Page 125 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“Yes, all set.”

“Thank you, Samantha.”

“You’re welcome, Nicholas. Gotta run. See you later.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Sam ended that call and juggled the phones to put through a call on her flip to Captain Malone.

“Can you try to keep the car on the road while you’re doing that?” Freddie asked.

“I’ve got this. Don’t worry.”

“Right.”

Malone picked up the call. “Didn’t I just see you?”

“You did, but I forgot to tell you I’m going to Iowa with Nick on Friday, just in case we don’t have this all sewed up by then.”

“No problem. Do what you have to do. You’ve got a good team to cover for you when you need to be out.”

“Thanks for the support, Cap.”

“We all agree that having the first lady working for the department while in office is going to be awesome PR. We’re fully prepared to support you in every way we can.”

His words made Sam feel oddly emotional. “That means so much to me. Thank you.”

“Your dad would be so incredibly proud of you both.”

That brought tears to her eyes. “I hope so. Scotty and I were talking about how he’d be all over the White House in his wheelchair, asking questions and bothering everyone.”

Malone laughed. “I can see that so clearly. I sure do miss him. I can’t imagine how hard this is for you, especially with Christmas coming.”

“Thanksgiving was the tough one. He loved that day more than anything.”

“I can still picture him gnawing on the turkey neck while everyone else was dry heaving.”

Sam cracked up. “There was literally nothing he wouldn’t eat. By the way, I’ve got a thing at La Casa Blanca at six tonight.”

“Ah, yes, the announcement of our nation’s first female vice presidential nominee. Exciting stuff.”

“What do you know about her?”

“Just what I read in the paper this morning. She’s been instrumental in get-out-the-vote efforts for the party over the last few years and has fired up young voters. People are excited to have a young, dynamic team in the White House, not to mention the young, dynamic first couple.”

“Not to mention.”

“Why do you ask?”

“I got a weird vibe from her the one time I met her, but I was in her company for about ten seconds.”

“That’s usually all it takes for that gut of yours to get a reading.”

“I hope I’m wrong about her.”

“I hope so, too. Let me know what Tappen has to say.”

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