"Who is she texting?" Maureen hissed, keeping her voice low.

Henry looked up, first at his sister, and then around the room until he spotted his wife curled in on herself in the kitchen, leaned into the corner of the counter. Maureen had been her usual self and had been at Elizabeth's throat for the entire four days they'd been in town so far. "Just leave it alone, Maureen."

Her eyes grew wide as she inhaled sharply. "Henry!" It was just as low, but sharp. Accusing. Turning on her heel, she stalked into the kitchen.

He rushed to intervene. "Maureen, stop. It's not what you think."

She did stop, turning back to him. "So, it's exactly what I think." She turned back, drawing Elizabeth's attention as she crossed her arms. "What's his name?"

"Maureen, leave it. Don't do this now. Please." He continued to try.

"And when should we do this, Henry? We're here trying to bury our father and she can't even pretend to still be your wife till it's over?" She asked again. "What's his name?"

Henry started to respond again, but halfway through his insistence that Maureen leave it alone, Elizabeth finally spoke. "It's okay, Henry, let her think what she wants."

He stilled, dropping his head in surrender. "His name's Blake."

Maureen's eyes cut into him. "You know and you're still with her?"

"Elizabeth's not having an affair, Maureen. Blake's her personal assistant. He's almost Stevie's age." He huffed in irritation at his sister. "He's practically our son."

She spluttered. "But, what?"

"Ask the kids." He waved his hand. "He's…"

Maureen turned and stared at Elizabeth, who hadn't said any more yet. "I can't believe you. This sounds like an excuse." She closed in, cornering Elizabeth, and put her hand out.

Elizabeth glanced at her hand a moment before typing on the phone, then handed it over after it pinged.

Maureen looked at what Elizabeth'd written and the reply.

Henry's sister wants to see our text messages.

-Okay.-

She scrolled back, stopping randomly on a part of the conversation.

-I told Henry I'd pick up the take out, he's getting the beer.-

-If you aren't in the motorcade in 10 minutes, I'm doubling back to physically remove you from your office.-

Fine. I am putting my coat on as we speak.

She swiped again, watching the messages blur past before stopping it again. This time the first comment was from Elizabeth.

It's a bad day.

Can you call for a med appointment?

-On it now.-

-How bad?-

Bad.

-I can't reach Henry, he must still be in class.-

- One minute and we'll be off. I'll stay until I reach him.-

Maureen's brows pulled together. "I don't understand."

Henry sighed. "Maybe if you didn't always imagine the worst, you wouldn't cause so many problems."

"Me?" She asked with indignation.

Henry pulled out his own phone and dialed. "Hey, Blake?"

"Is everything okay?"

"How heartbroken would you be if I asked you to come to Pittsburg?"

"But this is family time, I'm holding everything down here."

"I know." He sighed. "But it would be a big help to have you here. You might have to bunk with Jason though."

There was silence from the other end of the line for a minute. "Okay. Let me put a bag together. I'll hop a flight so I can ride back with you guys. I think I can find one leaving in a bit."

"Okay, Blake. I appreciate it. I'll see you soon." Henry hung up and turned to face his sister. "He'll be here by dinner, so now you can back off."

Maureen simply stared at her brother a moment before passing Elizabeth's phone, which had been buzzing in her hand, back to the other woman and walked away. Around the corner, she heard Elizabeth speak.

"He wants to know what's wrong."

"Tell him you'll see him soon." Henry replied.

Maureen was planted at the front window two hours later when one of the black SUVs returned to a stop out front. The back door opened and a young man in a wool coat stepped out looking like something out of a magazine. He turned back and said something to the driver before the tailgate opened and he pulled out an overnight bag. "Henry!" She called out. "I believe your young man is here." She turned at the sound of feet.

Her brother peeked out and then a smile blossomed on his face. He opened the door and stepped out, she followed to watch them.

"Blake, I'm glad you came." He jogged down the steps, taking the bag from the younger man. "Elizabeth's upstairs lying down at the moment."

Blake was looking around. "This is a beautiful neighborhood. Is this where you grew up?"

"Yep. Come inside out of the cold." He led the way back into the warm house. "Most everyone is out at the moment, including the kids, but this is my sister Maureen."

