“I used to feel the same way.”

“Exactly.”

“Are you ready for the stupid test?” Sam asked just as Nick joined them, fresh from the shower and dressed for a day as the leader of the free world.

He raised a brow when he overheard her question.

“As ready as I ever am to be tortured,” Scotty replied.

“I like math,” Alden said between bites of egg.

Scotty stared at him. “We can’t be friends if you like math.”

“Yes, we can,” Alden said, smiling.

“No, we can’t.”

“You’re our brother now,” Aubrey said. “That means we’re friends.”

“Yes, it does.” Nick poured himself a cup of coffee. “Friends forever, math or no math.”

“I’ll make an exception for you,” Scotty said to Alden, “but don’t gloat about loving math in front of me.”

“What does gloat mean?” Alden asked, his eyebrows coming together in the cutest expression ever.

“It means talk about how much you love it around me.”

“Oh. Okay. Maybe I can help with your math homework.”

Scotty laughed. “I’ll take all the help I can get, pal.”

Scotty’s detail arrived a short time later to transport him to school. He left with hugs and kisses for all of them. “Have a good day, people, and pray to the math gods that Scott Cappuano passes this test today.”

“We’re praying,” Sam said.

Angela appeared in the kitchen with Jack, dressed for school. “He wants to go today.”

“I’ll take him on my way in,” Sam said.

“That’ll cause a huge stir at the school.”

“Better me than you,” Sam said. “They’ll be all over you if you do it. We’ll be fine, right Jack Black?”

He grinned as she picked up their tradition of giving each other nicknames. “Do we get to ride with the Secret Service, Samuel?”

Smiling, she said, “Sure do.”

“That’s awesome.” He glanced at Angela. “We’ll be fine, Mom.”

Sam served up a plate of eggs and toast to her nephew.

“Are you sure you’re ready to go back, buddy?” Nick asked.

“I have to go sometime, and I miss my friends.”

“Plus, he’ll miss a day next week for the funeral,” Angela said as she took a cup of tea from Sam.

“That’s true.”

After the twins left with their detail, Sam asked Jack if he was ready to go.

“Just gotta brush my fangs,” Jack said as he rushed off.

Angela rubbed a spot on her chest. “That’s one of Spence’s things with him. Brush your fangs.”

Sam hugged her sister. “Go hang out with Ella. She’ll make you feel better.”

“I will.”

Sam went to grab her coat and unlocked her bedside table to grab the tools of her trade.

Jack returned, dragging his coat and backpack.

Angela helped him into the coat and handed the backpack to Sam. “If you get there and it doesn’t feel right,” Angela said to Jack, “ask the nurse to call me. I’ll come get you.”

“I’ll be okay.”

Angela hugged him tightly. “Love you.”