Chapter Ten
Sam and Nick stepped aside so she could all but sprint from the room to tell her bosses she’d landed a rare exclusive interview with the second couple.
“You’re so hella sexy when you go into protector mode,” Sam said to Nick after he’d collected the kids’ photos from Kayla’s desk.
Grinning, he said, “Is that right?”
“That’s right. In fact, if I didn’t have a body cooling in the morgue, I’d want to take you home and show you how sexy I find you when you’re defending our family.”
His lovely hazel eyes heated with desire. “Could you maybe show me later?”
“I’m sure something could be arranged.”
Sam stepped closer to him, flattened her hands on his chest and looked up at him. “Those kids are so damned lucky to have you on their side.”
“I’ll always be on their side.”
“Are you going to give the woman who asked me such an awful question an interview?”
“Is it okay if I do? I figure it’s a good chance to influence the way people speak about adoption and adopted kids.”
“Look at you, always one step ahead of me.”
“Not always.”
Sam relaxed into his embrace, stealing the time with him while she could. “Most of the time, but that’s okay. We don’t want me doing the thinking for this operation.”
A knock on the door had them separating.
“Pardon the interruption, Mom and Dad,” Freddie said, “but I heard from Malone that Crime Scene might have something for us.”
Sam had almost forgotten her partner was waiting for her. “We’re going to be another few minutes. The VP has decided to give our reporter friend an interview so he can take advantage of this opportunity to do some educating on adoption terminology.”
“Wow, that’s cool. So I take it your convo went well with her?”
“We made our point and accepted her apology,” Sam said. “Or at least he did. I’m still holding a grudge.”
“She does that,” Nick said.
“Believe me, I know,” Freddie replied. “She loves a good grudge.”
“Can you two please quit talking about me behind my back in front of my face?”
“Why do we have to?” Freddie asked. “It’s so fun.”
The return of Kayla Owen saved Sam from having to come up with a witty retort. “We’re ready for you if you’d like to come with me.” She glanced at Freddie.
“This is my partner, Detective Cruz. Freddie, this is Kayla Owen.”
He nodded to her because he was too polite not to. But since he was still pissed about what she’d said, he wasn’t overly friendly.
They followed her to a studio where several people waited for them.
Kayla introduced them to a producer, sound technician and cameraman, all of whom fell over themselves to shake their hands, welcome them to the studio and thank them for the interview.
By the time they were mic’d up and seated, Sam was over the whole thing.
“We’re here today with Vice President and Mrs. Cappuano for an exclusive interview.
We may as well be truthful—you’re doing me a big favor after teaching me an even bigger lesson.
Last week, I made the mistake of asking what I now know was a highly inappropriate question during Mrs. Cappuano’s press briefing in her position as a lieutenant with the Metro PD.
I asked if the Cappuanos plan to have children of their own.
In light of the fact that the second couple has adopted one child and is foster-parenting a set of twins who recently lost their parents to murder, they rightfully found my question offensive and came to my office today to tell me so.
I invited them to sit for this interview so they could discuss the role adoption has played in their family and the proper terminology to use when talking about adopted children.
Thank you for being here today, Mr. Vice President and Mrs. Cappuano. ”
“Thank you for having us and for your sincere apology,” Nick said. “We appreciate it as well as this chance to share what adoption has meant for our family.”
“Your thirteen-year-old son, Scotty, is adopted, correct?”
“He is, and he’s the best thing to ever happen to us.” Nick glanced at Sam.
She nodded. “He made us parents, and we couldn’t love him more. He’s everything to us.”
“You’ve also taken in a set of five-year-old twins. Can you discuss your decision to add to your family with the twins?”
“It wasn’t a decision,” Nick said, “so much as fate that brought Alden and Aubrey to us. Sam met them in the course of investigating the murders of their parents, and when they needed lodging late at night, she offered to bring them home since we’re licensed foster parents from when we first had Scotty with us.
That’s evolved into them living with us while their older brother is in college. ”
“Do you plan to adopt the twins?”
“No,” Nick said. “But we do plan to keep them with us until they’re of age.
Their brother has made us co-guardians, and we all agree that keeping them with us makes the most sense as he finishes college and begins his career.
He hopes to end up in DC so he can live close to them and see them often.
