Six weeks after the Enforcers’ savage attack on New York, there was a midnight candlelight memorial mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. All of Fifth Avenue was blocked off and two million people attended, with those who couldn’t fit into the cathedral holding candles outside. People filled the streets from Fifty-seventh Street all the way downtown to the Washington Square Arch. There had never been anything like it. There was a healing quality to it, as people sang and hugged each other. The hymns from the mass were amplified outside and two million people sang “Amazing Grace” and listened to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and “We Shall Overcome” sung by a gospel choir from Harlem. Mariah Carey sang the national anthem, and Barbra Streisand “America the Beautiful.” A Broadway cast sang “New York, New York.”
Kezia had never been as moved in her life as she clung to Sam’s hand, and he put an arm around her and held her tight. Their love had been born on the worst night the country had ever known, and something beautiful had come from it. People cried and sang, and the names of the dead were read. There were battalions of firefighters and police in formation on the street with other first responders. In their hearts, they each vowed to rebuild the city and remember the dead. The archbishop reminded them all that love was the answer to death and pain and suffering, and that every person who had died was in the arms of God now, smiling down at them, and that it was their mission now to rebuild and heal the city as a shining beacon of love that no one could destroy. He spoke of resurrection and rebirth in the time of sorrow. And everyone there that night came away uplifted and filled with the hope of better days ahead. Sam looked down at Kezia. Tears ran down their cheeks as they remembered that night and held hands.
“I love you so much,” he said to her as he held her.
“I love you too,” she said, thinking of the first time she saw him peeking through the hedge. So much had happened since then, all good things after such terrible ones. And they had both found a new life they had never expected to find, and new love, not to replace the loves they had known before, but to lead them on a new path and honor the old one.
They left the crowd on Fifth Avenue at three in the morning, and walked home. At least half the crowd stayed until sunrise, and visited the church in orderly lines to light candles for the dead and injured. It was an incredible night, and Sam and Kezia fell into bed exhausted but feeling blessed by what they’d experienced.
They woke up late, and Kezia made breakfast while they talked about the night before. It had been extraordinary. Kezia hoped that someone had recorded the music. She had never heard anything like it. The whole night had been uplifting and part of the healing process.
“You know, I was thinking. We used to go to a dude ranch in Wyoming when Johnny was a little kid. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place, and after all this trauma, I’d love to go with you. I haven’t been in a long time. It’s very comfortable. Do you like to ride?” he asked her.
“I do.”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. You can fish or hike, or just relax. It’s at the foot of the Grand Tetons. I have to start preproduction on a film in September, and I know you want to be here when all your furniture comes at the end of the month. But we’ve got a couple of weeks now. Why don’t we just get away, it will be a good balance to all the trauma of the summer and get us ready for the fall.”
“I’d love that,” Kezia said, enjoying too how thoughtful he was. It sounded like just what they needed. It had been a deeply emotional six weeks that had jarred them all. And they were lucky enough to be able to get away. Felicity and Blake and Alex were living a healthy beach life in the Hamptons, and Kate was planning to spend some time with them.
“I’ll have my assistant set it up tomorrow,” Sam said. It sounded heavenly to Kezia. New York was struggling to its feet again, but there was a tension in the city, a residue of fear, and there were so many broken hearts, it was impossible to get away from it completely while in the city. The dude ranch sounded like an ideal respite before they got busy in September. Kezia was waiting to hear any day if she had been accepted into the refresher nursing course at NYU for late September. They had a rolling enrollment so you could apply at any time.
The next day, Sam told her it was all arranged. They were leaving in two days, and staying at the ranch for nine days. She’d be back just in time to receive all her new and old goods for the apartment.
She packed that night and bought a few things the next day. The night before she left, she called both her daughters. She never went away without telling them where she was going and how to reach her in an emergency if they couldn’t get hold of her on her cellphone.
She called Felicity in the Hamptons. She had just gotten back from the beach with Blake and Alex. They’d been building sandcastles. Kezia told her simply that she was going away. She could have done it by text or email, but she thought that this time it might need some explanation.
