THINGS HAPPEN FAST when you’re the vice president of the United States and request a private meeting with the embattled president and his wife.
Sam hated having to go to the White House with her face looking the way it did, but with Nick under tremendous pressure to testify in the congressional hearings, they had to do it before the president ceded to calls for his resignation.
The meeting took place in the residence, which Sam had not seen before.
Per Nick’s request, it was only the four of them sitting in a parlor with a coffee service and tray of Danish on the table between them.
Sam had worn her sleekest light gray suit, a pink silk blouse and the Louboutins Nick had bought her for Christmas last year as well as the diamond key necklace he’d given her as a wedding gift and her diamond engagement ring that she only wore on special occasions. A private meeting with the president and first lady in the White House residence counted as a special occasion in her world. She had brought clothes to change into before she went to work.
“My goodness!” Gloria Nelson zeroed right in on the massacre on Sam’s face. “What happened?”
Overnight, the bruise had turned an angry purple color and her eye was completely swollen shut. She hoped her one working eye would be enough to gauge whether the Nelsons were telling the truth.
“A scuffle with someone who didn’t think he needed to be arrested,” Sam said, choosing fiction over fact. Her troubles with colleagues had been in the news often enough. She hoped to keep this latest incident under wraps.
“I so admire what you do.” Gloria poured coffee for each of them. She wore a tan suit and looked as if she’d just stepped out of a beauty salon while Sam looked like the Bride of Frankenstein. “Especially with what’s been happening in the city lately. Are you any closer to an arrest in the shootings?”
“We’re closing in,” Sam said, keeping it brief. They weren’t there to talk about the case she needed to get back to.
“Thank you for meeting with us on short notice,” Nick said.
“It was the least we could do under the circumstances,” David Nelson said.
“We want you to know,” Gloria said, her voice quivering with emotion, “how sorry we are for what our son put you through. We’re appalled by the entire thing.”
“If you’ve come to ask me to resign,” the president said, “I’ll do it. I have no desire to put the country through a protracted scandal that’ll probably end badly for me anyway.”
“We haven’t come to ask you to resign,” Nick said. “We’d like to hear directly from you that you knew nothing about what your son was up to.”
“We didn’t,” Nelson said, looking Nick in the eye. “I swear on the lives of our grandchildren. We did not know.”
“Christopher has been a difficult child from the beginning,” Gloria said haltingly. “We have five children, and we love them all, but he didn’t make it easy. He was in and out of trouble, involved with drugs and kicked out of four schools. His brothers and sisters were high achievers, excellent students and athletes, college graduates. He managed to graduate from law school, but just barely, and there were hushed allegations of cheating in school and that he paid someone to take the bar exam for him. We’ve long believed that the so-called think tank he oversees is a front for illegal activity, but we could never prove it. Until he was arrested and we found out what he’d been doing.” A tear rolled down her cheek, and she brushed it away as if it infuriated her. “We’re horrified by what he did. The threats against innocent children, the murder of Sam’s ex-husband, the things he got Nick’s mother to say...”
The president took her hand and sent her a loving look. “We did everything we could to get him the help he needed,” David said. “He’s been to rehab so many times I’ve lost count. He’s gone through at least twenty psychiatrists and been on a variety of medications that either made things worse or turned him into a zombie.” He swallowed hard. “Despite all that, never in a million years did we think he was capable of the things he’s done. If we’d had any idea...” His voice broke.
“We would’ve intervened if we’d known,” Gloria said emphatically.
Sam glanced at Nick and saw that he was visibly moved by the Nelsons’ story.
“I have one question,” Sam said.
“We’ll answer any questions you have,” David said.
“How did you keep his troubles private in the age of the twenty-four-hour news cycle?”
“I was a senator with a bright political future and four other children to think about. I buried it.”
His blunt words gave Sam new respect. While she didn’t agree with what he’d done, as a parent herself, she understood why. People went to extraordinary lengths to protect their children.
“Do you have other questions?” Nick asked Sam.
She shook her head. “I’ve heard what I need to, and I feel better knowing you both had no knowledge of what your son was doing.” That was the signal she’d worked out with Nick in advance so he’d know she believed them.
“Sam and I are going to issue a statement, letting the public—and the Congress—know that we’ve met with you and we believe you when you say you had no knowledge of your son’s schemes.”
David stared at him, appearing shocked. “Why would you do that?”
