“I can’t stay long. I stopped by because I have some news that I think you’ll like.”
“Good. Maybe I can guess. I hope this involves my grandson. Grace has agreed to the name change.”
“Better than that,” Nick stated, his satisfaction increasing. “You know Grace and I have been seeing each other. Dad, I proposed and Grace has accepted. We’re going to be married.”
“I’ll be damned,” Eli said. A rewarding smile wreathed his face and Nick’s spirits climbed another notch. “I hoped that might happen, but didn’t think it would. Nick, this is the best news. You did it. Michael will be your child and you can adopt him.”
“Grace has already agreed to the adoption.”
“This won’t be a long engagement, will it?” his Dad asked, squinting his eyes at Nick who smiled.
“No. We’re definitely doing this—Saturday, January fifteenth.”
“Excellent! You’ll have to take time to have a drink with me now while I celebrate. You should have brought Grace,” Eli said. His tone of voice had strengthened, sounding more like his former self.
“She wanted to come, but she had a party lined up. We’ll both be here late afternoon tomorrow.”
Nick poured two glasses of wine, taking one to his father, who stood to accept it.
“Tomorrow night we’ll have champagne. I’m pleased beyond measure. I’ll call about my will as soon as you leave. The bulk of my estate will go to you because now Michael will be your heir and it will pass to him someday.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Here’s to success and a marriage that gives you tremendous joy. You did it, son. I knew you could.” He raised his glass in a toast and Nick clinked his glass lightly against his dad’s, then sipped his wine.
His father lowered his glass. “I like Grace, also.”
“Of course you do. You like beautiful women.”
His father chuckled. “This is a night to celebrate. I’ll have to tell Megan the news.”
Nick spent a leisurely hour with his dad and Megan before heading to the club to meet his closest friends.
When he joined Tony and Jake at their table in the bar, Jake frowned. “You look like the cat that swallowed the proverbial canary. What gives?” Jake groaned and slapped his hand against his face. “Aye-aye-aye. I’ll bet I know why you wanted to see both of us. You did it?”
“Yes, I did,”
“Will you two stop the riddle and tell me what is going on?” Tony asked. “Oh, hell, I bet I know, too. Jake told me you were thinking about proposing to your caterer because of your dad. That’s what this is about, isn’t it?” Tony asked.
“You’re exactly on target. Grace accepted my proposal.”
“No surprise there,” Tony remarked in a cynical tone. He stared at Nick. “You’re loco and desperate to do this. Can’t blame you. All three of us have manipulative dads. Whatever Eli threatened, he would carry it out, including cutting you off.”
“It’s a bummer and I hope you don’t get hurt or aren’t too miserable.”
Nick smiled. “You’ve both seen Grace. I don’t expect to be miserable one minute.”
His friends stared at him, heightening his amusement over their glum reactions.
Just then, Gabe joined them. “Evening. Sorry I’m late. Have I missed anything?”
“Only that Nick is getting married,” Jake drawled. “A damn marriage of convenience.”
“You might hold the congrats,” Tony said. “Unless you want to congratulate him for getting his inheritance.”
“Sorry, no congratulations here. I’m surprised you look as happy as you do, because you just lost one million in that bet you three made.”
“I’ve already heard about that,” Nick said, smiling at them.
