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There was polite laughter Jane and Diane and their dates--their husbands--gathered around Ruth and Royce

"The ballots have been tallied and the decision made" When he announced Royce’s name, a loud round of applause was followed by shouts and cheers

"Speech, speech," the crowd chanted

Royce stepped forward, and Grant placed a crown on his head, then handed him the microphone "There’s only one wo, and that’s Ruth," he said

"Then so be it" Grant held a second crown as Craig escorted Ruth to the se Grant carefully set the crown on her head as tears glistened in her eyes Then, right in front of everyone, Royce kissed her full on the lips

The crowd loved it So did Bethanne, who exchanged a warm look with Grant They’d done this It hadn’t been easy, but all their effort orth seeing the joy on Ruth’s face And on Royce’s…

The ain, and the "royal" couple walked onto the dance floor, soon to be joined by others Without conscious thought, Bethanne moved toward Grant

He slipped his arms around her as if they’d never been apart As if they were still a couple A teaainst the world

"I can’t thank you enough," Grant whispered as he drew her close

"You worked as hard as I did"

"I wasn’t talking about redoing Moht"

"Oh?" Bethanne wasn’t sure what he didthe incredible wo ain"

She smiled up at him and closed her eyes as she allowed the rhythm of the music to carry her Their stepsThey used to dance together like this, but that was in another lifetiht

Max Scranton pulled his motorcycle into the driveway of the hohter He hadn’t been here in more than three years This was the first ti on his Harley He’d never intended to stay away this long, but there’d been no reason to return

Until now Until he’das he sat on the bike in his driveway and stared at the house He’d expected a flood of grief and regrets, but he felt aluilt, no heartache, noeer existed The life he’d known here was gone He’d handed the business over to his brother and had lost touch with the ine, he climbed off the bike and removed his helmet The key to the house was hidden under a fake rock near the front door His brother and Rooster routinely stopped by to check on the place and give hih he wasn’t all that interested He’d wanted to put the house on theit out He’d found the task too daunting

The car pulling in behind him took him by surprise

Rooster

He should’ve realized his friend would show up Rooster looked quite different in slacks and a shirt with a button-down collar than he did in his leather vest and chaps Max wondered what Ruth and Annie would think if they could see Rooster now They probably wouldn’t recognize him; the biker bore little rese executive he was for ot out of his car and closed the door, the sound reverberating in the stillness of the late afternoon His friend joined hi here?" Max demanded

Max had phoned Rooster a few hours earlier, when he’d arrived in town They’d parted ways the week before because of Rooster’s business commitments He should’ve known his friend wouldn’t leave it at a sihborhood"

Max didn’t bother to respond to the obvious lie

"Okay, I wasn’t I figured you ht need some company"

"I’m fine"

Rooster’s skeptical look revealed his doubt "Do you want o in with you?"

Max studied the locked door as he considered his reply He wasn’t ready to face this alone He appreciated the fact that Rooster ith hih he’d be hard-pressed to admit it

He finally inserted the key and opened the door For an instant he stood there paralyzed Moving forward required an effort so great he began to sweat He went in and, after three steps, again stoodhim intently, Max advanced another step The house was exactly as he’d left it, exactly as he re view of the Pacific Ocean through the floor-to-ceiling s White leather furniture was tastefully displayed; a black grand piano rested in one corner of the living rooe natural-rock fireplace took up the far wall The original artorth ten times what Kate had paid for it She’d always had an eye for talent

"What are you thinking?" Rooster asked "How do you feel?"

Max heard the hesitation in his friend’s voice He didn’t knohat he was supposed to think, what he should feel Closing his eyes he tried to remember what it was like when he’d lived here with Kate and their daughter Happy He’d always love Kate, but she was gone and he was alive He hadn’t realized how much life he was capable of until he’d ain

"This is a beautiful house," Rooster commented

"Kate loved it," Max said And so had he Their hoathered, where they enjoyed good food and wine and one another’s company "I did, too"

He moved into the kitchen, and then the faes lined one wall; her wheelchair and special computer had been stored in her bedroom

"I kept an eye on the wine cellar," Rooster said

Despite hirinned "I assuet us a bottle?"

That sounded like a good idea "Go ahead"

Rooster disappeared, and Max found tineglasses in the alcove off the kitchen and brought them out One day he’d share a bottle of exquisite ith Bethanne…

Theneed to hear her voice Hewith her Before he could continue with these thoughts Rooster returned with a bottle of expensive French Bordeaux

"Are we celebrating?" Max had to ask The holesaled for one hundred and fifty dollars, or it had three years ago It was probablythe fact that you’re home"

"Home," Max repeated He hadn’t expected to feel this sense of welcoood