“Did you see this?” Mack and Ash were sitting side by side at the airport. He and Charlie would have to check in with TSA any minute and get on a plane and leave her. Ash couldn’t stop thinking about that and how the three thousand miles between them were going to feel like a million.

“What’s that, baby?” She was looking at the New York Times. She handed it to him and he saw the headline she was pointing at.

“That’s him. I think I’m in shock.”

The headline read: Man Found Dead in Steam Room at Manhattan South Country Club. The article went on to mention Phil’s name and say that it appeared he had slipped and fallen into the hot rocks in the center of the room. He struck his head on one of them and that was what killed him. The article went on then to talk about all of Phil’s charitable donations over the years, thanks to his wife’s money and the money he’d managed to end up with even after the divorce. They made him out to be some kind of philanthropist with a kind heart. It almost made Ash angry. He wished that the obituary could talk about what a disgusting human being he was and mention that he was a sexual predator. But...he would have to be satisfied with knowing the man couldn’t ever hurt Mack or anyone else again...and he had died knowing why.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Yeah, baby, it’s him. I’m not going to act like I feel bad.”

“No, I don’t feel bad,” Mack said, “but maybe that’s why I feel so strange and tingly all over. Maybe it’s guilt for not feeling bad.”

“Or maybe it’s just relief that the monster is dead. No one would fault you for that, baby.”

She nodded. “I am relieved. I still have nightmares about him.”

Ash tossed the paper aside and put his arm around her. Pulling her in so that she could put her head against his shoulder, he held her and said, “You can let those go now, baby...he’s never going to hurt you again. Nobody is...I promise you that.” Mack snuggled into his side just as Charlie came back over. She’d been off on her phone, “handling business” she’d said.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“Everything’s fine,” Mack told her, sitting upright. “I’m just going to miss you guys.”

Charlie smiled. “I’m not a little kid. I know it’s mostly him you’re going to miss.”

“That’s not true. I’m going to miss you too. But you and I Skype at least once a week, so I do get to see your pretty face,” Mack said with a smile.

“Yeah, about that...I don’t think we’ll have to do that much longer.”

“Why not?” Mack asked with a frown.

“Because...if you accept, I have another job offer for you.”

“Excuse me? You don’t want me to be CEO of Bennett Textiles any longer?”

“I do. I wouldn’t have anyone else do that job...except maybe me someday,” she told Mack with a wink. “But I was thinking...Bennett has been on the East Coast for a hell of a long time. What if we moved it, to the west?”

Mack and Ash looked at each other. Ash leaned forward in his chair and said, “We’re listening.”

“Well, I’d have to get all kinds of input from accounting, marketing, and legal and I’d have to discuss it with my CEO, but if we can swing it, I think we should. I like California and at least while I’m in college, I’d like to stay there. And...you two should be in the same state so you can start making me some nieces and nephews.”

Ash chuckled. “You have all kinds of plans for our lives, don’t you?”

“I do, actually. I had one more if you’re interested in hearing it. And they’re ideas, not plans. You can always say no.”

“I want to be closer to Ash, and you,” Mack said. “And you know what...I think we could make it work. I mean, we couldn’t do it right away and you’re right, we’d have to get everyone’s input...but I could just kiss you for even thinking of it.”

Charlie laughed. “I love you, Mack...but not that way. Kiss him.” She pointed at Ash. Ash grinned and said:

“Yes, please.”

“Okay you two, not in front of the children,” Charlie said. “About that other thing I wanted to bring up. I just got off the phone with the lawyer. Our money should be available by Friday and I’ve already asked him to make an offer on a piece of property I looked at last week and fell in love with.”

Ash raised an eyebrow. “A piece of property? Where?”

“It’s out in the country on the southwest edge of Fresno. It’s ten acres and it’s zoned for residential houses.”

“Damn, ten acres?” Ash said. “Do you plan on renting it out, or what?”

“Not exactly. I was thinking I’d give it away...you know, gift deed it, or whatever it’s called.”

“No fucking way. Who would you give it to anyway? Come on, honey, you just got your inheritance, you don’t want to give it away. People will come out of the woodwork asking for it for themselves if they hear that you’re just giving things away.”

“Think about how much more comfortable the club and the people who live there would be on ten acres.”

“Oh my God, Charlie! You’re thinking of giving it to the Skulls?”

“Sure, why not?” she said. “Everyone there has been good to me. They treat me like I’m family and let me live there rent-free. I’d like to give something back...and come on, brother, you have to know that I’m going to have plenty to give.”

“I know you have plenty to give, honey. I just want you to be sure.”

“I’m sure,” she said.

Ash stood up and with a big smile and pulled his sister in for a hug. Wolf was going to lose his mind when he heard about the ten acres. And the idea she had about the company...brilliant, but most of all, sweet. As they stood there, the announcement overhead urged them to check in with TSA and their flight, which would be leaving in half an hour. When Ash let his sister go he looked at Mack and said:

“I’ll be back, very soon. Until we work out this permanent solution, I’ll be here so much that you’ll get sick of me, and I might get me one of those Brooklyn accents that we thought we were too good for as kids.”

She laughed. “That would be so hot.”

“Ew, get a room, you two.”

“We’ll do better than that,” Ash said. “If you’re going to use your money to buy land for the club, I’m going to use mine to build those houses that it’s zoned for...and one of them will be for us and all of those nieces and nephews of yours, Charlie. What do you think?”

“I think you need to build me one too,” Charlie said.

Ash chuckled. “You got it, kid.” Charlie took hold of her bag on wheels with one hand, gave Mack one last hug with the other, and went toward security check-in. Alone, Ash took Mack’s face in between his hands and said, “Don’t forget how much I love you.”

She smiled up at him. “Never. Did I tell you that Sledge called me?”

He smiled but shook his head. “What did he say?”

“He just wanted to know what happened back then. I think he was hurt that I didn’t call him. But he did say he still loves me and we can still be friends, so I was excited about that. I suddenly have everything I ever wanted. I have you, my love. I have my BFF Sledge back. I have a great job, a sister. I’m so happy Ash...thank you. I love you.”

Ash grinned at her and said, “I would do anything to see you smile, Mack. Remember, you’re my world. I love you...more.”