She put out her hand and he took it, giving a polite shake and a small what she suspected was a near bow.

"Maureen, a pleasure." Maureen couldn't help but smile when he shined his biggest smile at her before he went somber. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you." She watched as Blake shrugged out of his coat, revealing an awfully expensive looking suit. Instantly, she mentally assessed that no one in their family probably owned a suit like that.

"Don't feel you need to wait on me, I can take care of myself." Blake carried on. "I'll just blend into the background." He turned to Henry. "How is she?"

Maureen watched her brother frown. "It's been a rough week. She wanted me to wake her when you got here." He turned slightly toward the stairs. "Second on the right. You'll be in with Jason across the hall."

With a curt nod, Blake took his bag and coat and headed up the stairs.

Henry turned to his sister. "Just… Don't ask him questions in front of her. She's already having a hard enough time as it is, she's been through a lot in the past year."

She gave him a hard look. "I think you're blind. You're in denial."

"Come on." He pulled her by her arm and silently crept up the stairs. In the hall, they could barely see into Henry's old bedroom.

Elizabeth's voice was soft with sleep. "I'm sorry Henry made you come."

"I'm wherever you need me to be, Ma'am, you know that. And if you need me here to be a shoulder through this, then that's where I'll be."

"Thank you."

"You know, I stand by what I said earlier, your medicine would help you get through this."

Maureen could just see Elizabeth shake her head; she gave Henry a questioning look.

"It makes me feel numb."

"It helps you feel calm."

"Henry helps me feel calm… But he's got to be the rock for everyone else. It feels selfish to say I need him."

"It's not, and if you were calm, you'd know that without me telling you." Blake stood and pulled Elizabeth to her feet. "You've barely eaten two bites all week, haven't you? I don't know when the others are getting back, but let's go down and feed you, get some medicine in you, and then you can sit somewhere under a blanket and give me orders."

Henry tugged Maureen back downstairs and a few minutes later, Blake and Elizabeth followed. He led her to the kitchen table and filled a plate of food, giving it to her before appearing in the living room.

"Henry, do you have..?" He held his thumb and index finger several inches apart.

"The front of my suitcase." He answered, watching Blake head up the stairs again.

Everyone else would be back soon. Maureen had watched Blake do exactly as she'd heard him state, he'd herded Elizabeth to a big chair and had covered her in the afghan off the couch before vanishing back into the kitchen and started sorting the casseroles. She slipped in and sat watching him a minute. "I'm not sure what they told you about me." She started.

Blake turned, pausing what he was doing, and frowned. She was startled by the hard tone to his voice. "Queen Elizabeth? Yes, I've heard." He shook his head. "In over twenty-five years, have you ever spent a day getting to know her?"

Maureen blinked at him. "No."

He huffed. "So, you know her so well." Once the last casserole was sorted, he turned and faced her fully. "I've sorted and labelled everything based on the ingredients I could see and how long it would be good for. I moved as many as I could to the freezer, things that will freeze for a good while without going off. Please…" He stopped mid subject change. "She's going to be a bit out of it for a while yet. If you need anything, just call for me."

Maureen watched him walk out of the kitchen and stop by the chair, squatting down to speak to her, before he vanished upstairs. Unsure what to do for once, she wandered in and sat on the couch. Elizabeth didn't even seem to realize she was there, her eyes drifting shut as her head tipped to the side. Watching her sleep, Maureen realized that she'd never seen the other woman relaxed. Ever. She'd always been tense. Watching her now, she realized Elizabeth looked much smaller this way.

The teens clomping and shouting as they reentered the house took both women by surprise, the noise woke Elizabeth with a jolt, her eyes flying open, wild, and searching. Maureen opened her mouth to call for Henry, but remembered he was still out doing something with Shane. Moving to the base of the stairs, she called up. "Blake?" He appeared out of he and Jason's room instantly, taking the steps quickly as he headed for the living room.

She turned, the kids had already moved on to the TV room, and watched him kneel again, taking Elizabeth's hands, speaking to her.

