“That’s very generous of you.”
“By the way, I know we have many other things going on at the moment, and the timing is awful, as usual, but you do need to make a decision about who you want for Will’s spot on the squad. We’ve been working shorthanded for a long time now, and with Gonzo out for who knows how long, we need that position filled.”
“I know, I know. I think Malone is letting me get through Stahl’s trial before he applies pressure, but your point is well taken. I’ll look at the applicants today and decide something.”
“I gave you my recommendations weeks ago.”
“Refresh my memory.”
“Beckett and O’Brien have both passed the detective’s exam. I listed them as the top prospects because I know you actually like them both.”
“And I don’t actually like anyone.”
“Exactly. So that’s a plus for both of them. I chose O’Brien over Beckett, only because he’s been around longer, paid his dues and he’s damned reliable. Of course it’s your call, but that’s what I would do.”
“Then that’s what I will do.”
He turned to look at her. “Just like that?”
“Why not? You did the legwork, we know he’s qualified and, like you said, he’s got the chops. I’ll run it by Malone, and we’ll go from there.”
“Wow, that was easy.”
“In the grand scheme of things, that doesn’t rate as one of the more difficult things I have to deal with today. Did you hear about the press making a thing of us taking in the twins?”
“I did hear that, and it’s total BS. Just because Nick is in office doesn’t mean you can’t add to your family. What if you’d had twins the old-fashioned way?” He stopped himself. “Ugh, sorry. I know that’s a sore subject.”
“It’s true, though. What if I did have twins naturally? Would they object to the Secret Service providing protection for them?”
“Probably not. The uproar is about you voluntarily taking them in, which makes them eligible for protection.”
“Which, as you say, is BS. The uproar is also over the fact that their father left them billions, and that has people’s noses out of joint.”
“True.”
“Elijah would make the money available to pay for protection if we asked him to, but I’m not going there. Nick and I agree it’s the principle of it. We have the right to expand our family any way we wish to while he’s in office. The public will have to pardon us if we didn’t consider the cost of protection when we saw two little kids in need of a loving home.”
“You should say that—just like that.”
“I’m not saying anything. Nick’s office can handle it. He’s the one who has to answer to the taxpayers, not me. But that doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s another totally ridiculous manufactured scandal.”
“It’s because he doesn’t give the Republicans much to pick at, and with the next presidential election right around the corner, they’re going to be looking to discredit him any way they can as the heir apparent to the job.”
Though she’d heard that before, Sam’s stomach hurt at the thought of Nick being heir apparent to the presidency.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“THIS IS TURNING into a big deal.” Terry broke the bad news to Nick shortly after he arrived at the White House. “It was the lead story on all the morning news shows.”
“Must be a slow news day.” Nick sipped from the travel mug of coffee he’d brought for the ride to work. If there was a benefit to having Secret Service protection, the motorcade that got him where he needed to be without being hampered by the notorious DC traffic congestion was at the top of the list.
“It is a slow day.”
“Just my luck. What do you think we should do?”
Terry withdrew a piece of paper from his portfolio. “I think you should issue a statement from yourself and Sam. I took the liberty of drafting something.” He extended the paper to Nick.
“Read it to me.”
“‘Sam and I have made a commitment to Alden, Aubrey and Elijah Armstrong, and we fully intend to honor that commitment. We love the children and are delighted to add them to our family for as long as we are lucky enough to be needed by them. We have always planned to add to our family eventually, and the addition of Alden and Aubrey is a welcome blessing to both of us as well as to Scotty, who is delighted to have younger siblings to love. Frankly, I’m not interested in seeing two children who recently suffered the tremendous loss of their parents, their home and the only life they’ve ever known used as political pawns. They are now a part of our family, where they will remain for the foreseeable future. As such, they will be afforded Secret Service protection to ensure that no harm will come to them while they reside with us. Sam and I appreciate the amazing support we have received since we brought Alden and Aubrey into our home, as well as the outpouring of love and sympathy for the recent loss of Sam’s father, MPD Deputy Chief Skip Holland. After this briefing, we won’t have anything more to say on the subject of Alden and Aubrey, and we ask you to allow the children to continue to grieve their losses in private.’”
