First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

This document presents excerpts from the novel "First Lady" by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, a work of fiction. The story follows Cornelia Litchfield Case, the widowed First Lady of the United States, whose husband, President Dennis Case, was assassinated. Feeling trapped by her public life and the expectations of her powerful father and the new President, she escapes the White House in disguise, seeking an ordinary existence. She encounters Mat Jorik, a former journalist, who is unexpectedly saddled with his deceased ex-wife's two daughters, Lucy and baby Button, whom he believes are not his biological children. The narrative details Cornelia's journey with Mat and the girls as their lives intertwine, leading to unexpected feelings and challenges, all while the Secret Service searches for the missing First Lady, culminating in Cornelia running for President and building an unconventional, loving family with Mat and the girls.