"You're at Henry's dad's house, remember? His funeral is tomorrow." He nodded when she did. "The kids are back, when you're ready, I'll go get them and remind them they need to spend time with their mother."

"Let them have fun with their cousins." She replied.

He smiled. "Fine. Is everyone staying for dinner?" She shrugged. "Do you want them to?"

"It's nice to be together."

"I'll coordinate it then. When Henry gets back, how about the two of you take a walk? I can strongarm Keith and George into not kicking up a fuss about it." She nodded. "I'll get to work then." He stood and started to move away.

"Blake." Her face turned up to his. "Thank you."

Maureen suddenly felt like she was intruding on something she shouldn't and back away. It only took seconds for him to appear.

"Elizabeth would like it if everyone was together for dinner, would that be possible?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm sure everyone will be okay with that."

"I'll assemble something that resembles a meal out of these casseroles then." He started doing just that, working until Alison appeared looking for a snack. She smiled and greeted Blake with a one-arm hug.

"I didn't know you were coming." Ali pulled open the pantry door.

"I'm doing dinner, you dad'll have my head if you start snacking now."

Ali giggled. "He loves you too much for that." She shut the door empty handed anyway before moving closer to him. "I guess he called you here to help with Mom?" Her eyes studied him. "Thank you for coming."

It was early the following morning when Maureen let herself in, shooting a glare at the six agents standing on the sidewalk in the cold, cups of coffee steaming in their hands. She was surprised to hear someone up already. Almost to the kitchen, she caught Jason coming in from the back.

"That's all the trash out." The teen said. "Donut?"

"One from the left." A voice spoke from out of view. "You can have more when everyone else comes down."

Jason huffed, but took one donut and walked toward her. "Morning, Aunt Maureen."

"Morning, Jason." She turned, watching him clomp up the stairs. Turning back, she spotted Blake, in a fresh suit, studying her.

"How are you this morning?" He asked with sincerity.

She pulled in a ragged breath and moved forward, taking a seat at the table. "I think it's finally hitting me." He held up a coffee pot and she nodded. A minute later, a steaming cup and a raspberry muffin were on the table in front of her.

"Funerals are always hard." He gathered his own mug and sat. "I saw a pond in the park a few streets over, does it ever freeze enough for skating?"

"You… you saw the neighborhood?"

"On my run." She gave him a questioning look and he elaborated. "I went for a run this morning with two of the detail. The whole area is beautiful, has that small-town feel."

"It does. What time did you get up?" It was still early.

"Four thirty." Her brows shot up. "Gives me time to run, shower, check emails, grab pastries." He gestured to the giant bakery box.

"Make coffee? This is really good."

"It's a thing I do." He looked up over her shoulder and she turned to see her brother walking toward them.

"Morning Maureen, Blake." He headed straight to the coffee. "Your special?"

"I did my best. The scones in the smaller box are vegan, when Stevie gets up, make sure she knows?"

Henry grinned. "Afraid you'll forget?" He turned back to face them, leaning against the sink. "I heard Jason banging around."

"He took out all the garbage. I asked him to be kind to his sisters today."

His face fell as he stared into his mug. "I have a lot on my plate today. Everyone will be here soon to head to the church, I'm speaking in the service." He wiped a hand over his face. "The gathering after." The room fell quiet for several minutes, Maureen watched her brother battle within himself for most of it. "Could you just stay with her for the day?"

"Of course."

Henry nodded, turning to make a second mug of coffee. "I'll take this up to her." He left the room with both mugs.

Neither broke the silence until Henry was out of sight. It was Blake who spoke first. "When I heard he died, I looked up your father. He and Henry were alike in some ways."

She smiled despite the day. "They fought all the time."

One corner of his mouth lifted. "Henry and The Secretary have the same problem with their kids sometimes, too much of the same kind of passion."

They lapsed into silence until more family began to turn up, Jason and Ali joined the others and Maureen studied this young man that had been summoned to the house. He'd been right, he did fade into the background, pouring coffee and passing out pastries, watching everyone talk. Amid it all, after Stevie had appeared, taking the smaller box Blake presented her, she spotted her brother weaving his way through the bodies, catching Blake's attention, and speaking softly in his ear. Whatever Henry said put a serious look on the younger man's face before he skirted the family and vanished up the stairs.

