Chapter Twenty-Two
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
W hen she strolled into her first lady office suite in the East Wing at seven the next morning, both Roni and Lilia were waiting for her. Every strand of Lilia’s dark hair was perfectly in place, along with her trademark pearls. She wore a sharp lavender suit with a matching silk blouse. Roni wore a navy maternity suit with a patterned silk blouse. Her dark hair was in a ponytail, and Sam noticed her cheeks had gotten fuller as her pregnancy progressed.
“How do you two pull off the pressed-and-polished look at seven a.m. when I look like roadkill?”
Both women laughed.
“You do not look like roadkill,” Lilia said.
“Next to you, I always do.”
“Not true.”
“We all look like roadkill next to Lilia,” Roni said, earning a playful scowl from her boss as Lilia led them into the conference room.
“I took the liberty of ordering breakfast for us,” Lilia said.
Sam saw omelets, fresh fruit and coffee waiting for them. “My God, I love you and don’t deserve you.”
“Stop,” Lilia said, laughing. “Just doing my job. ”
“You’re the best at it. Both of you… I so appreciate everything you do to make me look good. Freddie shows me the Instagram and Facebook posts. They’re brilliant and make me sound like the perfect first lady when I’m anything but.”
“We hear every day how much people admire you for holding down a job outside the White House,” Lilia said, “when most people would’ve stepped away from that to be a full-time first lady.”
“That’s what I probably should’ve done.”
“Nah, it’s all good,” Roni said. “You’re making it work. I did a bunch of research yesterday and took a first cut on your speech for Tom, figuring you could add some personal anecdotes.” She handed over a clipped pile of pages. “It’s very rough.”
As she sipped her coffee, Sam read through the draft. “How can you say this is rough? It’s outstanding and just the tone I was hoping to strike. I was so worried about getting it right, but I can see now I shouldn’t have been.”
“Oh good,” Roni said. “I’m so glad it works for you.”
“It’s perfect.”
“Great, then I’ll send it to your work email so you can make any tweaks. When you’re done, send it back to me, and I’ll print it out for you and make sure it gets put on the teleprompter at the cathedral tomorrow.”
“Thank you. I’ve got some things I can add from my years of working with Tom that’ll personalize it. And I can add in his devotion to Leslie and their girls. I learned a lot about that during the investigation.”
“It’s so sad,” Roni said. “I feel for his wife and daughters.”
“I’m sure their story struck close to home for you.” Her husband, Patrick, a DEA agent, had been murdered by a stray bullet on 12 th Street last October when he’d gone out for lunch. Roni was expecting their baby in June.
“It did for sure, but it was okay. I’m getting used to the grief showing up at the oddest of times. In other news, we’ve been overrun with media requests after your takedown of Harlan Peckham went live online.”
“Crap, I never did get to see it before they released it. I hope I don’t look like a water buffalo tackling a rat.”
Both women cackled with laughter.
“You crack me up,” Lilia said. “You looked ferocious. We can show you, if you want to see it.”
“I guess that’d be okay as long as it’s not horrible.”
“Definitely not.” Lilia called the video up on her iPad and turned it so Sam could see herself jumping out of the SUV and tackling Peckham from behind on the sidewalk. “Look at our first lady in action.”
Sam cringed to herself over what people would say about the president’s wife tackling murderers as part of her daily routine. “I had the full advantage because he didn’t see me coming.”
“We’ve had more than a hundred requests for interviews,” Roni said.
Sam curled up her lip. “Isn’t there real news to report?”
“The first lady taking down a U.S. Attorney’s murderer is real news,” Lilia said.
“Politely decline the interview requests. Tell them Lieutenant Holland is already hard at work on another homicide case and doesn’t have time for interviews. Although Nick and I are going to do one together, possibly as soon as tomorrow, about this Joint Chiefs situation.”
“I’m working with Trevor to set that up,” Roni said. “He’s close to nailing down the particulars.”
