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  "I'm going to talk to Simon. He's our investment man. I don't think he's going to agree. This could go either way. Sage said it best. Families need to stick together. It's possible we could lose our shirts."

  Billie's voice was flippant. "The sign on my door says I'm the head designer of Sunny's Togs and Rainbow Babies. If we lose our shirts, I'll design us new ones."

  "Attagirl," Sage said, pounding her on the back. "C'mon, Sunny, sit down. You don't have any color. Are you sure you're okay?"

  Fanny's head jerked upward at the concern in Sage's voice. "I'm taking all of us to lunch at Peridot. Billie, call Bess and ask her to meet us there. Sage, ask Birch if he wants to join us. There's no point in asking your father, but do it anyway. I'll meet you at the front door. I want to call Billie and tell her the good news."

  The moment the door closed behind her children, the phone

  was in Fanny's hand. She would call Billie, but first she was calling Sunny's husband.

  "Dr. Ford here."

  "Tyler, it's Fanny."

  "What's wrong?"

  "That's what I want you to tell me. Sunny looks like death warmed over, and that's a kind statement. Aside from morning sickness, a pregnant woman usually has a wonderful sparkle in her eyes, color in her cheeks. She's a happy woman. This is not the case with Sunny. And another thing, she shouldn't be working twelve hours a day."

  "You're right about everything, Fanny. Were you ever successful in changing Sunny's mind or getting her to do something she didn't want to do? I've spoken to her doctor, and he tells me she's fine. He said if she wants to work, she should work. She eats well, she exercises moderately, she takes her prenatal vitamins, and she sleeps through the night. She tells me she takes an hour nap in the middle of the afternoon. She makes sure she takes breaks and walks outside. She didn't have morning sickness. She's never been one to complain. My personal opinion is she's under a lot of stress at the casino with her father and brothers. Did something happen or did you just call to ask me questions? Whatever we say, Fanny, will go no farther."

  "I know that, Tyler.'' Fanny told him about the brief meeting and Sunny's vote. "She looks so ... fragile, so washed-out. She appeared a little wobbly to me. If she's willing to come up to Sunrise for a week or so, would you have any objections?''

  "None at all. I've suggested the same thing to her, but she's married to that casino. I hate that goddamn place."

  "Not as much as I do. Maybe I can work a little mother magic." She told him about the vote to help the Colemans. "How's everything going otherwise, Tyler?"

  ' 'Reconstructive surgery is not glamorous, but it is rewarding to make someone feel whole again. I love what I do as much as Sunny loves what she does. So, you see, I'm the last person who should even make suggestions where her job is concerned. I'm being paged, Fanny. Call me if you think there's something

  I can do. Not that my vote counts, but I think you're doing the right thing. Tell Billie I said hello when you talk to her."

  "I'll do that, Tyler. She adores you, you know. She said you remind her of her son Riley."

  "That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. Look, you do what you feel is right and don't let anyone make you back down. Families need to stick together. We'll talk again."

  Fanny's fingers drummed on Sunny's desk. She should be feeling better after Tyler's reassuring words, but she didn't. Her motherly intuition was telling her something was wrong. She dialed Billie Coleman's number in Austin, Texas.

  "Is everything okay?" Billie asked, breathless. She had picked up the phone on the first ring. "Every time I hear the phone the word disaster rings in my head. Before you can ask, we're facing a brick wall. Money just pours out of here. I don't know what to do. If I don't finish this project, then Riley's death and all those other boys who died in Coleman aircraft will have been in vain . . . how can I live with that? As sick as he was at the end, Moss worked tirelessly to perfect this plane. How can I do less?"

  "You can't. The Thorntons are going to help, Billie. I'm at Babylon right now. We voted and the money will be on the way by the end of the week. If it isn't enough, we'll go back to the drawing board. Please, Billie, don't cry. Be thankful your granddaughter Sawyer is the aeronautical engineer on this project."

