"Pretty is good. I find you . . . wholesome. In a virile kind of way. You're gonna have to have two best men. I can't show favoritism."

"Wait a minute. The groom gets to pick the best man .. . men. I don't even know your brothers."

"You'll grow to love them the way I do. My sister Billie will be my maid of honor."

Tyler sniffed. "Okay, but only because I haven't made any friends here. Listen," he whispered, pushing Sunny back into Salhe's room, "I'm going to kiss you, right here, right now. That will perk Sallie right up. Don't bite my lips."

430 Fern Michaels "I'm not a damn cannibal."

Fanny nudged Sallie's spindly arm. She leaned over and whispered, "They set the date for the day after Christmas."

"I told you it would work out. He's a fine young man. Tell my attorney to pay off his student bank loans. Promise me, Fanny. Simon , . ."

Fanny smiled.

"Ash isn't coming to see me, is he, Fanny?"

"Of course he is, Sallie."

"Seth didn't show up either. I knew he wouldn't. I thought Ash would . . . Why should I be different than my mother?" Sallie said, her words a thin, barely audible whisper. "It's all right, Fanny, Ash can't break my heart. I prepared myself for this moment all my life." Fanny recognized the he in her voice, but said nothing when she saw the way her mother-in-law's eyes kept going to the road that led down the mountain.

Sallie held out her hand to Sunny as she struggled for words. "So very pretty. I love you so much, child." She was trying desperately to draw a deep breath. "Promise me ... to take care of your mother. I don't see your father . . . It's getting so dark, we need to turn on the lights. I want to go outside, on the porch, before it gets dark."

"I have to get some lightbulbs, Sallie," John Noble said as he eased Sallie up from her chair and half carried her out to the porch.

"No need, the light is coming over the mountain. Look how bright it is, John. That's so I can find my way. Oh, Mama, my dress is just like yours. Mother and daughter outfits. Fanny makes them all the time. Thank you for saying that. Cotton." Sallie's voice was suddenly high, rich and strong, carrying clearly. "I tried to do everything you asked me to do. Look at my wonderful family. There's one missing, Cotton. I'm sorry. Devin's going to carry me over the threshold. Mama. I wanted to come sooner but I couldn't. John must need new glasses, this Hght is so pretty and bright. Are you proud of me, Mama?" Sallie turned, her eyes seeking out the road leading down the mountain. "Tell Ash I said good-bye, Simon. They're so impatient. I'm coming, I'm coming. . . ."

The plaintive wails of the Thornton family's grief carried across the mountain late into the afternoon.

It was Simon Thornton, the second son, who carried his mother's frail body into the cottage.

The sun was setting behind the mountain when the family gath- ered once again to watch Sallie Thornton's last ride down the mountain.

The small, somber group returned to Sunrise, their spirits low, their eyes sad. Fanny led diem around to the back of the house, where Mazie had a light supper spread out on a long table. "I feel like I should make a toast or. .. something," Fanny said. "I just lost my best friend. Simon lost his mother, and my children lost their grandmother. SaUie did so much for all of us and she never asked for anything in return except maybe our love. She helped everyone, friends, strangers, the whole town. Sallie didn't know what the word no meant. She was always the first one to say, what can I do? This might not be the right time to say this, but Fm going to say it anyway because Sallie... what she said.. . what she made me promise, right there at the end, which just goes to prove what I said previously . . . and Fm babbling here, was that I was to pay off Tyler's school loans. She gave all her life to those she cared about. Shh, Tyler, don't say anything, she's listening somewhere."

"You must accept. Doctor," Su Li said in her gentle voice. "To do otherwise would be to insult the kindest, the most gende, generous woman who ever walked this earth. I know firsthand, as does my brother Chue, what giving meant to Sallie. You will say no more."

"WeU ... I.. ."

"Oh, oh, I hear a car. It must be Dad," Sunny said, whirling around.

