Epilogue
The sisters were seated around the dining-room table at Pinewood. It was a little past noon. They were about to make a toast to the mission they had just brought to a successful conclusion.
“I still can’t believe that the Ballard, Ballard and Quinlan law firm wanted to pay us for all our help. I have here in my briefcase all the documents everyone signed off on. Do you believe they didn’t want to know where Arthur Forrester is? Not that I would have told them. All they wanted was my assurance that he would never rear his ugly head in their direction. They fell all over themselves, and though I had to decline their offer of payment, I did want their promise, in writing, that they would take care of Nala Forrester pro bono. They were happy to sign off on that. Arthur’s share in the brewery, along with her own money, will take care of Mrs. Forrester and her family for the rest of their lives. I left it up to them to get in touch with her. I trust them to follow through. Henry Ballard and the others were ecstatic,” Nikki said.
“How much did they want to pay us?” Isabelle asked.
“It doesn’t matter, I turned it down. It was the right thing to do,” Nikki responded.
“I have something to share with all of you,” Myra said as she reached behind her for two envelopes on the sideboard. She made a big production of opening them, until Kathryn, who had zero patience, snatched one of them right out of her hand, opened it, then let out a loud whoop. “This is a check for five million dollars and made out to cash! It’s from Garland Lee. There is a note that says if we send it back, she’ll just send it again. I say we keep it, as that’s what she wants. Raise your hand if you agree!” Every hand in the room shot high in the air.
“And this beautiful square envelope is an invitation to a private concert at Garland’s personal recording studio. One month from today. It’s for one hundred of her closest friends. It’s her private retirement concert. It’s for all of us, plus we can each bring a guest. And the dogs, too, if we want.”
The girls were ecstatic, saying that nothing and no one could keep them from attending.
“I hate to be the first one to leave, but leave I must. I have a date,” Kathryn said as the girls stood up to leave the table.
“It’s okay, girls, Annie and I will clean up here. Go. Go. We’ll catch up when Annie and I get back from our trip.”
“Have fun on your trip,” Nikki called over her shoulder. The sisters all burst out laughing.
“Oh, we will,” Annie said.
And then pandemonium broke loose as Lady and her pups pushed past the girls as they raced to the kitchen door.
Yoko turned, and hissed, “It’s Charles and Fergus.”
“Ah, yes, I thought they would be back around this time,” Myra said as she started to gather up the cake plates and champagne glasses. She carried them into the kitchen. “Hello, dear. You’re just in time to clean this up. Annie and I are pressed for time right now.” She turned and bolted for the door, Annie behind her, as she blew kisses to Fergus.
Nonplussed, Charles looked at Fergus and shrugged. He rolled up his shirtsleeves as he prepared to clean up the sisters’ dishes.
“They’re up to something, Charlie. I can actually smell their excitement.”
Fifteen minutes later, Charles looked around at his kitchen. Spick-and-span. Just the way he liked it. “Coffee, Fergus?”
“Sounds good. We haven’t had a good cup of coffee since we left.”
Lady bounded to her feet the moment she heard her mistress’s footsteps on the stairs. She waited, panting, to see if maybe she was going on a car trip. When Lady saw the small travel bag Myra was wheeling behind her, she knew she was being left behind at Pinewood.
Charles pushed the coffeemaker’s ON button just as Myra and Annie came into his line of vision. He saw the travel bags at the same moment that Fergus saw them. He looked at his beloved. Not for the world was he going to ask her where she was going. He would never lower himself to question her. Absolutely not.
“Where are you going, dear?” he asked cheerfully.
Myra looked at Annie.
Annie, whose hand was on the doorknob, looked back at Myra.
Myra smiled from ear to ear. “Why do you ask, dear?”
“Because I want to know. We always tell each other when we go on a trip.”
“That’s not quite true, Charles. I can recall three different times when you didn’t follow your own rule.” Myra was still smiling.
“Myra, where are you going?” Charles asked a second time.
“Barbados.”
Charles absorbed that one-word response, just as Fergus did.
“Did Myra just . . . ?”
“Yes, Ferg. They’re going to Barbados.”
“Isn’t that where . . . ?”
Charles nodded; then he laughed out loud. “Looks to me like we’re going to be bachelors again for a few days. I know my wife. They’re going to Las Vegas. Trust me on that. Annie loves going to Vegas to stir up trouble, once a mission is finished.”
Fergus looked doubtful, but he had to admit that Charles was usually right.
An hour later, Annie and Myra stepped off the portable stairway of her private Gulfstream and entered the plane. Her pilot greeted them, and said, “They’re having perfect weather in Barbados, ma’am.”
“That’s nice to know. I’m tired of all the rain we’ve had,” Annie said as she headed toward the luxurious seating area and buckled up.
“I’m excited. Are you excited, Annie?”
“I am. I’ve never been to Barbados. Have you?”
“I have not.”
“You do realize that Charles and Fergus think we’re going to Las Vegas, even though you told them the truth, right? It all comes down to need to know in the end.” Annie laughed so hard, Myra had to slap her on the back, so she could catch her breath.
When Annie’s breathing was back under control, the two women high-fived each other.
“You did call ahead for an appointment?”
“I did.”
“I think life is going to get interesting real quick.” Myra giggled.
“That it is, my friend, that it is.”