Chapter 10 - Real Family
Two months later.
The summer afternoon was warm and bright. The scent of blooming honeysuckle floated across the flagstone courtyard of the Ashworth estate.
A large blue plastic swimming pool sat in the center of the lawn, filled with clear water and rubber ducks.
Julian Ashworth—former mafia kingpin, now a private philanthropist and estate owner—sat on the stone steps wearing broadshorts and a plain t-shirt. He had a pair of yellow rubber gloves on his hands and a fresh bar of soap in his pocket.
Beside him, Camille sat in a lawn chair, wearing a summer dress, reading a book while sipping iced tea. She looked completely at home, her smile bright and unburdened by the past.
In the middle of the courtyard, Elsie was busily scrubbing Rex’s side with a brand-new, giant yellow sponge. The Belgian Malinois lay completely flat on his back, his four paws sticking straight up into the air, looking utterly ridiculous and completely content.
"More bubbles, Mr. Julian!" Elsie commanded, extending her soapy hand.
"Yes, boss," Julian smiled, reaching into his bucket and handing her another handful of rich white foam.
He reached over, his hand finding Camille’s resting on the arm of her chair. She didn't pull away. She intertwined her fingers with his, giving him a warm, gentle squeeze.
The front gates of the estate were open—not locked behind iron shutters or guarded by men with automatic rifles, but open to the warm country road and the summer breeze.
The dark past, the betrayals, the federal wiretaps, and the rival syndicates were gone, replaced by the simple, quiet rhythm of a home built on trust, protection, and love.
Elsie stopped scrubbing for a moment, pulling her broken stub of green crayon from her pocket. She walked over to the stone wall near the fountain and drew a large green heart right on the flagstone.
Inside the heart, she drew three figures: a giant dog, a little girl, and a man holding hands with a woman.
"Look, Mommy!" Elsie shouted proudly, pointing at her artwork. "It's us!"
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Julian looked down at the green crayon drawing on his million-dollar flagstones. A few months ago, he would have had a servant clean it off immediately.
Today, he simply smiled, pulled Camille closer to his side, and watched the afternoon sun shine down on the only real family he had ever known.
