“No, no, we aren’t smashing my wineglasses,” Sam said in mock horror. “Listen, all of you, have a good life and try to save some of that money for a rainy day.” She actually laughed aloud when she was told she would have a standing invitation to the Swiss chalet.

Then they were gone. Sam looked around at what was her old team. She felt misty-eyed because they, too, were leaving. It was suddenly an unbearably sad moment for her. “Stay in touch,” she managed to say in a choked voice.

“Sam, I don’t know what to say,” Slick said, wrapping her arms about her best friend. “You didn’t have to give Eric and me two million dollars. God, I’m going to miss you. I’m going to worry about you, too.”

“Yeah, I did, Slick. You stuck with me. If there’s one thing I prize more than honesty, it’s loyalty. I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself, so don’t worry about me. So, where are you going?”

“We’re off to Hawaii. Kona Village to be precise. We might or might not get married. I wish you would consider coming along, Sam. I know, you have Alpha now, so I guess I understand you wanting to stay here for a while. We’ll stay in touch. Promise you will keep your phone on.”

“I promise,” Sam said solemnly. “Where are you three going?” she asked the three Rainford exes.

“We’re going to Greece to spend the rest of our R&R before we have to report to Colorado. The chick at the airport told us we would be hunted down if we didn’t honor our contracts. So…we’re going to honor them or find a legitimate way to break them. All on the up and up of course. The stickler is we passed all the trials and, like the contract says, we owe Pappy three more years. We are the best of the best and we’re not going to opt out.

“But now, we’re going to visit all the Greek Islands. I’ve always wanted to visit Mykonos. All those handsome Greek men. Ahhhh. Thanks for everything, Sam. I’m sorry it turned out this way. We’ll stay in touch, and I don’t just mean sending a Christmas card every year,” Kayla trilled.

Olivia dabbed at her eyes. “You’re like the sister I never had, Sam. Thanks for everything.”

Zoe wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her shirt. “I don’t know what to say either, Sam, so I’m not going to say anything. I’ll send you a postcard from Greece. You take care now.”

They were all crying, even Hawkins, who swiped at his eyes. All he could manage to say was, “It’s been a hell of a year.”