  "We're all obsessed with this plane project, Sawyer more so. My own children . . . Fanny, how is it possible for a mother to be estranged from her two daughters? I never, ever thought such a thing would happen to me, how my daughters can fight me on this plane. All they want is the money they say we're wasting. They say a new plane won't bring Riley back, and they're right about that. He was their brother, and I know they loved him. On a more pleasant note, I just know Sawyer is going to explode when I tell her about your offer. That child has worked for months now, getting by on three hours' sleep

  a night. She eats, sleeps, and dreams about her grandfather's dream plane. She's going to get it off the ground too, thanks to you. Fanny, I wish there were words ..."

  "Words aren't necessary, Billie. We're family."

  "We could lose our shirts."

  "Well, guess what? Your namesake said if that happens, she would design us new ones. You can't beat an offer like that."

  "No, you can't. How are things going on the Big White Way? How's Sunny? Is Birch still giving you heartache?"

  "I'm in the conference room here at Babylon, Billie. I'll call you this evening. I'm taking the kids to lunch at Peridot."

  "That place where you and Sallie got blitzed at your first meeting? When I told Thad how Devin took you two home in a hearse because no one had gas, he laughed until he cried."

  "Drunk or not, that is one of my fondest memories of my mother-in-law. Oh, Billie, I miss her so much. She had such faith and trust in me. I hope I can live up to her expectations. I know in my heart she would approve of what we're doing. Family, Billie, is what life is all about. Sallie always said our families' destiny was in your hands and mine. Together, we'll work toward that end."

  "We won't fail, Fanny. You can take that to the bank. Do I dare ask about Simon?"

  "Tonight, Billie. Give everyone my love. Now, take a nap, okay?"

  "At ten o'clock in the morning?"

  "Why not? Aren't we independent women? If we are, then we can take a nap anytime we want. Actually, we can do anything we want. Both of us have earned that little perk. Talk to you tonight."

  The Peridot restaurant was as old as Las Vegas itself. It was also Fanny's favorite restaurant for the very reason Billie Coleman had mentioned earlier.

  "I love it when my brother finally acts like a grown-up and holds our chairs out for us," Billie said.

  Sunny's voice was blunt yet sad when she said, "You're leaving, aren't you, Sage?"

  "I want to. I'm willing to stay until you have the baby and get back into the swing of things. We're just flunkies, Sunny. You know it, and I know it. I glide around the floor trying to look important. I'm not sure what you do behind those closed doors. I don't know if you're aware of the latest developments. Is anyone interested?" The women nodded just as Bess Noble, Fanny's second-in-command, joined them.

  "I heard that," Bess said as she kissed everyone before taking her seat. "Now, tell us what the latest development is."

  ' 'Dad and Birch want to buy riverboats in Biloxi, Mississippi, for gambling. He planned to apply for a mortgage, but you beat him to it, Mom. At least I think you did. Dad and Birch can be secretive at times. Those riverboats are a great big can of worms. I spoke up and said it had to be put to a vote, but they ignored me. At the risk of repeating myself, what the hell kind of family is this? Tell me, Mom, what you want us to do to help Aunt Billie."

  "I'm going to call Simon this evening and discuss everything. We'll sell off all our shares of Rainbow Babies and Sunny's Togs. Simon never sold them. He fibbed to us about that transaction. Thank God he did. We're going to move our offices out of Sallie's Bingo Palace. It will go on the market tomorrow. It's prime real estate so it should fetch severa
l million. I'm going to mortgage Babylon. By tomorrow the news will be on the Strip and the sharks will start to gather, so be prepared. I'll empty out that monster safe in Sunrise. I'll mortgage Sunrise. I'll sell all the jewelry Sallie left me. That's already in the works. I'll borrow what I can to make up the difference. The only monies we'll have coming in will go to make the mortgage payments. I did have a thought, though, and I'd like your opinions. Sallie never raised the rates for the other casinos to tie into her sewage and electrical systems. It's time for a hefty increase. Those fees, I believe, will keep our heads above water."

  The sighs of relief could be heard around the table. "Good thinking, Mom," Sunny said.

  "It's about time," Sage offered.

