Chapter Seventy Five

Stephen

After a day filled with raw emotions, it was hard to believe that the nightmare we’d been living was finally coming to an end. We were grappling with a whirlwind of feelings, and I thought it was important for us to spend some time together, to talk about what was next and how we were all coping.

My wife and I decided to invite everyone out for dinner, kids included. Unfortunately, Benji and Maddie couldn’t join us. They had to keep a low profile until the trials started, since it was still a secret that Maddie was safe and had become a state witness.

We chose a quiet restaurant on the city outskirts to give us some privacy and avoid drawing too much attention. As Lachie had explained, making the arrests was just the first step. We knew from our own legal battles that we still needed to be careful. After getting the kids ready, I looked at them waiting on the couch and felt a wave of gratitude. What a beautiful family my wife had given me.

Stephen - Look at you cuties.

Olivia - I'm pretty, hey daddy?

Stephen - You are, princess.

Nate - I'm pretty too, hey daddy?

Stephen - Hahaha, you are very handsome, buddy. Where's mommy?

Trinity - In here, love. Just finished getting Jay dressed.

Stephen - Want me to get the twins in the car?

Trinity - Yes please, babe, I will be out in a minute.

Stephen - Come on then, peapods, you wanna go see Willie, Belle, and Maddie?

Olivia - Yah!

The twins and I headed out to the car. I strapped them in and started the car to warm it up while waiting for my wife. When she walked out, my heart raced just like it did the first time I saw her. She was breathtaking.

Stephen - You are beautiful, Mrs. Gotti.

Trinity - Thank you, Mr. Gotti, you are quite handsome yourself.

I gave my wife a gentle kiss, took our youngest, and strapped him in. Then we were off. We arrived at the restaurant and saw everyone waiting: Luke and Todd, Clint, Mia and their kids, Dave, Felicity, and Bella. After greeting everyone, we went inside, got seated, and I ordered a couple of bottles of wine.

Stephen - I know you all look to me to do these great speeches at these times, but I don't want to get too ahead of ourselves either. I just want to say I love you all and I am glad we are able to sit here together tonight.

Clint - Oh thank god, I thought we were going to have to listen to you dribble on for ages.

Everyone laughed while I flipped Clint off as we clinked glasses. We checked the menu, placed our orders, and I felt a sense of peace sitting here with the people who mattered most to us. The food was wonderful and the company even better. We took the opportunity to fill everyone in on what Lachie had explained would happen next.

While the worst was over, we still had to get through the hearings of Mia, Clint, and I. Then we would all be called as witnesses to the state for the hearings against Peters, Grounds, and Walis. Captain Grounds was due to be handed an indictment, which Lachie was going to let us know once it was issued.

As we finished eating, I took my wife's hand while the twins were occupied with stealing the attention from their Uncle Luke. I led her to the dance floor where I held her tightly in my arms as we danced together slowly, feeling more at ease than we had in a long time.

Stephen - Did you ever think we would see this day?

Trinity - I always hoped we would, because I always knew this was all I ever wanted.

Stephen - Thank you for being my strength and my rock through all of this. I hope you understand I could never have done this without you.

Trinity - Stephen, we are a team. It will always be us. We are better together.

After a few songs, we made our way back to the table. I noticed Clint and Mia whispering.

Stephen - What's wrong?

Clint - Don't make it obvious, but isn't that Lily over there?

I put my arm around my wife's chair and leaned into her, kissing her neck softly but taking the chance to look behind me where Clint and Mia had indicated. When I looked up, I saw her looking straight back at me so I quickly turned back into my wife, trying to appear that I wasn't deliberately looking.

Stephen - Yep, that's Lily.

Mia - Fuck, I haven't seen her in years.

Trinity - She just stopped contacting you, didn't she babe? Not much you could do.

Mia - She stopped making an effort to see me once you two got together and she saw you together that night at Capulet when you were first dating. Made me realize she only ever hung around me to get to Stephen.

Stephen - I don't know how I could have been more obvious with her, but I am sorry she did that to you, hunny.

Mia - I'm not, the people that matter the most to me are sitting here right now.

We ordered a few more drinks and continued to enjoy the evening when I saw Mia and Clint sit up a bit straighter.

Mia - She's coming over.

Stephen - Really?

Clint nodded and put his arm around Mia, pulling her closer. My arm still wrapped around Trinity, I started stroking her back as she held our youngest. I reached over and stroked his nose as he tried to slap my hand away.

Stephen - Fine, I will touch my other baby then.

I reached down, placing my hand on my wife's stomach, stroking it softly.

Nate - Leave mommy alone, daddy.

Stephen - No way, she's my wife first.

Olivia - She's our mommy.

Lily - Well, it's been a while since I saw all of you. Hi, Mia.

Mia - Lily, how are you?

Lily - Wonderful, obviously.

Clint - Is it? How can we help you?

Lily - Well, I figured since you had stared all night, you might have come and said hello, but no.

Clint - And yet you did the same, Lily, and didn't bother to move either. Mind you, I am quite certain my wife made every attempt to keep in contact with you all those years ago, but you chose not to extend her the same courtesy.

Lily - Interesting.

Clint - Is it? Was there something we could help you with?

Lily - Hi, Stephen.

Stephen - Lily.

Lily - And who's this?

Mia - You have met Trinity before, Lily, but I am sure you remember that.

Lily - Oh, that's right, the ring in you brought up to our group in Capulet.

Clint - Correction, not the ring in as you put it, Stephen's wife.

Lily - Minor details, really. I actually came over to tell you all something quite interesting.

Mia - So, you weren’t just accidentally gazing our way all evening?

Lily - Interesting you’d use the word ‘accidentally.’ I’ve been having some intriguing chats with Chief Walis. I think you all know him, right?