Page 70 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

“Yes, he did!”

“I love it.”

“And he said that while he hasn’t ruled out a career in politics, there was a sick presentation from the FBI at career day, and he’s thinking he could see himself as a federal agent. I told him politics is safer, but he said not always. I shut that right down, because I need to believe it’s way safer.”

“He’s growing up fast and will be making those decisions sooner rather than later.”

“I’m not ready for him to grow up.”

“Ready or not…” Nick ducked into the bathroom and returned five minutes later, wearing only a pair of flannel pajama pants. He got into bed and curled up to her, moving carefully so he wouldn’t cause her any pain.

“Did you set an alarm?” Sam asked.

“Yeah, for seven. I have a security briefing at eight.”

“No rest for the weary, huh?”

“More like no vacation from the horrors that go on in this world.”

“Right? We both see and hear the worst of the worst.”

“Someone’s gotta do it.”

“I guess,” she said.

“You know, someday it won’t be us doing it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Stop,” he said, laughing. “You won’t be working the streets at ninety.”

“Who says?”

“I say. We’re going to turn it over to other people one day, and we’ll get to do anything we want.”

“What’ll we do?”

“I have no idea.”

“Do you really want to be stuck with me full time without the job to keep me sane?”

“Um, well… Not really.”

“Great. Glad we had this conversation. You can do your retired thing, and I’ll keep you in the style to which you’ve become accustomed.”

“With butlers and ushers and chefs and florists?”

“On a cop’s salary?”

“Well, maybe not quite that level, but I can live happily with much less as long as I have you.”

“You know that our lives are never going to be normal, right?” she asked.

“Shut your mouth.”

“Nick… Tell me you know that after this, there’ll be presidential libraries and speaking tours and memoirs and endless obligations.”

“We’ll make it work.”

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