Birch, Sage, and Simon were on their feet in an instant. "Please, everyone, sit down. Fll handle this," Fanny said, getting up off her chair, her back ramrod stiff.

"Maybe I should leave," Tyler said.

"Maybe you shouldn't," Sunny said.

"You will stay, Doctor," Chue said as he clamped a hand on the young man's shoulder.

Ash Thornton, impeccably dressed in a dark suit, pristine white shirt, and colorful tie, walked up the two steps to the porch. He allowed his gaze to swivel around the table. The red-rimmed eyes, the somber faces, the uneaten food, and his wife's angry face told him all he needed to know. He was too late.

"I called you at seven-thirty this morning. Ash. You could have made it up this mountain in thirty-five minutes the way you drive. We all want to hear your excuse."

"I had meetings. I tried ... I wanted ..."

432 Fern Michaels "You son of a bitch! I should kill you for this, but then I'd rot in jail and you aren't worth it. Ash Thornton. Your mother waited. .. tried to wait . . . she hung on . . . her last words were your name. She said you wanted to break her heart, but she prepared herself and wouldn't let that happen. If that was your intention, you failed, you miserable bastard. You don't belong here." In her blind fury, Fanny reached for the broom resting against the kitchen door. She rammed the handle into her husband's stomach, again and again, as she exploded with every curse she knew. Too stunned to move, the others could only sit and watch Fanny poke at the man in the dark suit. They continued to watch as Ash tried to retreat, Fanny running after him. When they heard the sound of breaking glass they ran to the driveway to see Fanny throwing handfuls of pebbles at the windshield of Ash's fancy sports car. The car skidded out of control, almost hitting a tree.

"The service is at ten o'clock at Cotton Easter Memorial," Fanny yelled after him. "If I were you, I'd sit in the back pew."

The wheels of Ash's car squealed on the gravel as they sought traction.

"Is your family always this . . . explosive? Where I come from the most exciting thing that happens is milking the cows," Tyler said.

"I see. Well, don't go thinking my family is weird. Do you have a sedative you can give Mom?"

"I'm all right," Fanny said. "I'm sorry, everyone. I don't know what got into me. Oh, God, I'm sorry. There's no excuse for what I just did. Sallie must be . . ."

"Clapping her hands," Tyler said.

"There you go. See, you fit right in with the rest of us," Sunny said.

Billie Coleman wrapped her arms around Fanny. "Shhh, it's okay, Fanny. You did what every woman wants to do at some point in her life. I'm sorry for Ash. He has to live with his actions, not you. Let's get a botde of wine and go to the studio, just you and me, and tie one on."

"That's the best offer I've had in months. I need to apologize .. ."

"No, you don't. Everyone here understood. Go down to the studio and I'll bring my things and the wine. I'll explain to the kids."

"You're such a good friend, Billie."

"So are you. Do you think that broom hurt him?" she whispered.

"It hurt like hell. I saw his face. The reason I threw the rocks was I could smell his car, it reeked of that shitty perfume I told you about. He was out with some bimbo while his mother was dying."

"We'll talk in the studio. A nice warm soothing shower eilways works."

Fanny nodded.

21.

Fanny leaned heavily on her sons as they walked alongside her, out of the small church. So many people had come to pay their respects! The church had been crowded, people standing three deep in the back. Outside, the line circled around the block, three abreast.

"I wonder if Grandma is watching," Birch whispered.

"Damn straight she's watching. She wouldn't miss this for anything," Sunny said. She adjusted her sunglasses to hide her red-rimmed eyes.

"I didn't know so many people knew Grandma," Sage said, his voice full of awe. "I don't recognize half of these people. I saw Dad in the back row. People are going to talk about that."

"I don't think anyone here cares," Sunny snapped. "Can we please hurry? I want to go home. Are you okay, Mom?"

"I didn't think it would be so heartbreaking. I want to go home, too. I need to go home."

"Uncle Simon is going to stay here with Dad to talk to those who came to pay their respects. They'll come up later with the lawyer to read the will. Whose idea was it to do something like that today? Couldn't it have waited?" Sage said.

