“I saw on Twitter that the police shot and killed the guy who was raping and murdering women in the park. That’s probably why she’s late.”

“I hope she wasn’t the one who shot him,” Nick said, thinking of the trauma of taking the young man’s life and how much Ramsey already hated her.

“I read it was a sharpshooter.”

“Thank goodness for that.”

“Besides, she’s still on desk duty.”

Nick glanced at his son. “How much you want to bet she was there when it went down?”

“I don’t take bets I can’t win.”

“That’s my boy.”

“Congrats on your new vice president.”

“Thanks, buddy. We got her sworn in before the State of the Union, which was the goal. What’s Twitter saying about her?”

“People are excited about having a female VP, although the word ‘inexperienced’ is used a lot when your names are mentioned.”

“I guess we’ll have to prove ourselves to them the old-fashioned way, by getting the job done.” Nick put an arm around Scotty’s shoulders. “Come with me to say hello to Mrs. Nelson.”

The crowd parted to let them through to Gloria Nelson and her daughter Camille.

Gloria hugged him. “It’s so nice to see you again, Mr. President.”

“You as well, and please, call me Nick.”

“Thank you, Nick, for the kind invitation to be here tonight.”

“We’re delighted to have you. Scotty, you remember Mrs. Nelson and her daughter Mrs. Rothschild.”

Scotty shook hands with them. “It’s good to see you again. I hope you and your family are doing all right.”

“Thank you, Scotty,” Gloria said. “It’s nice to see you, too. And we’re doing as well as can be expected. Good days and bad days.”

“I know how hard it is. I just lost my grandpa.” He quickly added, “Not that it’s the same thing as losing your husband.”

“Grief is grief, my boy, and it stinks no matter who’s been lost.”

Scotty smiled up at her. “Yes, it sure does.”

“It’s very kind of you to think of us.”

“It’s kind of hard not to think of you guys every day, living where we are now.”

Gloria tossed her head back and laughed hard. “Oh my goodness. How cute are you?”

“I don’t mean any disrespect.”

“None taken. The facts are what they are, and you’re a very sweet young man.” To Nick, she said, “This boy’s going places.”

“We agree,” Nick said, giving his son a warm smile.

“If I pass eighth-grade algebra, that is.”

“I hated algebra and all things math,” Camille said. “What is the point of it all?”

“Thank you,” Scotty said, offering her a fist bump in solidarity that she eagerly returned.

“Have you found the secret passageways in the residence yet?” Camille asked him.

Scotty’s eyes lit up. “There’re secret passageways?”