“Frankly, because I don’t wish to become president. Not now and not like this. However, there is something I do want.”
“Name it.”
“A seat at your table and a role in your administration beyond boosting your sagging approval ratings.”
Nelson had the good sense to look chagrined by the assertion that he’d sidelined his more popular vice president. “We can make that happen effective immediately.”
“Excellent. We’ll issue a statement today that’ll hopefully put an end to this madness so we can get back to doing the people’s business.”
“I...I don’t know what to say,” Nelson said.
“Say thank-you, dear,” Gloria said.
Nelson stood and offered his hand to Nick. “You have my profound thanks and any role in my administration you wish to take on going forward.”
Nick rose to shake the president’s hand. “I’ll give that some thought and get back to you.”
“I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”
Sam shook their hands, and then preceded Nick to the door. He took her hand and they walked silently through the hallways of the White House, with Brant following close behind them, until they reached Nick’s office. Once inside with the door closed, he turned to her. “I’m glad you believed them, because I did too.”
“Their ordeal didn’t begin with Christopher’s latest crimes,” Sam said. “As a parent, I feel for them.”
“How can a family have four great kids and one bad apple?”
“I don’t know, but hearing what they went through with him makes me thankful for our fantastic kid.”
He put his arms around her and kissed the uninjured side of her face. “Me too. Will you still love me if I’m only going to be the vice president for the time being?”
“I love you more for being only the vice president. Thank God that monkey is off our backs.”
“It’s not yet, but it will be soon, and then the only monkey we’ll have left is the monkey sex.”
Sam laughed, and he kissed her gently, careful not to touch the side of her mouth that hurt.
She wished she had time to burrow into him and breathe in the endlessly appealing scent of home. “I need to get to work.”
They’d already put together the joint statement they would release now that they were confident about the president’s lack of culpability in his son’s crimes. The gist of the statement, which they planned to give to Darren Tabor exclusively, was that the Cappuanos had met with the Nelsons, and the vice president and second lady believe the president and first lady when they say they had nothing to do with their son’s crimes. They hope the president and Congress can get back to the important work on behalf of the American people.
“Let me give you a lift.” He summoned Brant and asked him to prepare to leave to get Sam to work.
“It’d be less complicated if you put me in a cab.”
“Maybe so, but I couldn’t go with you for the ride. This way, I can.”
“I do like the way you think, Mr. Vice President.”
“I like the way you do everything.”
* * *
AVERY SCORED A LUNCHTIME appointment with Rosemary. After Shelby agreed to come with him, he’d wanted to get it done as soon as possible so they could hopefully get back on track. He already felt better after talking to her the night before. At least the problem was out in the open now, rather than festering like a wound that couldn’t be healed no matter how hard he tried.
As he drove them, Shelby texted with her sister, who was staying with Noah while they were gone. It was the first time she’d left the baby, and she’d been a hot mess about it. He hoped that wouldn’t derail the purpose of this outing.
“He’s fine, honey. Your sister is a professional mom.” Nancy had three teenagers. “You called in an expert.”
“I know.”
“Shelby.”
She glanced over at him. “What?”
“Stop texting her. She knows what to do, and she’ll call if she needs you.”
“Let me just send this last one so she knows where the extra bottles are.”
“You left her with a week’s worth of breast milk. She won’t need extra bottles before we get back.”
“Are you making fun of me?” she asked, her tone tinged with amusement.
“Would I do that?”
“Yes, I believe you would.”
“Darlin’, that’d just be mean.”
“Don’t unleash that accent on me. You know what it does to me.”
The tiny taste of normal made him hungry for more. Taking a chance, he reached for her hand, knocking the phone into her purse in the process.
“Smooth.”
“I try.” He held on to her hand until he had to release it to parallel park. “If I get out and come around to get you, will you check your phone while I’m outside?”
“Of course not. Why would I do that?”
Avery laughed. “Why indeed. Wait for me.” He stepped out into thick, swampy heat. People who didn’t believe in climate change needed to spend some time in the District in the summer. It seemed to get hotter every year. Opening the passenger door, he held out a hand for Shelby and helped her out.
She’d worn a cute pink dress with white polka dots and sky-high pink heels and had obviously spent time on her hair and makeup. On the sly, Avery had asked her sister if they had time for lunch after their appointment, and she’d encouraged him to stay out as long as they wanted. He planned to break the lunch news to Shelby after their appointment.
