isn’t it up to you?”

“Sanford wants the job at State. She told colleagues that was her dream.”

“Ugh. I thought we didn’t like Henderson.”

“I didn’t dislike her. I just liked Sanford more.”

“I had a weird feeling about Henderson.”

“I know,” he said with a sigh, “and that’s nagging at me. I’ve learned to trust that gut of yours, but you saw her for ten seconds.”

“That’s all it took.”

“We’ve been through every other possible female candidate and eliminated them all for one reason or another. It’s down to her, or I have to move on, and moving on would be to a man. I want a woman in this role. I want to be the first to have a female vice president.”

“And I so admire you for that commitment. I’ll shut my mouth and wish you luck with your new vice president.”

“I never want you to shut your mouth for long, babe.”

“Hahaha, don’t be fresh with young Freddie listening.”

Nick’s laughter made her skin tingle with love and desire and so many emotions that only he could stir in her. “Have you heard from Roni?” Sam had asked her newly widowed friend to be her communications director and spokesperson at the White House, and while Roni had accepted the position, she’d since decided to take some time away to cope with her painful loss before she started in January.

“Not yet, and I’m starting to get a little worried. I’m going to have Darren get on it.” Roni worked with Darren Tabor, the one reporter Sam could tolerate, at the Washington Star.

“He’ll expect an exclusive in exchange.”

“He can wish, and he can hope.”

“Aw, he adores you. You need to cut him a break.”

“The minute I do that, he’ll become insubordinate like young Freddie has, and he’ll be ruined.”

“I can hear you,” Freddie said.

“How’s the case?” Nick asked.

“Frustrating. A well-liked mother of three is murdered in gruesome fashion, and no one around her can think of a single person who had a beef with her, let alone would do something like what was done to her.”

“I’m sure you guys will figure it out.”

“I hope so. Gotta run. We’re interviewing one of her friends in a few.”

“Good luck with it. See you when you get home.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, too, babe.”

“How do you think he’s holding up?” Freddie asked after Sam ended the call.

“Pretty well, all things considered. We’re looking forward to escaping to Camp David after Christmas. I think he’s feeling a little cooped up after a few weeks of not leaving there. At least when he was VP, he got to come home at night.”