Darlene would have been a welcome addition to the group, but the Secret Service, along with concerns about paparazzi, made it impractical for the First Lady to join their periodic early-evening revels. Having been to Bar None with Darlene just a few days ago, Kim suggested it would make a good kickoff spot to enjoy a cocktail before dinner at the Blue Crab Grill, the much-hyped new restaurant on Connecticut Avenue.

The women were rarely on time for their own gatherings. Two of them were lawyers, and like Kim, worked hours bordering on the cruel and unusual. Candice, an ob-gyn, was often held hostage by the biology of her patients. Usually, though, the group managed to carve out a few good hours, always ending with the pledge that when the time came for their next gathering, their friendship would override all but the most dire considerations.

That night, Kim showed up at Bar None on time, knowing the others probably would not. Having spent an exhausting day making final preparations for the visit of the President of Ireland and his family, she was happy to have a quiet interlude before the gang arrived.

Kim felt lucky to have nabbed a spot at the bar, but after downing a beer in fewer swigs than she would ever admit, she now needed to use the ladies’ room. She loved working for Darlene, but always appreciated the ease with which she could move about when unencumbered by her entourage. There were no advance teams to pass judgment on the premises beforehand, no agents chatting inconspicuously in the corner, and best of all, no one following her to the restroom.

When she returned to the crowded bar, Kim was not surprised to find her place occupied by a woman in her twenties, dressed to attract. Several preppy swains had already picked up the scent and were beginning to circle. She moved downwind to the only empty stool. Unfortunately, the occupants next to her were an attractive couple with lovey-dovey eyes and exploratory hands. Kim sensed the all-too-familiar pang. She had had her chances over the years—a couple of engagements, and even a brief marriage to a man who was all shiny on the outside, but on the inside was searching for Mommy. Now, any man who wanted to learn who she was and what mattered to her would have to do some serious digging.

Might need something stronger than an Amstel Light, she thought.

Kim was working to avoid staring at the happy couple and to keep from lamenting her uninspiring love life, when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. Turning, Kim came face-to-face with Nicole Keane’s stunning beauty. The two women embraced with genuine affection.

“I thought you said you were trapped in some sort of deposition,” Kim said.