Henry sank into a chair beside her, his own muffin in his hand. "Funerals are never easy." He deflated.

"Where's Elizabeth?" It was odd, even to Maureen, that the other woman hadn't appeared yet.

"Getting ready." He debated how much to say, but then carried on. "She had nightmares last night about… about someone who died earlier this year. Made for a long, sleepless night. I worry she'll always have them when we have to face a funeral like this." He frowned at his breakfast. "It's not fair." He went quiet, thinking, before looking back up at her. "Everyone down here needs me, so I sent Blake up. I'm sure they'll be down in a bit."

True to his word, Maureen spotted Elizabeth coming down the stairs ten minutes later, the young man following behind. Once with everyone else, the kids made a beeline for their mother to say their good mornings while Blake returned to the kitchen, whispering to Henry before making fresh mug of coffee and pulling out a scone.

"Morning Maureen."

She looked up at Elizabeth. "Morning, glad you could join us." It came out cutting, landing as it always did, before she even thought about it. Both men's' faces went hard, Elizabeth's fell. "I'm sorry, I'm just… I guess this is hitting harder than I thought." She stood to flee before her brother could comment.

It was Elizabeth who spoke though. "I don't think there's anything more painful that losing a parent. A child perhaps, but…" She trailed off, seeming to get lost in her thoughts before Blake tugged her into a chair beside Henry.

"Eat, Ma'am."

"I'm not hungry, Blake." She softly answered.

Maureen saw him open his mouth to rebut, but then close it again, instead turning away to clear up the clean counter.

At the church, she sat in the row behind Henry's family. The three kids beside their father, Elizabeth on his other side, and then Blake at the end. It gave her a way to observe them all, her anger over the whole time since she'd discovered Elizabeth texting in the kitchen. As the funeral started, Elizabeth clung to Henry's arm, leaned into him. Maureen thought to herself that if she hadn't met him already, she would have thought Blake was a stranger to them. He sat somewhat apart, eyes fixed forward. It was when Henry stood to speak that Elizabeth seemed to even acknowledge he was there.

As Henry walked to the front, Maureen caught her sister in law taking the younger man's arm, he didn't seem to react, not until she sniffled anyway. Then he glanced down before producing a tissue from his inside jacket pocket. They sat like that as Henry spoke, her holding his arm tight until Henry returned to his seat. Elizabeth went back to her husband's arm and Blake went back to studiously taking in the service.

Later, at the reception, Maureen found herself standing beside Henry in the line accepting condolences. Their families were scattered among tables. "Where'd Elizabeth go?" She could see the kids, but not their mother.

"We felt it was best if she sat out for a bit. Blake's with her, he'll text me if I'm needed."

She'd almost reached the end of her frustration and confusion over the whole thing. "She's your wife." She snapped, keeping her voice low. "Why aren't you with her?"

"Because I'm needed here." He sagged slightly, turning to see the line was almost done, and pulled her away from the crowd. "There are things that have happened this year that you don't know about." He debated. "Elizabeth has PTSD, anxiety, so many things that come with all that. She doesn't want people to know, says it will make everyone look at her different. I've lost count of how many funerals we've attended in the past year." He swallowed. "One of those people died saving her life. I can't…there's more to it, but that's all you really need to know. It really hasn't helped the way you attack her like you do when she's only tried to help everyone cope."

"I-"

"I get it, you always think the worst of anyone, so seeing her texting some guy just confirmed for you that she was as bad as you thought. What you didn't stop to listen to me about was that I knew who she was talking to because I knew she needed a minute away from you and the shouting. If you would've left her be like I asked… She would have come back and rejoined everyone else."

"So, he's what, her therapist too?"

"More like her sounding board. Like I told you, he's family. He joins Jason and I doing stuff."

"Stevie and Ali seem to like him."

"I try not to think too hard on that one." His lips curled into a half smile.

"Fine. I get it. Well, I don't get it, the whole idea of having a personal assistant sounds…snobby and unnecessary, but…"

"Look." Henry nudged her to turn around.

