GEORGE"S ANSWER never emerged. The doorbell rang, but we weren"t expecting anyone. I looked at Linda, who shrugged. Standing on the step, hands behind his back, James Williams waited. He told me the president was in the Suburban at the curb. Tom had come too, and the First Lady was with them. I held the door open in a gesture of invitation. On the front steps, an imitation of composure, I shook hands with the president, the agents, and the First Lady. When Linda saw the procession, she said, “Oh, my God.”
“Mr. President, this is my wife, Linda, and George"s wife, Lois. You"ve met the rest of us.” The president handed a shopping bag to Tom, introduced the First Lady, and shook hands. “I don"t believe this,” Lois said.
“Sorry to barge in like this. We tried to call a number of times, but y
