EPILOGUE

The backyard was loaded with family. All the Sinatras. All the Gabrinis. All the adjacent by marriage or friendship of the family. The younger ones were in the pool or on the basketball courts or on the soccer field. The older ones were on the tennis courts, the golf course, or playing croquet. They were laughing and loud and unbridled in their joy.

Mick and Roz were on the patio relaxing in a lounger together, while Big Daddy and his kid sister Amelia were sitting right next to them relaxing in a second lounger together. They all had been drinking, but Amelia had hit the sauce heavily. She still had a glass of wine in her hand. But even she could enjoy the view. It was enough for them to see everybody for the first time in months, together again and happy.

Big Daddy even smiled. "Jenay would have loved this," he said.

"Yes, she would have," Roz agreed. "Knowing her, she would have been out there on that basketball court with Duke and his friends."

Big Daddy chuckled. "Yes, she would have."

"I'm just glad y'all caught that asshole that masterminded all of that madness," Amelia said. "And for him to blame Mick for shit Mick didn't even do."

"I'm glad Bella and Ursula recovered and were able to go on with their lives," Big Daddy said. "Especially Ursula." He shook his head. "She was in bad shape."

"It took a toll on Teddy, I'll tell you that," Roz said. "But he wouldn't leave his mother's bedside. That's says something right there."

"What it say?" Amelia asked.

"It says he's a good man."

"It says he's been neglecting that woman for years and that guilt was kicking his butt. That's what it says," said Amelia. "But enough about Ursula. I never liked her. Where's Bella's ass? I'm surprised she didn't invite herself."

"Bella don't be the one crossing those boundaries," Roz said. "That be Mick."

"That is so true," Amelia said as she burped. "She calls him with her crocodile tears and he goes running."

"Like hell," Mick said.

"It's the truth and you know it," Amelia said, wasting a little bit of her wine as she pointed at him with the glass in her hand.

"I'm glad everybody involved is in prison now," Roz said. "Patrick got twenty years, although I would have preferred him getting forty. Beppie Gastone got a beat down that blinded him. Pock McCanns got Life. And that fucker Parker got the death penalty. He did all that shit and had the nerve to brag about what he did to Jenay. That asshole."

Big Daddy nodded his agreement.

Then Roz looked at him. "What's next for you, Charles? Found somebody yet?"

"Hell no," he said and they laughed. "And I'm not looking for somebody either."

"But I'll bet they're looking for you," Roz said.

"They are," said Amelia. "Good looking as my brother is? And he's rich too? Child please. He has to beat'em back with a broom."

"Quit lying," Big Daddy said. "The only people I've had to beat back are you and my children." He looked at Roz. "They take turns spending the night with me as if it's a sin to be alone."

"It is," Amelia said.

"That's why you ended up with Hammer Reese again," said Mick.

"You just don't like Hammer because he's a lawman and you're . . . not," she added and they laughed. "And the way he lays it down in bed? I could do a whole lot worse than the Hammer," Amelia added, and she and Roz laughed and clasped their hands together.

Then Jackie ran over. "Big Daddy, I forgot to tell you."

Everybody looked at her as if it was about to be bad news. "Tell me what?"

"My English teacher asked for your phone number."

They laughed as Big Daddy jumped up from the lounger. "I can't," he said. "These women done lost their damn minds!"

"Invite her over, J," Amelia said to her niece.

"Don't you dare call that woman, Jacqueline," Big Daddy warned.

But Jackie, grinning, was already pressing her teacher's phone number. "I'm calling her now."

Big Daddy tried to snatch that phone from his niece, but Jackie ran away. Big Daddy ran after her.

Mick nodded his head. "Yep. He's back," he said.

"Thank God," Roz said as Big Daddy managed to catch up to Jackie, carry her to the pool, and throw her and her phone into it.

Mick held Roz tight as they all laughed.

Family , Mick thought, as he held Roz even closer. It was a word that used to baffle him after living through the dysfunctional parenting of his youth. But this was different. As he watched the laughter and the joy all mixed up with acceptance and loyalty and love, he could feel the differentness. This was real family. And real family where the heart was king? He was just beginning to realize there was truly nothing better.