Maureen turned to try and see what he wanted her to look at. Across the room, Blake was leading Elizabeth back into the reception hall. His arm was around her, guiding her to a chair. Even from their distance, Maureen could see the glassy, relaxed look on Elizabeth's face that she'd seen yesterday. "She takes medicine?"

"Sometimes." Henry didn't move until Blake looked around and spotted him, nodding. "Please, for me, learn to be nice to her."

She watched Blake hover, one hand on Elizabeth's shoulder, until Henry crossed to room. The two men shared a few words before Henry sat, pulling his wife to him. Blake instantly moved away, circulating in the room, speaking to people milling about.

"I swear he's more diplomatic than she is." Stevie's voice made her jump. "Sorry, thought you saw me coming."

"It's okay. Been a long day."

"Blake." She gestured with her plate. "He'll swear he hates people, but in the moment, I think he does this better than Mom."

"Does what?"

"Greets people, talks to them, makes them feel known. I mean, normally he's the invisible guy, the one who stands behind her whispering information so she looks good, but he does okay on his own too."

Maureen alternated watching Blake and watching Stevie watch him. "He seems to be an impressive young man."

"Has to be to keep up with Mom's job. Oh, he found the McDaniels'. I wonder if he knows about the whole tree thing."

She turned, sure enough, Blake was in a conversation with the couple, why they'd come she had no idea. Perhaps they were hoping to shake down her father's corpse for the money they swore he owed. She could see Mister McDaniels frown, clearly grumbling about something, his wife looking equally as irritated. Then Blake began to speak, drawing them into a conversation and away from the path they'd been on, she guessed to the table Henry and Elizabeth were at. Eventually, with a smile from all three, he was guiding them out the front to the valet.

"And like that, crisis averted." Stevie said. "Now imagine that in an event full of angry politicians."

"What do you think he told them?"

"Who knows. Blake can convince anyone to do anything."

'He had Jason taking out the trash before seven this morning."

"See, that's what I mean. He convinces Mom to stop working and go home, eat, take…" She cut off. "Take time off."

"Your dad told me. That she's been suffering. That must be hard on your guys too."

"Right after the…thing happened; it was really hard. It's better now." Stevie put her plate down on the table. "I'm going to go sit with Mom."

Maureen wasn't sure what to think. She'd been honest with her brother, the whole notion of a personal assistant seemed excessive and snobby. Once the family'd returned to the house, she'd heard Elizabeth ask him several times about work, each time he refused to answer, citing a previous agreement that she was in an information blackout until she returned home. The light teasing seemed to finally start to make Elizabeth relax.

As evening fell, Maureen found Elizabeth alone, or alone as she suspected she ever was, seating on the front steps. The security agents looked annoyed but were keeping their distance. She sat on the cold concrete next to her sister in law. "How are you sitting out here in the cold?"

"I guess… It makes me feel alive. Though Matt down there would really like me to go back inside." She smirked. "He acts like Pittsburg is Tehran." Her voice rose a bit for the last sentence.

"You never know, Ma'am." One of the agents called back. "You've gotten in more trouble in nicer places."

Maureen arched a brow; it was the first time she'd heard any of the men speak. "I'm sorry I went after you about Blake, he's seems a nice young man."

"It's okay, he's got a thick skin."

"But I hurt you." She shivered. "It sounds like he does a lot."

"He does." The front door opened and shut behind them; Elizabeth spoke without turning around to see who it was. "Who told you, Blake?"

Maureen twisted to look up the steps; the confident look he'd worn before had given way to a nervous one.

"Matt, Ma'am."

Elizabeth shot a dirty look at the agents; but didn't address them directly. "Fine! Just… a few more minutes and I'll be in."

"I'll start hot cocoa." He vanished back into the house.

Finally, she addressed the men on the sidewalk. "Traitors."

The one who'd spoken before grinned. "I knew you'd listen to Mister Moran."

She huffed but let it go. "I take it Henry told you?"

"Only that you were suffering, and funerals were hard now, he didn't go into details."

"At the beginning of the year, there was a failed coup in Iran."

"I remember seeing it on the news."

