They made their way to the front door and looked at each other. Max shrugged and rang the doorbell. It took a few minutes for the door to open, but when it did Roger Strum was there smiling at them. His face fell a bit when he saw Logan.
"I suppose I wasn't clear." He sighed. "I wanted you to come alone."
"Okay, well, let's go." Max said and nudged Logan forward. They were halfway down the stairs before Roger appeared on the porch.
"Wait! Wait! You can both come in!"
They turned and walked back to the house. Roger smiled at them and ushered them inside and into a living room that looked like it didn't see much living at all. He gestured to a small white couch and they sat down. He moved around the glass coffee table and sat in a very uncomfortable looking white chair across from them.
"I suppose you're wondering why you're here."
"Well, yeah." Max said. "I don't exactly get invited to mansions everyday. I'm sure you've seen me on the news."
"I have actually, and so did my former employer." Roger told her. "In fact, that's why you're here."
He pointed to a portrait of an old man on the wall; he was bald and had a few unsightly liver spots, but had a kind face. Roger then drew their attention back to himself.
"That is Mr. Herald Lawrence." Roger told them. "His family had made millions in the oil industry."
"Well, that's nice for him." Max said. "But what's he got to do with me?"
"Well, Mr. Lawrence's childhood was full of discrimination and in much of his adult life he saw more. He always took pity on those who were less fortunate than himself and had an especially large soft spot for those facing adversity."
"Go on." Max mumbled.
"Well, he donated much of his money to various charities and organizations that helped those he felt sorry for, but he confided in me that he would like to help a group of people that would most likely receive no help from anyone, ever." Roger told them. "And when he found out about the transgenics, and you, he realized that he had found that group he had been looking for. He knew that because of the stigma surrounding the transgenics, no one would ever help you outright and he knew he wanted to step in."
He took a breath and brought out a suitcase. He pulled a pile of papers out and pushed them over to Max. "Before Mr. Lawrence passed on, he requested me to donate most of his money to the charities and organizations he had been supporting before, but to save a chunk of money for the transgenics. I have saved that chunk and know that you are the leader of sorts of the transgenics, so I have brought you here."
Max looked over the papers, then looked at Roger. "But why didn't he leave it to his family?"
Roger saddened. "Mr. Lawrence's wife passed on much before her time and he never remarried, and never had children. He was the last Lawrence and had no family to give his money to."
"So he left us like, what, a grand?" Max asked.
"Not exactly." Roger said. "He left you personally two million dollars and this mansion, and to the well being of the other transgenics he left five million."
Max's eye began to twitch and her hand began to shake. "Two - two - two... two... five... five... two... five... mi - m - m - million... dol - dollars?"
"Yes." Roger nodded then pointed to a place on the papers. "If you sign there, everything will be turned over to you at once."
Max accepted the pen Roger gave her and signed her name on the paper. Roger smiled and put everything in his briefcase.
"I'll send you a copy of the papers." He told her. "Until then... live well."
Max nodded slowly, still unable to process what was going on. She knew Roger had left, but she wasn't sure of much else. Finally she turned to Logan, still stuttering about the money. It appeared as though she had calmed herself, but then she let out a high-pitched scream and launched herself onto Logan and kissed him.
* * *
"What?"
"You heard me."
"What?"
"Alec, I'm not telling you again."
"What?"
Max rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as Alec wrapped his mind around the thought. Once he had, he wrapped his arm around Max's shoulders and gave her what he considered a winning smile.
"Have I told you lately how much I love you?"
"Oh God." She muttered and shrugged him off.
"What're you gonna do with the money?" Joshua asked.
"Well, I dunno." She told him honestly. "I haven't thought about it really. I suppose I'll get way more supplies first, and maybe a new set of clothes for everybody."
"You could put in a swimming pool." Alec offered.
"I'll put in a jacuzzi too." Max nodded. "And get people in here to make TC home-y and nice."
"And then we'll all move into your mansion." Alec grinned.
"No." She shook her head. "You do not move into my mansion. I don't even think I'll be moving into my mansion."
"Come on, Max." He pleaded. "If you've got a mansion, live in it."
She thought that over. "Ya know, I think I might live in the mansion. You won't, but I will."
"We need more weapons." Mole said, then grinned broadly. "To keep everyone out of our swimming pool!"
"Art studio." Joshua said. "Put in a big, big art studio."
"I can do that." Max told him and clapped him on the back. "But I think first I'll put in a suggestion box. That way everyone can get their ideas in."
Mole and Alec joined arms and began skipping around in a circle, singing happily, "We're rich, we're rich, we're rich!"
Dalton appeared in the doorway and looked at Max. "There's another delivery for you."
Max, followed by everyone, walked out to the gates. She was quite shocked to see Original Cindy delivering the package. She smiled brightly and threw open the gates, then quickly ran over and gave her friend a bear hug.
"Max, Original Cindy needs to breathe here."
"Sorry." Max grinned and let her friend go. "So what's up?"
"I got a package here for Max Guevara and the kids." OC smiled and handed Max the giant envelope.
"Wanna come in and visit?" Max asked.
"You know it." OC smiled and followed Max inside.
When they reached Max's office, everyone had filled in Original Cindy on the money. She shook her head and sat in Max's chair.
"Damn girl." She said. "What're you gonna do with all those chips?"
"She's putting in a pool." Alec said.
"And an art studio." Joshua grinned.
Max smiled as she tore open the envelope. She spilled the contents on the desk, a pile of envelopes. She found one with her name on it and ripped it open. Her smile widened when she saw it was an invitation to Gary's wedding.