“So, why did you stay here? Why didn’t you and Walt run away like you’d planned?” Ronan asked.
“Because she loved playing the role of widow,” Walt sneered. “She loved all the attention. The television interviews. Book deals. We had it made, and you fucked it all up.”
“Shut up, you troglodyte.” Mary Lou turned her attention back to Ronan. “I was the toast of the town, invited to all sorts of glamourous parties, asked to chair committees, was the grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Southie. I was a queen.” Her triumphant look soured. “Until Walt came back to town after our agreed time apart. He had a bit of surgery done so he wouldn’t have been recognized, but to be honest, I was finished with him. I had bigger fish to fry with a United States senator in my sights.”
“But Iwasn’tfinished with you. Duplicitous bitch! All you had to do was give me my share of the money, and I would have been gone.”
“Bullshit,” Mary Lou said with a sneer. “Bad pennies like you always turn up.”
Ten’s head was spinning. He was about to ask for a recap when Fitzgibbon’s phone rang.
“You got it all?” Fitz asked. “Yeah, come on in.”
The door to the office burst open. Members of the Massachusetts State Police filed in and quickly cuffed Baxter, Mary Lou, and Walt.
“Thanks, Captain Fitzgibbon,” the commanding officer said.
“Anytime.” Fitz stood up. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had enough of this place.”
“Same,” Ten said. He stood and took one last look at Fun-A-Rama through the plate glass window in Kotter Brighthouse’s old office. He could hear children screaming and the click-clack of the Viper climbing to the top of the coaster. Standing beside the window, gazing out over his lost dream, was Kotter Brighthouse. He set a hand over his heart and gave Ten a short bow. The white light sparkled behind him. Kotter wordlessly walked into it.
Without a look back, Ten left the office. Ronan always said family was complicated on the best of days, but even with the way David treated him growing up, he could never imagine harming him. Not over an inheritance. Not over anything.
With guilt swirling in his gut, Ten made the decision to contact his father. David had always preached forgiveness, and now it was time for Tennyson to walk in his father’s shoes at long last.
EPILOGUE
Ronan
Several days later…
The surprise baby shower was well underway. Barb never suspected a thing. Ronan buzzed around the party, making sure the mother-to-be had plenty to drink and eat, while Ten sat with River, whispering what was in each gift before Barb opened it.
Brooke sat with Everly, Wolf, and Aurora, thick as thieves, eating cake. Every time the table erupted in giggles, Ronan couldn’t help but smile. All of the kids were finally over the puking bug and were back to their usual selves.
“Oh, look,” Barb called out. “These last few gifts are for Brooke, Everly, Aurora, Ezra, and Wolfie.”
The kids bolted from their cake and ran to the gift table, where identical wrapped presents sat for each of them. One large rectangular box and a smaller box suited for a man’s dress shirt. “Open the flat boxes first.” Barb pulled out her phone and started recording.
Brooke opened her box to reveal a pink T-shirt with purple letters. “Big sister! I love this, Mommy.” She hugged her mom.
“Don’t thank me. Your little sister got you these gifts.” Barb laughed at the confused look on her daughter’s face.
Everly, Wolf, Ezra, and Aurora opened their box and pulled out similar shirts. “Cousins for life!” Everly read. “Thank you, baby Delta!”
“Can we open the big presents?” Brooke reached for the box with her name on it. Aurora and Everly did the same. Wolf and Ezra were last.
“Go for it.” Barb laughed when the girls grabbed their gifts and were quick to pull the paper off.
“Baby dolls!” The girls shrieked in stereo.
“You girls have your own babies to take care of now. There are diapers and changes of clothes. Everything you’ll need to keep your babies happy.” Barb turned to Cope. “There’s also a soft baby doll for Lizzy B, for when she wakes up from her nap.” Barb pointed to the box.
Wolf contemplated his present with unease. “Do you think I got a baby doll too?” he whispered softly to Jude, who was sitting behind him.
Jude winked at his son. “Open it up and find out.”
Wolf pulled off the paper to find a remote-controlled R2-D2. “I love it!” Wolf said with relief in his voice.
