“I did, but she’s getting calls from a Lily someone who wants her there in the morning for a staff meeting that’s not going to happen.”

“Lilia Van Nostrand,” Derek said. “She’s well regarded here too. A real go-getter.”

“If that’s the case, I have a feeling she’s going to dislike my wife rather intensely.”

Derek made a sound that might’ve been a laugh that turned into a cough. “Perhaps it might make sense for you to meet with her and explain Sam’s...limitations.”

“Limitations,” Nick said, laughing. “That’s a good word for it. And it’s a great idea to meet with her. I’ll ask Terry to set something up. I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot over there, but I made promises to Sam when I took this job. Chief among them was that her life would remain relatively similar to what it was before.”

“That might be a hard promise to keep. There’ll be times when they’ll want both of you at events.”

“They have been told there’ll be times when they might get only me.”

“Personally, I think it’s really cool that she’s doing something no other second lady has ever done—that I know of. No security and still working the streets as a cop. It’s awesome.”

“It gives me angina to think about her running around with no security and a big target on her back because of who she’s married to.”

“If there’s one thing I know about Sam, it’s that she can more than take care of herself.”

“True. Besides, if someone ever decided to take her, they’d probably give her back within thirty minutes.” Nick made light of it, but the thought of her being taken terrified him.

This time Derek made no attempt to conceal his laughter. “You said that, not me.”

“You were thinking it.”

“You’ll never get me to admit that.”

“I really appreciate your help in navigating all this stuff. You’ve been a tremendous asset to Terry and to me.” Nick had decided to refrain from asking Derek about the odd radio silence from the West Wing over the last few weeks. Not wanting to take advantage of their friendship, he’d save that card for if or when he really needed it.

“My pleasure. Looking forward to having you around the West Wing, sir.”

“Shut up, Derek.”

“Yes, sir. See you tomorrow.”

“Hey, Derek?”

“Yeah?”

“You doing all right?”

A deep sigh came through the phone loud and clear. “As well as can be expected, I guess. We got through the holidays. That’s something anyway. Thank goodness for my family and Maeve,” he said of his young daughter. “She gives me a reason to get up every day and keep pushing forward.”

“You’re surrounded by a lot of people who care about both of you. I hope you know that.”

“I do, and it’s gotten me through. Thanks for all you’ve done. You and Sam have been incredible friends to us.”

“We wish we could do more.”

“I’m told time helps. I certainly hope so.”

“I’m here if you need me. All kidding aside, the new job doesn’t change a thing. I hope you know that.”

“I do know, and I appreciate it, sir.”

Nick appreciated his attempt at levity. “I’ll let you get away with that crap now, but no more of it. See you tomorrow.”

“See you then—and thanks for asking, Nick.”

“Take care.” He ended the call and sat for a long time thinking about Derek, his gorgeous wife Victoria and the sinister plot Arnie Patterson had engaged in to get close to President Nelson’s inner circle.

Months later, the whole thing still made Nick feel sick and disgusted over the tactics Patterson and his sons had employed to try to win the election for president. Their new address was a long way from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The three of them and several of their flunkies were in federal prison awaiting trial on murder and conspiracy charges.

Nick was about to move on to some of the briefing books Terry had brought him to prepare for his new job, when a knock sounded on the door. “Come on in,” he called, expecting to see Scotty, not Shelby. “Hey there. What’re you doing here today? Even a sweatshop like this allows for holidays off.”

Grinning, the petite blonde came into the room and left the door propped open behind her. “I was texting with Scotty and heard Sam got called out on a case. I thought this might be a good chance to speak to you privately about something.”

“Sure.” Nick gestured to the second chair in his makeshift home office in one of the spare bedrooms on the second floor. He missed his den downstairs that was now command central for the Secret Service. “What’s up?” he asked when she was seated and fidgeting nervously with her fluffy pink scarf. “Please don’t tell me you’re quitting. We’ll die without you.”

“No, no, definitely not quitting the best job I’ve ever had.”

“Better than running your own business?”

“Much better and far less stressful.”

“So what’s on your mind?”

“Well, you knew when we first talked about the job that I’d been pursuing a rather personal project on the side.”

At first he didn’t know what she was talking about, but then he remembered. “Oh, right.” Did he ask how it was going? Or did he wait for her to offer the information?

“I wanted to tell you that my project has been successful.” She glanced at him with eyes bright with tears. “I’m pregnant.”

For a brief second, Nick’s brain froze as he considered how this news would affect Sam, and then he realized Shelby was waiting for him to say something. “That’s fantastic news, Shelby. I’m really happy for you. When are you due?”

“Around the Fourth of July. I didn’t want to say anything until I was past that critical three-month mark, but so far so good despite my advanced years.”

She was forty-two and had told them she was running out of time so she’d sought out fertility help.

“That baby is going to be very lucky to have such a terrific mom.”

Shelby dabbed at her eyes. “That’s very sweet of you to say. I’ve been stressing out about telling you guys. I know this is a tough subject for Sam—and for you. I don’t want you to think—”

“Shelby, all we’d ever be is happy for you and delighted to know there’ll be a baby around next summer.”

“Oh, I won’t bring him or her to work. That would be too disruptive.”

“Why wouldn’t you bring the baby to work? There’s no reason you couldn’t have him or her here with you.”

She began to cry in earnest. “God, Nick, I mean Mr. Vice President, you kill me.”

“I’ll kill you if you call me that,” he said teasingly. “I’m Nick to you, and I always will be, and of course you’ll bring your child to work with you. There’s nothing you have to do for us that couldn’t include your baby.”

Shelby shook her head as she mopped up the tears. “You really are the nicest guy ever. Thank you so much. You and Sam and Scotty—you have no idea how much I love this job and my new life. And all of you. You’re like family to me.”

“We feel the same way.”

“I have to find a way to tell Sam this news. I want to be sensitive to what she’s been through...”

“I’ll take care of telling her. She’ll be thrilled for you.”

“You think so?”

Truthfully, he had no idea how she’d react, but Shelby didn’t need to know that. “I really do. Don’t worry about a thing. Just take care of you and the baby.”

“Do you mind if I tell Scotty?”

“Of course not. He’ll be so excited for you.”

“I know he will. He’s such a great kid. I want mine to be just like him. I’ll wait to tell him until after Sam knows, though.”

“Sure, whatever you want.”

“Well, I’ll let you get back to work. If I don’t see you before you leave tomorrow, I hope your first day at the White House is awesome. We haven’t known each other long, but I’m so proud to be working for the vice president of the United States who also happens to be my very good friend.”

Nick stood and hugged her. “Thank you for that and for all you do for us. Sam and I say all the time that we’d never survive without you.”