Sam wasn’t worried about John. He said his assistant could always find him if his son had a problem or needed something.
“A dude ranch?” Felicity sounded surprised. “That sounds like fun. What made you think of that?”
“I figured a quick vacation would do me good before the installation.”
“How did you find out about the ranch?” Felicity could easily imagine her mother going to Paris, London, or the south of France, but not a dude ranch.
“Sam has been there before. I’m going with him,” Kezia said serenely, expecting a reaction, but there was none. Felicity was so open and easy it didn’t occur to her to challenge her mother, question it, or object. She respected her too much to do so.
“That sounds like a great plan, Mom, thanks for letting me know.” Kezia said she’d text her the information. “And, Mom,” Felicity added, “I’m happy for you. Have a great time.”
“Thank you, darling. Take care. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.”
“Don’t forget Labor Day weekend with us out here. And of course, Sam too.” They had accepted him with ease into their midst. Kezia was grateful for that. It would have been painful if they objected for some reason, or didn’t like him. He was hard not to like, and he liked them too.
She called Kate next and gave her the same information, and Kate hesitated for an instant before she reacted. “That’s pretty cool, Mom. And different for you. Is it serious with Sam?”
“I think so. It seems that way. It’s been a wonderful thing for both of us, an unexpected gift. I guess it’s never too late to find happiness again after all,” she said, and Kate laughed. She sounded happy too. And Kezia was glad. She’d been worried about her after the recent breakup with Jack.
“I think you’re right,” Kate said easily. “Have a great time, Mom. See you at Felicity’s for Labor Day.”
“I’ll be at the apartment before that, setting everything up, if you’re around.”
“I’m going up to Vermont for a few days. I’m putting the cabin on the market. The place always depressed me, and it’s too small. Jack loved it, I didn’t. I want to get rid of it.”
“That sounds like a good idea. See you in the Hamptons, then.” The conversation had been peaceful and easy.
She had just hung up after speaking with Kate, marveling at how accepting her daughters were of Sam, when the doorman called her and asked if Paige Robbins could come up. She and Sam were leaving the next day at dawn.
She hadn’t seen Paige since their lunch.
“I came to say goodbye,” Paige said, smiling warmly as Kezia asked her to come in. Sam was in his own apartment, looking for an extra pair of cowboy boots he couldn’t find.
“How did you know we’re leaving?” Kezia said, surprised. She hadn’t even been able to tell Louise about the trip. She was in India for a month, on a shoot. “We’re going to Wyoming tomorrow.” Paige looked startled.
“Actually, I came to say goodbye because I’m leaving. I’m moving out of the building tomorrow,” she said with a meaningful look. “You inspired me, after our lunch. It’s time.”
“Is Greg still away?” Kezia asked her, and Paige nodded. She looked serious, but calm.
“I’m moving out while he’s gone. I should have done it a long time ago. I rented a small apartment downtown. I’ll get it set up when I come back. And I’m spending two weeks in Portofino and Capri. I’ve never done a trip like that by myself. It’s time for a new chapter, as you said, Kezia. You were right. I’ll see you when I get back. Let’s do lunch again. And have a great time in Wyoming.” They hugged each other, and Kezia was proud of her. She knew how hard it must be after five years to finally give up on Greg and move on. She hoped Paige stuck with it when she got back. But moving out of the apartment was a big step. And the trip to Italy would be fun for her.
Paige left a minute later, and Kezia went to pack her toiletries.
“Found them!” Sam said victoriously, holding up a pair of ancient, battered cowboy boots. “I’ve had them since I was nineteen and worked on a ranch one summer.”
“They’re gorgeous,” she said. She had riding boots, but they were on a truck heading east with all her other belongings, and she was planning to buy a pair of cowboy boots in Wyoming.
She told him about Paige then, that she was moving out of Greg’s apartment.
“That’s a good thing,” Sam said. “She needs to get away from him. Have you heard from Louise, by the way?”
“I got a postcard from her a few days ago. She sounds fine.” She was truly amazing, working and traveling around the world at eighty-nine.