“That’s really great.” Terry’s heartfelt words had filled Nick with profound emotion. “Do you want to go ahead and issue it?”
“I think this one would be better coming directly from you.”
“Let me run it by Sam, and then we can ask Trevor to schedule me for the daily briefing.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Terry placed the page containing the statement on Nick’s desk. “I’ll leave you to discuss it with her.”
“Good work, Terry. Thanks again.”
“Of course. Let me know when to give the word to Trevor.” Terry left Nick’s office, closing the door behind him.
Nick read through the statement again and then placed a call to Sam.
“Hey.” She sounded rushed and busy as she always did at work.
“You got a second?”
“For you? Always. How’s the shitstorm?”
“Pretty shitty. Terry drafted a statement he thinks I should make to the media. I wanted to run it by you first.”
“I’m listening.”
He read the statement to her, again feeling the tightening in his chest when he thought of the two little ones who’d captured their hearts and feeling a father’s need to protect them from anything that might hurt them when they’d already suffered enough.
“I love that and thank you for including the part about my dad. Anyone who would badger the kids or us after hearing that is truly heartless.”
“I’m sure there’ll still be more grumbling and badgering, but hopefully the statement will take care of the worst of it.”
“Well, you have my approval. Would it help if I was there when you read the statement?”
“As much as I love any excuse to see you during the day, I know you’re busy. I’ll take care of it for both of us.”
“Okay. Let me know how it goes.”
“I will.”
“I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. Thank you for stepping up for our littles the way you have. And I’m sorry if I’ve caused you trouble at work.”
“You haven’t caused me trouble and neither have they. I don’t give a rat’s ass what anyone says. Stepping up for them is one of the best things we’ve ever done, and I’d do it again in a hot second, even knowing it was going to cause a shitstorm.”
“And that’s why I love you so much. One of many reasons.”
“Love you too. I’ll text you after.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks.” After he ended the call, Nick let Terry know they had the green light from Sam. Then he reviewed the statement a couple more times until he knew it more or less by heart. Terry would have it put on the teleprompter, but Nick didn’t like to rely on that. Once he had a handle on the statement, he turned his attention to his email and the day’s briefing materials.
Terry knocked on the door an hour later. “They’re ready for you in the press room.”
Nick brought his copy of the statement with him when he went with Terry to the briefing room, which fell silent when he walked in. The president’s press secretary was there, as was Trevor.
Nick stepped up to the podium. “I asked for a minute of your time to make a statement about the ongoing story many of you are running about the children my wife and I recently took in.”
As he read the statement, he made eye contact with reporters from the outlets who’d gleefully reported the news about the taxpayers having to foot the bill for the Cappuanos’ new wards. Two of them looked away after his gaze landed on them.
After he was finished reading the statement, he said, “I’ll take a couple of questions.”
A reporter from the New York Times raised her hand and Nick called on her. “Do you think it’s fair that the taxpayers have to pay the cost of protecting two children that you voluntarily brought into your home?”
“I would answer your question with a question—is it fair to judge us for how we choose to add to our family? As you know, my wife has suffered from infertility, and after we adopted Scotty, we hoped to have another opportunity to expand our family. As you also know, Sam encountered Alden and Aubrey at the worst moment of their young lives and stepped up for them in such an amazing way. She had my full support—and Scotty’s—in bringing them to our home when they needed somewhere to be. We could’ve applied to adopt and been given the opportunity to adopt twins, and the result would’ve been the same—two more children in our home and our family who require protection due to the nature of my job. To us, it doesn’t matter how they came to be there. What matters is that we love them and we’re committed to providing them with a home for as long as they need one.”