Fatal Series 00 - Fatal Destiny

with a tolerant grin.
    “Sam,” Scotty said, tugging at her arm. “What about the other surprise?”
    “Ah, yes,” she said, “is it time for that?”
    Radiating excitement, Scotty nodded.
    “Go ahead and tell Shelby. She’ll get it for you.”
    Scotty scurried off, and Sam turned to her husband.
    “What’re you up to, Samantha?”
    “Wait until you see. This was all Scotty’s idea, so give him the credit.”
    Nick leaned in to kiss her.
    “What did I do to deserve that?”
    “You’ve embraced a child who means a lot to me, and I appreciate it.”
    “I love him too.”
    They exchanged a meaningful look, both remembering their talk in the Jacuzzi about making Scotty a part of their family.
    “When we get back,” Sam said.
    Nick smiled and tightened his grip on her hand.
    The moment was interrupted when Scotty, supervised by a team of waiters, pushed a table to the middle of the dance floor.
    “ Whoa .” Nick’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the exact replica of Fenway Park, made of cake and icing. “That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!”
    Delighted by Nick’s reaction, Scotty held up his hand for a high-five from Sam.
    “You did this?” Nick asked Scotty.
    “With a little help from Sam,” he said modestly.
    “Thank you so much,” Nick said, hugging Scotty.
    “Thank you ,” Scotty said. “For being such a good friend to me.”
    Nick’s eyes filled with tears. “Right back atcha, pal,” he said gruffly.
    They shared a smile that had Sam blinking back tears. She wondered if they had any idea they were slowly becoming father and son. Watching that happen ranked among the greatest thrills of her life.
    “While we’re on the subject,” Shelby said as her team brought out the orchid-laden wedding cake. “What do you say we cut this one too?”
    “Tell me I don’t have to cut Fenway,” Nick said, stricken by the idea of it.
    “We took lots of pictures,” Shelby assured him, handing him a knife. “Have at it.”
    “I can’t! It would be like bringing another eighty-six-year curse down on the Sox!”
    Sam rolled her eyes at Shelby and took the knife from Nick. “Allow me.”
    “I can’t look,” he said with a whimper.
    “Me either,” Scotty added, covering his eyes.

Chapter 13
    Sam and Nick were enjoying a few minutes off their feet along with some wedding cake when the DJ handed a microphone to Nick’s best man and surrogate father, retired senator Graham O’Connor.
    The room quieted, and Nick reached for Sam’s hand. She enveloped it between both of hers.
    “I know I speak for all of you when I say it’s been such a thrill to be part of this celebration of love and joy—two things we can never have too much of in this life,” Graham said. “I first met Nick when my son John brought him home for a weekend during their freshman year at Harvard. Right away, I was struck by his eagerness and determination to make something of his life. I remember encouraging John, who was somewhat less… determined … at that time in his life to spend more time with the oh-so-serious Nick Cappuano.”
    A soft wave of laughter rippled through the room.
    “That turned out to be a good move on my part. I don’t like to think about how responsible Nick probably was for getting John through school.”
    That drew a short laugh from Nick.
    “When John later took office, he insisted Nick run the show, and John always said Nick was the brains behind the whole operation. I’m not sure if that’s entirely true, but I do know they made for one hell of a team.”
    Nick bent his head to beat back a flood of emotion as memories of John swamped him.
    “Nick has been a part of our family since that first weekend at the farm. Of course, we all know John should be the one making this speech since he and Nick were each other’s best men from the time they were eighteen. They stood by each other through life’s ups and downs, and when John was taken from us so suddenly, Nick stood by my wife and me through the darkest days of our lives.”
    Sam leaned into Nick and tightened her grip on his hand.
    “When Nick honored me by asking me to be his best man, I tried to think of what John would’ve said today. I decided he probably would’ve told a few off-color jokes and stories we’d all be better off not hearing.”
    Nick looked over at his staffers, gathered at three tables, and saw Christina dabbing at her eyes even as she laughed. She’d carried a quiet torch for John for