Read Online To Save a Son by Brian Freemantle - Free Book Online

with an apartment on Long Island, so the reception was held at the Scargo’s Westchester home. There were marquees in the garden again and a band, and the tennis court was floored for dancing. It was in July, during the English school holidays, so David was able to attend. The Scargos invited all their relations, and Nicky included a lot of business acquaintances. Dukes and Flamini and Pascara attended. Apart from the brief period of the opening ceremonies, it was the first time Franks had been involved with them in anything like a social occasion. Angela Dukes wore a tight-fitting suit and a wide-brimmed picture hat, and Flamini’s wife still appeared bewildered, although she was more at home here, in a family setting.
    It was boisterous and Italian-American. Franks watched Tina dancing with someone he believed was a cousin but wasn’t sure and thought how completely happy he was. Contented, too. At last. His fears at taking in outside investors had been misplaced, he accepted honestly. And he finally felt he’d proved himself. To himself. And to the Scargo family. He was no longer the refugee with a label in his lapel. He was actually smiling at his own reflections when he felt movement alongside and turned to see Nicky, smiling also.
    â€œLeaving?” said Franks. Nicky and Maria were honey-mooning in Europe, two weeks of the trip in one of Franks’ villas near the Lido, on the coast near Venice.
    â€œNot yet,” said the lawyer. “Poppa wants to see us both.”
    Enrico was in the drawing room, at the window that overlooked the party. He was standing there gazing out when Franks and Nicky entered. As they did so he held out his arms to both of them, in a welcoming embrace, and when they walked forward put his arms around both of them, pulling them close. Nicky put his arm around his father, and after an embarrassed hesitation Franks did so too. Enrico released them both after a while and said, “This is a wonderful day. Both my sons successful. Now both my sons married to beautiful girls. A wonderful day.”
    Franks became aware of an ice bucket and wine beside the table from which Nicky usually poured the drinks. Enrico performed the task this time, formally handing them glasses. “I want this to be a very special toast,” he said. “Special beyond the rest.”
    Franks smiled back, admiring the man. He had to be seventy, Franks supposed; maybe older. But little seemed to have changed from the day of that dockside arrival, all those years ago. The hair was completely white now but remained very full, and he was still upright and comparatively hard-bodied, apart from the paunch. Franks raised his glass, responding to Enrico’s invitation.
    â€œTo my son and to a man I regard as my son,” said Enrico, thick-voiced. “I want you to know how proud I am. How proud I’ve always been. I don’t think there can be a man as happy as I am with the life he’s had.”
    Franks had the impression that Nicky felt embarrassed now. He said, “Let me make another toast. Let me say thank-you to a wonderful man and a wonderful family who took me in and made me part of it.” There was a risk of this becoming maudlin, he thought. But he wanted to say it. None of them would ever know but he’d just made an apology for all his stupidity in the last few years in his attitude toward them.
    They drank, and then Enrico proposed again, “To us always being like we are today.”
    â€œAs we are today,” echoed Nicky.
    â€œGet back to the party,” instructed Enrico, swallowing heavily. “Get back out there and enjoy the fun.”
    As they made their way out of the house Nicky said, “David Dukes has a suggestion about the Caribbean operation.”
    â€œWhat?” asked Franks.
    â€œHe wasn’t specific,” said Nicky dismissively.
    Franks found the Texan by the dance floor, indulgently watching as Pascara’s son