They left first thing the next morning, and got to the ranch in the early afternoon with the time difference. It was as beautiful as Sam had said, with the majestic Grand Tetons towering over them. They had their own cabin. The ranch was subtly luxurious, but rustic enough in appearance to be charming. There was a large staff to attend to the guests. The morning after Kezia and Sam arrived, they went on a sunrise ride, on two solid, steadfast horses that were easy to ride and sure-footed. Their guide took them on beautiful trails, past shimmering lakes and fields of wildflowers.
It was a romantic interlude and a rest they both needed. It was almost like a honeymoon. Kezia and Sam spent peaceful hours together, reading, fishing, hiking, and swimming in a lake, and they rode every day. The trauma that they had experienced in New York seemed remote, in the wholesome atmosphere of the ranch. It was everything Sam had promised and more. They were sad to leave at the end of nine days, but they both had work to do when they got home.
“Thank you for a beautiful trip,” she said to him on the flight home. “I’d love to go there again.”
“We can go back any time you want,” he promised.
Their open-door policy at home between the two apartments worked wonderfully. She had all her belongings in her apartment, and he had his on his side, but they circulated freely between the two as though it was one exceptionally big one, and she loved watching movies on the huge screen in his bedroom. They spent most nights in his bed, and were happy together.
Two days after they got back from Wyoming, the trucks arrived with all her belongings. Her wardrobe, furniture, and art, and boxes of small treasures, files, and papers. All of her new upholstered furniture was delivered, and everything she’d bought. Chandeliers, sconces, light fixtures, new kitchen equipment, rugs. An army of installers arrived, the curtain hangers, the decorator with her fleet of assistants. They filled her apartment with bodies, boxes, drills, ladders. Kezia stood back to watch the constant activity. The rugs were already down when Sam came to observe it with her. The component parts were very elegant, and dressier than his more casual, masculine, mostly black-and-white and very sleek Italian leather furniture. The theme of his living room was modern. Her living room was a nice counterpoint, more feminine, and it suited her, and when the curtains were up, they looked fabulous. The art went up last, and he liked most of it. Her bedroom furniture and curtains came from her old house, and were fine antiques and extremely elegant. Oddly, the two apartments provided contrast and added depth to each other, just as Kezia and Sam did. Together, it was even more of a showplace than either one alone.
It took three days to install everything with an enormous crew, and on the Friday night of Labor Day weekend, Kezia stood back and was thrilled with the result, and Sam came to admire it with her. Her apartment looked truly gorgeous.
“Wow, you did a fantastic job,” he said to her. He had watched her direct where to hang every painting, had placed every object herself, moved furniture around, changed the angle of things to make the groups more inviting. She had a knack for decorating, and her constant eye on it and good taste had brought about a fantastic result. Even the decorator and the installers were impressed, and so was Sam.
“I can’t wait to entertain here,” she said happily. “We should give a dinner party in the fall.” Her acceptance to NYU had been confirmed while they were in Wyoming. She was starting a six-month course at the beginning of October, and after that she wanted to join a practice part-time as a nurse practitioner. He was very proud of her. And he was in the process of overseeing two new scripts and starting preproduction on a film. They were both going to have a lot to do in September, but the life they were sharing now added joy to every project they did, every plan, every moment they spent together.
They left for Southampton on Saturday morning, after Kezia stood quietly and admired the apartment again before they left. Sam came to put an arm around her, and smiled at how pleased she was with the end result. It was fun to do. She loved decorating her home, and she was good at it. Sam was asking her about her art on the drive out to the Hamptons. He loved collecting art too and had some beautiful pieces by well-known artists, like Robert Indiana and Ed Ruscha.
She was looking forward to spending the weekend with her daughters. And she was eager to see Kate and make sure she was doing well.
Kate had called Felicity the day before and asked if she could bring a friend, and Felicity was such a good sport, she said she could. They had plenty of bedrooms in their big rambling rented house. Kate hadn’t told her sister who the friend was, and Felicity was curious about who she was bringing. Obviously not Jack. She hadn’t had time to tell her mother that Kate was bringing a guest, but it didn’t really matter. They had room, and it would be nice for Kate. Felicity was curious if she had a new man. It was unlikely so soon, but you never knew.
