Chapter 19: The End of Childhood
In the third year Chloe accompanied me, she suddenly stopped coming.
The former First Lady said Chloe was old enough to prepare for college at home, and it wasn’t suitable for her to come to the White House to study anymore.
I was very sad, but there was nothing I could do.
Just as I was about to give Jacob the friendship bracelet Chloe asked me to deliver, the former First Lady intercepted it.
Then I was scolded again and punished to copy books.
Then I moved back to the dining room. Now Jacob sat at the main desk reading paperwork, while the former First Lady and I each had a desk below.
But now I usually didn’t sit for long, because the former First Lady and Jacob argued more and more often.
Usually, just as I started to get a little annoyed, Jacob would start debating with the former First Lady.
At first, the former First Lady would tell me to leave. Now, when I saw them arguing, I would quickly and sensibly leave.
After half a year of this, the former First Lady stopped attending meetings.
The academy felt emptier without her—just the echo of my footsteps and the tutor’s stories, which suddenly weren’t as funny anymore.
When I was fourteen and Jacob sixteen, he gained real power.
I no longer had to go to the dining room to study and write.
But before I could enjoy it for two days, the former First Lady dragged me off to learn to manage the East Wing.
She taught very seriously, and I learned very slowly.
One evening, after finishing my lesson with her and returning to my room, I ran into Jacob, whom I hadn’t seen for many days.
He sent his young aide to tell the former First Lady he would pay respects later.
Then he followed me, and as we walked the path I’d taken countless times, I suddenly felt very sad.
I said, "Why do you think your dad didn’t trust mine? Do you think my dad would betray the country?"
He said, "Natalie, don’t you want to stand by my side?"
I said, "No."
He looked at me in silence for a long time, then said okay.
I wanted to tell him I missed mom, missed Lily, and that there were too many rules here and I couldn’t learn them all.
But before I could speak, he left.
His footsteps echoed down the marble corridor, fading into the hush. I hugged my arms around myself, wishing he’d turn back just once.