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“That’s true. She is rather possessive of him.”
“And you know that how?”
“I’ve been a fan of theirs for years. I had a party for all my mom friends on the day of their wedding. We watched it with more excitement than we did the royal wedding.”
“Are you serious?”
“Very serious. My friends and I are in love with the two of them. When he became president… We lost our minds. Welovethem.”
“Wow. I had no idea.”
“It’s funny because I’d kind of lost track of my mom friends for a while after everything happened, but him becoming president brought us back together, which is nice. Our group text was on fire for days after Nelson died.”
“You’re like a bunch of teenage girls.”
I can’t deny that, so I don’t try. “Yes, we are.”
“Now, I’m scared to take you to the White House.”
“Ha! I promise to be on my very best behavior if I happen to seehim, but we love her just as much. A few of my mom friends have said they’d switch teams for her.”
“You think you know a girl…”
“And then you find out she’s secretly in love with the president.”
“Yes. This is deeply disturbing.”
“Aw, baby, you know I love you the very bestest.”
“Do I, though?”
“Yes!” I love to laugh and tease with him, and it’s a relief to be doing that again after a quiet few days. “Of course I love you the most, even more than the president, which should make you feel honored.”
“I’msohonored.”
His tone drips with sarcasm. “As well you should be.”
Roni and Derek are waiting for us at the gate when we arrive at the White House. The freaking White House. My mom friends are so jealous, they may never speak to me again. I told them widowhood has its privileges, which is rarely true. Today, however, it’s very true.
After we park and join the others, who have gathered outside until everyone arrives, Roni and Derek bring us visitor badges and lead us into a reception area, where we’re greeted by the first lady and the chief usher, Gideon Lawson.
Dressed in black dress pants, boots and a plum-colored turtleneck sweater, Samantha Holland Cappuano shakes hands with each of us as Roni introduces us and is incredibly warm and welcoming. I can’t believe I’m three feet from her and that she’s even prettier than she appears in the media. “Please, call me Sam,” she says.
“Breathe,” Gage whispers to me, nearly making me giggle.
“Gideon gives a much better tour than I do,” Sam says. “So let’s follow him, and he’ll show you around the public spaces before we go upstairs to the residence.”
We visit so many rooms, the names of them run together—China, Vermeil, Roosevelt, East, State, Map. We pop into the East Wing offices of the first lady before crossing over to check out the West Wing and the Oval Office.
Sam knocks on the door to the Oval and ducks her head in. “Ready for some visitors?” She waves for us to follow her inside, where the president himself stands and comes around the Resolute desk to greet us.
It’s all I can do to hold back my squeal of excitement.
“Remember your decorum,” Gage whispers.
I’m dying. He’sright there, and oh my Lord, he’s handsome in a navy-blue sweater and well-worn jeans. When he shakes my hand, I nearly faint.
The first couple poses for photos with our group, taken by the official White House photographer.
