Epilogue #2
Smiling, he did as directed like the good husband he was, and as he made love to her, Sam held on tight to him and his love and the euphoric feeling she’d brought home with her. Seven full days to spend with him and their kids. Nothing could top that.
Somehow, Sam managed to cook a pretty decent Thanksgiving dinner, with the “qualified help” of her sisters, their mother Brenda, Celia and Shelby, who’d decided to stay in the city rather than go home to her family, as morning sickness had been making her miserable.
“Has to be a girl this time,” Shelby had joked at one point. “Only women cause this much trouble.”
In addition to Shelby, Avery and baby Noah, Sam’s sisters and their families were there, as well as Freddie, Elin and his parents, along with Nick’s father, Leo, his wife, Stacy, and their twin sons.
Elijah was also home for the long weekend, much to the delight of Alden and Aubrey, who’d barely left his side since his arrival.
Scotty was enthralled by Elijah, who included Scotty in everything he did with his brother and sister. Sam and Nick had let Scotty stay up late playing video games with Elijah the night before, which had thrilled Scotty.
After dinner, they went around the table, and everyone said one thing they were thankful for. “We did this when we were kids. Remember, girls?” Sam asked her sisters.
“I remember,” Tracy said. “It was your thing, Mom. You should go first.”
Brenda looked around the table, smiling at her daughters and grandchildren. “I’m thankful to be here with my girls, their families and friends today. Thank you for including me, Sam.”
“It’s good to have you here.” The twenty years in which Sam hadn’t spoken to her mother after her parents’ marriage fell apart seemed like a distant memory now that they’d made peace with the past. “I’m thankful to be here with all of you and to have added Elijah, Aubrey and Alden to our family this year. We love you all very much.”
“Thank you so much for all you’ve done for us,” Elijah said.
“I’m not sure what would’ve become of us without you guys, and it’s such an incredible relief to me to know my babies are well cared for when I can’t be here.
They’re probably too shy to say so, but Alden and Aubrey are thankful for you guys, too. ”
“I’m thankful for them and you,” Scotty said to Elijah. “It’s so cool to have siblings.”
“We feel the same way,” Elijah said, smiling at Scotty, who beamed back at him.
Sam’s heart wanted to explode at the way Elijah included him and seemed to fully understand that he’d inherited another younger brother.
“I’m thankful for this family,” Nick said, “the family I’ve always wished for and hoped for and often thought I’d never have.
You all are the best thing to ever happen to me, and after this last week, I’m especially thankful to know I’m off the hook for the next election and able to be right here—the only place in the world I want to be. ”
“Thank goodness for that,” Sam said.
“We all feel that way,” Tracy said dryly. “No one wanted to deal with her while you were off campaigning.”
“Preach it, sister,” Angela said.
“Preach it, Auntie,” Scotty said.
Sam stuck her tongue out at each of them. “Just because it’s true doesn’t mean you gotta be mean.”
Smiling at their banter, Celia said, “I’m thankful to you guys for getting me through this difficult first month without my love.
I know you miss him as much as I do, and we’re all trying to figure out life without Skip at the center of it.
But I’m thankful to be part of this family and to know I get to keep you, even though he’s gone. ”
“You’re not getting rid of us,” Tracy said.
“Although you may wish you had,” Sam said.
“Never,” Celia said emphatically.
“I’m thankful for my kids, the three that live in this house, as well as my baby Noah,” Shelby said. “The one on the way is giving me some grief, but I can’t wait to meet him or her. I’m also thankful for my wonderful husband, Avery, who has made me so happy.”
“Same goes, darlin’,” Avery said. “You and Noah have given me so much. And I’m thankful for the friends who’ve become like family to us.”
Freddie, Elin and his parents gave thanks for each other as well as their friends.
“Wait,” Sam said to Freddie. “You forgot to be thankful for me as your most awesome partner.”
“I didn’t forget anything,” he said, making everyone laugh hysterically.
“That’s hurtful,” Sam said with a teasing glint in her eye, “because I’m very thankful for you, partner.”
“Fine. If you’re going to be that way, I’m thankful for you, too, even when you’re a gigantic pain in my ass.”
Sam dabbed at her eyes. “I’m so moved.”
