First Family (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 4)

“I don’t really have time to waste on this and neither do you. The kidnappers communicated with me through a letter. It gave me the post office box and a key to that box. They said I would receive a letter at some point and to check that box every day. I have. And so far, no letter.”

“But why work through you at all. Why not Tuck?”

“Yes, why not Tuck? I don’t know, Danny, because I apparently cannot think like a kidnapper.”

“Sure, sure, I didn’t mean that. So maybe we were right. They’re going to ask me to do something in order to get Willa back. It can’t be money because your brother has more of that than I do. Hell, we can barely cover our personal grocery bills at this place. It must be tied to the presidency.”

“And then it becomes problematic, like you said. Emasculate the office, I believe were your words.”

“Jane, I will do all that I can do, but there are limits.”

“I thought the power of the Oval Office was unlimited. I guess I was wrong about that.”

“We will do all we can to get her back.”

“And if all we can do isn’t enough?” she said angrily.

He stared at her, a slightly hopeless look in his eyes.

The most powerful man in the world , she thought. Emasculated.

Her anger cooled as suddenly as it had risen. “Just hold me, Danny. Just hold me.”

He rushed to do this, pressing her tightly against him.

“You’re shivering. Are you coming down with something? You’ve lost weight too.”

She stepped away from him. “Look, you need to go. You have your speech in the East Room.”

He automatically checked his watch. “They’ll call up when it’s time.”

He went to hold her again, but she moved away, sat down, and stared off.

“Jane, I am the president of the United States. I am not without influence. I can probably help.”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?”

The phone rang. He picked it up. “Yes, I know, I’ll be down in a minute.”

He bent down and kissed his wife on the cheek. “I’ll come back up and check on you later.”

“After the women’s basketball team.”

“Just what I’ve always wanted to be around,” he quipped. “A bunch of leggy women far taller than I am.”

“I’ve got some events too.”

“I’m going to have Cindy cancel them. You need to rest.”

“But—”

“Just rest.”

As he started to walk away she said, “Danny, I will need you at some point. Will you be there for me?”

He knelt beside her, wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I will always be there for you, just like you have with me. Get some rest. I’ll have them send up some coffee and something to eat. I don’t like how thin you’re getting. We need some more meat on those curves.” He gave her a kiss and left.

I have always been there for you, Danny. Always.