  "This might be a good time to unveil my latest creation," Billie said as she dug into the voluminous bag she was never without and pulled out two soft dolls. "Meet Bernie and Blossom. I showed them to a few of our salespeople who took them on the road. Guess what! We already have orders for ten thousand. The big question is, how are we going to market them? The next question is, where do we get the money? Do we form a separate company or do we license them under Rainbow Babies or Sunny's Togs? I thought we could hire the Bernsteins to get our publicity started. We can have a million of these on the market by next Christmas."

  Sage stared at his sister, his face full of awe. "Just like that! Where are you going to manufacture them?"

  "Made in the good old U.S. of A. Forty bucks a pop or $39.95. People like to walk away with change even if it's only a nickel. We learned that in marketing class."

  Fanny held the soft fabric doll in her hands. As always, she marveled at her younger daughter's abilities. "The scraps from Rainbow Babies, right?"

  "Yes, but each face is different. I know eight people that come to mind who will be willing to work on the faces. The doll itself and the garment can be made for under a dollar if mass produced. The faces are what will cost, and labor of course. Sign on, Sage, we can use your expertise. You said you want out of Babylon. So, what do you all think?"

  ' T think this is one of your best ideas," Bess said, a calculator in hand.

  "Billie, these dolls are priceless. I wish I had your talent. Can I have the first one off the line for my new baby, Bernie if he's a boy? If I have a girl, I'll take Blossom. They are so adorable. Raggedy Ann and Andy will be passe."

  Billie reached into the bag again and withdrew two tissue-wrapped bundles. "I already made them for you. I wanted something special for you. That's where I got the idea. Think

  about it, Sunny, you have a clothing company named after you and now you're the inspiration behind these two dolls. I don't think we're headed to the poor house just yet."

  "This calls for a celebration," Fanny said.

  4 'Let's have some of that same wine you and Grandma Sallie had that famous day you first met. Tell us the story again, Mom," Sage said.

  "It was wartime and I was meeting your grandmother for the first time ..."

  The moment the door closed behind Ash Thornton, he went into a rage. "Now, do you see what your mother is capable of? She undermines every single thing I do. If she'd keep her nose out of the casino business, things would be just fine. Do I interfere in her business? No, I do not. Your mother has to dabble in everything. She's not content to own two of the biggest clothing companies in the country, she has to make her presence felt in everything that concerns me. I'm not going to let that happen. We're going to go ahead with those riverboats. I want you in Mississippi tomorrow. Get everything under way. She won't stop us. If she does ... I'll deal with it then and there. When Sunny comes back from lunch, send her in here. She's out of here until that kid arrives. I have enough problems without her jinxing me. Why are you looking at me that way, Birch? Business is business. We're on top, and I plan on staying there. So I already took a mortgage out, so what? I got a good interest rate and cut Granger's markers to half. That's how you do business in this town. I love bankers who gamble. Hell, the governor was in here two weeks ago, and he shot a load that made me blink. You suck up to these people and you can get anything you want. You have to know how to play the game. Your mother doesn't know the name of the game much less how to play it. I even know what her next move is going to be. She's going to raise the rates on the sewage and electric plants. That won't endear us to the rest of the owners. The dark stuff will start to fly. Anything can happen in this town

  and take my word for it, something will happen as soon as those rate hikes go into effect. Your mother talks a good game about tightening our belts and all that crap. Don't kid yourself, son, it's what Fanny wants when Fanny wants it. Thanks for sticking up for me. They'll eat our dust yet."

  "Dad, this is all wrong. The past is past. Can't we let it die and make things better? I know you can't go back, but you can go forward and make it better than it was. Sage is going to walk. I could see it in his face."

  4 'Sage is not a team player. Neither is Sunny. You and me now, we have the same goals. We'll make those goals, too."

  Birch watched as his father swallowed a handful of pills. He could feel his shoulders slump. Sage was his twin, his other half. He never felt quite whole unless Sage was close by. He adored Sunny, always had. It was all getting away from him, just like the last time when they sided with their father against their mother.

