Chapter 45

Jennifer and I greeted our guests for several hours after Sam and Kathy made their departures. It felt foreign to stand in Sam’s spot, in front of the Seal of the President of the United States and conduct myself as if I belonged. At least this time I worked my way up the ladder to the White House.

After what seemed like an interminable period greeting, making small talk and promising further attention when things calmed down, Jennifer and I were shepherded out of the big hall. We were turned not toward the elevator to the president’s quarters. Instead Stacy Covington spoke up.

“Mr. President. Justice Thomas is waiting for you in the Oval Office. He has indicated that the matter is of great importance. Do you wish to see him now?” She was far nicer than I expected when speaking with me. Apparently she treated whoever was President in a far more polite manner than everyone else. Even as she had showed a bit of manners towards me after Sam disclosed his heart problem, this was another level of kindness altogether.

“No, Stacy. If Justice Thomas needs my attention then we must not keep him waiting.” As soon as I said that, I remembered that we had no idea where the Secret Service intended us to sleep, so I turned to Stacy and said, “Stacy? I am guessing, because no one has informed us, that we are staying here tonight. Is that true?”

Stacy turned beet red, like this little oversight might cost her her job. To put that thought to rest, I continued. “Stacy. There is no issue about this, as far as I am concerned, but if we are staying in the White House, would you please escort Jennifer to the Quarters and help get familiar with things?” There was no option for refusal. Jennifer kissed me and I promised to see her as soon as I took care of whatever problem was waiting inside the Oval Office.

As we arrived outside the Oval Office, a Secret Service Agent opened the door for me and the agent waiting inside the office left quietly. Even though Sam had been gone a few hours, the Oval Office looked like he had never worked there. That kind of got my attention and I had a premonition reminding me that the office would look just as neutral twenty minutes after I was no longer President.

Clarence Thomas rose as I came through the door, but I waved him back down. “Justice Thomas, you do not need to stand when we it’s just the two of us. How may I help you, Sir?” Justice Thomas looked pained about whatever news he was bringing to me and for the first time I realized that he looked every one of his years. Somehow I suspected that I would be appointing his replacement before very long.

“Mr. President...”

“Please, Sir. Please call me Tom. You have far too much of my respect for me to allow you to be so formal. I would take it as a personal favor if you would accede to my request.”

Clarence Thomas looked me over for a long time, and then began. “Tom. John Roberts quit earlier to night. We have been – on the court, that is – concerned about his state of mind for a number of years. He has behaved, at times – somewhat undependable.

“After he met with you and President Brownbock, earlier, he called the court together and simply announced that he would not be returning to the bench and wished us well, then walked out.

“We were quite surprised, but John has a history of unusual behavior. His resignation is a done deal, Sir. He can’t take it back and my colleagues asked me to stand in as Chief Justice as soon as John left us. I hope you aren’t too displeased with all of this, Sir. It seems out of place to have you suddenly sworn in and have to deal with a change at the top of the Court within a few minutes.” He seemed to be unsure of his standing as Chief Justice.

“I hope we can work together and cooperate when it is appropriate.” He picked up his hat and coat, turned to me and said, “Mr. President. It is my honor to say this. I am proud to know that you are my President, Sir.” I walked him to the Portico where his driver and detail waited.

When I returned to the Oval Office to sign those things that must be signed before I can exercise presidential power, I realized that I was home. This was my home.

When I passed through here as John Gray, I lived at Camp David because the bombings that took the life of Charles Thornton also blew the White House into such a state that I never got to sleep in the upstairs quarters.

It looked like that was about to be rectified.

Sam’s Assistant Chief of Staff hauled the documents that required my signature into a manageable pile, and with the help of my Chief Legal Counsel, we plowed through them. My lawyer discovered something that Sam had apparently neglected to either sign, or veto. It was a rather unremarkable bill related to recertifying an agency that oversaw the Canadian border.

I asked Olsen Adleman, Sam’s Assistant Legal Counsel to explain the bill and tell us why I should veto, sign, or ignore it. Olsen seemed shocked to find it in the pile of things left behind and tried mightily to make us believe it was the most important legislation of the season. Hearing his nonsense had my B.S. meter pegged, so I handed it to one of my own legal counsels, instead of one of Sam’s. Kelly Davidson took it with orders to review the bill, check with the leadership on their thoughts on the matter, then have my old legal team determine if anyone was about to receive some kind of windfall from the bill that would come back and make us look bad.

Olsen Adleman unexpectedly retired before eight A.M. the next morning.

Once we handled things that couldn’t wait, I excused myself and headed upstairs to see what mischief Jennifer had had time to get up to.

The White House Family Quarters is somewhat out of place in the White House. It is intended to resemble an ordinary home for someone that was used to having a very fine lifestyle. The rooms are quite large and come with very comfortable furnishings, as well as a covey of highly trained staff to handle everything from ironing to baking.

The Executive Bedroom is where I found Jennifer.

“Can you believe that the staff had everything of ours packed up at the Residence and carefully arranged over here before you were sworn in? What is even more amazing, Thomas, is that all of Sam and Kathy’s things are gone. We’re moved in and I haven’t lifted a finger. Neither did you.” She was nicely amazed, a thing I hoped would continue.

“Where’s Charger?” I wanted my dog.

“He’s here, Sir,” I heard from beyond the bedroom doors. An agent was bringing him back from a trip outside just as I asked about his whereabouts.

Charger was in my arms before I sat down and we shared a little love time. If he was unhappy about his new digs, you couldn’t tell it from his enthusiasm. I looked at the agent who brought him in, and said, “Charlie? I am so glad you made it over here. Charger thinks you’re his long lost brother. If you weren’t here in the morning, I was going to call the Director and insist he send you over. Thanks for continuing to look after my guy, here.”