"It was your grandmother's idea," Fanny said listlessly. "She . . . she wanted everything done quickly. To get it over with, I guess."

Birch helped his mother and Billie Coleman into the car. "Your intended is calling you," Birch said, pointing across the street to where Tyler was standing. "You're driving up with Billie, right?" he asked Sunny.

"Sure. What do you guys think of him?"

"I think he's on the ball. Grandma adored him. She couldn't wait to get you two together. I'd snap him up if I were you. That dumb 434 Fern Michaels magazine you read says someone your age is an old maid. Go for it!" Birch said.

"He was a good sport about it, going along wdth the charade,*' Sunny said.

"I like him," Sage said. "Nobody else is knocking on your door, Sunny. Birch is right, snatch him up before someone else grabs him."

"He's someone you can call a friend," Fanny said wearily. "Give him my regards."

Sunny nodded. "I won't be long. BilUe and I will see you at Sunrise."

Fanny leaned back in the seat next to Billie Coleman. "I'm so grateful that you're here with me. Sallie knew . . . she wanted you here to ... to help me. She knew you'd understand. Today must have brought back painful memories for you. I'm sorry you have to go through this."

"It's all right, Fanny, I can handle it. Sallie told me once that God never gives you more than you can handle."

"Yes, she said that often. It must be true."

"Fanny, was Sallie ever happy? Do you know?"

"I truly don't know. I know she loved Devin as much as a woman can love a man. Her wealth overwhelmed her, and I think that's why she gave so much of it away. She made mistakes along the way, the same way we all do. Most times she didn't correct them. Her mother's death and Seth . . . those two people left lasting scars on Sallie. Those same two people caused her to react to her own family's problems, problems she didn't want to deal with. Sometimes I sit quiedy by myself and try to figure out where and how . . . never mind, I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Fanny closed her eyes, her head against the headrest. Billie did the same. Tears slipped down their cheeks from time to time.

The attorney cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping around the dining room table. He shuffled his papers, adjusted his glasses, sipped from his coffee cup, and fmally barked, "Are we all assembled?"

"Can we just get on with it," Ash barked in return. "Skip the legal mumbo jumbo and get to the heart of the will."

"Hrumph," the lawyer said as he wresded with his papers. "I don't conduct my business in that manner, sir. You will all have to listen to the legal mumbo jumbo." He started to read, his voice a boring monotone. Fanny's sigh was loud in the otherwise quiet room when the attorney paused, his gaze again sweeping around the table. "And now for the bequests. To my son Ash, the sum of4:hree and one-half million dollars to begin building the casino he's always wanted to build. The casino, to be called Babylon, will become part of Thornton Enterprises. The stipulation to this bequest is that my granddaughter Sunny operate said casino. Ash will work the floor, something he's always said he wanted to do. If either party disagrees with this stipulation, the bequest is null and void and the three and one-half million dollars will revert to Thornton Enterprises.

"The balance of my estate is to be divided in the following manner: fifty-one percent to my grandchildren. Birch, Sage, Sunny, and Billie, to be held in trust by my daughter-in-law, Fanny Thornton. She is to have sole discretion as to distribution. The remaining forty-nine percent is to be divided between my two sons, Ashford Thornton and Simon Thornton. To my niece Billie Coleman, I leave my sewing basket. To my friend Red Ruby, I leave all my furs and any other personal items she may want. To Dr. John Noble and his wife Bess, I leave the sum of fifty thousand dollars and the wish that they take a trip to Monte Carlo. To my beloved daughter-in-law, Fanny Thornton, I leave my first bingo palace, the one thing in my life that gave me true joy."

Fanny burst into tears as she ran from the room. Billie Coleman followed her. Together, they wrapped their arms around one of the stout pillars holding up the roof of the front porch. "There are twelve one-carat diamonds and six perfect emeralds on the clasp of the sewing box. It's trimmed in solid gold. Devin gave it to Sallie on her fiftieth birthday. She treasured it more than any of the jewels she owned. She must have loved you a lot to leave it to you," Fanny said.

