Sam arrived home and was bummed to see no sign of Nick’s car on the street. He’d texted her to say the White House meeting had been “interesting,” and that it was too much to talk about via text. Scotty, Terry and I are running out to Leesburg to see Graham and Laine. Will be back in a couple of hours.

Since that had been a couple of hours ago, she’d hoped they’d be back by now. No such luck. Tossing her coat over the back of the sofa, she headed for the kitchen in need of something to eat. She stopped short in the doorway when she discovered their personal assistant, Shelby Faircloth, sitting at the table with a pad, pen and cup of tea. She wore a fluffy pink sweater with a matching headband.

“What’re you doing here, Tinkerbell? I thought you went home for Thanksgiving.”

“I did go home, but then I heard you’d caught another big case and that Brooke was in the hospital, so I decided to come back.”

“You didn’t have to do that. You have a right to a vacation like anyone else.”

“I know I didn’t have to, but my brother and his family were there. My sister-in-law is a whiner who does nothing but pick fights with my brother, their kids are brats, and I decided I’d much rather be here with you guys than there with them. Then I got a text from Avery about how his plans to go home to Charleston had changed...” She blushed as she shrugged. “I told my parents there’d been an emergency at work, and I needed to get back.”

“So now you’re using us to get away from the bitchy sister-in-law?”

“Sam... Now, did I say that?”

“Not in so many words,” Sam said with a laugh. She couldn’t deny she enjoyed her conversations—also known as sparring matches—with the woman who’d planned their magical wedding and then became their essential right hand in the last few months. Sam pointed to the pad and paper. “What’re you up to?”

“Making a shopping list for the Thanksgiving dinner you promised your relatives and friends, which I bet you’ve done exactly nothing to prepare for since your vacation got canceled.”

She also couldn’t deny that Shelby knew her a little too well.

Shelby’s laughter echoed through the kitchen. “I knew it! Where’s my favorite twelve-year-old?”

“Off with his dad at Graham and Laine’s. They should be home soon.” Sam sent a text to both of them to find out where they were.

Scotty wrote right back. On the 14th Street Bridge. Where are you?

Home, waiting for you guys.

Terry is bringing us.

Sam wondered why Terry was bringing them, but she figured she could ask when she saw them. Ok, see you soon. Xoxo

Gross.