“He’s making us proud every day.”
“Indeed.”
“What’s he saying about the ex-VP?”
“Nothing I can repeat, but he’s cleaning up quite a mess she left him.”
“She was always too slick, if you ask me.”
“Probably so. Where’s Laine?”
“In her office, last I checked.”
“Thanks, Carrie.” He leaned in to see what she was making and was excited to see beef stew simmering in the pot. “That smells delicious as always.”
“Will be ready around six thirty.”
“Sounds good.” He poured a glass of the iced tea that was in a pitcher on the counter and took it with him when he went to find his wife. For the first time in a long while, he felt nervous about talking to her. They’d been married for more than fifty years. The days of nervous flutters were long behind them, replaced by the comfort that came from decades spent surviving life’s ups and downs together.
Laine was seated in her favorite chair, feet up on the upholstered footstool, a small fire in the hearth. She liked to say it took until late May to shake off the winter chill, and she loved a nice fire in the afternoon. She was absorbed in a book, glasses perched on the end of her nose and her gray hair in the usual bun. He took great pleasure in the sight of her, as usual.
When he moved into the room, clearing his throat to announce his arrival, she looked up at him, smiling. “You’re back. How are things at the White House?”
“More interesting than usual.” He leaned in to kiss her. “How was your afternoon with the kids?”
“Granny got stood up. Emma stayed after school for math help, and Adam went home with a friend.”
“Well, there’s always tomorrow.”
“Adam has already called to tell me he’s sorry about today and asked if I can pick him up tomorrow to go riding.”
Graham took a seat in the chair next to hers, kicked off his shoes and put his feet up to warm by the fire. “Aw, that’s so cute. He loves his granny.”
“I think he loves the horses more.”
“Don’t we all?”
She chuckled. “They’re our favorites. How’re our boys doing?”
“They’re having a day.”
“They fired the vice president!”
“Wait until you hear why. It’s unbelievable.”
“Good Lord. Poor Nick. He’s taking a thrashing from his detractors.”
“Sucks to be the one in charge when a subordinate goes off the rails.”
“But when it’s the vice president he chose… That makes it worse, doesn’t it?”
“It does. He’s quite upset about it all.”
“I hate to hear that. I wish I could hug him.”
They had loved Nick like a son from the first time their John had brought Nick home from Harvard for a weekend visit. And seeing him now in the Oval Office was among the most satisfying things in their lives. They knew he’d give it all up for one more day with John, who he missed as much as they did.
“Who’s he got in mind for a new VP?”
