“It’s true that I was asked, but I said no.”

“Wait a minute... The president of the United States asked you to be his new VP, and you said no? Are you serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious, and yes, I said no. It’s not the right time for me or Sam or Scotty.”

“I don’t know much about anything, Nicky, but you might not want to be so hasty.”

“I appreciate your concern, but think about it. Can you see Sam filling the role of second lady?”

“I absolutely can see it, and I can see both of you in the White House too.”

“Your imagination is a little more vivid than mine. She loves her job. It’s such a big part of who she is. How do I ask her to give that up so she can support my career?”

“Maybe she doesn’t have to give it up,” Leo said. “In this day and age, anything is possible. Have you asked the right questions before you assume she’d have to give it up?”

“Well, no, not really. It never occurred to me that it would be feasible for us.”

“You should let it occur to you. It’s an incredible opportunity, and if that reporter who called me is right, you’re the only one Nelson wants.”

“I can’t even believe we’re having this conversation. A year ago, John was still alive. I was his chief of staff. I hadn’t seen Sam in six years... Now... Everything is different, and I’m still trying to get used to this life, let alone taking on something even bigger. Scotty has only just come to live with us, and I don’t want to disrupt him either.”

“Obviously I don’t know him as well as you do, but from the time I’ve spent with him, I can’t believe there’s anything that kid couldn’t roll with. I suspect I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know where he’s concerned.”

“That is true, but I don’t know, Dad... This whole thing is almost too much to get my head around. Sometimes I still feel like a fraud because of how I got my job in the first place.”

“Anyone who knows you at all knows you’d give it all up to have John back. But since that’s not possible, you’re coping with it gracefully and professionally, and I’m so damned proud of you.”

Nick sucked in a sharp, deep breath at his father’s unusually effusive praise. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

“You don’t have any reason to feel like a fraud, Nicky, especially after you won that election fair and square. Have you talked to Graham about it?”

“Briefly. Right after Nelson asked me.”

“What did he have to say?”