And it gave Lacey a purpose. She quickly began to develop an interest in estate management and long-term care administration. Lacey started talking about studying business or even law.

This certainly wasn’t the purpose Lacey had envisioned for herself, but for once she was in complete control, at least as long as she had the counsel of her mother. Brad was not his usual blustering, abusive self but rather dependent and very emotional. He cried a lot; he asked for Lauren and sometimes he thought Lacey was his wife, though his speech was barely understandable. He was a bit like a child and his neediness touched his daughter.

The family court, with the help of the attorneys and mediator, were going to be able to finalize Lauren’s divorce, money could finally be moved, the big house could be put on the market, and the last chapter on their troubled marriage could be written at last. Cassie visited and saw her father and he seemed pleased to have his daughters near again, though the most he could do was squeeze a hand.

Lauren did not visit him, though she did have some pity for him. She made herself available to Lacey and the administrator at the extended care facility where Brad lived, tried to speed up the funding for his care by helping Lacey work with the attorney, and consulted with medical personnel, but had decided on the day the bullet pierced Beau’s chest, she had ended her personal involvement with her ex-husband. Brad would never operate again, but with any luck and great rehab therapy, he might walk and feed himself without spilling all his food. Would he be able to read? Follow the plot of a television program? Have a meaningful conversation? Only time would tell. The damage from the stroke was significant.

But at the end of the day, she was very proud of her daughters. Maybe she hadn’t failed them after all. Lacey managed her father’s estate and his care and because Cassie spent a couple of months of summer in Alameda, helping her and renewing their relationship, it felt as though they could be a family once again. While Cassie was on the West Coast, gatherings with Lauren, Beth, Cassie and Lacey were sparked with laughter and love. They were a family again.

A family with a great many branches and some very sturdy roots.

EPILOGUE

It was August. They’d had quite a year. Beau was officially divorced, as was Lauren. Pamela was in the wind, fleeing prosecution and prison. When she’d been indicted, she immediately lost her job. She could have used her settlement money from Beau to hire a good lawyer to defend herself but instead she used it to abandon everything, including her sons, and run. She could turn up again, like a bad penny, but he really didn’t expect her to show her face around Alameda again. Beau knew he couldn’t control how the boys dealt with their mother, but he was definitely through with her. But the good news was Pamela wouldn’t gain anything by trying to kill him now. Her one attempt at that, before their divorce, would have made her a widow and she would have inherited the full estate. Now, all that was due to her was some equity in Beau’s house and in order to collect it, she’d have to come back to Alameda. If she did that, she’d be arrested and there would be no bail. Her one attempt had been an expensive failure.

* * *

Beau had been in a sling for three months, since his first surgery in May, the one that immediately followed the gunshot wound to the shoulder. That bullet, that small bullet, made a mess of things. He had a second surgery to try to improve on his pain and mobility and it seemed to be working. At least that’s what the physical therapist said. And Beau’s pain management was fine; he was comfortable most of the time and gaining strength in his left arm. Enough strength to pick and pluck in the garden and bring it into the kitchen for Lauren.

He was doing just that when his cell phone chimed and he looked at the text. He laughed. Then he laughed again.

* * *

Lauren was in the kitchen and tonight would bring their kids together, something they enjoyed so much. They did a lot of cooking when the kids came. It would be Cassie’s last night with the family before going back to law school, so Beth and her family were coming, too. Beau came into the kitchen through the back door, gave her his basket from the garden but was holding his phone with the hand in the sling. He was grinning like a fool.

“I have good news,” he said. He gave her a kiss before turning the phone toward her. “Look at this.”

The message said, We’re coming back to CA in a month and will be staying awhile. The picture showed Angela leaning back against Tim, his arms around her, his hands cradling a large, pregnant belly. Surprise.

“Only good surprises from now on,” Beau said.

“Oh! Look! I had no idea they hoped to start a family! Aren’t they cute?” Lauren said. She smiled at Beau. “It’s been a wild ride but it appears that everyone came out of it in a better place.”

Beau slid his good arm around her waist and pulled her against him. “I’d go through all of it again if it meant you loved me at the end of the craziness.”

“I’m yours,” she said. “And you’re mine.”

“Good. I’m glad that’s settled.”

“It’s settled. And final,” she said.