Chapter 30

The summer sun and the breeze off the ocean were the perfect combination as Elizabeth laid on her stomach on a large beach blanket. Her hair pulled up into a messy bun. Henry reached over and unclasped the back of her black bikini top to prevent lines. She had just come out of the water from a swim at the estate's very private beach. She could feel the heat from the sand warm her body as Henry sat in a beach chair reading a book next to her. Multiple agents surrounding them but this many years in they were used to just being themselves and ignoring them.

They had about two hours to themselves following her morning briefing. Claudia's family would be arriving on the island around two in the afternoon. Her parents and siblings staying in the estate's guest house. Stevie and family were just getting on the ferry. Allie and Liam would be arriving closer to dinner time.

The rehearsal dinner tonight was a casual barbeque at a local restaurant that agreed to close down to the public for the event. Elizabeth was thrilled for the down time. The last few weeks had brought multiple meetings over her education bill, a peace deal crisis with Iran, a military scandal that thankfully didn't make the press, table seating charts, guest background checks and about a hundred panicky moments from Jay.

"This is the life," she mumbled.

He looked away from his book and laughed at her, "Enjoy your nap before we run out of time."

She peeked one eye open at him admiring how good he looked sitting there with no shirt on, light blue swim shorts and his aviators, "How much time?"

He pulled his aviators off and gave her a look, "Elizabeth. We are not doing that here," he looked around at all the agents. "You need to sleep anyways."

"Someday we will," she sighed closing her eyes again.

Two hours later they made their way up the beach, Elizabeth's black bikini visible under her white sundress as she carried her light pink flip-flops in her left hand with her right hand intertwined with Henry's. Her straw beach bag over her shoulder.

He pulled her a little closer to him as he whispered in her ear, "Falls Lake…our first weekend away from everyone and everything."

Knowing there were cameras on them, she smiled without even looking at him. "The weekend when the clothes came off and never went back on until we had to drive back. We rented that little secluded cabin."

He tightened his grip on her hand for just a second, "You wore that little white sundress there. Much like now, the contrast of your summer body kissed by the sun against that dress is gorgeous."

She looked down and chuckled a bit, "Maybe we should pick up the pace a bit?"

Heading into the main house's living room, they were greeted by Jay and Daisy for a quick briefing.

Henry stepped away from her saying, "I'll let Cindy know we will be ready for lunch in an hour."

When they finally made it upstairs, the bright and airy pale yellow room was warm from the ocean breeze that blew in from the open veranda doors. The long white curtains blowing the smell of the sea in while casting a cozy summer feel across the room.

Elizabeth headed for the bathroom when Henry reached out and pulled her backwards to him. He wrapped his arms around her.

"We didn't finish our conversation," he said as he turned her to face him. He sat down on the bed and pulled her between his legs.

Elizabeth laughed as his hand ran up the back of her thigh to edge of her bikini bottoms.

"Henry, I am covered in sand," she giggled, running her hands through his hair enjoying the ocean feel to it. "If we get in that bed it will be awfully gritty."

"Wouldn't be the first time," he kissed the spot between her neck and her collarbone, tasting the salt of the ocean off her skin.

"Yes, but now we have maids and that is rather embarrassing," she said looking down at him.

He tried to pull her down, but she was faster and pushed him causing him to lay back on his elbows, as she turned and headed for the shower.

He watched her as she pulled off the sundress off and left it in a pile on her way there, then her black bikini top at the entrance of the bathroom and the bottoms just outside the large glass walled shower. The shower interior was one large white marble slab with gray veins running through it. By the time, Henry caught up to her she was a vision rinsing her hair. He slipped off his bathing suit and opened the shower door.

"Want to play water conservation?" he teased her.

She laughed at him, "Always."

He climbed through the opening and put his arms around her waist, kissing her.

Breaking away for air, she said to him, "Our cabin had that outdoor shower."

"Mmmm, we used that instead of the indoor one all weekend," he lowered his voice as he spoke while kissing her neck.

"That's when you started taking the photos," she giggled as he spun her around so he could get under the water.

Henry laughed, "That's right. Where are those photos?"

"Oh, I have them tucked away in a safe place at the farm. Never to leave there either," she smiled up at him.

"We should definitely relive those memories. Starting right now," he pulled her back under the rain shower head with him.

A half hour later they were eating a late lunch of chicken salad sandwiches at the kitchen table when Eliza's voice rang out through the house, "Grraaammmyyy!"

Both casually dressed to greet arrivals that afternoon, Elizabeth wearing a light pink golf shirt with white shorts and barefoot. Henry was in jeans and a navy blue t-shirt.

Elizabeth got up from the table and met her namesake, swinging her up into her arms and giving her a bunch of kisses on her cheek. "Hi sweetheart! Did you have a good trip here?"

"Yes, I loved the big ferry boat ride!" she beamed up at her grandmother.

"Ohhh, I didn't get to take the ferry boat," she joked with her.

"Maybe someday when you aren't riding in the giant plane," Eliza laughed.

Elizabeth put her down, hugged Stevie and leaned over Henry who was crouched down taking the Charlie out of his bucket seat. He handed the baby over to her, missing the opportunity to hold him first.

Henry helped Dmitri bring the bags up to their rooms while Elizabeth helped Stevie unpack the kids' stuff in the kitchen, still holding Charlie in her arms.

Henry entered the kitchen and took the baby from Elizabeth, "C'mon Eliza. Let's go outside. There's a porch swing!"

Eliza followed her grandfather, while drinking her juice box.

Elizabeth found Henry on the back porch rocking Charlie in his arms in the wooden rocking chair while Dmitri chased Eliza in the yard. She handed him a glass of wine.

"Where's Stevie?" he asked.

She took a sip of her wine, "Taking advantage of us again and taking a nap." Another sip.

He glared over at her. "What's that all about?"

"You know what I am talking about. More of the babysitter role than grandparent role." She stared out watching Eliza play with her father.

"Dmitri's here with them," Henry was now not making eye contact either and drank his wine.

"Seriously?" she took another sip of wine.

"Ohhhkay. You need to let it go. This weekend is about Jason and Claudia." He was glaring at her now.

She brought her right leg up in the chair, tucking her foot under her left leg and turned to him, "Isn't that the issue, though? Anytime the others are going to get our attention, she pulls this stuff. Needing us to watch her kids. Maybe we created the monster?"

Henry sighed, putting down the glass on the side table. He rubbed Charlie's back as he slept up on his shoulder, "Look, maybe you are right. But, for now, can you just let it go?"

She stopped looking at him and drank her wine in silence.

Later that evening, Henry entered the bedroom as Elizabeth was just slipping her dress on for the rehearsal barbeque. He stepped up behind her to help her zip up the black twisted halter dress. A large white chevron stripe ran over her chest area. The contrast of the black against her tan was gorgeous. He kissed her shoulder and she flinched. He knew this wasn't going to be easy.

"Motorcade is ready, babe," he said quietly to her.

She turned to face him, "Thank you." She sat down to slide on a pair of black slingback sandals with just a bit of a heel.

"Daisy said there is quite amount of press outside the restaurant," he said easily as he sensed she was still not thrilled with him for telling her to let things go with Stevie.

She said nothing as she put her earrings on.

"Okay, look I am sorry for telling you to let it go," he said trying to bridge the divide between them.

"You're not. So, don't say you are. Lying is not a good look on you, Henry" she glared at him and began to walkout of the room. He grabbed her by the arm.

"Elizabeth," her eyes met his. "If it is bothering you that much then speak to her."

She gave him the look.

"Okay, I will speak to her." He sighed.

"I love you," she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips and walked out in front of him.