Chapter Thirty-One #2
Nick put his arm around her as they watched Harry hold out a hand to Lilia.
“Lilia, my sweet love, you’ve changed my entire life since we met by chance in Sam’s office at the police department, and I’ll be forever thankful to her for bringing you to me.
For so long, I’d been searching for something, and I had no idea what it was until I had you and realized I’d been looking for you. ”
He dropped to one knee as Lilia contended with a flood of tears. “Will you please marry me and make everything even more perfect than it’s been since the day I met you?”
“Yes.” Lilia covered her heart as tears fell from her eyes. “God, yes.”
Harry rose to his feet to kiss and hug her before sliding a ring on her finger while everyone else exploded in applause.
Sam wiped away her own tears as she clapped and whistled as loudly as she could for two of her favorite people. She’d wanted this for Harry for as long as she’d known him, and Lilia was simply the best. She’d done some good work with those two, if she said so herself. “That was perfect.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Nick said.
They went to congratulate the happy couple with hugs and more champagne.
“Did you know about this?” Lilia asked Sam, who’d never seen her friend look happier.
“I might’ve heard a rumbling or two. I’m so happy for you guys. He’s the best of the best, and so are you.”
“Thank you for introducing us. He’s the best thing to ever happen to me.”
Sam glanced at Nick, who had one of his six-year-old brothers on his shoulders as he talked to his dad, Leo, and stepmother, Stacy. “There’s nothing better than seeing two great people who deserve all good things finding each other in this crazy world.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Lilia said. “Best night of my life.”
Then Sam got to hug Jon Bon Jovi, which made her year and her Christmas. “Thank you so much for taking time away from your own family to be here.”
“It’s a tremendous honor to perform for you guys,” he said. “We wish you all the best during your stay in the White House.”
Nick shook his hand and thanked him for coming.
“When the president calls and asks for a favor that’ll earn him a year’s worth of points with the first lady, I couldn’t say no to that.”
Sam and Nick laughed and walked him out to fly home to New Jersey to join his own family for the holidays.
As they returned to the East Room, where the party had moved for dancing, Jeannie asked for a moment with Sam.
“I’ll be right in,” she told Nick.
“I won’t keep her too long,” Jeannie said.
“Take your time, ladies,” Nick said as he walked away.
“You two look beautiful tonight,” Jeannie said.
“So do you. You’re positively glowing in that gown.” Jeannie’s dress was a midnight blue with the faintest hint of sparkle.
“The glow is because of one of the things I wanted to tell you.” She paused before she said, “I’m pregnant.”
Sam hugged her friend and colleague. “That’s wonderful, Jeannie. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you and Michael.”
“Thank you. I was almost afraid to tell you…”
“Please don’t feel that way. I have what I need with Nick and the kids. My life is very complete. Things don’t always happen the way you plan, but they work out the way they’re meant to.”
“Yes, I guess that’s true. The other thing I wanted to tell you is I think I’ve located Daniella Brown, the woman believed to have abducted Carisma Deasly.”
Sam glanced into the East Room, where the chief was laughing at something the captain was saying. “Where?”
“She’s living in the Richmond area. I’m almost one hundred percent sure it’s her, but I won’t know for certain until I go there and dig a little deeper. I know this isn’t the time, but I’d be happy to walk you through the evidence.”
“Let’s talk the day after Christmas about how best to handle this. As much as I hate to make Carisma’s family wait one more day, we need to be very careful how we proceed in light of the clear orders we were given.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll find a way to make this right. I just need to figure out how.”
“You know where to find me when you’re ready.”
“I don’t have to tell you how important it is that we keep this quiet until we have a plan.”
“I haven’t told anyone else, and I don’t plan to.”
“Thanks for the great work, Detective.”
“I wish I could say it was a pleasure, but it’s an outrage.”
“It sure is. We’ll do everything we can to fix this. Somehow.”
Sam walked with Jeannie to the East Room, where a local band had everyone up and dancing.
Over the next few hours, they danced, drank too much champagne, exchanged gifts with friends and laughed—a lot.
Sam noticed Cameron dancing with Gigi and thought about how great the two of them looked together.
She hoped that whatever was starting between them would bring them both nothing but happiness.
At nine p.m., Sam stepped up to the microphone. “I hope everyone is having a good time!”
The cheers of their guests confirmed that their party was a huge hit.
“There’s been tremendous competition for the honor of sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom tonight.
Nick and I have given this some significant thought and have decided on a contest. A dance contest.” The announcement was met with equal parts groans and cheers.
“Everyone on the dance floor will be considered a contestant. If either Nick or I tap you on the shoulder, you’re eliminated. Are you ready to dance?”
She gave the band leader the signal. They’d prepped the band in advance, asking them to play some old-time swing music for the contest, and when they launched into “In the Mood,” the younger members of the party had no idea what to do, so they stepped aside, yielding the floor to the older folks.
Within minutes, it became clear that Joe and Marnie Farnsworth had been preparing for this moment their entire married lives and were quickly and unanimously declared the winners by Sam, Nick and everyone else in the room.
“Holy crap, Uncle Joe,” Sam said. “That was awesome.”
“Your old uncle still has a little gas in the tank,” he said, breathing hard from the exertion.
“Congratulations, guys,” Nick said. “I’m super impressed.”
They’d no sooner crowned the winners with stovepipe hats reminiscent of President Lincoln than Andy came over to them, smiling and holding his phone.
Sam could barely breathe as she, Nick and Elijah waited to hear what he would say. “The judge has denied the Lawsons’ petition for custody. The twins will be staying right where they belong.”
Upon hearing the news, Elijah broke down.
Sam hugged him tightly as relief flooded her entire body.
“This is what he said,” Andy added. “‘The twins’ parents were very clear about what they wanted for their minor children. They put their faith in their son, Elijah, and I must do the same. While Elijah has chosen an unconventional arrangement for his brother and sister, it’s one that seems to be working for everyone involved, and the children are obviously well loved and cared for in their new home.
This court can find no reason to disrupt the current custody arrangement. The petition is denied.’”
As Sam wiped away tears, Nick hugged Elijah and said, “I guess that makes us officially a family.”
“We were a family long before this,” Eli said. “Thank you so much, Andy, Nick, Sam… Thank you for going to bat for us.”
“We’ve got your backs,” Sam said, hugging him again. “Always.”
Scotty came over with Alden and Aubrey each holding one of his hands. “What’s going on?” he asked, his brows furrowing with concern when he saw tears on the faces of Eli, Sam and Nick.
“Good news from the judge,” Sam told him, picking up Aubrey as Nick reached for Alden.
“Oh, thank God,” Scotty said, his shoulders sagging with relief.
“You said it, buddy,” Nick said.
“First family,” the White House photographer said, “everyone say, ‘Happy holidays.’”
The six of them stood together, arms around each other, wearing smiles of relief and innocent joy, as the photographer captured the moment for history, having no idea whatsoever that they had just officially became a family forever.