Page 30 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)
“Sometimes it’s a means to an end. We’ve certainly seen that before.”
“I don’t know, Sam,” Gonzo said. “It feels a bit farfetched to me.”
“I understand why, and you know how much I hate to ever be part of the story in one of our cases, but this feels personal to me. I’ll be working that angle from my end.”
“We’ll keep you informed of any developments,” Gonzo said. “Do you know how long you’re going to be stuck at home?”
“I haven’t heard yet, but we have a meeting with the Secret Service at nine. I hope to know more after that.”
“Let us know,” Freddie said.
“I will.”
Gonzo handed out assignments to each of them, which included investigating Saulnier’s social media and finances for any red flags and to check on the fiancée to see if she might be able to provide more information than they’d gotten from her the night before.
Sam itched to be in the middle of that but would do what she could from home.
After ending the call, she stood and stretched and then went to wake up the twins to get them dressed, fed and off to school.
Normally, this was one of her favorite parts of the day, as the twins were always adorable and entertaining.
Today, she struggled to stay focused on them with her brain spinning in a thousand other directions.
“Are you sad, Sam?” Aubrey asked as she ate the French toast sticks Sam had made for them.
Surprised by the question, Sam forced a smile. “No, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“You’re not teasing us like you usually do.”
Was there anyone more observant than a six-year-old? Not that she’d ever seen. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m just thinking about what I’ve got to do today when I should be completely focused on you guys.”
“That’s okay. We know you’re super busy.”
Sam brought her mug of coffee with her to sit with them at the table. “I’m never, ever, ever too busy for you guys. I hope you know that.”
“We do,” Alden said. “You and Nick have the biggest jobs ever.”
“That might be true, but you guys and Scotty and Eli are the most important people in our lives.”
“We know that,” Alden said.
“I heard you had a rough day yesterday,” Sam said to Aubrey. “Are you feeling a little better this morning?”
She shrugged. “I guess. I’m still scared of something bad happening.”
“I used to worry about that, too. You remember me telling you that my dad was a police officer, too, right?”
“Grandpa Skip?” Aubrey said.
“Yes, that’s him.” Sam was sad that the twins hadn’t gotten the chance to know him—and vice versa. He’d have been delighted with them. “When I was a little girl, I used to worry about him getting hurt at work, but you know what he told me?”
“What?” she asked.
“That something like that was completely out of my control, and the only thing I’d accomplish by worrying about something that was most likely not going to happen was to make myself sick. That helped me. I hope it helps you, too.”
“It does.”
“Do you understand what it means to not have any control over something?”
“I think so. It means I can’t do anything about it.”
“Exactly, which means you shouldn’t worry about it for that very reason. You guys know all too well that bad things can happen. But the bad things are rare, even if it seems like that isn’t true sometimes.”
The twins exchanged glances that had Sam wondering what was going on.
“What does it mean to be adopted?” Alden asked.
“Where did you hear that word?”
“I heard Nick talking on the phone to Elijah,” Alden said.
“We were going to talk to you guys about that when we had more information, but Nick and I would like to adopt you two and Eli to make you legally our family.”
“Oh.” Aubrey’s little brows furrowed the way they did when she was thinking about something. “Aren’t we already your family?”
“Of course you are, but this makes it official and legal.”
“What does that mean?” Aubrey asked.
“Our lawyer Andy will file papers with a judge, who then makes a ruling that says you and Eli are officially our family. It’s really a formality. Do you know what that means?”
“I think so,” Alden said.
“You know how people get married at weddings?”
They nodded.
“That’s a formality. They already love each other and want to be a family, but when they go through the ceremony to get married, that makes it official.”
“Will we have a wedding if we get adopted?” Aubrey asked.
Sam smiled. “No, but we’ll have one heck of a party.”
“I love parties,” she said.
“I know you do. Nick and I want you to know that having you as part of our family has been one of the best things to ever happen to us, even if we know it happened because of the worst thing to ever happen to you. We can never take the place of your mommy and daddy, but we’ll always love you and take care of you and be there for you. ”
“We know,” Aubrey said. “It’s very nice of you to take care of us.”
“We love you so much.”
“We love you, too.”
“Eli will get adopted, too?” Alden asked.
“That’s the plan.”
Aubrey made a thoughtful face. “Isn’t he a grownup, though?”
“He is, but he’s choosing to be adopted so the three of you will be in the same family.”
“Will we have to change our names?” Alden asked.
“Only if you want to. Eli suggested going by Armstrong-Cappuano, so you’d have both names. What do you think of that?”
“Would I have to write that on all my papers?” Alden frowned. “That’s a lot of letters.”
Sam laughed. “Maybe you could abbreviate.”
“What does that mean?”
“You could do Alden A dash C for your papers.”
“That would be better,” he said, sounding relieved.
“I think it’d be cool for us to have the same last name,” Aubrey said.
“We do, too, and I’m glad you think so.” Sam glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Time to go brush your teeth and wash your faces and hands. It’s almost time to go.”
After they ran off, Sam took their plates to the sink to rinse them and put them in the dishwasher. Then she took the BlackBerry from her pocket and composed a text to Nick and Eli, letting them know about the conversation with the twins.
Damn, Eli wrote back, they don’t miss a thing. I was going to talk to them about it the next time I’m there, but I’m glad they know and that they approve.
Their biggest concern was having to write Armstrong-Cappuano on all their papers. Alden said that’s a LOT of letters.
LMAO, Eli said. Too funny—and too cute.
They were also concerned about whether you’re being adopted, too, and I told them you’ve chosen to be so the three of you can be part of the same family. They liked that.
I like that, too! Andy says we’re close. He’s requesting a court date this week. He thinks they’ll expedite it bc of who you guys are.
Finally some benefit to being the first couple.
LOL. Right?
When the twins returned from the bathroom, Sam was ready with backpacks and the lunchboxes Nick had packed for them the night before.
She hugged them, kissed them and wished them a good day. “Grandma Brenda and Shelby will be here when you get home, and I’ll try to be home for dinner.”
“Best day ever!” Aubrey said as they took off to meet their detail at the other end of the hallway.
Sam waved to the agents. “Incoming.”
She loved the way their agents hugged them every morning and made them feel special. She’d be forever grateful to all the people who surrounded the twins with love in their new life. It took a village to raise kids, and they were extraordinarily blessed by theirs.