In between her sobs, Billie said, "She left you the thing she treasured most in the whole world, the bingo palace. What v^dll you do with it?"

"Oh, God, Billie, I don't know. Refurbish it, make a museum out of it, turn it into . . . into ... I don't know, a free bingo parlor for older people."

"I hope you're satisfied," Ash said coming up behind her. "You worked on her, didn't you? She was old and sick, and you took advantage of her. Sole discretion as to distribution! Ha! I'll contest the will, I'll break it. I'm going to fight you on the divorce too, after I press assault and battery charges against you. You weaseled your 436 Fern Michaels way into her life and look what you got for your efforts. Sunrise, the bingo palace. That piece of property is a gold mine and you ended up with it. You!" He made her name sound obscene.

Fanny sat down on the top step. "Go away, Ash. Do whatever you have to do. You have to live with yourself My conscience is clear. Fm sorry things didn't work out between us. Can't we act like normal human beings for the benefit of the children?"

"With you controlling fifty-one percent! Now that's got to be the joke of the year. Like I can really build the kind of casino I want to build for three and a half million dollars. If I go to a contractor with that amount in mind he'd laugh his head off. I can't stand it when you play dumb, Fanny."

Fanny didn't mean to say the words, but they hurtled out of her mouth so fast she thought she was thinking them until Ash's jaw dropped. "How much would a casino cost?"

"Ten times that much, maybe more."

"Fanny . . ." Billie gasped, "think . . ."

"I think you need to mind your own business, Mrs. Coleman," Ash snapped.

"All right, Ash, the divorce goes through, I give you the balance of the money, and you let all of us alone. The part about Sunny stays, it's what SaUie wanted. I don't ever want to see you again until we meet in court."

"You have something up your sleeve, I can smell it," Ash snarled.

Fanny wiggled her arm. "See, no sleeve. Fm trying to do what you want. If money can make up to you for what you think your mother did to you or what you did to her, then I'll give you every cent I have. I know how to live on nothing. I know how to make do. I'm not afraid to start over. You're the one who made me independent. I don't need help from anyone. You are the father of my children. I owe you something for that. .. them. I even know Fm being a fool. Take it or leave it, Ash."

"I'll call you tomorrow."

"No. Call my lawyer. I don't want you to ever come here again. Fm going to have an electric fence installed, the kind people put up to keep criminals out. Good-bye, Ash."

Both women watched as Ash sUd into his car.

"Fanny ..."

"Shhhh, Billie, don't cry for me. It doesn't matter. Ash is just someone I used to know."

They were weeping conspirators, their shoulders shaking with their grief. Billie Coleman held the flashlight as Fanny jabbed at the soft earth with the shovel. "Chue's going to know what we did . . . are doing. I can't get the grass back to . . . the way it was," Fanny said.

"He won't let on he knows. He'll fix everything. I saw beds of sod in the greenhouse. We can't worry about Chue. I'll dig for a while, you hold the light." Fanny gratefully relinquished the shovel.

"Tell me again why we're doing this," Billie said.

"Sallie wants . . . wanted . . . Devin's ashes and hers together. Do you think there's some kind of protocol for this?"

"If there is, I don't know what it is," Billie said through clenched teeth. "I hit something. You have to help me lift it. I didn't know Chue put the urn in a concrete block. It's heavy, Fanny."

"They make them. .. Chue said they're made special for the urns. Okay, we got it out," Fanny said, sitting back on her haunches. She wiped sweat from her brow with her sleeve.

Billie's voice was just short of hysterical. "Okay, the lid is back on. Do you want me to turn on the record player now?"

"Yeah. Yeah, do it now. I put new batteries in it this afternoon." Dusty Springfield's voice soared over the mountain.

"Look, Fanny, look! A shooting star! Do you think it's SaUie?"