  "You can't tell Sunny she isn't needed right now. If we do that, Mom will shut this place down so fast we won't have time to blink. She'll do it, Dad. I'd hate to see you make the mistake of pushing her to the edge. She won't jump over the edge, she'll plow you right under. She takes her commitment to Grandma Sallie and this family very seriously. You're wrong about Sage, too. Sage has the charisma to make this place work. He works the floor like a pro. Any casino on this Strip would hire him and pay him five times what we pay him. He'd be worth every dollar, too. Don't mess with Sage, Dad."

  Ash eyed his son, his one remaining ally. His mind was scrambled with the pills he'd just taken. His chaotic thoughts reeled back in time to when he was Birch's age. He'd been just as tall, just as good-looking, just as virile, just as mobile. He stared at the replica of himself and wanted to cry. "Sage is weak," he mumbled.

  "You're wrong. Sage has more guts than the two of us put together. I'll walk out of here before I let you put Sage down."

  Ash stared at his son and knew he meant every word. He waved him out of the room. When the door closed behind

  Birch, great wrenching sobs tore at his wasted body. "I hate your goddamn fucking guts, Fanny," he sobbed.

  In his office, Birch sat down behind his desk. His head dropped to his hands. He wished he could turn back the hands of the clock to the day he and Sage left for college with Simon behind the wheel.

  He knew the story behind his father and his Uncle Simon. He'd heard his father's version, his grandmother's version, Simon's version, and then his mother's version. Somewhere in between was the real story. Late at night in the college dorm, he and Sage had put their own spin on the story and came up with one they could both live with. Now, eighteen years later, history seemed to be repeating itself. He was his father and Sage was Simon. He remembered how his Uncle Simon had come out the winner in all the different stories, even their own. That meant Sage was a winner and he was ... his father all over again.

  It was three o'clock when Birch closed his briefcase.' 'Biloxi, Mississippi, here I come," he muttered. The knock on his door startled him. "Come in," he called.

  "Nan. I don't think so," Sage said from the open doorway. "I stopped by Dad's office to drop this off, but he was asleep. He'd just tear it up anyway. You can do whatever you want with it. It's my resignation. You going somewhere? Let me guess. Biloxi, Mississippi, right? Big mistake, Birch."

  "Come on, Sage, we go through this at least once a week. You always back down. This thing is going to blow over the way these things always blow over. This is our business. We need to pull together."

  "That's really funny coming from you. I've had it. What we voted
for was right for all the right reasons. I don't have any regrets. All I want is a life, and I'm damn well going to get one. Uncle Simon walked away and got his life. I've got the guts to do the same thing."

  "Let's not forget that good old Uncle Simon walked off with the queen of this parade. Our mother."

  "Mom's personal life is none of our business. Justify what

  happened with Sunny, Birch. Don't tell me nothing happened either. I know how you and Dad do things."

  "Sunny belongs at home taking care of herself. Mom stayed home and took care of us. Why isn't that good enough for her?"

  "The why of it doesn't matter. It's her choice. We made a pact early on. You can't blow Sunny off. You're gonna do it, aren't you? I refuse to be a party to anything that hurts one of us. What the hell happened to you, Birch? For months now we've been at opposite ends of the spectrum. I miss the old Birch, my buddy and my pal. Where'd he go?"

  "Get your ass in here and stop telling the world our business. What about Dad?"

  "Ah, the emperor's son has spoken. The queen's son is speaking now, the son who is his own man, and he says, fuck you, Birch." In a dramatic gesture, Sage threw his hands high in the air. ' 'Jesus, do you have any idea of how good I feel right now? Because I'm in such a good mood, I'm going to give you some advice for free. Forget those riverboats, they're going to sink to the bottom of the Mississippi River. Give some thought to buying a gondola. Isn't that what emperors ride around in or sail in ... ? Whatever. See you around."

  "Sage, wait. We need to talk. Sage, get in here. What the hell is bugging you? Come on, we can talk this through and make it work."

  "Sorry, Birch, not this time."

  The sound of the door closing behind his brother sounded ominous, final. Birch cried then for what he'd allowed himself to become: the emperor's son.

  Fanny waved good-bye to her children, then frowned as she watched Sage and Billie link arms with Sunny. She turned to Bess. "I'm worried."