As we exit the park through the north entrance we stop and take a bunch of family pictures at the iconic stone arch and I realize this is another of those moments I will cling to in my memories.
I won’t even feel bitter that Leo’s office extended an invitation to Stella and Ellis to join my parents and my sister couldn’t be bothered to respond.
That’s personal growth on my part, right?
* * *
Now that ourwedding and honeymoon are out of the way life finally settles into what passes for normal for us in the White House. It’s not “perfect” because Leo and I can’t publicly claim Jordan as ours, but I’ll take it. Especially since it means nearly every night I fall asleep snuggled with the two men who keep me whole and sane.
Totallyworth it.
Celebrating the Fourth of July is amazing this year because Leo and I can watch the fireworks from the roof of the White House, something I’ve always wished I could do with him as more than just friends. Our families join us too—sans Stellis—and the way Jordan and Leo both smile during times like these makes everything worth it.
We’re afamilynow.
The three of us spend the occasional weekend at Camp David, usually after my two men gang up on me and decide I need a couple of days out of the White House.
I’m not even asked. How it normally happens is Jordan, Leo, or Casey-Marie tell me it’s time to boardMarine One, and next thing I know, thirty minutes later we’re touching down at Camp David.
Can’t say I mind that, either. They’ve all learned it’s better not to tell me what’s happening too far in advance. Then I’m not distracted trying to wrap up something that they know I can continue working on over the weekend.
At least at Camp David the three of us can take walks in the woods with minimal security stuck to our asscracks. Sometimes we fly Kayley out to join us. She’s become our extra cover with people assuming she’s spending time with Jordan. More than once I’ve climbed intoMarine Onejust to be met by a smiling Kayley already belted in, and I realize it’s a Camp David weekend.
Life finally feels…peaceful.
At this point in my life I can honestly say I’m content in a way I never remember experiencing before. Rarely now do I beat myself up for my previous fear, because Leo and Jordan prohibit that and I do my best to comply to their loving orders.
I also have a better relationship with my parents than ever before. Dad makes a point of telling me how proud he is of me during our frequent phone calls. And Dad’s already easing into his retirement. Leo paired him with an agricultural expert from the University of Nebraska. In nearly every phone conversation we have, Dad proudly updates me on the plans for the test fields of hops and other experimental crops. If he’s not telling me about that he’s talking to me about my presidential library, which he’s actively involved in developing. Leo’s staying on top of that and assures me the foundation’s board is genuinely using Dad’s input and isn’t just letting him ramble simply to appease him.
Mom reports that Dad appears happier than she can ever remember. For her part, Mom now has more time to relax. She’s always enjoyed her small garden. Instead of focusing on crops she can easily monetize and sell at a garden stand she’s playing with different varieties, added ornamental flowers, and even developed part of the plot as a butterfly garden that she enjoys sitting in to relax. The main source of her stress—their finances—has evaporated. And with Dad happy and enjoying himself, that removes another stressor from her plate.
Everyone’s a winner.
Can a son really ask for anything more? I’ve alleviated their money worries and Dad has a new purpose in life. They’re even talking about adding a pool and guest house next year, so that Leo and I can come stay with them, I won’t have to worry about negotiating the stairs in their house, and we’ll have plenty of room so we can have extended visits with them.
Not going to lie, when Mom told me that news I had to choke back some happy tears. I remember how Dad built a wooden ramp I used for wheelchair access when I first came home and lived with them after I was discharged, so I could get into their house independently. Back then, at first I was limited to living downstairs and sleeping on a single bed tucked against the wall in their tiny dining room. My wheelchair wouldn’t fit through the doorway of the downstairs bathroom and barely made it down the hallway to the kitchen, which was too small for me to easily navigate in my chair without shoving the table off to the side.
My parents, however, never complained. Not once during the entire time I lived with them.
I wish that was something I’d processed and realized back then. Looking back I can see all the times Dadshowedme how proud he was of me, how much he loved me, even if I was too wrapped up in my physical and emotional pain to interpret his actions correctly.
Now I understandhispain,hishelplessness, and Mom’s, too, how it almost physically hurt him not to be able tofixmy body. He never said those words to me but hindsight’s 20/20 and all that bullshit, right?
Oh, one thing my parents splurged on once the money hit their account—Dad took Mom to the local dealership and bought her a “new” SUV with all-wheel drive and lots of safety features.
It’s four years old, but to them it might as well be brand new. Not that she drives a lot, and when she does there’s always a Secret Service agent either in the passenger seat, or in the back seat if Dad’s riding with her. But Dad’s happy Mom will be safer driving on sloppy winter roads.
Okay, that wasn’t their only splurge. They bought a large flat-screen TV for their living room, a basic sound bar kit, and sprang for a full cable package to get premium movie channels. And a new oven and refrigerator.
But those they all got on sale, so they justified it as still saving money.
Leo reports their agents think they’re the most adorable people ever, and their detail now has a waiting list of agents begging to be assigned to work with my parents because they’ve developed such a lovable reputation within the Secret Service.
By Thanksgiving Stella still hasn’t left Ellis. Leo even swears Jordan isn’t lying that Stella never responded to the Thanksgiving Day White House dinner invitation sent to her office.
Meaning not only are they not coming, but they won’t be allowed inside even if they show up at the last-minute with their invite because they aren’t on the RSVP list as maybes to be cleared in advance. Well, Ellis isn’t. My sister would eventually be allowed in after Secret Service rips her a new one for not following security protocols. My sister or not, I’m not letting her ruin our family day.
Our parents and Kayley fly in late Tuesday to spend several nights with us, slated to leave on Monday morning. Stella could be a part of all of it had she only responded to the invite. She and Ellis still own their townhouse in DC but Leo’s sources report they’re rarely there.
