Page 178 of State of Alert

“That’s the idea.”

“That’d besick.”

“We didn’t want to say anything about it until we were sure it’s going to happen, so don’t say anything to the Littles yet, okay?”

“When will we be sure?”

“Soon.”

“I love this so hard. We’d be real siblings then.”

“You already are, Scotty. That’ll never change.”

“I’m tired of people trying to take them away from us. They’re ours.”

“Yes, they are, and we’re doing everything we can to make it happen. I don’t want you to worry. Dad and I will move heaven and earth to keep those babies with us.”

“Thanks for telling me.”

“I’m sorry you were worried.”

“I wasn’t too worried. I knew you guys would go to war to keep them with us.”

“Yes, we would.”

“I’ll go see what’s taking them so long. Oh, and I invited the third-floor tenants to dinner.”

“Excellent,” Sam said with a laugh.

As Sam watched Scotty and Skippy run off, filled with pride for a son that any mother would be proud to call her own. That he was hers,herson… He was one of the greatest blessings in her life, and she couldn’t wait to watch him become a man, but she hoped that took a while to happen. She loved him at this stage, even when he was passive-aggressive about getting to drink coffee.

She went into their suite to lock up her service weapon and change into a T-shirt and pajama pants before she joined the kids and her mom, Brenda, in the family dining room.

“How was your day, dear?” Brenda asked as she handed Sam a glass of wine.

“Not too bad, but it got a whole lot better about fifteen minutes ago. How’d everything go here today?”

“Just fine. I love spending this time with them. Thank you for asking me to help out.”

“Oh please, I should be thanking you. We could never do what we do without you and Celia.”

“I know I speak for her when I say we love every minute of it.”

For a lot of years, Sam had thought her mother was out of her life for good. She was glad those years were in the past now and that they were forging a whole new relationship.

Scotty and the twins came into the room, with Skippy hot on their heels.

Sam hugged Alden and Aubrey, who were so happy to see her that her heart nearly burst with love for them. Her babies. No matter how they’d come into her life, they were hers now, and she would do anything for them.

They were just settling into their chairs when Noah came charging in ahead of Avery and Shelby, who was carrying Maisie.

“Sorry we’re late,” Shelby said.

“You’re not,” Sam said. “We just got organized.” She took the enchiladas provided by the White House chef out of the oven and put them on the table, along with a huge bowl of yellow rice and a salad.

“That smells amazing,” Avery said. “We’re going to miss the White House cuisine.”

“Nick and I say that all the time. We fear we’re going to be hopelessly spoiled by the time we leave.”

---