“I can’t even hear the words ‘Joint Chiefs’ without seeing red,” Lilia said. “Everyone I know feels the same way. It’s such a betrayal.”
“I agree,” Roni said, “and Derek is beside himself over it. He worked closely with Goldstein and the others during the Nelson administration. He’s in shock over their audacity. ”
“I’m glad we’re not the only ones feeling the outrage,” Sam said.
“Definitely not,” Lilia said. “From what I hear, much of official Washington is disgusted by the whole sorry situation.”
“As Derek said last night,” Roni added, “nothing makes our enemies happier than to see us fighting amongst ourselves.”
“That’s so true,” Sam said. “But enough about that.” She checked her watch. “I have thirty minutes until I have to meet Vernon and Jimmy for a ride to work. Tell me what’s new in your lives.”
“This guy is already keeping me hopping.” Roni put her hand on her belly, which was much bigger than it had been even a few weeks ago. “He—or she—is very busy.”
“I’ve heard busy is a good thing,” Sam said.
“That’s what they say.”
“And you might’ve casually mentioned what Derek said last night, so does that mean things are moving ahead there, too?”
Roni looked almost pained as she thought about how to answer that. “It’s the strangest thing… that Patrick is gone, and six months later, Derek is here, and he’s become my best friend through the worst year of my life. We’re not romantic, but I’m pretty sure we will be at some point. When I’m ready for that. Unfortunately, he knows all too well what I’m going through, but he always says the right thing at the right time. He’s been such a blessing to me, but still… It’s weird. It’s too soon and right on time. It’s all the things.” She shrugged. “That’s probably more information than you wanted.”
Sam placed her hand on top of Roni’s. “I’m so proud of you for soldiering onward, for finding the support you need to get through this and for thinking about what’s next. I give you tons of credit for surviving the unimaginable.”
“What choice did I have?”
The simple poignancy of Roni’s question brought tears to Sam’s eyes and Lilia’s .
“We love Derek and Maeve so much,” Sam said. “We’re thrilled that you two have found comfort in each other.”
“And you didn’t even have to set us up.”
“There is that, although I’ll probably take credit for it because that’s what I do.”
Roni laughed as she dabbed at tears. “Tell Sam about your wedding plans, Lilia.”
“We wanted something quintessential DC, so we’ve booked the National Press Club.”
“Oh, that’s amazing, Lilia. I’ve been to a few things there. It’s a perfect venue.”
“Our photos will capture the White House and the Capitol in the background, and it’s such a gorgeous space steeped in history. We’re thrilled.”
“I’m so happy for you and Harry—and that one I can take credit for.”
“Yes, you can. We’re happy for us, too. It’s like a fairy tale.” Lilia seemed instantly sorry she’d said that. “I apologize, Roni. I don’t mean to be insensitive.”
“Oh please, don’t do that! You’re so excited, and I’m excited for you. I’d never want you to feel bad about your wedding or your happiness.”
“That’s very kind of you to say.”
“I mean it. Life is for the living. As sad as I am every day that Patrick isn’t here anymore, joy still creeps in, little by little. Your joy makes me happy. Please don’t hold back on my account.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“You and Harry have waited a long time for this,” Sam added. “Enjoy every minute of it.”
“We’re trying to be present and absorb it all.”
Sam glanced at the clock on the wall. “Welp, I’d better get to my other job.”
“Before you run off,” Lilia said, “I wanted to let you know that I’ve coordinated with the new White House photographer, Adrian Fenty, for a Saturday next month to do the photographs we discussed with you and hopefully the children, too. Does that work?”
“Should be fine.” Sam said of the date Lilia suggested. They wanted a collection of photos with various outfits and hair styles that they could use to accompany social media posts. More smoke and mirrors, Sam thought, to make her look like a working first lady.
“You’ve met Adrian, right?”
