“That was a short drive,” Dad says. “We could’ve walked.”
“No, sir,” Jordan says. “No way they’d let him walk that far without clearing it first. That would take a lot more manpower than just driving him with the motorcade.”
“Really?”
“Really,” I say. “Not to mention if we walked, they’d need to call in more law enforcement and have to detour pedestrians around our path and that would impact the locals even more. I don’t like to do that if I don’t have to.”
“Oh. Well, I suppose that’s valid.”
We get out and the two curators meet us at the main entrance and welcome us inside. I drop back a little and let Mom and Dad take the lead. Jordan told the museum we wanted my parents to be the focus, not me.
The museum is far too large for us to see the entire campus in just a couple of hours but they show us the main exhibits and then, in a surprise I didn’t even know about, we’re taken behind the scenes to view a new T-Rex skeleton they’re preparing to exhibit.
It’s after eleven that night by the time we return to the White House. We all love listening to Mom talk about everything they saw, and the items she purchased at the gift shop, which the museum was kind enough to keep open for us.
And leave it to Jordan to remember to bring gifts for the museum staff in appreciation for their time, like candy and pens with the White House logo on them.
“That was so amazing!” Mom says again as we ride the elevator upstairs. Even Dad looks like he enjoyed the evening.
Jordan and I bid them good-night and wait until they retreat into their room and close the door before we head to my bedroom.
At least Jordan can enter and leave through my private living room so we avoid detection that way.
A few minutes later, and we’re in our shower.
“I’m exhausted,” I admit. “Sorry I’m not in the mood to do much more than snuggle.”
“No worries,” he says, holding me. “I’m pretty worn out myself.”
“They looked like they had fun, right?” I fully realize how needy I sound.
“I think so. Your dad even smiled.”
“Did Stella’s staff really say they didn’t know what’s going on?”
He snorts. “No. They took a message and said someone would call me back. I filled in a little.”
“That’s better than she deserves.”
“I know. But you still look like the bigger man. I think it’s safe to say Stella and Ellis will be no-shows.”
Relief fills me. “You think so? That he’ll pass up a chance to miss out on coming to the White House?”
“Yeah. Because Stella wants you to call her and beg her to come.”
“No fucking way.”
“Exactly. She probably told Ellis you’ll be desperate to have her show up for your parents’ sake.”
I tip my head back to look up at him because I know that tone of voice. “That sounds like more than a hunch on your part.”
He smiles. “Maybe I have a source in Ellis’ office who passed that info to me.”
I snort. “Of course you do. So we’re not calling her back, right?”
“What doyouthink?” He tightly hugs me. “We’ll have a peaceful Christmas without them around.”
“That’s for sure,” I mutter. “Does it make me a horrible brother to be glad she won’t be here?”
