“Thank you so much,” Nick said, hugging Scotty.

“Thank you,” Scotty said. “For being such a good friend to me.”

Nick’s eyes filled with tears. “Right back atcha, pal,” he said gruffly.

They shared a smile that had Sam blinking back tears. She wondered if they had any idea they were slowly becoming father and son. Watching that happen ranked among the greatest thrills of her life.

“While we’re on the subject,” Shelby said as her team brought out the orchid-laden wedding cake. “What do you say we cut this one too?”

“Tell me I don’t have to cut Fenway,” Nick said, stricken by the idea of it.

“We took lots of pictures,” Shelby assured him, handing him a knife. “Have at it.”

“I can’t! It would be like bringing another eighty-six-year curse down on the Sox!”

Sam rolled her eyes at Shelby and took the knife from Nick. “Allow me.”

“I can’t look,” he said with a whimper.

“Me either,” Scotty added, covering his eyes.

Chapter 13

Sam and Nick were enjoying a few minutes off their feet along with some wedding cake when the DJ handed a microphone to Nick’s best man and surrogate father, retired senator Graham O’Connor.

The room quieted, and Nick reached for Sam’s hand. She enveloped it between both of hers.

“I know I speak for all of you when I say it’s been such a thrill to be part of this celebration of love and joy—two things we can never have too much of in this life,” Graham said. “I first met Nick when my son John brought him home for a weekend during their freshman year at Harvard. Right away, I was struck by his eagerness and determination to make something of his life. I remember encouraging John, who was somewhat less… determined… at that time in his life to spend more time with the oh-so-serious Nick Cappuano.”

A soft wave of laughter rippled through the room.

“That turned out to be a good move on my part. I don’t like to think about how responsible Nick probably was for getting John through school.”

That drew a short laugh from Nick.

“When John later took office, he insisted Nick run the show, and John always said Nick was the brains behind the whole operation. I’m not sure if that’s entirely true, but I do know they made for one hell of a team.”

Nick bent his head to beat back a flood of emotion as memories of John swamped him.