Nick checked to make sure everyone was buckled in, then sat next to Sam and put on his seat belt. A low rumble of conversation came from a compartment in the back, where White House staff and pool reporters rode. Lilia and Harry were back there, along with Terry and several other West Wing staffers and Secret Service agents.

It was nice to have friends along for the ride.

“Scotty, hang on to Skippy,” Nick said. “She’s apt to be startled by the engines.”

“I’ve got her.”

Scotty and the twins were fascinated by every aspect of Marine One, from the plush leather seats to the beverage and snack service to the way the chopper lifted off the South Lawn with effortless grace.

“This is so cool,” Scotty said. They had to speak a little louder than usual to be heard over the engines. “We’re the only ones in the whole world who get this kind of service.”

“Don’t let it go to your head, champ,” Nick said. “It’s temporary.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it while it lasts.”

“Did you bring that report you wrote about Camp David for social studies like I asked you to?” Nick asked.

“I did, but I have no clue why I have to bring schoolwork on vacation.”

“Because I want you to tell us about the camp before we get there.”

“You already know about it.”

Sam gestured for Scotty to proceed. “The rest of us don’t know squat about it.”

“You’ve got the floor, son,” Nick said.

“If you insist, Mr. President,” Scotty said with a grin, knowing how Nick hated to be called that by close friends and family.

“I do insist, and I’m the boss of the whole country.”

“Talk about not letting it go to your head.” Scotty rolled his eyes and cleared his throat dramatically as he held up the typed pages of his report. “I’ll give you the highlights. Located in Catoctin Mountain Park, Camp David is eighteen hundred feet above Thurmont, Maryland, and it’s actually a Navy base called Naval Support Facility Thurmont.”

“Wait, there’s a mountain in Maryland called Catoctin?” Sam asked. “How have I lived here all my life and never heard of it?”

“You also didn’t know that the Naval Observatory is the keeper of the Master Clock.”

“I still want to know whose idea it was to send him to school,” Sam said as Shelby cackled with laughter.