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"She's very happy here. She enjoys being social, and everyone loves Hildie."

"I'm so grateful for you guys. It makes it easier to know she is in good hands."

"When will you be back?"

"February through April will be nonstop for me, but I'm hoping I can get a lot done in January so that I can come back in the late spring. I'll know more once I get my boots on the ground."

"That will be nice. I know she loves it when you come to visit."

I glance toward the doors before I can stop myself. Mackie said last night was it, but I guess I was hoping I might see her one more time before I leave.

As if on cue, Lis walks in carrying a foil-covered pan, and Mackie comes in behind her. I can't help but smile.

"Hey, you." She spots me at the counter. "I thought you'd be gone by now."

"I'm heading to the airport in about an hour. I just got finished getting destroyed at bridge by three women with a combined age of about two hundred."

"That is a spectacular way to go out on your last day in Florida. Very Golden Girls."

"Meaner."

"Sit down and have lunch with me, then. Mom roasted a turkey."

We fill plates and take a table near the windows. Hildie is already back at the card table, arguing about somebody reneging.

Mackie cuts into the turkey. "I slept until nine-thirty."

"Show-off."

"I was pretty pleased with myself. Mom made coffee, we took a walk on the beach, and then she decided Sabal needed enough leftover turkey to feed a small army."

I look toward the foil pans on the counter. "If I lived near your mother, I would be three hundred pounds."

"Yes, feeding people is her love language. You'd learn to adapt."

"If you say so," I say around a mouthful of turkey and stuffing. She has more faith in me than I do myself.

"Tell me something." She points her fork at me. "How did you get my phone number? That was a pretty boss move, texting me last night."

That gets a smile out of me. "Hildie's refrigerator."

"That is not where I thought this was going."

"There's a list on the door of her important numbers." I take a drink of my tea. "Doctor, pharmacy, the man who does the air conditioning. Turns out you're an important number. Your mother's on there twice."

“Twice, huh?”

"House and cell." I set the glass down. "Yours is right under hers. Says Mackie, then it says Lis's daughter in parentheses, then it says December."

Mackie puts her fork down. "I wonder what the December is?"

"No telling. But I sure as hell took the number."

"I'm glad you did. And now I have yours if I ever come up on any burning ranching questions."

I nod and then look at her, speaking of burning questions. "Hey, I forgot to ask you. Did you ever take care of the mishap from Christmas Eve?"

Her fork pauses for half a second. “Yeah.”