"I was there. I was in one of the homes that was blown up. I watched a man, a friend, get murdered before my eyes. Before his son's eyes." She swallowed. "Those men down there." She gestured to the motorcade on the street. "Their sole job is to die for me." She turned to Maureen. "The do risk assessments, constantly look out for danger, and keep me safe, but when things go bad… Their job is to be the one who dies instead of me. One of them did."

"I- I don't know what to say."

"He had kids, he was smart and funny and… He threw his body over mine and died so that I had a chance to live." She let out a ragged breath. "I spent most of this year afraid to go outside because it meant putting them in danger. I worried about the kids. About Henry." She shivered. "I know you don't like talking about depression and… all those things Patrick hid away, but… I know what it's like to be in that dark hole and not see a way out."

"But you're okay now?" Maureen asked.

She caught Elizabeth start to look back toward the house but stop herself before she answered. "I had Henry… and Blake. There were days when one or both of them had to crawl down into that hole and just hold me while I screamed. There were days I thought it was too much. When I don't know why either of them didn't just walk away. I know Henry cried. Blake probably cried as well. Sometimes… Sometimes I lashed out just to make someone else feel the same amount of pain I did."

"I never knew any of this."

"I tried to pretend. I know my staff knows, but we don't talk about it. It's all taboo. So, I get that, not wanting Henry to press those buttons."

Maureen couldn't help her chuckle. "He does like to do that."

"Did I guess right?" Elizabeth called out, to whom, Maureen wasn't sure until footsteps behind them told her they weren't alone. Steaming mugs appeared in their view before Blake took a seat on the step below.

"As always, Ma'am."

Maureen sipped the cocoa. "Do you ever call her by her name?"

The question made Elizabeth burst out laughing, sloshing her cocoa dangerously and causing Blake to rescue it. "Don't ask him that! Oh, please, save yourself, don't ask him that. Blake, let it go." She tried to get her mug back, but he held it up until she'd settled down.

"In the office, it is necessary as the assistant to always demonstrate appropriate obeisance. Out of the office, it maintains a line of professionalism that otherwise has vanished. Also, Henry's a Marine, I have no intentions of ever giving him the impression I'm a threat." He rattled off quickly. When Elizabeth offered her mug, he took a sip before handing it back.

She smirked at Maureen. "He's afraid Henry will beat him up."

"Wouldn't be the first time Henry beat up a guy for looking at you wrong." She replied.

"What?" Blake squeaked.

Maureen felt herself grin, watching them interact. They bantered back and forth until the front door opened again. Instead of turning, Elizabeth called out again. "Matt! Come on!"

"You sucked Mister Moran in, Ma'am. It was time for extreme actions." This time, the pushiness didn't bother Maureen as much. She looked at it with fresh eyes. These men had seen her be hurt before and simply were trying to prevent it from happening again.

"Come on, honey, it's warmer inside."

They all stood, Maureen waited for Elizabeth to start up toward Henry, glancing at Blake who was at her side. "Blake." She stopped him, waiting till the couple stepped into the house. "I'm sorry."

He studied her a moment. "Just so you know. She's only told a few people what she told you. She… Henry finally told me one night. Three decades of how you treated her and she's giving you an olive branch." He turned and went inside, leaving her on the step alone.

Saying their goodbyes, the following morning, Maureen waved as the kids piled into the back SUV, leaving the adults standing on the sidewalk. She heard Blake offer to ride in the front vehicle, nearly insist really, but Henry nearly shoved him into the middle one before turning to her.

"I'm glad you were here." She gave him a hug. "Just call if you ever need anything."

He squeezed her back. "You too. When you're ready, I'll come up and help you with the house and Dad's things."

"I'll let you know." She pulled back. "Perhaps you could drag your Blake with you, he seems to have wonderful organizational skills."

He laughed. "That he does." He turned toward where Blake and now Elizabeth were sitting in the vehicle. "What do you say, Blake? When the time comes, you want to help clear this place out?"

"Whatever you need." His voice wafted out. "I serve at the pleasure."

Henry turned back to her. "Translation, he will come if I ask."

"Ah."

They heard Blake's voice again. "You are not getting it back until we are at least an hour out of Pittsburg!"

"That's my cue."