Emily looked down at her watch, a small gold face on a gold-plated expansion band. It had been her parents’ gift to her when she graduated from high school. She treasured it like no other piece of jewelry in her velvet-lined jewel case. To this day, it still worked, and she was never without it. Oh, she had fancy watches, one from Tiffany’s and a gold Rolex, but they were too ostentatious for her. You could take the girl out of Kansas, but you couldn’t take Kansas out of the girl. She was who she was, it was that simple.

Gabe was now ninety minutes late. She had a meeting at 3:15 with the caterers, one that she absolutely had to attend. She wondered what would happen if she didn’t attend, then decided she really didn’t care one way or the other. Right now, her husband needed to talk to her, and that was all that was important.

She didn’t hear him until he was right behind her. She loved it when he nuzzled her neck like he was doing right now. “Sorry, Em. I tried to be on time, but one thing led to another.” She nodded in understanding. “What’s for lunch?”

“What you asked for, sloppy joes with sour-cream cucumbers. We have to eat fast, I have a meeting at 3:15.”

“Well, it’s just going to have to wait, just like my 3:15 is going to have to wait. We are having lunch. Together. And we are not going to eat fast, either. And then we are going to have dessert. I’m up for a glass of wine. How about you?”

Emily nodded. Whatever this little luncheon was about, it must be serious. Gabe never drank wine at lunch; nor did she. Well, there was a first time for everything.

Husband and wife sat down at the kitchen table that Gabe insisted they use when they were in their private residence. They waited while the steward served them, then quietly withdrew.

“We could probably push this along if you’d get right to the point, Gabe. I know you love my company, but I sense that something is troubling you. Let’s hear it,” Emily said as she bit into her sloppy sandwich. Why Gabe loved these messy sandwiches was beyond her.

“Now this is what I call a good sandwich,” the President said, wolfing down the oozing sandwich. “C’mon, Em, admit you like them, too.”

Soft brown eyes stared across the table at her husband. Sometimes it was hard to remember Gabe was the President of the United States. Like right now, he was just the guy she was lucky enough to marry. “They are tasty. I admit it. Now, are you happy?”