Somebody to Love(121)

“Then let’s get this show on the road,” she said, and Nicky offered his arm with a grin, looking as ever like a miniature of his father. But she could see bits of herself, too. His eyebrows, and maybe his cheekbones.

So many people here, and everyone she loved. Malone grinned, Maggie was smiling and teary-eyed, Vin already sobbing into a bandanna. Her mom blew her a kiss, and Parker returned the gesture. Nicky gave a stately nod to Colette and ducked as Ethan reached out to ruffle his hair.

And James. He was so handsome in his tux, his eyes crinkled with a smile, and he looked completely and utterly sure.

She got to the altar and handed her flowers to Lucy. The music stopped, and everyone sat down. Then she bent down and kissed Nicky twice on the cheek, and he smiled and wiped it off, making everyone laugh. “You can go sit with Daddy, honey,” she whispered.

“In a sec,” he said.

Reverend Covers cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved, welcome to this very happy occasion. Before we get started, the groom has asked if he could say something.”

“Be with you in a minute,” James said to Parker, and his smile flashed. He stepped around her and took Nicky’s hand and looked down at him, his face growing solemn.

Oh, man. The tears came in a rush.

“I, James, take you, Nicholas, as my stepson.”

An audible sigh came from the guests. James glanced at her, smiled again and then grew serious as he looked at Nicky. “I promise to love you like you were my own, to always be grateful that you shared your mom with me, never to boss you unless absolutely necessary and to buy you the Lego model of the Death Star that your parents said had too many pieces, which is in my car at this very moment.”

“Yes!” Nicky pumped his fist, and everyone laughed.

“I also promise to let you help name any baby your mom and I might have—”

“Mistake,” Parker said unevenly. “We’ll have a kid named Chewbacca.”

James smiled at her again, and honestly, she hadn’t known it was possible to feel so much happiness, so much love. Then he looked back at her boy. “And, Nicky, I promise always to remember that you were your mom’s son long before I was her husband.”

That was perfect, said Spike. The other Holy Rollers had left her bit by bit, but Spike remained, and Parker was kind of glad.

“Amen,” Nicky said, mugging for the guests and getting a big laugh. “Okay, my turn. I, Nicholas Giacomo Mirabelli, take you, James, as my stepfather.” He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “I promise to try eating what you cook, even though your food isn’t as good as my dad’s. I also promise to try to keep my room clean and not let Apollo out of his cage without asking. And I’m glad you’re marrying my mom, because she’s really happy. And also, you’re nice.”

“Thank you,” James said, and they shook hands on it, and Nicky got a round of applause as he went to sit in the front row.

Then James took Parker’s hands, and without waiting, gave her a long, hot kiss that made her nearly forget there were a hundred people watching. Then he pulled back and smiled that full, wonderful grin, his dark eyes so happy.

“Parker,” he said, “always lovely to see you.”