The food, the family, the love and the laughter kept Sam from focusing overly much on the person who was missing from the holiday gathering. She’d cooked the giblets for him, even though no one else was interested in eating them. Her sisters noticed, though.
“It’s sweet that you cooked them for Dad,” Tracy said when they were cleaning up the kitchen.
“I thought about taking them to the cemetery, but they’d probably attract buzzards.”
“Can we stop talking about giblets?” Angela covered her mouth. “I’m already sick from eating too much.”
Sam held up the boiled neck of the turkey, another part her dad had loved to gnaw on. “You want this?”
“Ugh, get rid of that nasty shit,” Angela said, turning a worrisome shade of light green.
The sisters had a good laugh and then a good cry as they remembered Skip and his love of all things Thanksgiving.
Their day was capped off by dessert at Gonzo and Christina’s. As the Secret Service conveyed them to the gathering, Sam rested her head on Nick’s shoulder. She’d much rather be napping than going out, but there was no way she’d disappoint her friend by missing his get-together.
She yawned loudly.
“She’s gonna fall asleep in the apple pie,” Scotty said.
“I am not!” Sam said.
“Are you taking bets, son?” Nick asked. “Because I’m betting on a full face-plant.”
“I’ll remember you bet against me,” Sam said.
“Don’t start being gross,” Scotty said. Glancing at Elijah, he added, “They’re so weird.”
Elijah laughed. “I feel you. My parents were like that, too. Always kissing and crap.”
“It’s the worst.”
“Actually, it’s not so bad,” Elijah said. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Ew,” Scotty said. “I thought I liked you.”
Sam had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud, knowing Scotty wouldn’t appreciate it. Thankfully, they arrived at their destination before she could lose her composure.
“He’s in for such a wake-up call,” Nick said, low enough that only she could hear him as they followed the four kids out of the SUV.
“Anytime now.”
Gonzo and Christina’s apartment was full of friends, family and colleagues, enjoying an amazing dessert buffet full of pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and all things sweet.
The atmosphere was even more joyful after the news had come the day before that USA Forrester had decided not to pursue charges against Gonzo.
That had been a huge relief for all of them, no one more so than Gonzo, who credited Christina with giving him the fortitude to fight the charges.
None of them were under any illusions that the story was dead, however.
Once Ramsey found out about it, there was apt to be more trouble ahead.
Gonzo planned to meet with Darren Tabor over the weekend to give him the exclusive story of what he’d been through since his partner’s murder.
Hopefully, that story, coupled with the dirt they’d dug up on Ramsey, would take some of the wind out of the hateful sergeant’s sails.
News that Metro PD Detective Cameron Green had done what the Feds had failed to do and found the missing money had been met with jubilation among Ginny’s victims and some badly needed good press for the department.
Sam made sure Cameron got full credit for the find, and he’d been enjoying his moment in the limelight.
“Have you seen our hosts?” Sam asked Nick as she looked around for them.
“Not yet.”
Avery Hill made his way over to Sam, holding his son, Noah. “Hey, I was hoping I’d get the chance to talk to you before you left on vacation.”
“I busted out of there the second I closed the McLeod case.”
“So I heard. I wanted to tell you I went through the Worthington case files, and I agree it’s worth another look. Our old friends Conklin and Stahl made some very questionable decisions during that investigation, such as it was. We’re finding that was somewhat of a trend with them.”
“Ugh, seriously?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Have you told the chief?” Sam asked, glancing at Farnsworth, Malone and their wives, standing together in a corner with drinks and relaxed expressions on their faces.
Sam didn’t want anything to ruin this day for her beloved chief, who’d gone through the wringer while grieving the loss of his best friend.
“I’ve briefed him that there’re some irregularities that’ll need to be addressed.”
“Is this going to get ugly for us?”
“Don’t you mean uglier? It could, but it’s also an opportunity to right some old wrongs.”
“I’d be down with that. Lenore has waited long enough for justice. I’ll jump on that the second I’m back to work.”
“Let me know if you could use some help.”
“You do the same, Agent Hill. We managed to find that missing money, after all.”
“You’re never going to let me hear the end of that, are you?”
“Not ever.”
Avery laughed, which made Noah laugh, too. Lowering his voice, he said, “I’m still working on the other thing, with the MIL. More to come on that.”
“I look forward to anything that can help get her out of my husband’s life forever.”