Home Free - Fern Michaels [102]
“Go home,” Annie said flatly.
“Yes, dear, we’re going home,” Myra said. “Fergus is waiting for you, just the way Charles is waiting for me.” Myra turned and whispered to Annie, “Did you ask him?”
“Good Lord, no. In all the excitement, I forgot. I’ll do it right now. Ted! Can I talk to you a moment?”
“Sure, Annie. What’s up?”
“How would you like to be the new editor in chief of the Post? Maggie will be leaving after the first of the year. She suggested you take her place. She said you would do as good a job as she did. You don’t have to tell me right now. There is a considerable increase in pay and some handsome perks. You can hire Joseph as your right hand if you like, and he, too, will receive a considerable pay increase. Can you let me know by January first?”
“I’ll take it. I don’t have to wait till January first. Joe will come on board. Did Maggie really say that?”
“She did, plus a lot more. All of it good.”
“Well, damn,” was all Ted could think of to say.
Annie smiled as she linked her arm with Myra’s and followed the rest of the Sisters out the door, down the steps, and outside.
“I’m okay, Myra. I was just a little miffed back there. We’ll always be friends, right? By the way, I’m going to give all the girls an interest in Big Pine Mountain for Christmas. I already have a mountain. I don’t need another one. Lizzie is going to do the deeds and have them all ready for Christmas. This way, the girls can take their families and all the animals there whenever they want. If we’re lucky, they might even invite us from time to time.”
“Annie, don’t you dare ever change.”
“Okay, Myra, I won’t. You either.”
“Never,” Myra said.
Epilogue
Thirteen months later
Not much had changed at Pinewood or in the Sisters’ lives. Life was leisurely for Myra, Annie, Charles, and Fergus. Myra and Annie visited almost daily, weather permitting. Charles worked down in the war room, compiling what he was fond of saying were his boring memoirs. Fergus Duffy worked at his new job heading up security at Myra’s candy plant, a job he professed to love.
The younger Sisters called Pinewood on a daily basis to check in, and every Sunday they and Maggie and the guys made it over to have one of Charles’s home-cooked dinners and catch up on each other’s lives.
They always had presents for Yoko and Harry’s baby girl, because that was what seven godmothers did. Little Lotus Lily Wong was spoiled to the nth degree. Maggie and Gus had gotten married in June, only weeks after he was able to walk down the aisle. Maggie had asked Charles to give her away, and after their honeymoon, they had bought a farm property outside Richmond, where Gus was busy breeding dogs. They kept threatening to bring a puppy to give to little Lotus Lily, but so far Yoko had managed to head them off.
The weather hadn’t changed much, either. It was still snowing, just the way it had snowed a year ago to the day.
Myra stood at the back door, watching the snow fall. It was quiet outside, but not as quiet as it was in the house. It did smell good, though. Charles had prepared a huge pot of chicken noodle soup, and it was simmering and throwing off tantalizing aromas. Two large chickens complete with stuffing were roasting in the oven.
“You’re bored, aren’t you, Mom?”
Suddenly the kitchen was filled with a blinding white light. Myra whirled, her hands going to her throat for the pearls that no longer graced her neck. Standing by the table was her beloved daughter. “Dear God,” she whispered in a strangled voice. She wanted to move, but her feet were rooted to the tile floor. “Darling girl!”
“Mummy, don’t be sad. I worry about you.”
Myra reached for the edge of the counter. “You look so beautiful. I remember the day I bought you that red sweater, and you said you loved it. Why in the world would you worry about me?”
“I loved everything you ever gave me, Mom. I don’t want you to be sad. Don’t tell anyone I told you this, but Nik and Jack are going to be getting their new baby any day now. I am so happy for her. I stopped by her office for a chat