State of Affairs

by Marie Force

  “There was no evidence he took his own life, was there?”

  “No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we learned that was the case. He wasn’t in a good place lately. It had really begun to sink in that he’d not only ruined his marriage but also his legacy. He would’ve advised you to be careful with both those things.”

  A few minutes later, Terry came in with the first cut of Nick’s speech for that evening’s address to the nation.

  “I wish you and your family all the best,” Hanigan said.

  “Thank you, Tom,” Nick said, shaking the other man’s hand.

  Tom picked up the box and headed out of the Oval Office, taking a last look back before leaving the room.

  “I feel for him,” Nick said to Terry.

  “You’ve been right where he is.”

  “Yeah.” Shaking off the painful memories of John’s untimely death, Nick took the printout from Terry.

  They spent the rest of the day refining the speech until Nick was satisfied with it. While they worked, one of the butlers was in and out, bringing sandwiches and drinks. He’d had some contact with the butlers and other household staff as vice president, but he already noticed a different level of attentiveness for the president.

  “Thank you,” Nick said when the man served a turkey club with fries for him and a cheeseburger for Terry.

  “Pleasure, sir.”

  “I didn’t catch your name.”

  “It’s Anthony Jones, sir.”

  Nick stood to shake the man’s hand. “Very nice to meet you.”

  “You as well, sir. Please let me know if I can get you anything else.”

  “Thanks very much.” When he and Terry were alone, Nick said, “I could get used to this service.”

  “They’ll take very good care of you and your family.”

  “I’ve never had people waiting on me before. It feels kind of weird.”

  “The White House residence staff is an incredible group of dedicated professionals. Many of them are the second and third generation of their families to work here. They take great pride in their work and in taking care of the first family.”

  “I’m still trying to believe this has actually happened,” Nick said, taking in the Oval Office and all it signified. “What’re we hearing from Ruskin?”

  “Nothing yet.”

  “I hope he’s able to get somewhere with the Iranians. I don’t need an international incident on my first day in office.”

  “He has a good rapport with the Iranian president. Nelson was the one who was at odds with him. Ruskin has run interference from the beginning of the Nelson administration. He’s the right guy to be there now.”

  “I hope so.”

  An hour later, a knock on the door preceded one of the receptionists. “Pardon the interruption, Mr. President, but the first lady is here to see you.”

  Surprised to hear that, Nick stood. “Please ask her to come in.” When his people moved over from the vice president’s office, they’d know to send Sam right in anytime she came by.

  She came in wearing a pale peach silk blouse, black dress pants and heels. Spiral curls cascaded around her shoulders, and her pretty eyes looked at him with love and trepidation. Hopefully, the latter would recede once they settled into their new normal.

  He went to kiss and hug her. “This is a very nice surprise.”

  “I’ll be back after a while,” Terry said. “We have an hour until the broadcast.”

  Nick kept his arms around Sam. “Thanks, Terry.” Hugging Sam even tighter, he breathed in the scent of her hair. “I really needed this.”

  “I thought you might.”

  “How’re the kids?”

  “Everyone is fine. They had a great time at the zoo, and now they’re playing Go Fish with Elijah.”

  “I wish I could’ve spent today at home with you guys.”

  “Soon enough, you’ll be working from home. I talked to Lilia earlier, and she mentioned how most presidents say they get more family time living here than they did before.”

  “That’s something to look forward to. What else did Lilia have to say?”

  “That Mrs. Nelson invited me to afternoon tea and a tour of the residence on Sunday at two.”

  “Is that right? Are you going?”

  “Of course I’m going. You don’t say no to the first lady.”

  “Former first lady. You’re the first lady now.”

  “Still trying to wrap my head around that.” She snuggled into his embrace, wrapping her arms around him inside his suit coat. “Remember the night we got engaged in the Rose Garden?”

  “How could I ever forget?”

  “You said something then about promising me a rose garden.”

  “I always keep my promises.”

  Sam laughed. “This is one I sorta wish you hadn’t kept.”

  “I know,” he said with a sigh. “Sorry.”

  “Let’s not do that. I was also thinking about what we talked about when we were first together, about what kind of people we were going to be—the kind who shrink from challenges or the kind who meet them head-on.”

  “We’ve had a lot of challenges in two years, more than some people have in a lifetime.”

  “And we’ve met every one of them head-on.”

  “It’s a wonder we don’t have chronic concussions.”

  Sam laughed. “We’ll do the same with this one.”

  After they’d stood there, wrapped up in each other, for several minutes, Nick said, “You want to hear my speech?”

  “I’d love to.”

  Chapter Eight

  At exactly eight o’clock Eastern Time, Nick stared into the camera set up in front of the Resolute desk, tuned out the lights, the technicians, the staffers and even Sam, who stood off to his right, and focused on his message to the country on the teleprompter.