Since they had a minute, he rested his hands on her hips and looked down at her. He’d never thought much of the color pink until she’d come into his life with her obsession for it. Now pink reminded him of her, and he loved it. “In case I forgot to say so earlier, you look gorgeous today.”
“You look gorgeous all the time. It’s really not fair.”
“Shut up,” he said, smiling as he kissed her.
“It’s true. No woman should have to live with a man who looks as good as you do from the minute you wake up.”
Raising a brow, he said, “Are you saying you don’t want to live with me anymore?”
“Not at all. I’m merely pointing out your unfair advantage.”
“If you could see yourself through my eyes, you’d know you have nothing to feel disadvantaged about. In my opinion, you have all the advantages.”
“And that! The accent, the words, the gorgeous golden eyes, the cheekbones...” She sighed dramatically. “Not fair.”
For the first time since he’d ruined everything, he felt hopeful that they might be able to put their relationship back together. Taking her hand, he led her to the door to Rosemary’s office. “This is where I come to have my soul scrubbed in battery acid.”
Shelby laughed at his description of the therapy. “I’m looking forward to meeting this woman you spend so much time with.”
“You’ll like her.”
Rosemary’s door was propped open, so Avery knocked. He suspected she’d added this hour to her schedule to accommodate them more quickly, and he appreciated that.
“Come in,” she said cheerfully.
After spending her days listening to other people’s problems, he marveled at her cheerfulness. He’d be ready to murder someone. With his hand on the small of Shelby’s back, Avery ushered her in ahead of him.
“Hi there.” Rosemary extended a hand to Shelby. “You must be Shelby. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Likewise.”
“I’m sure Avery has plenty to say about me,” Rosemary said drolly. “He loves every minute he spends with me.”
The comment made them laugh and eased his tension. “You know it,” he said.
“I’m so glad you could come in,” Rosemary said to Shelby.
He could tell that the therapist’s friendliness had put Shelby at ease.
“Thanks for accommodating us on short notice.”
“No problem at all. I understand you’re madly in love with your little Noah.”
“Oh, he’s just the best. I waited forever to be a mom, and he’s made the wait well worth it.”
“Congratulations. Enjoy every minute. He’ll grow up so fast.”
“That’s what everyone says.”
“Well, we all know why we’re here, and I want to make sure we get the most out of our hour together, so I’ll cut to the chase. Avery has told me about his mistake and the terrible hurt it has caused and the ensuing rift between the two of you.”
“Wow,” Shelby said, glancing at him. “She doesn’t mince words.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
Rosemary smiled. “I want to help. What can I do to help you move past this, Shelby?”
“I... I’ve been trying to put it behind me. Avery... He’s so wonderful with Noah. He loves him so much, which is such a special gift to me—and to Noah. I’d expected to raise him on my own. When Avery came into my life and said he didn’t care how the baby was conceived... He said he’d love him no matter where he came from. That’s when I fell in love with him.”
For the first time since that awful day, she took his hand and held on tight to him. His heart contracted with what felt an awful lot like joy. The accompanying swell of emotion had him fearful that he might break down.
“Later you found out he’d had complicated feelings for your friend and employer.”
Shelby nodded, the inner light that was so much a part of her dimming. “It hurt me that everyone kept that from me for so long. I felt stupid because I had no idea.”
“Do you believe Avery when he tells you nothing of any consequence ever happened between the two of them because she was happily married when he met her?”
“I know all the parties involved, and I absolutely believe that nothing happened. Sam would never be unfaithful to Nick. They’re crazy about each other and don’t care who knows it.”
“They do give off that vibe,” Rosemary agreed. “I’m glad to know it’s authentic.”
“It’s so authentic.”
“Do you understand that this information was kept from you by three people you care about because they care about you and didn’t want to hurt you with information they felt was irrelevant to your relationship with Avery—and with them?”
“It took me some time to understand that, but I do now.”
“We were well past that when I made the huge mistake of saying her name at the worst possible time,” Avery said, grimacing all over again at the thought of that moment. It still made him sick to think about how much pain he’d caused the woman he loved.
“Avery and I have talked a lot about that event,” Rosemary said. “We’ve rehashed it from every possible angle, and I’ve tried to help him see that sometimes our brain behaves in ways that make no sense. For instance, did you know that Sam reminds him of a woman he loved when he was in college?”
