A Road Trip to Remember - Judith S. Keim Page 0,13

talking about Arnie and Donovan?” John said, grinning as he set the plate down on the table.

“Yes. I remember how Aggie had them both starry-eyed,” said Sandy.

“That she did,” said John, winking at Blythe.

Blythe smiled, knowing there was a whole lot more to the story, a story she’d never heard before.

“Your grandmother was everyone’s favorite,” John said, sitting down beside Blythe.

“What was the name of the student teacher who helped you with Spanish? He was more than happy to tutor you.” Sandy gave Gran a coy smile.

Gran’s cheeks turned pink. “That was Paco.” She let out a girlish giggle. “More than one girl in class suddenly decided she needed a tutor when they saw him helping me.” Still chuckling, she said, “Those days were such fun.”

“We thought we knew everything, including what our lives might be ahead of us,” said Sandy.

“All part of youth,” John said, smiling at Sandy. “We’ve had a good life with a few surprises.”

“Me, too,” Gran said. “Some good. Some bad. I would never have guessed I’d now be a widow. Arnie seemed so alive.”

“It was that heart of his, right?” John said.

“Yes. It just gave out on him,” Gran said, a note of sadness in her voice.

Blythe exchanged a sympathetic look with her. She’d loved her grandfather and had been devastated by his unexpected death.

CHAPTER SEVEN

AGGIE

Long after Aggie went to bed, she lay awake in the darkness revisiting her conversations with John and Sandy, Mack, and Margaret. The world they’d shared long ago was nothing like today. But, as John had pointed out, the ups, as well as the downs, had been part of their lives. Recently, she’d felt pressure to see her old friends and to thank them for being part of her younger years. Since moving into New Life where many people’s lives ended, she was determined to move ahead, to enjoy her days with a new sense of abandon.

Naturally, her thoughts turned to Donovan. Their history was complicated. All of their college friends thought they’d get married. But no one, least of all Donovan, realized when he suddenly took off for Europe following graduation that life would play tricks on both of them—him, for not recognizing his selfish act would cost him, and her, for finding someone else who would bring her both the best and worst of life.

Aggie rolled over and clung to her pillow, remembering the two men she’d always loved. Donovan was a talented, strong-willed, wealthy young man full of ideas who sometimes forgot to think of others in his mad dash to claim his place in the world. Arnold was the opposite—kind, generous, and eager to please her. But he was troubled, too, by a childhood without love and an addiction to alcohol. She’d had to teach him to trust her. It had sometimes been exhausting. But his steadfast love was a blessing she still carried with her today.

Unable to sleep, Aggie rose and padded into the sitting area.

She gasped at the sight of Blythe sitting on the couch. “You can’t sleep either?”

Blythe shook her head. “In my mind, I’m still seeing cars rolling along the highway.”

Aggie immediately felt contrite. She sat beside Blythe and clasped her hand. “Oh, sweet girl, am I asking too much of you?”

“No, Gran. This road trip is a good idea. It’s given me a chance to see my relationship with Chad for what it was—a chance to please my parents. The thing is, I want to be in a relationship with a good guy interested in me, not someone who was controlling and focused on the possibility of my someday owning The Robard Company. I get it. He was from a poor background and ambitious.”

“And going forward?” Aggie asked.

“I’m not going to get serious with anyone until I’ve had a chance to get my arms around my new duties.”

Aggie studied the grandchild she loved so much. “Running a business is a ton of work but rewarding for someone as smart and talented as you are. Finding a person to share your life with is important too. Don’t leave that out of any long-term plans.”

“You and Papa had a good life working together. I want that too. But, Gran, who is this Donovan everyone keeps talking about?”

“That, my dear, is a story for another time. I’m suddenly sleepy. It’ll be a busy day tomorrow. We’ll arrive at the Seashell Cottage and have plenty of time to talk there.”

“Fair enough,” said Blythe, kissing her on the cheek. “I’d better get some sleep too. For