Read Online Symphony in Blue by Shira Anthony - Free Book Online Page A

had come here only once before, when he and Sam had first dated after meeting in a Manhattan bar. The building was old and the tiny elevators creaked, but the offices had recently been updated, and the view from Jack Wellons’s office was spectacular.
    The windows behind Jack’s desk looked out onto New York Harbor. A ferry made its way from Battery Park to Liberty Island. The redbrick buildings of Ellis Island rose from the water much like the Statue of Liberty beyond. Aiden imagined what the sunset might look like from this vantage point. He could almost smell the slight tang of salt from the water on the air, almost hear the sound of steel drums from Battery Park.
    “Good to see you, Sam.” Jack, his hair far grayer than Aiden remembered, embraced Sam warmly, then turned to Aiden. “I hear congratulations are in order. Sam mentioned you two were getting married next week.”
    Aiden shook Jack’s hand and said, “Change of plans. But thanks.”
    “Aiden’s best man just became a father again. We’re headed to Milan next week to meet his new addition and spend Thanksgiving with friends.” Sam smiled as Jack motioned them to sit on the couch near the entrance. “And by the way,” Sam added, “I hear congratulations are also in order for you, Judge Wellons.”
    “Judge? That’s wonderful news. Congratulations,” Aiden put in, a bit surprised that Sam hadn’t mentioned this before.
    “New York Supreme Court,” Sam said with obvious pride.
    “Supreme Court?”
    “It’s not the highest court in New York,” Jack said with a chuckle. “We do things a bit differently here. But I’m thrilled.”
    There was a knock on the office door.
    “Excuse me a moment,” Jack said as he walked over to the door and opened it.
    “Why didn’t you tell me about the judgeship?” Aiden asked Sam under his breath.
    Sam just shrugged. “Must have slipped my mind. Great news, though, isn’t it?”
    Before Aiden could say anything, Jack was back. “Care to see our new conference room?” he asked. “It has an even better view than my office.”
    “We’d love to,” Sam said with a smile for Aiden.
    Not that he minded, but Aiden thought the offer was a little strange. They’d barely sat down and now Jack was giving them a tour? He glanced over at Sam, but Sam had already headed out the door after Jack.
    They followed Jack down a hallway and past a maze of cubicles before arriving at a closed door at the corner of the building. “Right this way,” Jack said as he opened the door.
    “You first,” Sam said with a grin nearly as wide as his face.
    In retrospect, Aiden should have known he’d been had even before he saw the photographer and the huge spray of flowers on the conference room table. Cary loved to joke about how dense he was sometimes. This one took the cake, quite literally—a two-tiered white wedding cake with two grooms at the top, decorated with black musical notes on staff lines that ribboned the cake.
    “Sam,” Aiden said when his mouth reconnected with his brain, “what are you doing?”
    By now, Jack had closed the door behind them and was donning his suit jacket.
    “Marry me, Aiden,” Sam said as he got on one knee. “Right here. Right now.” He appeared more than a little nervous as he looked up at Aiden.
    What do you say to something like that? “Hell yes!”
    Sam stood up and hugged him tight. “Damn, I’m glad you said that,” he whispered in Aiden’s ear.
    “Worried you might have to eat all the cake yourself?”
    “Do you know how much I love you?” Sam asked.
    “As much as I love you?” Aiden drew a long, contented breath.
    Sam released Aiden, then pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket. The marriage license. Of course! They’d gotten it three weeks ago. “Your Honor,” he said as he handed it to Jack.
    Jack beamed.
     
     
    T HE CEREMONY nearly over, Jack’s assistant handed Sam a ring and Sam took Aiden’s left hand in his own. “I’ve wanted