it all happen. We’d be lost without you, but I don’t want you doing too much while you’re pregnant. You have to let us know if you need relief or time off or anything.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I love every minute with the kids. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Have a nice evening.”
Shelby’s pregnancy struck Sam with a pang for the first time in a long time. Her sister Angela was expecting her third, Tracy had three, Shelby was having her second… And Sam couldn’t have any. Sometimes, life was unfair, but in the grand scheme of things, she refused to look at her glass as anything other than half full. Her life had been extraordinarily blessed, especially since Scotty and the twins had joined their family.
Speaking of one of her greatest blessings… Nick returned to the kitchen, seeming surprised to see her there alone. “Where’s Shelby?”
“I gave her the rest of the day off, which I just realized might not have been the best idea I ever had if you’re going to need her later.”
“Nope. I’m free for the evening, so no worries.”
“Oh good. I wanted to take the kids to the park ourselves. Well, with numerous Secret Service agents, that is.”
“I get what you mean.”
The kitchen door burst open, and two adorable soon-to-be six-year-olds came rushing in, excited to go to the park.
Aubrey let out a happy squeal when she saw Sam, who scooped her up into a tight hug.
“How’s my baby girl?” she asked, using the nickname Sam’s dad had given her when she was littler than Aubrey was now.
“Good. Do we have to wear coats to the park?”
“Yep, and hats.”
“I hate hats,” Alden said.
Nick plopped a hat on Alden’s head and held his coat for him. “They keep your head warm.”
“Are they gonna let us walk?” Sam asked.
“I think so. I requested that.”
She fired off a quick text to Celia to invite her stepmother to come along on the outing. “How far out is Scotty?”
“Two minutes,” Nick said. “I told him we’d wait.”
While two excited Littles bounced off the walls, waiting for Scotty to get home, Sam ushered them outside and down the ramp toward Celia’s home. Her heart still ached every time she looked at the ramp that led to the front door of her father’s house. She was coming to accept that the ache would never go away.
Celia came out, wrapping a scarf around her neck and pulling on gloves.
“Celia, you forgot your hat,” Aubrey said.
“So I did. Be right back.” Celia went back inside to get her hat and then joined them on the sidewalk in time to see Scotty’s Secret Service detail arrive.
The twins were so excited to see Scotty that Sam could barely hold them still until he emerged from the back of one of the big SUVs. Only when he was ready for them did Sam release their hands.
He caught them up with an arm around each of them, carrying them like sacks of potatoes. “Anyone looking for some little kids?” he asked Sam and Celia.
“They’re all yours, champ,” Nick said when he joined them. “Let’s go burn off some energy.”
The agents kept a respectful distance in front and behind them as they walked the three blocks to the playground that the little ones loved. When they were within sight of the park, the three kids took off running toward the swing set and other equipment. Everything came to a halt when the other parents realized who was joining them.
Sam kept her eyes on the kids while hoping no one would talk to them.
“Ugh,” Celia said. “Look away, people. Nothing to see here.”
“Right?” Sam said. “The staring is so annoying.”
The agents fanned out around the perimeter, making a bubble of sorts around their family. Sam ignored them and everyone else and focused on the kids, pushing Aubrey and Alden on the swings and riding the seesaw with Scotty until the Littles wanted to join them.
Sam wrapped an arm around Aubrey, Scotty took Alden, and Nick took pictures with his phone while Celia called out encouragement. Just another family out for some late afternoon fun, or so she told herself. With Secret Service agents all around, she could never slip completely into the fantasy that they were just like everyone else.
“How can you not run?” a middle-aged man called to Nick. “You owe it to the country to run.”
“Sorry, but I’m with my family right now.”
“I pay your salary. You can talk to me for one minute.”
“Not now I