Page 53 of State of Alert

“Will do. I’ll be back to you soon.”

Terry came into the Oval Office as Nick was concluding the call with Andy. The news about the twins’ grandparents had sent his morning careening off the rails. “We’re due to head to Baltimore, Mr. President.”

“I’m ready.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Nope. I’ll tell you about it in the car.”

Nick’s lead agent, John Brantley Jr., led the way to the West Wing foyer and to The Beast outside. Once ensconced in the back seat of the presidential limousine with Terry, Nick updated his chief of staff and friend on what was happening with the twins’ grandparents.

“Oh, jeez. I thought you’d seen the last of them.”

“Me, too, but they’re suing this time using the special circumstances of me being president to make a case that the kids would be better off with them. Eli suspects it’s got more to do with the kids’ money than with wanting them.”

“Of course it does. Does Andy have someone looking into that angle?”

“Yeah, he’s on it. Sam suggested we adopt the three of them to put an end to this once and for all.”

“That’s a great idea. What did Elijah say?”

“He’s for it if they can keep Armstrong as their last name.”

“They could also hyphenate.”

“I guess.”

“Are you okay?”

“It’s exhausting, all this shit happening simply because ofthe office I hold. If I’d had any idea it would be this crazy, I never would’ve become vice president.”

“Lindsey and I were talking about Juan last night and everything that’s happened since you took over for Nelson. She made a great point about the difference between internal conflict and external. You have some control over the internal stuff, but not the external. Going all the way back to Raskin and the bad decisions he made in Iran—that was on him, not you. The Fort Liberty shooting was on the shooter, not you. What the Joint Chiefs did and what happened to Juan is not on you.”

“I get that, but it’s all happenedbecauseof me holding this office.”

“Sure, but other people’s actions are no reflection on you.”

“Aren’t they, though? A soldier shoots up his colleagues because he’d rather do that than serve under me as his commander in chief. Take me out of the picture, and those people are alive today. Juan is alive today.”

He experienced a twinge of guilt at keeping the news about Juan from Terry, but for now, discretion was important. That whole situation was beyond fucked up, and he dreaded the fallout that would occur when the truth came out. It would be more bad publicity, especially if the twins’ grandparents went public with their efforts to gain custody. And why wouldn’t they appeal to the public’s sympathy for the poor grandparents denied access to their orphaned grandchildren?

“I wish there was something I could say to relieve you of this burden of responsibility for other people’s actions, but I know how hard it is for you.”

“I’ll survive. Don’t worry.”

“The DNC is circling, wanting to hear you’re running for reelection.”

Nick laughed. “No fucking way. I’m three years and out. Make that two and a half now. Can’t go by fast enough for me.”

“Nick…”

“Terry. It’s not happening.”

“They’ll be very disappointed.”

“They’ll survive.”

Nick watched the world go by as they traveled north on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, trying to shed the shit mood he was in so he could give his brothers a day they’d never forget. Brock and Brayden were more than thirty years younger than him, so they’d never be brothers in the traditional sense of the word, but Nick loved them and wanted to be there for them as they grew into men. As the younger brothers of the president, people would be interested in them, always watching them. He intended to do everything he could to make sure they succeeded in this world, despite the added scrutiny that came from being his brothers.

---