  “My fellow Americans, I come before you tonight as your new president and ask for your patience, prayers and forbearance as I take on this challenge at a time of national mourning for a man twice elected president of this great nation. My wife, Samantha, and I extend our deepest condolences to Mrs. Nelson and the entire Nelson family, as well as President Nelson’s cabinet, devoted staff, extended family and wide circle of friends both here in Washington and back home in South Dakota. President Nelson will long be remembered for his advocacy for the middle class and working Americans, his infrastructure program, his focus on the damaging effects of climate change, as well as caring for our veterans and the landmark immigration bill he championed along with my former boss, the late Senator John O’Connor. The sudden death of the president has left us all shocked and saddened, but as has been the case eight other times in our country’s history, we have no choice but to move forward and to continue the work on behalf of the American people. Per the Constitution, I was sworn in overnight, and I’m honored to serve as your forty-seventh president, even if I’d never want to achieve the highest office in our land through a loss of this magnitude. President Nelson died far too young and was cheated of many years he should’ve had as your president and to later enjoy a well-earned retirement. I’ve ordered the flags lowered to half-staff for fourteen days in his honor, and we will pause as a nation this week to remember him. He will lie in state at the Capitol beginning Wednesday, and a state funeral will be held at the National Cathedral on Thursday. The federal government and schools in the capital region will be closed on Thursday in honor of President Nelson. Today I took the time to reflect on the other vice presidents who’ve assumed this office after the untimely death of their predecessor and to learn from their examples. I was struck by President Johnson’s eloquent words after the tragic death of President Kennedy:

  “‘No words are sad enough to express our sense of loss,’ he said. ‘No words are strong enough to express our determination to continue the forward thrust of America that he began.’ I feel that same sense of determination to continue the work begun by David Nelson and to represent the United States
and her best interests at home and abroad.

  “I’ve heard today from leaders around the world who extended their sympathies to the Nelson family and the American people. Each of them has pledged their support to me and my administration as we step forward to complete the work President Nelson began. I understand that many of you are concerned. Not only am I the nation’s youngest president, but less than a week ago, I told you I wasn’t planning to run in the next election. So, you may be wondering about whether you’re stuck now with a reluctant president. Let me assure you, that is not the case. While it is true that I had chosen not to be away from my young family for months on end to campaign for the presidency, it is not true that I’m unwilling or unable to assume the duties of the office at this critical juncture in our history. I do so willingly, with an open heart and mind and a desire to serve you, my fellow Americans, to the best of my ability.

  “Keeping our nation safe, secure and prosperous will be foremost on my agenda as I complete the remainder of President Nelson’s term. It is a tremendous honor and the greatest privilege of my life to be your president. I will do everything in my power to be worthy of the trust and faith placed in me by President Nelson and the American people. May God bless and keep President Nelson and the Nelson family as well as our troops around the world, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.”

  When the cameraman signaled that the live feed had ended, Nick sat back in the chair and took a deep breath.

  “You did great,” Sam said.

  Nick held out his hand to her, and she joined him behind the desk. “Thanks for being here.”

  “Well done, Mr. President,” Terry said.

  “Thank you and everyone who put that together. I think we struck the right note.”

  Nick had exactly thirty seconds to celebrate getting through his first address to the nation when Teresa appeared in the doorway to the Oval Office. “Mr. President, we need you in the Situation Room.”

  When it became clear that whatever crisis had taken Nick to the Situation Room wouldn’t be resolved quickly, Sam went home alone. She caught the last half of the movie the four kids were watching and then helped to tuck in the twins, who were excited about their birthday party the next day. They requested stories from her, Elijah and Scotty before they settled into bed, an hour and a half later than usual.

  “Hopefully, they’ll sleep in tomorrow,” Elijah said as he went downstairs with Sam and Scotty.

  “They won’t,” Scotty said. “Whenever we let them stay up late, they seem to wake up even earlier the next day.”

  “Awesome,” Elijah said, grinning. “Let’s watch the playback.” They had recorded Nick’s speech to watch after the twins went to bed.

  Sam poured a glass of wine and sat with the boys on the sofa, feeling strangely detached as she watched her husband—the president of the United States—address the nation.

  “He sounds really good,” Elijah said. “Very presidential.”

  “He does,” Scotty agreed, sounding proud and excited. “What do you think, Mom?”

  “He did a wonderful job. His primary goal was to soothe and reassure the citizens that they’re in good hands.”

  “When will he be home?” Scotty asked.

  “I don’t know. Something came up right when he finished.”

  “It was weird not seeing him at all today.”

  “That won’t happen when we live at the White House,” Sam said, even as a feeling of dread settled in her belly. God, they had to move. Even if they were just moving across town, the thought of it was so exhausting.

  “Do you know when that will be?” Elijah asked.

  “Not yet, but I figure in the next week or so.”

  “Wow.”

  “You just never know what’s going to happen next,” Scotty said. “First the twins came to live with us, and then Gramps died, and now this.” He turned his head so he could look at Sam. “Mrs. Littlefield called today and so did Tony.” For Elijah’s sake, he added, “That’s my former guardian and my biological father.”

