Page 48 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

Lilia laughed. “I’m sure you have a nice dress and a pair of heels you can wear. There’ll be photos, so you’ll want to do your hair and makeup.”

“I’ll see what I can do to not look too feral.”

“You’re going to have a lot of wardrobe demands. We should introduce you to some stylists and designers who can provide you with what you need. That’ll take some of the guesswork out of it.”

“That’s the one part of this whole thing that sounds fun to me—clothes and shoes.”

“If you give me some idea of what you’d like, I’ll make some calls.”

“I’ll think about that.”

“You also need to think about who you’d like to serve as your social secretary.”

Sam recoiled. “I need a social secretary?”

“I’m afraid so.” Lilia glanced over at Shelby. “I think you have someone very close to you who’d do a marvelous job.”

“I… uh… Maybe.”

Lilia squeezed her arm. “Try not to worry about anything. We’ll walk you through it and make sure you shine. I do have one other thing for you to think about.”

“What’s that?”

“Andrea has informed me that she’s getting married in the spring and planning to move back to Boston with her future husband after the first of the year.”

Sam was almost ashamed to admit that she barely knew the woman who’d been her communications director and spokesperson during her tenure as second lady. “That’s good news, I suppose.”

“She and Brad are very happy. They’ve been together since their freshman year of college.”

“Very nice.”

“So we need a new communications director and spokesperson. Before I tap into my professional network, I wanted to ask if you have anyone you might wish to ask.”

Sam immediately thought of her new friend Roni Connolly, an obituary writer at the Washington Star. “I actually do have someone I’d like to talk to about it, if that’s okay.”

“Of course. You’re the boss, ma’am.”

“Don’t call me ma’am.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Are you ladies bickering?” Dr. Harry Flynn asked as he put his arm around Lilia.

Sam raised a brow. “Us? Bicker?”

Harry laughed. “What am I saying? You two would have no reason to bicker. You’re going to be the most malleable, mild-mannered first lady in history. Lilia will have no problem managing you.”

Sam scowled at him as Lilia hooted with laughter. “None of that is funny.”

“Oh, yes,” Harry said, flashing his dimpled smile. “It’s all funny.”

An hour later, after everyone had left, Sam hung out with Eli, Scotty and two happy, tired six-year-olds, who were still playing with their new toys. She realized there’d never be a better time to talk to the kids while Eli was still home. She’d given Eli and Scotty a heads-up about talking to them while the kids ate pizza for dinner.

“Hey, guys,” she said to Alden and Aubrey. “Can you come sit with me for a minute?”

The kids got up and ran over to her, launching themselves at her with sugar-fueled excitement. She hated that she had to tell them something that might take some of the shine off their perfect day.

“Did you guys have fun today?” she asked when she had her arms full of the blond children who’d captured her heart from the first second she met them.

---