Page 46 of Power
Emily dramatically rubs at her stomach. “This needs food before it gets angry and starts screaming at everyone.”
Tash and I both chuckle. “Well, you have to wait for about an hour. Wanna play a board game?”
“Monopoly!” Emily’s eyes sparkle as she jumps to her feet and runs toward the hallway closet to get the game.
“Now we’re in for it,” Tash grumbles as she sinks to her knees and clears the coffee table in the family room. “She’s going to want to play it for hours.”
“I’m the car!” Emily announces as she walks in holding the game.
We set up the board while Emily happily chats about her classes and what she’s been doing at school. The game starts, and I’m distracted by the course of the last few days. Thankfully, Tash notices my distraction and easily falls into conversation with Emily, taking the pressure off of me.
I sneak a look over at my phone and feel kind of down that Bennett hasn’t called or texted. I know he doesn’t have time to sit around and talk to me, but a quick message would give me some hope in us. I chuckle to myself and shake my head. Who am I kidding? If we haven’t been able to finish a meal together, when is he going to have time to message me?
“Pizza!” Emily cries as the doorbell rings. She leaps to her feet, swipes my purse, and runs to the front door.
“Emily!” I call as I head out after her. Grayson stands at the door, holding the pizzas I ordered.
“Who are you?” Emily asks as she gives me my purse. “Wait, you’re the same guy from last time, right?”
“Yeah, I am.” Grayson makes quick eye contact with me as he hands her the pizzas.
“Thanks.” Emily takes the pizzas and hurriedly makes her way into the family room.
“Here.” I pull out money, but Grayson shakes his head, lifts his hand and steps backward. “Do you want to come in for pizza?”
“No, ma’am. I’m nearly finished with my shift for today, and my replacement will be here soon.”
“What’s it like?” I ask, genuinely curious. Grayson rubs his hand over his chin with confusion. “Being a Secret Service agent?”
“It’s Secret Service special agent, ma’am.”
“What’s the difference?”
“About five years of civil duty before being able to apply for the PPD.”
“PPD?”
“Presidential Protection Duty.”
I nod my head in understanding. “Is it exciting work?”
Grayson chuckles. “Jonathan Wackrow said, ‘It is prolonged periods of boredom only broken up by moments of sheer terror.’ That’s the best way to describe it.”
“Who’s this Jonathan guy?”
“He spent fourteen years in the Secret Service, four of which he was on PPD with President Obama.”
Those words resonate with me. “You’re not paid to protect me, Grayson. You’re trained to protect the president and his family.”
“Mrs. Adams passed away, ma’am,” he says with indifferent coldness. “My team go where they tell me.” He stands rigid with his shoulders back as he speaks with me. “Is that all, ma’am?” His team? Wait, there’s more of them?
I take in a long breath. “Yeah. Thank you.” Grayson nods curtly and walks back to his car.
I half-heartedly toss my purse on the kitchen counter before heading back to the family room, where Tash and Emily have already started in on the pizzas. “Hurry up, Mom.” Emily waves me over as she bounces up and down while devouring a slice of pie. “It’s your turn.” She swipes up the dice and holds them out to me.
I quickly scan the board to see where Tash’s and Emily’s pieces are. “Thank you.” I take the dice and throw them on the board. “Double four.” I move my piece and look at what I’ve landed on. “Yep, I’m buying it.”
“Here we go, Emily.” Tash lightly smacks Emily’s arm. “You know what she’s going to do, don’t you?”