  “What did they have to say?” Sam asked.

  “Mrs. Littlefield said she can’t wait to visit me at the White House, and Tony said he thinks it’s so cool. He’s happy for us.”

  “That’s nice of them.”

  “Are you okay with it?” Scotty asked, sounding hesitant.

  “I’m very proud of Dad.”

  “But?”

  “No buts. I’m determined to support him every way I can.”

  “Are you bummed that we have to move?”

  “Kind of, but at least it’s just across town. We can come back here anytime we want to.”

  “It’ll be weird not to live here anymore.”

  “It’s temporary,” Sam said, uncertain of who she was trying to convince—him or herself. “Three years.”

  “Please,” Scotty said disdainfully. “It’ll be seven. He’ll run for reelection and win in a landslide. You saw how bummed people were when he said he wasn’t going to run.”

  Sam couldn’t begin to think about anything beyond him completing the last three years of Nelson’s term. She’d learned to compartmentalize things that were too big for her brain to handle, and this certainly counted. “He’s not deciding anything right away. He has enough to contend with as it is without worrying about the next election cycle.”

  “Tell me you understand that regardless of what he just said about not running, they won’t let him bow out, not as the incumbent,” Scotty said, his gaze earnest and intense.

  “As I’ve asked many times before—whose idea was it to send you to school?”

  “Definitely not mine,” he said, as he usually did.

  “I hear what you’re saying, but I can’t think about that tonight.” Not when Nick had been at the White House for more than fourteen hours—on his first day as president.

  Eli was scrolling through his phone. “Twitter liked what he had to say. For the most part.”

  “What does that mean?” Sam asked, even though she didn’t really want to know.

  “There’re detractors, of course. Always will be.”

  “They make me nervous,” Sam said. “That people will hate him simply because of the office he holds. They won’t even give him a chance because he’s from an opposing party or has ideas they don’t agree with.”

  “That goes with the territory in politics,” Scotty said. “You’ll never please everyone, no matter how hard you try.”

  Sam put her arm around him and kissed the top of his head. “You’re very wise, Scott Cappuano.”

  “Did Dad say what took him to the Situation Room?”

  “He didn’t. That’s where the secret stuff happens.”

  “I hope it’s nothing big.”

  “Me too.”

  Sam was dead asleep when something woke her. The clock read three ten. She realized what had woken her was Nick getting into bed. Turning, she curled up to him. “So late.”

  “Sorry to wake you.”

  “I tried to wait for you. Is everything okay?”

  “Nope. Not at all okay.”

  “Can you talk about it?”

  “I’m not supposed to.”

  “Can we make a deal on day one—or I guess it’s day two now?”

  “What kind of deal?”

  “The kind where you can tell me anything, and it’ll never be repeated to anyone even under threat of torture.”

  “Jesus, Sam. Don’t put that horror in my mind when I’ve got plenty of others already there.” He ran his fingers through her hair the way he often did, but every muscle in his body felt tense. “I’ll take your deal, and I’ll tell you the secretary of State and his detail have been detained by the Iranians.”

  “Detained. What does that mean?”

  “Not allowed to leave.” He slumped back against the pillows. “The Air Force pilots were told to take off, but they refused to leave without the secretary and his detail, so now the plane, with two dozen mili
tary flight crew, civilian support staff and traveling press corps, is surrounded by Iranian forces, and we’ve got ourselves a full-fledged international incident.”

  Sam’s mouth had gone dry as her anxiety spiked into the red zone with every word he said. Just over twenty-four hours ago, this would’ve been Nelson’s problem. Now it was Nick’s. “What are your advisers saying?”

  “The chairman of the Joint Chiefs thinks it’s a test to see what I’ll do. They say Nelson’s death created an opportunity.”

  “What’re you doing?”

  “We’re meeting at seven to go over the options the others are preparing for me overnight. Everyone is involved, from intelligence to military to allies. I may have to send in special forces, which could lead to war if it goes badly. Of course, them detaining our secretary of State is an act of war in itself, but the goal is to not let it blow up into an actual war.”

  “Good God. On day one.”

  “Right? Good times.”

  “Are you panicking?”

  “Trying not to. That won’t help anything.”

  “You can panic with me.”

  “Thanks, babe. I was going to stay in the Oval, but they said I should go home and sleep while I could. It’s apt to be a tense few days. I’ll probably miss the twins’ party, and that bums me out big-time.”

  “Don’t do that to yourself. They’ll have a wonderful time, and we’ll tell them you got called into work. They'll understand.”

  “I want to be with them for their party.”

  “They’ll know that, Nick. We’ll make sure of it.”

  “Why exactly is it that so many people want this job, anyway?”

  “Um, if I had to guess, they get off on the idea of being the most powerful person on earth.”

  “I don’t feel very powerful right now with my secretary of State and six Secret Service agents being held hostage by a hostile government.”