It All Began in Monte Carlo (43 page)

Mac was certain that one day she would resurface, looking different, no doubt, and in a different business. But for now, she was lost to the world she had so longed to be part of.

 

Eddie and Pru bought a house in the hills of Provence, where Eddie now spends most of his time. The business could get along without him. He is enjoying life, enjoying his children's visits. And most of all he is enjoying the companionship of a woman who, by a strange quirk of fate, he was lucky enough to meet. They named their dog Goofy. She seems to like that name.

 

Allie's broken leg healed quicker than Ron's but he claimed that was because he'd been trekking round the globe while she was sitting on her butt drinking their red wine. Which, by the way, isn't half-bad now. Better next year, though, Allie says, still hoping for that
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
approval. Ron doesn't give a damn; he likes the wine anyway.

 

Sunny is wearing her pink diamond engagement ring again. She swears she never takes it off, except to wash her hands, which very nearly resulted in disaster when she removed it in the ladies' room at Nobu in Malibu and forgot all about it. She only remembered minutes later, back at their table, when Mac said, “Sunny, where's the ring?” She fled back into that restroom just in time to see a woman pick up the ring and admire it. “Mine,” Sunny said, ramming it back on the third finger of her left hand. “Lucky you,” the woman said, laughing at her.

Pirate is tolerating Tesoro, and so is Mac. Life in the small
wooden house on the Malibu shore continues the way it always has, with Mac involved in his cases, his murders, his needy people, and Sunny taking care of her PR business. The furniture has not improved; the dog-hairy sofa is still there, and, Mac swears, it's still the most comfortable sofa ever. So does Pirate. Tesoro prefers laps.

The barbecue gets unfolded most weekends and the sea mist always comes in just as they are about to sit down and eat. Mac's old cashmere sweater comes in handy, and looking at Sunny wearing it and nothing else, Mac thinks she is the most beautiful woman in the world.

And maybe he is right.