Monday afternoon found Clarence Bell and Jerry Espenson in Judge Torres' courtroom. The room, which had been full all day with spectators, lawyers, jurors, defendants and the plaintiff, was now empty save for the two of them.

"This case," Clarence sighed, "I think, I know we're going to win, but I feel like I'm going to lose a piece of my soul. Why can't our client settle with the plaintiff?"

Jerry rubbed his hand across his forehead. "Bingo! You know why. They refuse to offer more than a pittance for the settlement. If I were the plaintiff, I wouldn't accept the offer either. This is like purr that man that invented the intermittent windshield wiper and had to sue the auto industry when they appropriated his idea." He began to place his papers into his briefcase. "Pop! Clarence, I have something to tell you. Katie and I aren't getting married, I ended the engagement."

Clarence's eyes went wide with shock. Clevant's voice came out of his throat. "What the hell are you talkin' about, Espenson? Have you lost your mind?"

"No, no pop, I haven't. I just think it's better for Katie if she doesn't marry me. Since you and Claire were out of town, you're the last person I needed to tell."

Clarence shook his head as they walked out of the courthouse. "It's your life, but I think you might be making a mistake."

"Pop pop pop! My reasons were good, they are good! I need you to support me, Clarence. This is hard for me."

Clarence was about to argue, but he decided that Jerry looked so forlorn he would keep his opinions to himself. "Of course, I'll support you. I'm your friend." He put his arm around Jerry's shoulders. "I'm your friend, Jerry."

Denny and Alan's jet touched down at McCarren International at three PM Pacific Time. Their pilots, Cody and Steve, would be returning to Boston later on that night and would return to pick them up on January second. The rest of their permanent staff were already on vacation through New Year's Day. They picked up their rental SUV and drove toward their townhouse condo in a Summerlin gated community.

"This is pretty comfortable, Alan," Denny opined as he snuggled into the leather of the passenger seat. "I'm glad you talked me out of renting a Hummer."

"I am, too. I wouldn't feel right driving around in something that makes it look like we're invading our neighborhood and craving attention all at the same time. This Lexus will do just fine," Alan replied as he pulled into their driveway.

Alan really liked their Nevada home. The kitchen was was huge and included what amounted to a den which was furnished with a rug, fireplace, large screen TV, a leather couch and chair along with a coffee table. The living room had a cathedral ceiling and though quite comfortable, they rarely sat in there. If they weren't in their kitchen, they preferred being upstairs. There was a regulation size pool table in the open foyer at the top of the stairs and beyond that, their extra-large bedroom complete with a California king – size bed, dual walk – in closets and a doorway that led to a balcony that ran the width of the house. From there, they could watch amazing sunsets and see the Strip in the distance.

"It's astonishing how clean this place is," Denny commented, "Merry Maids did an excellent job."

"How were they able to get inside?"

"When I told Rodeo we were coming here, he contacted Merry Maids Las Vegas and overnighted them the key. They cleaned and made up the bed. They'll be coming twice a week now through January second. After that, they'll do a final clean and overnight the key back to him."

Alan whistled. "Whatever you pay Rodeo isn't enough."

Denny laughed, "He gets paid plenty. I'm going to take a nap and then I'll be ready to go to the Cosmopolitan for dinner and some gambling. I'll unpack tomorrow. What are you going to do?"

The younger man began to slip off his shoes. "The same thing you are."

Clarence and Claire were having a glass of wine in her place after work. She had been listening to Clarence as he told her about his conversation with Jerry. When he finished she said, "I can't believe Jerry! He's an idiot!"

"Cut the man some slack, Claire! He's really hurting."

She made a sound of disgust and spat, "And whose fault is that? Clarence, let me tell you, Clarice, Clevant, Oprah and anyone else you've got hiding in there that if you ever try to make a decision for me based on what you think is best for me, I will open up a can of New York Yankee Whup – ass all over your Boston Red Sox lovin' behind! Do I make myself clear?"

Clarence's eyes shifted quickly from left to right before he answered, "Um, yes, yes, you're clear." He held out his right hand. "I think we should shake on it."

Claire took his glass from his other hand and put both glasses on the coffee table. "I have a better idea," she said as she leaned in for a kiss.

Jerry was sitting at home alone and miserable. He had been shaken to the core when he and Clarence had returned to the CP&S offices. He had entered his office to find that the top of Katie's desk had been emptied of her belongings. Confused, he opened each drawer and panicked a little bit more to find each one empty. He whipped around and ran, hands on thighs, as fast as he could toward Shirley's office, nearly knocking several people down on the way. He burst through her open door, gasping for breath and looking wild – eyed.

Carl and Shirley looked up in shock to see Jerry staring at them as he tried to form words. "Jerry," Carl shouted, "What the hell is wrong?"

"Pop pop pop pop! Katie," he finally managed, "Katie's gone! She's quit?"

Shirley came around her desk and guided the distraught man to the couch where she pulled him down beside her. "No, Jerry, she hasn't quit."

The nausea that was about to overwhelm him began to subside somewhat at her words. "Pop pop, where is she?"

"She took an office on the fifteenth floor. You really didn't expect her to continue to share an office with you given the circumstances, did you?" Carl replied.

"It didn't occur to me," Jerry answered honestly. Did I really think that everything would go back to being the same as it had been?

Shirley placed a hand on Jerry's knee. "The way you raced in here…If I had told you she had actually quit, I think you would have fainted. You're obviously still in love with her. You need to rethink what you're doing, Jerry, for both your sakes."