Epilogue #3
Sam looked around for Gonzo and Christina, but still didn’t see them.
The apartment wasn’t that large, but there was no sign of them until they finally emerged from a bedroom ten minutes later.
Christina wore a white silk dress and a radiant smile.
Tommy was dressed in a suit, holding baby Alex, who was also wearing a suit.
“Um, what’s happening?” Sam asked.
“If I had to guess, I think we’re here for a wedding,” Nick said.
“Shut up. No way!”
Freddie and Elin worked their way over to Sam and Nick. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Freddie asked Sam.
“I sure hope so.”
Gonzo whistled to get everyone’s attention. “Hey, so Christina and I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate Thanksgiving, my homecoming from a long, difficult journey and… our wedding!”
Their guests cheered and applauded.
“Before we make it official, I want to say to all of you—thank you. Thank you for sticking with me through the darkest days of my life, for supporting me, Christina and Alex while I was away, and for being here today to help us celebrate this new beginning. And now, without further ado…” Gonzo glanced at Nick. “Are you ready, Mr. Vice President?”
“You bet.”
“Wait,” Sam said. “What?”
Gonzo grinned at Sam. “I asked Nick to officiate and to keep the secret.”
“Another thing he’ll pay for later,” Sam muttered.
“It’s not every day that you get the vice president to officiate at your wedding,” Gonzo said.
“I’m honored.” Nick joined them in the corner of the living room that’d been set up with flowers Sam hadn’t noticed before.
“On behalf of all the loved ones who’ve gathered for this special occasion, let me say how thrilled we are to see two people who belong together getting their long-awaited happy ending.
Since this is my first time officiating at a wedding, Tommy and Christina promised to make it easy on me by writing their own vows. Christina, whenever you’re ready.”
Tommy handed Alex to his mother and took hold of Christina’s hands. He looked healthy, happy, relaxed, and Sam decided she was most grateful on this Thanksgiving for his recovery.
“Tommy Gonzales,” Christina said, already battling tears, “almost two years ago, I met you on New Year’s Eve, and you changed my whole life in the course of that first night.
I’d never experienced anything like the sheer thrill that came from being in the same room with you.
I quickly found out that, contrary to what I’d thought, I’d never been in love before, because everything was different after I met you.
In the last two years, we’ve been through a lot, including becoming parents overnight to Alex.
You and Alex are the greatest blessings in my life, and I love you both so much.
I promise to love, honor and cherish you as my husband for as long as I live.
Thank you for choosing me, Tommy. You’ve made me the luckiest woman in the world. ”
Gonzo was openly weeping by the time she finished.
Sam wiped tears from her eyes as she watched her beloved friend marry his true love. For a time, Sam had balked at them dating. Her world and Nick’s colliding had freaked her out, but it’d happened several times since then, and she’d learned to live with it as long as everyone was happy.
“I can’t believe you think you’re the lucky one, baby.
That’s all me. From the first second you looked my way, I’ve felt like the luckiest SOB who ever lived.
That a cool, classy, competent, successful woman like you would love me has always been one of the greatest miracles of my life.
That you stayed with me after what I’ve put you through is yet another miracle.
I know how incredibly fortunate I am to be standing here with you, having you vow to love me forever, and I promise to never take you or your love for me and Alex for granted.
I can’t wait for everything with you and our little family. I love you always.”
Nick walked them through the exchange of rings, which brought about more tears when Gonzo kissed the back of Christina’s hand and then reached for Alex to make him part of their big moment.
“By the power vested in me,” Nick said, “it’s my great pleasure to declare Tommy and Christina husband and wife. Tommy, you may kiss your bride.”
“Yes, please,” Gonzo said, putting his arms around her and staring into her eyes before kissing her softly and sweetly.
They hugged for a full minute, and only when Alex began to protest did they break apart, laughing and crying and looking genuinely thrilled.
God bless them both, Sam thought as she clapped, wiped away tears and celebrated their beautiful friends’ joyful union.
