Chapter Ten #2
Sam turned off the water and left Aubrey to take her bath while she went to knock on Scotty’s door to check on the boys. She poked her head in the dark room that was lit only by the glow of the TV screen. Thumb in mouth, Alden was asleep on the pillow next to Scotty’s.
“He conked out about five minutes after we came up.”
“I can move him to the bed that Dad made for him and Aubrey.”
“It’s okay if he stays there. I don’t mind.”
“She’s going to want to be with him.”
“They can both sleep here. It’s fine.”
“You’re very kind, Scott Cappuano.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been where they are. I know how scary it can be to find yourself staying with people you don’t know.”
Sam went into the room and sat next to him on the bed. “I’m sorry if this brings back memories you’d rather forget.”
“I don’t want to forget my mom or my grandpa.” He took a deep breath and looked up at her. “Sometimes I can barely remember them, and that bums me out.”
Sam reached for him, and he allowed her to hug him and play with his hair.
“I hope nothing ever happens to you guys,” he said. “I don’t know if I could get over that.”
“Nothing will happen to us. We’re too ornery for that.”
“You are,” he said with a snort of laughter. “That’s for sure.”
Sam gave a gentle tug to a tuft of his hair. “Don’t stay up too late. School night.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know the drill.”
“Thanks for your help tonight and for being you, which was what Alden and Aubrey needed.”
“No problem.”
Sam kissed his forehead. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
She returned to the master bedroom, where Nick sat on the bed, book in hand. When she started to speak, he held up a hand to stop her.
“Listen,” he whispered.
Aubrey was singing—beautifully. Sam didn’t recognize the song, but it had a classical sound to it—and then she realized the child was singing in another language. “Is that…”
“Italian,” Nick said. “Andrea Bocelli, ‘Time to Say Goodbye.’”
“How does a five-year-old know Italian?” Sam asked, riveted by what she was hearing.
The official phone that Nick was required to have with him at all times rang, startling them both. Sam always expected to hear a nuclear bomb was about to end the world when that phone rang.
He reached for the phone on the bedside table. “Yes?” After listening for a moment, he said, “I’ll send her down as soon as the children are settled.” He ended the call and put the phone back on the table. “Brant is waiting for you.”
“Wait till he hears the rest of the story.”
“What is the rest of the story?”
Because she trusted him with her life, Sam told him what they’d learned from Hill about the children’s father and his business dealings.
Nick’s eyes got very big. “Brant’s going to shit himself when you tell him that.”
“Do I have to tell him?”
“Yes, you do, because as he said, his job is to protect us, and he can’t protect us unless he has all the information he needs.”
“He’s going to make me take them to a hotel. He’ll say it’s not your call.”
“I’ll make it clear to him that this is nonnegotiable. The kids are staying. They are far safer here than they would be in a hotel.”
“That’s true.” Sam went to the bathroom door and knocked. “Are you ready to get out yet?”
“I’m already out,” Aubrey said.
“I’ll be right in with a T-shirt you can sleep in.
Hold on a sec.” Sam went across the hall to the bedroom she used as a closet.
In one of the boxes in the far back corner she withdrew one of her prized Bon Jovi T-shirts that was far too small for her now but had once been a favorite.
When she returned to the bedroom and showed Nick the shirt he laughed.
“Aubrey has no idea how lucky she is to get to wear that shirt.”
“I know! It should be in a museum.”
Nick rolled his eyes.
Sam knocked on the door, and when Aubrey told her to come in, Sam stepped into the bathroom. The child looked tiny and vulnerable wrapped up in the big puffy towel Sam had given her. She held up the shirt for Aubrey to see. “Bon Jovi is one of my favorite bands.”
“My daddy loves Bon Jovi.”
“So do I.” Sam helped her into the shirt before scooping up the clothes she had removed to put them in the washer. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. Jon Bon Jovi sang at my wedding.”
“You know him?”
“Uh-huh. I’ve met him twice. He also sang at Nick’s inauguration when he became vice president.”
“That’s so cool. My daddy wants to meet him.”
Once again, Sam’s heart broke for what would never be, and she wondered how they would ever find the strength to tell these precious babies that their parents were gone forever.
“How did you learn to sing in Italian?”
“Mommy loves Andrea Bocelli. We listen to him all the time.”
“You have a very pretty voice.”
“Thank you. Mommy says so, too.”
“Do you speak Italian?”
“No,” she said, “I sing what I hear.”
“It’s very lovely.” She ran a brush through Aubrey’s damp hair and set her up with a toothbrush and toothpaste. “Alden fell sleep in Scotty’s room. Do you want to sleep with them or in the bed that Nick made for you?”
“With Alden. He’ll be scared if he wakes up and I’m not there.”
Sam showed her the way to Scotty’s room and helped her into bed next to Alden. Sam turned on a Spiderman nightlight that Scotty hadn’t used since he first lived with them. “Nick and I are right across the hall. If you need anything during the night, come get me. Okay?”
Aubrey nodded but her big eyes filled with tears. “Are you sure Mommy can’t come pick us up?” she whispered.
“Yes, honey, I’m sure.”
“Does she know where we are? She’ll be scared if she doesn’t know where we are.”
Sam blinked back tears as she looked down at the adorable little face. “She knows where you are.” Sam had to believe that was true. She leaned over to kiss Aubrey’s forehead. “Try to get some sleep.”
She stayed until Aubrey curled up to her brother, put her arm around him and closed her eyes. And to think she still had to call Elijah and tell him that his father and stepmother were most likely dead. She’d had more than enough of this day, and it wasn’t over yet.