Kezia and Sam arrived before Kate, and it gave her time to catch up with Felicity, who’d been having fun with Alex, and they had a nanny with him. Blake was serving champagne, and Felicity was busy in the kitchen. The men were going to man the barbecue again that night. They’d heard that the security in the city was going to be tremendous, at every monument and federal building, outside hotels and additional iconic buildings, like Rockefeller Center and the Chrysler Building. The entire police force was working, and the National Guard was in evidence. They were taking no chances with the holiday this time, and the Fourth of July would never be the same again.
Everyone was sitting on the deck when Kate arrived in a big silver SUV. Felicity thought the car looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t see who was driving, and as they arrived with a case of wine, Felicity realized that it was Sam’s son, John. Sam spotted him too and caught Kezia’s eye. He walked over to her and whispered, “You owe me a hundred dollars! I won the bet. Look who Kate just arrived with.”
Kezia turned and saw John and laughed. “Felicity probably invited him for the weekend, and they drove out together so they weren’t alone for the ride,” Kezia countered.
“Don’t try to make excuses. Pay up! Jack got pushed aside and she wound up with my son.”
“Very funny!” Kezia was making fun of Sam as Kate and John arrived on the deck. John handed Blake the case of wine and he was delighted. Looking a little sheepish, John put an arm around Kate’s shoulders and smiled at the others.
“It’s nice to see you all again,” John said as Kate giggled and looked very pretty in a pink sundress. She looked young and happy, and so did John. He kept his arm around her shoulders, and it was obvious that they were together, and not as friends. They had that kind of tangible intimacy one sees between couples in love. Kezia looked at Kate in surprise, and then back at Sam in amazement.
“Now, how did you pull that off?” she said to Sam in an undertone the others couldn’t hear. She was delighted if he was right.
“I know my son, and I saw the way he looked at her the last time we were all here together. And I’m damn happy not to see him with some little gold digger trying to drag him to the altar or holding him hostage! I’m glad we don’t have Caroline with us this time,” he whispered.
“Or Jack,” Kezia added. Everything had changed in a very short time, in Kezia’s life as well, and Sam’s.
Felicity whispered to her sister as they went to get a pitcher of iced tea in the kitchen. “Are you with John now?”
Kate smiled at her sister and nodded. “I am.”
“How did that happen?”
“We started out as friends and confidantes, after we met here. And then things developed after Jack left. I didn’t have any idea it would happen, it just did.”
“Are you happy?” Felicity asked her. She couldn’t think of a better outcome for both of them, and for their mother with Sam. What had started out as a disastrous summer, steeped in catastrophe and tragedy, had turned out surprisingly well. Felicity was genuinely happy for them.
“I’m divinely happy,” Kate answered her question.
John and Kate took a quick walk down the beach before lunch, while the others all talked about what a surprise it was that they had wound up together.
And John and Kate were laughing about it on their walk.
“Well, that went over pretty well,” he said, and leaned over and kissed her as the others watched them from the deck, and Kezia handed Sam five twenty-dollar bills from her purse.
“Thank you very much. You’re an honest woman.”
“I always pay my debts, and this is one bet I’m delighted to lose. I have no idea how it happened, but I’m grateful to the fates that it did. So now we have two Stewart men among us.” Kezia beamed at him, and he kissed her.
“You’ll find us very hard to get rid of,” he said to her.
“I have no intention of trying to get rid of you,” she said, and cuddled next to him under his wing, and a few minutes later Kate and John joined them again, and Blake handed them each a glass of champagne, and raised his glass.
“To the amazing, beautiful, and remarkable Hobson women, and the three men who are lucky enough to have them in their lives and love them. Long life, and many years of happiness, and good times for all of us!” They all raised their glasses as John pulled Kate close to him, and Sam and Kezia held hands and smiled at their children.
It had been a summer of change, healing, and victory, and the discovery that it was never too late for dreams to be born again.