Page 160 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

Sam’s heart lifted somewhat at hearing Ms. Finklestein had been assigned to the case, as the woman had worked with them when the twins first came to live with them.

“I can’t believe this,” Eli whispered, sounding as if he was on the verge of tears.

“I think it’s going to be okay,” Nick said. “We know Ms. Finklestein, and she’s already agreed once that the twins are well cared for with us.”

“Still… How are we supposed to breathe until this is over?”

That’s when Sam realized she had somewhere else to be the next morning. “Gonzo is testifying tomorrow morning. I have to be there.”

“Uh, I hate to say it, babe, but I don’t think we can risk you not being there to assure Picklestein”—as Nick had called her—“that the twins are in good hands with us. I’m texting Terry to clear my schedule for the morning.”

Sam knew he was right, but she had to be there to support Gonzo when he testified against the man who’d killed his partner. Maybe she could start with Picklestein and leave her with Nick and Elijah to finish up.

When they were back in the car to return to the White House, she texted Gonzo to tell him about what’d happened in court.

Do what you need to for the kids. I’ll be okay.

I’ll get there the second I can and will be sending you all the love and support in the whole world.

Thanks. I appreciate it. I feel ready to do what needs to be done for Arnold. Christina will be there. Arnold’s parents and sisters, too, along with the rest of the squad, Farnsworth and Malone. Please don’t worry about me. Do whatever it takes to keep those babies where they belong.

Will do. Hugs to you.

Sam would do what needed to be done for her family at home, and then she’d join her work family to support Gonzo.

Ms. Finklestein was nothing if not prompt. She came into the White House at the stroke of ten a.m., appearing to have zero fucks to give—or so it seemed to Sam—for the house, the history, the Christmas decorations, the president, the first lady or anything other than Alden and Aubrey, who remembered her from their previous meeting. Sam feared her presence would trigger painful memories for them, but they seemed to roll with her without any sign of trauma, which was a relief.

The woman asked first to see their bedrooms and allowed the twins to tow her along the red-carpeted hallway to their rooms. While Sam, Nick and Eli hovered outside the door, she asked them about their school, their routine, what they thought of their new home and how they were liking living with Sam, Nick and Scotty.

“How’s it going?” Scotty whispered when he and Skippy joined them. He’d put the puppy on a leash in deference to their visitor.

“So far so good.”

“My stomach hurts,” he said.

“Mine, too,” Sam said, putting an arm around her son and kissing the top of his head.

“I like the pool the best,” Alden said. “It’s really fun to be able to swim, even though it’s cold out.”

“That must be fun.”

“It is! I can dog-paddle, and Nick is teaching me to kick my feet. He swims with us every night after dinner. It’s so much fun.”

“What about you, Aubrey? What do you like best?”

“The theater. We can watch any movie we want and eat popcorn.”

“How’s school been going?” she asked.

“We’re on bacation!” Aubrey announced. “We’re going to…” She looked up at Sam in the doorway. “Where’s that place again?”

Sam smiled at how adorable she was. “Camp David.”

“We get to ride on a heliclopter,” Alden said.

“That’s very exciting. Does it ever bother you to have the agents with you when you go to school?”

Aubrey shook her head. “They always have a treat for us after school. They’re our friends.”

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