Stunned, Shelby looked at him. “No, I didn’t know that. You’ve never told me...”
“I never told anyone until Rosemary got it out of me.”
“Who was she?” Shelby asked.
God, this hurt, even after all this time. “Her name was Jennifer. We met at a dance when I was at the Citadel. She went to a local high school in Charleston. I was crazy about her from the minute I met her, and she felt the same way. Every time I saw her, my feelings for her multiplied until she was the most important part of my life. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried to have a girlfriend while attending a military college. Over time, she got tired of waiting for me to be free to see her, and she moved on with someone who had time for her. When we broke up... That was the closest I ever came to leaving school. My parents got involved with the school counselor and they got me through it, but it was the first real crisis I ever had.”
“And Sam reminds you of her?”
“I’d never made the connection until Rosemary connected the dots for me, but Sam does bear a striking resemblance to Jennifer. I never realized it because I worked so hard to bury all thoughts of Jennifer that I didn’t make the connection. But once Rosemary did, a lot of things made sense to me.”
“Wow,” Shelby said. “That’s...”
“It’s crazy, darlin’. I know it is. I’ve always known this thing I had for Sam was ridiculous, but it was like I couldn’t control it even when I knew I had to. Rosemary thinks that was driven by the unfinished business I had with Jennifer more than anything directly to do with Sam.”
“I like that theory a whole lot better than you having a secret burning love for my friend and boss.”
“I do too.”
“Do you know whatever became of Jennifer?”
“I don’t, and I don’t want to know. I have no interest in anyone but the woman who’s going to be my wife, if she’ll still have me after the mistakes I’ve made.” A few weeks ago, it would’ve been impossible for him to say something so intimate in front of Rosemary, but she no longer felt like a stranger. She’d helped him to make sense of a lot of crap, and he was grateful to her for that.
He hadn’t thought about Jennifer or the devastation he’d experienced when their relationship ended in years. Rosemary had asked him to describe her, and after he did, she’d said, “You could’ve been describing our second lady.” That had been the ultimate lightning rod moment for him.
“Shelby?” Rosemary said after a long silence. “How do you feel about what Avery said?”
“I...I want the same thing he does. I want to be married to him. I want him to formally adopt Noah. I want us to raise him together and maybe, if we’re super lucky, we’ll have another baby that belongs to both of us from the beginning.”
That was the first time he’d heard her say she wanted him to adopt Noah. His heart ached with love for her. “Noah has belonged to both of us from the beginning,” he said, “and I’d love nothing more than to formally adopt him.” He put his arm around her and kissed her temple, fairly shaking from the relief of hearing her say she still wanted the same things he did.
“You’ve made great progress today, but if you’re amenable I’d like to continue to see you both to make sure we’ve laid a strong foundation for your life together.”
“That’s fine with me.” Avery would always be thankful to Rosemary for helping him put his life back together.
“Me too,” Shelby said. “Whatever it takes.”
They left a few minutes later and went down the stairs holding hands. Outside, Avery said, “Go ahead and check your phone. I know you’re dying to.”
“Only a little.” She pulled the pink bedazzled monstrosity from her pink purse, her face lighting up with joy. “Look.”
Nancy had sent a selfie of herself with a sleeping Noah in her arms.
“Has he grown since we left? Tell me the truth.”
“I’ll tell you the truth, darlin’. You’re losing it.”
“What a way to go,” she said with a happy sigh as she gazed at the baby like she hadn’t seen him in a year.
“I asked Nancy if we could go to lunch after our appointment, and she said to take our time. Do you think you could relax enough to enjoy a meal with your fiancé?”
Shelby bit her lip. “I could, but there’s something else I’d much rather do.”
“Name it.”
She dropped the phone into her purse, took a step closer to him and put her arms around his waist, looking up at him with the big expressive eyes that had looked at him with such adoration until it had gone so very wrong. For the first time since that dreadful day, she looked at him the way she used to.
He wanted to drop to his knees and give thanks to whatever higher power had made it possible for her to forgive him.
“I want to go home and be alone with my sexy fiancé.” She punctuated her words with kisses to his neck and jaw. “If he can take the afternoon off, that is.”
Avery turned his head ever so slightly, just enough to bring his lips into contact with hers. “Your fiancé can think of nothing else in this world he’d rather do than take an afternoon off to spend with you.”