“Will do.”

With Nick’s hand on her lower back, Sam headed for the air stairs to take in the storied camp she’d heard about all her life but had never given two thoughts to how it ran or what went on there.

A naval officer with gold stripes on her uniform sleeve approached them. Petite, with brown skin and a warm smile that lit up her dark eyes, the woman said, “Mr. President, Mrs. Cappuano, I’m Captain Tisha Martin, the commanding officer of Naval Support Facility Thurmont, and it’s my great pleasure to welcome you to Camp David.” She shook hands with them and the kids. “My team and I are here to make sure you fully enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you for having us,” Nick said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

After introducing them to her full team of military and civilian employees, Captain Martin led them to a line of golf carts. “Elijah, would you like to follow us with the kids and Skippy?”

“Sure,” Eli said. “We can do that.”

The reporters who’d traveled with them on board Marine One and a lone TV camera recorded their every move. Even away from the White House, the world was still watching, Sam thought, determined to shake off that unsettling feeling to enjoy this getaway with her family.

Staffers and Secret Service agents boarded the other golf carts.

“Would you like to drive, Mr. President?” Captain Martin asked.

“I’d love to.”

“I’ll take the back seat so you can direct him,” Sam said to Captain Martin.

“That’s the hangar where Marine One will be during your stay here at Camp David. If you’re here, there’ll always be a complement of pilots available to transport you at a moment’s notice if necessary.” As they made their way into the camp, Captain Martin pointed out the chapel, health clinic, gym, fire department and the barracks where the Navy and Marine personnel permanently stationed there lived as well as the officer housing. The wooden guest cabins, painted a mossy green color, had names like Birch, Dogwood, Rosebud, Walnut, Hawthorn, Hickory, Sycamore and Linden, which was fitting, as the camp sat within an oasis of trees. “You’ll never hear a plane overhead, as Camp David is a secure air space. Over there is the playground, which the kids will love, and the Leatherwood basketball court.”

“Check out the presidential seal on the court,” Nick said, pointing it out to Sam.