Chapter Thirty-Six #2
Sam would prefer to think she was the GOAT because of her own accomplishments, but she wasn’t about to correct Scotty on that. “Thank you for informing me of these things. I need you to keep me hip.”
“I gotchu, Mama.”
After she said good night to Scotty, Sam changed into pajamas and took her laptop to bed to write the social media post that Lilia had requested. After staring at a blank screen for several minutes, she began to type.
What do I say about the best thing to ever happen to me?
With the recent adoption of Elijah, Aubrey and Alden Armstrong-Cappuano, I’m now blessed with the honor of having four children, one of whom is a grown man with a beautiful wife named Candace, to love and nurture.
Elijah, Scotty, Aubrey and Alden have made my life, and my husband’s life, complete in ways we never could’ve imagined for ourselves.
We’re also thankful for the opportunity to include Candace in our family.
At the same time, we never forget the terrible tragedy that brought the Armstrongs into our lives.
We remember and honor their parents, Jameson and Cleo, every day, and we remember the mother and grandfather that our son Scotty lost far too soon.
We aim to keep them present in the lives of the children who love and miss them.
Nick and I want to thank Scotty, Elijah, Candace, Aubrey and Alden for the honor of being their family, and we look forward to a future full of the love, joy and laughter they’ve brought to our lives.
Sam sent the copy to Lilia, asking for her opinion.
Since she wasn’t sleepy, she reviewed the report Cameron Green had prepared on Sergei Ivanov that they hadn’t ended up needing.
She was curious about the man Gretchen Henderson had risked everything for, and as she read about his quest to rid Russia of its authoritarian leader, she felt sadness for the loss of someone who’d put his own life on the line numerous times while advancing the causes of human rights and democracy within his country.
By all accounts, Ivanov had been an intelligent, articulate, determined advocate for the power of the people to determine their own destiny. If only he and Gretchen had gone about things the proper way, Nick might’ve been able to help Sergei in some way.
Next, she read the latest news about his murder and learned there was little doubt the hit had been ordered by Petrov himself, which meant there’d be no justice for Ivanov in his home country.
People outraged by his murder were rioting in the streets of Moscow, at great risk to their freedom.
With or without his body, the protests were further damaging to Petrov’s standing at home.
In addition to her sadness over the loss of Ivanov and the blow to the cause his death would bring, she experienced an unexpected wave of empathy for Gretchen.
The woman had made a huge mistake when she’d kept her association with Ivanov a secret while serving as vice president and would pay a mighty price for that, but it had been done in support of a noble cause.
She felt for the oppressed people in the world forced to live under such conditions.
When the BlackBerry buzzed on the bedside table, she glanced at it to see a text from Nick. Are you still up?
Yep.
She answered his call on the first ring. “You should be sleeping on the plane.”
“Insomniacs can’t sleep on planes or most other places.”
“Poor baby. I wish I was there to help wear you out so you might get some sleep.”
“I wish you were here, too. What’s up over there?”
“I was reading about Ivanov and feeling sad for the cause of freedom.”
“It’s a blow to the opposition efforts, to be sure, but hopefully someone else will take up the mantle and run with it.”
“At the risk of their lives and the lives of everyone they love.”
“Freedom isn’t free.”
“Is it okay to say I feel a little bad for Gretchen, too?”
“Do you have a fever or something?”
Sam laughed. “No, really. I get why she wanted to help him, even if she went about it all wrong.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“You think she’ll actually be charged?”
“That’s not up to me. Totally at the discretion of the Justice Department.”
“I hope they do the right thing if it’s warranted.”
“I’m not even sure what right thing would be. She was dead-ass wrong to keep their association from me and the rest of our team, but Sergei’s cause was a noble one. That much I agree with.”
“Complicated situation.”
“Yes, and I’d rather talk about other things, such as what we’re doing when I get home.”
“Maisie Hill’s baptism, Sunday at noon.”
“I’m looking forward to that.”
“I can’t wait to see their new place.”
“Me, too.”
“Did I tell you my friend Jesse Best might’ve found his long-lost sister?”
“No! That’s amazing.”
“He was on his way to see if it was her, but I haven’t heard anything yet.”
“Keep me posted on that.”
“I will,” Sam said, smothering a yawn. “Sure would be something if he found her after all these years.”
“I can hear you trying not to yawn. You should get some sleep.”
“Will you be able to sleep?” she asked.
“I took an extra melatonin, so hopefully it kicks by the time we land.”
“It’s insane how much I miss you. Why’d you have to go and make me all emotionally dependent upon you?”
“I’d apologize for that if having you emotionally dependent upon me—and vice versa— wasn’t the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“Good answer, Mr. President.”
“I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“This is where you’re supposed to end the call.”
“Go to sleep. I’ll be right here.”
“All night?”
“Shhh, you’re sleeping now.”
Sam fell asleep smiling and still wishing she could reach out and touch him, but knowing he was on the other end of the call was better than nothing.