Logan answered the door when Stevie arrived. "You look familiar. Dad's assistant, right?"

"That's Adele. I'm the intern, Stevie, here to brief your father."

Ken appeared. "You did the briefings after his heart attack, didn't you?"

"Yes." Stevie paused. "I'm very sorry about your mother."

"Thanks. Well, I guess you know where Dad is. Go on in."

Russell looked better than the last time she saw him. Not great, but as if he could make it through another day. That might be the definition of surviving grief: making it through one more day.

Stevie slipped back easily into reporting mode. She knew what Russell wanted to hear and how best to present it. She was pleased that he had few questions when he finished. Instead he seemed inclined to discuss personal matters.

"We made arrangements today. The service will be Friday."

"There's probably still a lot to do. I don't even know what's involved."

"Lots of decisions and paperwork. Your mother and your uncle went through this when they were very young."

"I can't imagine losing Mom and Dad like that. I wish I could have known my Adams grandparents. Grandpa and Grandma were always Dad's parents." Stevie switched subjects. "You don't have to send your car for me."

"Yes, I do. And since I'm not going in, Thomas will probably experience withdrawal if he doesn't get to the White House every day."

"Thank you."

"See you tomorrow, Stevie."

The next two days were the same but there was no briefing on Friday. The service was at eleven in the morning. Medical and political friends sat on opposite sides of the church, like the bride and groom's sides at a wedding. Russell and his sons were in the front row on the right with the president, first lady and their security behind them. Elizabeth and Henry McCord, Stevie, Adele and Elena were in the next row. Other White House staffers and politicos filled the rows behind. The left side was full as well, with Carol's department head Doctor Rosen in front. He delivered a very touching tribute. Stevie had only considered how Carol's death would affect Russell. On the other side of the aisle were people mourning the loss of Carol herself.

Russell called Stevie Sunday afternoon to say he'd be back at the White House on Monday. Ken and Logan had gone back to their summer jobs. Everything regarding Carol's death had been completed or was in progress and none of them wanted to sit around with nothing to do.

Handover from the deputy chief on Monday morning was smooth. Russell was quiet and a little withdrawn the first few days but much the same as usual by the end of the week.

Three weeks later he called Stevie in and asked if she would help him go through Carol's things and pack them up.

"I could ask Elena but it would be hard on her. And it feels like something I should do."

"Of course. When?"

"It's Labor Day weekend. If you come over on Sunday, you'll still have Monday off."

Carol had been a surgeon who operated almost every day. Her work uniform was scrubs and she had a lot of them in many colors. Her regular wardrobe was quite plain: pants, skirts, tops and jackets – all good quality but simple styles. She had some evening wear for occasions when she and Russell went out. She didn't have much jewelry since she couldn't wear any in the OR but she had a few nice pieces that Russell put away for his sons.

Boxes were stacked in the front entry by late afternoon. Elena would call for a pickup from Carol's favorite charity, a half-way home for women in recovery.

Russell offered to make dinner and Stevie accepted. She got the impression he didn't want to be alone yet. They ate at the small round table again. She knew that the dining room had rarely been used after the boys went to prep school.

As she was leaving Russell said, "I tend to take advantage of my staff. Don't let me do that with you. Especially with personal favors you might think you can't refuse. You can."

"And I will if I don't want to do them." Stevie kissed his cheek. She didn't feel bad about lying. The truth was she would do anything for Russell. She didn't understand this longing for him and she was glad she hadn't felt it when Carol was alive. She wasn't confusing it with sympathy. It was physical, emotional, sexual – an attraction on every level.

One morning Russell woke up hard after a graphic dream about Stevie. He put her out of his mind and concentrated on Carol but by the time he came he was thinking of Stevie again. He told himself it was an aberration. She was young and attractive and she had been an enormous help to him. Not surprising that she had invaded his dreams. But it had to stop. She was an asset to his office and he didn't want to lose her. He would distance himself.

And so began the worst month of Russell's and Stevie's life. It was subtle. Russell was always on the go so it wasn't immediately noticeable that he was speaking almost exclusively with Adele and tossing the occasional comment at Stevie. It had been more balanced before when he would talk to Stevie directly about a project she was working on. His orders came through Adele now. Adele noticed but it wasn't her place to question Russell's relations with staff. Besides, he wasn't treating Stevie badly, he was just avoiding her.

Stevie knew immediately that something had changed but she dismissed it at first. Russell had a lot on his mind and he didn't coddle his staff. He had been more open, even vulnerable, with her after Carol died but he was recovering. This was Russell returning to normal. But still, it hurt.

Russell caught a flash of that hurt and despised himself for causing it. They were both miserable and distancing himself hadn't helped the dream situation anyway. He had to accept that while mourning his wife he had developed an unsuitable obsession with his intern. He wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last but at least he could be the one who didn't follow through. He would go back to treating her like a valued member of his staff and after a while this feeling would fade to an avuncular fondness for the person who once saved his life. That was the first and only time she kissed him on the mouth. And he wasn't conscious for it. Or even breathing.

Russell knew he was in too deep when he had to remind himself that Stevie giving him CPR was not a date.