“I’ve seen him a few times, but he was always busy, so I haven’t had the chance to get to know him.” Sam did notice he was exceptionally handsome, with longer hair than she normally preferred and an interesting, artistic look to him that had caught her attention. Not that she was looking or anything. However, she wasn’t so married that she couldn’t notice a good-looking man when she saw one.
“You and the kids will be at the Easter egg event on Monday, correct?”
“Yes, we’re keeping them home for it.”
“Excellent. That’ll give us some wonderful images.”
“Nick told Derek about the twins’ grandparents resurfacing,” Roni said. “What are you hearing about that?”
“Andy’s on it, and we’re hopeful it won’t be a problem because their parents’ will is very clear about their wishes. But it’s just another thing to worry about.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that’s happening,” Lilia said.
“We are, too.”
“Please keep us posted,” Roni said, “and let us know if we can do anything to help.”
“I will. Thank you for all you do for me, the yummy breakfast and this much-needed girlfriend time.” She hugged them both. “Let’s do this more often.”
“Any time you want,” Lilia said .
“I need your advice,” Sam said to Vernon and Jimmy when they were on the way to HQ.
“The doctors are in, and no charge for you,” Vernon said with a grin for her in the mirror.
“Y’all are too good to me. So last night, Scotty told me that in his social studies class they do current events discussions that’re sometimes critical of his father, and he’s not sure how he feels about that. The teacher has told him he’s free to go to the library if he’s not comfortable, but he hates the idea of making that kind of statement in front of his classmates. He doesn’t want Nick to know about this, because he feels like his dad has enough to worry about, but Nick would want to know if Scotty is upset about something. So… I find myself in a parenting quandary with no clue what to do.”
“I defer to Vernon on this one,” Jimmy said, “as my first baby is on the way, and I wouldn’t know what to do either.”
“Oh, my young grasshoppers,” Vernon said indulgently.
“That term is trademarked,” Sam said.
They laughed.
“All your best lines are.”
“Exactly.”
“Young Scotty is in a tough spot,” Vernon said. “If there’s anything more complicated than the social lives of eighth graders, I’ve yet to encounter it.”
“Iranian relations are less complicated,” Jimmy added.
“That’s probably true,” Sam said, amused. “I feel for him because he wants to come out swinging in defense of his father, but he doesn’t want to be fighting with his classmates, many of whom are woefully uninformed about the true situation.”
“He shows a commendable amount of maturity in realizing there’s nothing to be gained by arguing with people who don’t know any better,” Vernon said. “I wonder if headphones are an option if he chooses to remove himself from the conversation without physically leaving the room.”
“That is a great idea. Wow, why didn’t I think of that? ”
“You’re still new to this parenthood gig. You’ll pick up the tricks along the way. By the time the twins are in eighth grade, you’ll be an old pro.”
“I hope they still live with us then,” Sam said with a sinking feeling as she contemplated having to turn them over to grandparents who probably wanted them only for their money.
“Of course they will,” Vernon said. “There’s no way those people are going to prevail against you two. They have no idea who they’re dealing with.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence. All this fighting wears me down. Every day brings a new battle. It’s exhausting.”
“I’m sure it is, but you two have what it takes to power through and take care of business. My money is always on you and your husband.”
“Thank you, Vernon. That means a lot coming from you.”
“You got this. Don’t let the haters get you down. You’re Sam freaking Holland Cappuano.”
Sam smiled at him in the mirror. “Yeah, and she kicks ass and takes names.”
“That’s right, and don’t you forget it.”
“I won’t.”
They pulled up to the morgue entrance a short time later.
Vernon held the door for her.
Sam turned to face him. “No one can ever take his place, but you…” Her throat tightened, and tears stung her eyes, making her thankful for sunglasses. She squeezed his arm. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Sam. Your dad would be so very proud.”
“Don’t make me cry.”
“Sorry. Not sorry.”
Sam laughed as she headed inside where she removed the sunglasses and wiped away tears while saying a silent thank-you to her precious father for sending Vernon to stand in his place. She liked to think such things were possible.