Rachel couldn’t stand the idea of her cousin being alone and unprotected. She knew what it was like to be a young woman without a safe home. When she broached the subject with Danny, she was delighted that he was instantly behind the idea. He understood that sometimes you just did the right thing even when it didn’t make sense on the surface. That was a lesson he had learned from Kevin Grant.

The years went by in a whiz, filled with work, kids, school, sports, holidays, birthday parties. Rachel watched Carolyn’s kids and vice versa. Their boys thought of one another more like cousins or extended family than neighbors. And Maryann was like a big sister to all of them, and a great babysitter to have available. There was a bond between the two families that could not have been tighter.

Tony turned out to be exceptionally industrious, and bought out his dad when Steve was ready to retire. About a year later he had an opportunity to purchase a small chain of sporting goods stores from a fellow in Akron who was nearly bankrupt, and Tony closed the Chesterland store and moved to Akron. He named the new chain Steve’s Sporting Goods, after his father’s store, and convinced Danny to join him, with the offer of two shops to manage at the outset; Tony had plans to expand, and he needed his brother’s help.

When Rachel told Carolyn that she and Danny had found the most wonderful house in a development in Akron named Wingate, on a strange-sounding street called Caves Road, the reality hit them, and they both started to panic.

“Rach, I don’t know how I’m going to make it without seeing you every day,” Carolyn said.

“I feel the same way, sweetie, but you know we’re going to talk every day, and we’ll make sure to get together at least once a month, you know that.”

And so the day came when the big green and yellow moving van was packed and the two families watched it drive off to Akron with all of the Turner belongings.

Their SUV was sitting in the driveway, with the engine running. Evan, Christopher, and Maryann were in the backseat, excited to be going to their new house, but sad to be leaving their friends. Luke and Joey Bianci ran around both sides of the car getting in some last-minute jibs and pokes, which was their way of telling their friends they would miss them.

Mitch and Danny broke into a man hug. “We’ve been through a lot together, my friend,” Mitch said.

“I know, I know,” Danny replied. “Don’t worry, we’re not that far away. We’ll still get together for hoops.” They both turned and looked off into the distance, so they wouldn’t see each other tearing up.