Cody saw Eric’s smile. “What’s the big grin for? Did you swallow a canary?”
“That was so sweet of you to arrange for a sendoff. I needed a reminder I still have a family, on this night more than any other night.”
“I didn’t think the message would be lost on you,” Cody smirked.
Eric knew the pilot was waiting for him to give the order to take off. As he reached for the intercom, his life flashed before his eyes. His mother sprawled on a living room rug, weeping, surrounded by his siblings. Pointing a shotgun at his father. Surrounded by flames in Mexico, then standing over a dead body in a sleazy Chicago hotel. A steam room in North Dakota with Tommy, then hearing the news Tommy was dead. Drunk, on his knees with a shotgun in his mouth, his mother desperately praying for him to live. Victorious in a bank boardroom, then rescuing Cody during a burglary. Returning to his hometown. His parents’ peaceful faces moments before they died. David Cheslyn’s face the day he agreed to sell his company. Harry, Jerry, and Keira waving good-bye to him. Tuteur15’s headquarters. Cody by his side.
Eric gave the order to take off, but remained by the window instead of sitting. As the jet taxied past the crowd on the runway, he spotted Commander John Benedetto, Jr. standing on a platform above the crowd. When their eyes met, Commander Benedetto snapped his right hand to his forehead in salute. For the first time in decades, Eric raised his right hand in a return salute.
“That kid JJ summed up my entire adult life in three words,” Eric admitted as he slid into the seat next to Cody. “Our own sovrano. I've been building a self-sufficient world where no one can hurt me and the people I love. Now I have a term for it. As a bonus, I found my soulmate and I get to make a positive difference in millions of lives. I guess I did all right.”
“Not bad for a smalltown boy,” Cody quipped. “What've you got planned for your second act?”
Eric was quiet for several moments. “As long as I have you in my life, I have everything I need to be happy. I plan to get up early each morning and bring you breakfast in bed, then follow you around the house all day, serving your every need. ”
“Tempting as that sounds,” Cody laughed, “I’d rather have you as my lover than my man-servant. Maybe you can use some of that extra time to start shaving again.”
“You don’t like the beard?” Eric frowned, stroking his face.
Cody grimaced. “It kinda itches.”
“I’m glad you told me,” Eric smiled. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”
Cody hesitated. “It looks very sexy and you seemed to like it. You don’t really need to hide your identity or make yourself look older any more. I just want to kiss the clean-shaven face of the white knight who rescued me so long ago.”
“There must be a razor on this plane,” Eric muttered. “I’ll shave once we’re in the air so you don’t have to kiss my hairy face again.”
“I appreciate it,” Cody grinned as he stroked Eric’s face with the back of his hand.
Turning serious, Eric brushed some lint off his pants. “Since I turned thirty, I’ve tried to do the right thing as often as possible, no matter what it cost me. I’m not sure if I’ve made amends for all the harm I caused myself and others, but I plan to keep trying.”
“That’s all any of us can do,” Cody assured Eric. “Few people know for certain the good they’ve done outweighs the bad. I’m willing to bet that at the end of your journey, all the good you’ve done will vastly outweigh any harm.”
Rather than reply, Eric simply grasped Cody’s hand firmly, raised it to his lips and kissed it. Eric realized he had achieved his ultimate objectives. He had created a safe environment for those he loved. Even better, he had found someone to laugh and cry with; someone he could match wits with and trust. Most of all he had found someone who loved him for more than his power and money. Of all his achievements, Eric valued that one the most.
Eric finally had enough of everything, a fact he did not feel compelled to share with the rest of the world. It was enough that he and Cody knew.
THE END
If you liked this novel, please consider submitting a review/rating on Amazon.com.
Visit Michael Powers’ author page to find other novels you might enjoy including:
http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Powers/e/B00WY9WL3Y/
Other novels by Michael Powers include:
Mat Salleh
Tyler's Table
Bali Bule Hunter
Partners & Lovers
Choices And Promises
Lords Of Lincoln
Love Unconditional
Methuselah Orchid
Noble Choices
T-Net Affair
Sovrano Page 31