Chapter 366

The young Marine was at a loss as to how to behave since he’d never been hugged by the commander in chief, or even a superior officer before. He carefully held Gwen’s shoulders as she embraced him. Gwen released him and gave the mother a light hug on the side away from the infant on her hip.

Although they had less than three miles to cover, Gwen and her sisters spent almost five hours making their way back to the White House. Early on they would stop and speak to tourists and locals as they moved along the sidewalk. Nearly everyone they met would first kneel or curtsy before crowding around the sisters, as much as they were allowed by Secret Service, to take pictures and ask questions.

News traveled rapidly and soon there were far too many spectators and well-wishers along the route for Gwen to be able to spend much time with hardly any of them. The sidewalks became lined with people, often ten or twelve deep, waiting to see President Hammer and her beautiful sisters wal