Obviously, none of this was planned, so we’re making it up as we go with Alden and Aubrey’s best interests foremost in our minds. ”
“It’s important to mention that the twins have very quickly become part of our family,” Sam said, “as has their brother, Elijah. I understand people who’ve heard me speak about my struggles with infertility are curious about whether we’ll add to our family the old-fashioned way, but for now, we’re very content with the three and a half kids we have.
There’re so many children of all ages in need of good homes. ”
“When we first met Scotty, one of the things he said has stayed with me ever since,” Nick said.
“He told me, rather matter-of-factly, that older kids like him didn’t get adopted because everyone wants babies.
He was so resigned to never again having a family of his own, which broke my heart and made me even more determined to make him part of our family.
That was the best thing I ever did, right up there with marrying my gorgeous wife. ”
Sam felt her face flush with embarrassment that infuriated her. She didn’t need to be seen blushing over a compliment from her husband on TV. He’d pay for that later.
“When people speak to and about adoptive families, what are some things to avoid?” Kayla asked.
Nick glanced at Sam.
“Referring to ‘real children’ or ‘children of our own’ to adoptive parents is unacceptable,” she said.
“We have real children who are very much our own. The fact that they aren’t our biological children doesn’t matter to us.
We don’t look at them and think, ‘I so wish I’d given birth to him or her.
’ They’re everything we could ever want and more than we ever dreamed possible. ”
“Congratulations on your beautiful family, and thank you for educating me and our viewers on how best to speak about adoptive families. Before I let you go, the other thing my bosses want me to ask you, Mr. Vice President, is whether you’ve made a decision about running for president in the next election. ”
“I have,” Nick said. “The White House will be releasing a statement later today announcing that I don’t intend to run because of the same family we’ve been discussing. I want to be an active, hands-on father to our children, and I can’t do that if I’m off on the campaign trail.”
Kayla seemed staggered by the huge exclusive she’d been handed. “People will be disappointed.”
“I’m aware of that,” Nick said, “but my priorities are with the people most important to me—my wife and our kids. I’ve absolutely loved being vice president—”
Liar. Sam had to hold back a giggle as the word popped into her head.
“—and I’m thrilled to serve the American people in this capacity. But I’m not going to run.”
“Thank you for your time and for being here today. I promise not to forget what I’ve learned from this incident.”
“Thank you for having us,” Nick said.
“And we’re out,” the producer said. “Holy shit. Did you give us an exclusive, Mr. Vice President?”
“I did.”
“Thank you so much, and may I be among the first to say I’m very disappointed we won’t see you in the Oval Office. I think you’d make an amazing president.”
“That’s nice of you to say, but I’d much rather be an amazing dad.”
Whoa, he’s racking up the points, Sam thought. He’d be richly rewarded for being the best husband and father ever as soon as they got a minute alone.
“I gotta go, babe,” she said.
“I know. I’m with you.”
They walked out together, his arm around her shoulders as everyone in the newsroom watched them go, with Freddie bringing up the rear.
“The goldfish are on display again,” she said to Nick.
“A few more years, and then we’ll be done.”
“Years? As in more than one?”
“Three.”
“Now you’re being mean.”
His laughter was one of her favorite things in the entire world.
“On a scale of one to lame, I’ve had better nooners,” she said.
“I’ll make it up to you very soon. We’ll kick everyone out and take a full day off together while the kids are at school.”
“Promise?”
“Close your new case, and it’s on, baby.”
“I’m never going to close this case. Everyone she knew wanted her dead, or so it seems.”
“You’ll figure it out. You always do.”
“This may be the one that stumps me.”
“Nah, my money is on you.” He stopped at the door to the SUV, where several Secret Service agents waited for him to get in. “Are you working late?”
“Not sure yet. I’ll let you know.”
He leaned in to kiss her, oblivious to the eyes always trained on them. “I’ll see you soon. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“Be careful out there this afternoon.”
“Always am.”
She could tell he’d much rather stay with her than return to the fortress known as the White House, but he got into the car, and the door closed behind him.
Freddie leaned against her car, scrolling through his phone. “Ready?”
“Don’t scratch my paint.” Sam unlocked the car and got in. “What’s the deal with Crime Scene?”
“Haggerty wants us to come by the lab when we can.”