THE TOWERS FAMILY SAGA
        EPISODE 38
The visiting room was a sea
of plastic chairs and the
low hum of voices. Minnie
sat behind the plexiglass,
waiting for the door to
open. When Robert walked
in, she almost didn't
recognize the man. His
hair was shorter, and the
orange suit made him look
pale. But his eyes were
clear, brighter than she
had seen them in years. He
picked up the phone and
pressed it to his ear,
watching her face. "You
look beautiful," he said,
the static of the line
buzzing. "I look like a
woman living in a condo
with a ragdoll cat," she
said. Robert laughed, a
sound that felt out of
place in the sterile room.
"How is Bella? Does she
still own the fridge?"
"She owns the whole place
now, Robert. She misses you,
though." They sat in
silence for a moment, just
looking at the lines in
each other's faces. "James
is helping me with the
creditors," Minnie said.
"We're paying everyone back,
cent for cent." Robert
nodded, his shoulders
relaxing. "Thank you,
Minnie. I knew I could
trust you to hold the line."
"The lawyer says the
appeals could start in the
fall," she added. Robert
shook his head slowly, his
eyes firm. "No appeals. I
told the truth. I stay
until the time is served."
Minnie felt the sting of
tears, but she pushed them
back. The radical honesty
was a hard road to walk.
It meant no shortcuts,
even when the heart was
breaking for it. "The kids
are doing well," she told
him. "Tyler's taking over
the shop. Barb is working
at the clinic." "They're
real people now, Robert.
Not just Towers heirs."
"That was the goal," Robert
whispered, his breath
fogging the glass. A guard
tapped on his shoulder,
signaling the end. "I love
you, Minnie." "I love you
too, Robert." As he walked
away, she realized that
the man in orange was the
man she had actually
married. The empire builder
was a stranger. This man
was hers.

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