"Yeah, good. Colin says you're headed for Oklahoma. Jake's widow lives there."

Patrick gave a humorless laugh. "Bunch of old women..."

They were quiet for a moment. Finally Aiden said, "I like your girl. Sweet."

"Not my girl..."

"You doing her for fun? Does she know that?"

He looked at Aiden with barely concealed rage. "She's a good woman. It's just a thing, all right? Totally consensual."

"Look, I know you came here for a break, a chance to take stock of your life. Have you had a chance to do that?"

"Until all of you showed up, that's exactly what I was doing!"

"Really, Paddy?" Aiden asked, his voice quiet. "Make any progress on that? Because last I heard, you still weren't sure what you wanted. You used to be sure."

I used to have a best friend, Patrick thought miserably.

"I only met Jake once," Aiden said. "He was a lot like you, though. And if you'd gone down, you wouldn't have wanted him to rethink his whole life trying to compensate for losing him. Know what I mean? There's nothing you can do to bring him back, Paddy. You have to grieve the loss, but you'll never change the course of events. He's gone now. I've said this before but I'll say it again-I'm really sorry, man."

"Yeah, thanks," Paddy said.

The back door opened and Sean came outside.

"Oh, brother," Paddy said.

Sean just smiled. "Franci hates cigars. Got one more?"

Aiden supplied him, handing him the clip and lighter. Once he got the cigar going, Sean said, "Paddy, you're not really going to give up that sweet little beauty, are you? She's crazy about you."

"It's really none of your business," Patrick returned.

"When has that stopped anyone?"

The door opened again and Luke came out. Before the door could close on him, Colin held it and joined him. Without a word, Aiden supplied two more cigars. "That's it. I brought five. If anyone else shows up out here, they're on their own."

"If anyone else shows up out here, just shoot me," Patrick said.

No sooner had he said that than Walt Booth and Sam Sheridan came outside.

"Sorry, man-my brothers ran through all the cigars," Aiden said.

Walt pulled a couple out of his pocket. "Not to worry, son. I'm always packing."

A minute later, Jack and Paul came outside. "General," Paul said. "What are the chances...?"

Walt supplied a couple more.

A minute later brought Bob, Angie's dad. Walt pulled a cigar out of his pocket and Bob put up his hands. "No, thanks. I don't feel like putting up with Donna tonight."

Mike V came outside. "You left me alone with all those women!" He accepted the cigar that Bob had declined.

"Yeah, this is my idea of a Christmas party," Jack said, puffing. "Forest ranger might get a little excited, but that's okay. So," he continued, turning to Patrick, "rumor is, you're still leaving day after tomorrow." He shook his head. "I'll believe it when I see it."

"I made a commitment. Not something I take lightly. And before anyone asks-Angie has been completely aware of this since the very first day we met. She understands. She approves. And she has plans of her own-she's headed back to med school. She's very motivated. More now than when she got here. So you see? We both have our plans. I'm not saying it's all that easy, but it's decided and accepted."

It was quiet for a long stretched-out moment.

"I have ten bucks that says he never gets out of town," Walt Booth said.

"I go with Walt," Sean said. "For twenty."

"Twenty says he gets as far as the airport," said Jack. "Trust me, I've watched this place over the years-men hardly ever get away. They try, though."

"Put me down for a hundred that takes him all the way to Charleston before he figures it out," Luke said. "My little brother is book smart, but that's where his smarts end."

"Gentlemen, as much as I enjoy your humor, I'm out of here," Patrick said, then he stalked back into the house.

Sixteen

Patrick didn't have the heart to tell Angie they were wagering on whether he'd actually leave town, leave her, as planned. If it weren't for the fact that his brothers didn't actually start it, he'd be feeling pretty unforgiving toward them. In fact, if not for his mother, he might not even offer them a goodbye. But there was his mother. And though she was a tough old broad, when her boys were unhappy with one another, it tore a little at her heart.

Patrick wanted to make his departure as easy on Angie as possible. Though she put on the strong, resilient act, he knew it was going to be hard for her to say goodbye. He knew because it was killing him. So he went through the details of how his last day would be spent. He was just about packed up-a bachelor never completely unpacks and tends to travel light-and he was going to make a run over to Luke's to tell his mother goodbye and not to worry. It was an important ritual-mothers liked to worry. He'd favor Luke with a handshake if they crossed paths.

After bidding his family farewell, Angie could have anything she wanted from him until he had to leave. As it turned out, all she asked for was his chili, a beer and a quiet night in, which suited him just fine. They opted for her cabin. He would leave first thing in the morning, run by his own cabin to get his things and then head for Oklahoma.

The first order of business was visiting his mother. She'd sent all her sons to war at one time or another; she'd tried to pull each one of them through a laundry list of crises. "Just remember that I love you, Paddy," she said. "Take care of yourself."

He had to give his brothers credit-the joking was over. "If there's ever anything you need, you know how to reach me," Luke said. "Don't hesitate."

"Thanks."

"Keep the greasy side down, man."

"Aw, that's not the fun flying," Paddy said.

At the Victorian, as predicted, he found the rest of them. "No partying or playing tonight, gentlemen. I'm making Angie a pot of chili and we're going to play a little Scrabble. Then I'm out of here. Aiden, thanks for the cabin. It almost feels like home."

"My pleasure. And listen, if you need more time, let the Navy know. They'd really rather have you washing battleships than messing up one of their pretty F-18s if you're not ready for that duty."

Patrick laughed.

"If you need something, call me first," Colin said, putting out his hand. "I think I owe you big. I owe all of you big, but if I remember..."