Much later, Sam lay next to Nick in bed, still stuffed to the point of imminent explosion. “Why do I do this to myself every year?”
“Because it’s so good. Your stuffing was amazing, by the way.”
“It’s my grandmother’s recipe. It’s so easy—white stuffing bread, sautéed onions, ground-up sausage, Old Bay and water.
You mash it all together, let it sit overnight and then bake it in the oven.
I crisp up the top in the broiler. And talking about it makes me want to sneak downstairs and eat it cold, even though I’m about to vomit from being so full. ”
“That’s the sign of a successful Thanksgiving.”
“Feeling like you’re going to vomit?”
“Being too full to have sex.”
“Don’t make me laugh. It hurts to laugh. You know it’s bad when we don’t want to have sex.”
“It’s the best kind of bad. Today was awesome.”
“And you! Keeping secrets!”
Smiling, he looked over at her. “I didn’t think you’d mind since it was for such a good cause.”
“It was awesome. I’m thrilled for them and so hopeful he’s going to be okay.”
“I think he will be. It’s not like he’s suddenly going to be over what happened to Arnold, but he’s learning to live with his grief in a more productive and healthy way.”
“I sure hope so. And in other news, it seems like the nonsense over you deciding not to run is finally tapering off.”
“Thank God for that. I’ve got to be honest. I didn’t think people would care as much as they did.”
“How’d that work out for you?”
His snort of laughter made her smile.
“It’s not easy being married to the most popular man in the world.”
“Whatever.”
“Have you given any more thought to your plans for after you leave office? I don’t want you sitting around here drinking beer and going to pot. I expect to be kept in the manner to which I’ve become accustomed.” Being silly and ridiculous with him was one of her favorite things to do.
“There goes my plan to retire early.”
“That’s not happening.”
“I’m giving more thought to the idea of teaching—and maybe writing a book.”
Sam looked over at him. “What kind of book?”
“A memoir about growing up the way I did and how I ended up vice president. I think it’s a pretty cool story.”
“It’s a great story, and I love the idea of you writing a book.”
“I’m glad you do, because I’ve had some interest from a couple of publishers who’ve reached out to see if I might want to do it after I leave office.”
“That’s so cool! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I am telling you.”
“When did this happen?”
“Earlier in the week. And they’re offering the kind of money that’ll keep you in fancy shoes for another year or two.”
“And you’re only telling me now?”
“You were busy with stuffing and turkey.”
Sam turned on her side, groaning from the agony of moving. “I’m never too busy to hear that kind of news. I think you should totally do that. You could show so many struggling kids that there’s always hope.”
“That’s what I was thinking, too.”
Sam rested her head on his chest. “It’s a good idea.”
“Glad you think so.”
She was well on her way to dozing off when the phone on his bedside table rang.
She felt guilty because her first thought was, Thank God it’s his phone and not mine.
The only way she’d be called in to work was if something huge happened, and she was praying for huge things to stay far, far away while she was on vacation through the weekend.
Nick reached for the phone they called the “bat line” to the White House and stayed reclined when he took the call. “This is Nick.” He was always so humble and normal, never affected by his lofty position or title.
“Mr. Vice President, this is Tom Hanigan.”
Sam could hear the president’s chief of staff because she was still lying in Nick’s arms.
“Hey, Tom. What’s up?”
“Sir, I regret to inform you that President Nelson was found dead in the residence thirty minutes ago. EMS was called, but they were unable to revive him. We need you to come to the White House immediately. The Secret Service is standing by to transport you and your wife.”
Sam felt as if she’d been electrocuted, and Nick was barely breathing.
“I understand,” Nick said. “I’m on my way.”
How could he sound so calm when a nuclear bomb had gone off in their lives?
He put down the phone and looked over at her, his eyes gone flat with shock. “You heard that?”
Sam swallowed hard. “I did.”
They stared at each other for a full minute.
Nick was the first to blink. “I’m the president.”
Fade to black on the Fatal Series, and introducing… The First Family Series!