Page 159 of State of Grace (First Family 2)

“Was it awful?” Scotty asked after they’d had dinner as a family, watched a movie with the twins and gotten them off to bed with four stories.

Skippy was curled up in Scotty’s lap as he petted her.

“Yeah, it was,” Nick said. “I’m glad we decided it would be better for you to sit this one out.”

“I wouldn’t know what to say to people after something like that,” Scotty said.

“All you can do is listen and let them know you care,” Sam said. “That’s what we tried to do.”

“I’m sure it meant a lot to them that you went there,” Scotty said.

“We hope so,” Nick said.

“I saw what you said on the plane,” Scotty said. “You’re trending on Twitter. People are tired of this crap. They want something done about it.”

“Not everyone would agree,” Nick said, “but I’m determined to put together the best possible group to home in on mental health considerations, criminal background checks and other sensible things that can be done. I want responsible gun owners to be able to carry on with no interference. They aren’t the ones we’re concerned about.”

“I think as long as you keep saying that, you may actually get somewhere,” Scotty said.

They spent the weekend with the kids and Elijah, who returned home from Princeton for a monthlong break from college. On Saturday morning, they had Sam’s nieces and nephews as well as Shelby and Noah to the White House to decorate ornaments and make Christmas cookies. Having a pastry chef on staff came in handy when Florence taught the kids how to apply fondant and decorations that made their cookies into works of art.

Sunday afternoon, they entertained the families of the White House staff and then played multiple competitive games in the bowling alley with the kids before settling in to watch Elf together in the theater.

By Monday morning, Sam felt rested and ready to do battle to keep the Littles with them where they belonged.

Celia stayed with the kids while Sam, Nick and Elijah went to court. A custody battle that involved the president and first lady of the United States was bound to draw some attention, but they weren’t prepared for the massive media presence outside the courthouse.

Apparently, the Secret Service had expected it. They got the three of them inside and delivered to the appropriate courtroom with a minimal amount of fuss.

“Sometimes, having Secret Service protection doesn’t suck,” Sam said to Nick when they were inside the courtroom, where Andy and two of his associates greeted them with handshakes.

“No matter what happens, just stay calm and remember the law is on our side,” Andy said before Sam, Nick and Elijah took a seat in the front row behind their attorneys.

The courtroom was soon called to order with the judge hearing from the attorneys on both sides, each making a case for why the Armstrong twins would be better off with their clients.

“The Cappuano family has provided a loving home for the children since the night of their parents’ murder. Their older brother, Elijah, who was appointed by his father and stepmother to be the twins’ guardian in the event of their deaths, is in daily contact with the twins and their custodial guardians. In addition, due to their proximity to President and Mrs. Cappuano, the twins are afforded world-class security through the Secret Service. I’d go so far as to say that the twins are among the safest children in the world—and they’re among the most loved.

“As a longtime friend of both President and Mrs. Cappuano, I can assure the court these are two people who’ve never been happier than since their son, Scotty, the twins and Elijah have come into their lives. It’s important to note that prior to the apprehension of their parents’ killer, Mrs. Cappuano, in her capacity as the lieutenant of the MPD Homicide division, had contact with Mrs. Dennis as well as her daughter, Monique Lawson.

“During the course of their conversations, neither the twins’ grandmother nor their aunt asked about them or how they were coping after losing their parents in a violent home invasion that Alden Armstrong witnessed in part. They didn’t ask where they were or who was caring for them. They only expressed interest in the twins after their parents’ killers had been arrested. We’ve furnished the court with financial records that indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Dennis are deeply in debt and on the verge of losing their business due to a lawsuit that isn’t expected to go their way. In addition, Monique Lawson and her husband declared bankruptcy last year. We find the timing of this petition interesting, since it’s no secret that the Armstrong twins and their brother came into an immense fortune upon the deaths of their parents. We ask the court to honor the provisions of the Armstrongs’ will and to keep the twins where their brother wants them to be. His father and stepmother trusted him to do what was best for the children, and that’s exactly what he has done by asking the Cappuanos to care for them while he’s away at college. Thank you for your consideration of our request for an immediate dismissal of this matter.”

The opposing attorney stood and cleared her throat. “My clients wholeheartedly object to Mr. Simone’s implication that this case is about money. This case is about two young children who need their family more than ever after the tragic loss of their parents. This case is about two children who don’t need to be thrust into the relentless glare of the public eye at this tender time in their lives. My clients were concerned enough when President and Mrs. Cappuano were the vice president and second lady. But recent events have significantly altered the equation. The thought of their grandchildren living in the White House, surrounded by Secret Service, isn’t at all what these loving grandparents want for Alden and Aubrey. We can’t believe it’s what their parents would’ve wanted either. We ask the judge to award emergency custody to my clients so the twins may recover from their heartbreaking loss in the privacy and safety of their grandparents’ home.”

Ugh, Sam thought. I hate how concerned they are now. Where was all that concern after their parents were murdered?

After the attorney took her seat, the judge sifted through several papers on his desk, leaving them to twist in the wind, waiting to hear what he would say.

Nick took hold of Sam’s hand, and she reached for Elijah’s.

His tight grip indicated his current stress level.

“I’ve reviewed the supporting documentation submitted by both sides, including the financial reports for both the Dennises and Lawsons that indicate significant financial concerns that do make me question the timing of this petition. Mr. President, Mrs. Cappuano, Mr. Armstrong, let me be clear. Under any other circumstances, my ruling today would be clear cut in favor of Mr. Armstrong continuing as the twins’ guardian, which is what his father and stepmother clearly wanted. I’m also aware of the threatening email Mrs. Lawson sent to Mr. Armstrong, and I want to express my outrage at such tactics. That alone would be enough to deny your petition under normal circumstances.”

Sam’s heart sank, and her palms began to sweat at his use of the words normal circumstances. He wasn’t going to give custody to those wretched people, was he? He couldn’t. She began to feel as if she might vomit at the thought of such a thing.

“However, with the Cappuano family’s move to the White House to take into consideration, I want more information. I’ve assigned a social worker to do a visit with the twins tomorrow, as I understand the urgent desire to get this settled before the holidays, which is my intent. Because she’s already familiar with the children, Ms. Dolores Finklestein from Child and Family Services will be at the White House at ten o’clock tomorrow morning to conduct her visit. Once I receive her report, I’ll issue my decision.”

He banged the gavel to signal their business before him was completed.

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