as a place for her getaway. They’d once made that suggestion to Noelle North, the former head of the health program at New Life, and she’d ended up married to some hotel mogul. You never know what could happen. Aggie had sworn these friends to secrecy but felt it was only right for someone to know her true location should anything untoward happen. She owed that to her son, Brad, and daughter-in-law, Constance.
“So, you’re going on vacation with your family,” commented one of the staff. “How nice for you.”
Aggie glanced at Edith and Rose, who’d come to say goodbye, and nodded. She didn’t like lying in any form and was relieved she actually was going on a family vacation, even if the only other family member was Blythe.
Her eye caught sight of something. She looked through the glass-paneled front door to see her white Mercedes convertible pull up to the front of the building with Blythe at the wheel. This car represented so much to Aggie. Her purchase of it had sent Constance into a rage, claiming Aggie was losing her mind to buy something like this at her age. It was the beginning of Constance’s campaign to get her to move out of her big, old house in Dedham outside of Boston and into New Life.
Aggie had finally given in to Brad’s pleas to put his mind at ease about her safety and had made the move. But she’d refused to get rid of the car. She kept the shiny new beauty in a storage facility nearby and gave Blythe the extra key fob to it. After she died, Blythe would have her car for her own use. For now, Aggie needed to know she had “wheels.”
“Here’s your ride,” said Edith, hugging her. “Safe trip! And good luck with Donovan!”
Rose grinned at her and wrapped her arms around Aggie. “We’ll be with you in spirit. Remember every little detail so you can tell us all about it.”
Aggie held in a laugh. There was nothing Rose liked better than a good, romantic story.
Blythe hurried over to them and grabbed hold of Aggie’s suitcase. “Hi, everyone.” Green-eyed, black-haired Blythe reminded Aggie of a beautiful young woman who was just coming into her own. Long-legged, thin, and with a wild taste in clothes that drove her stepmother crazy, Blythe was the perfect person to take this trip with her. By the time they got back, Aggie hoped Blythe would have a better appreciation of herself.
After chatting politely, Blythe took hold of Aggie’s arm. “C’mon, Gran. Time to hit the road.”
Aggie marched to the car alongside Blythe, feeling like she was sprouting wings with each step, loving this new sense of freedom. After she buckled herself into the passenger seat, she turned to the small crowd gathered at the doorway and waved.
“Okay, pedal to the metal, girl,” Aggie said, sitting back in her seat, eager to begin the journey ahead.
CHAPTER TWO
BLYTHE
Blythe laughed at her grandmother’s words and did as she asked, making the engine of the car roar a little as she peeled out of the driveway. As long as she was going to end up in trouble, she might as well enjoy what she could of this adventure. Her stepmother thought Gran was losing it, but Blythe knew better. Gran was sometimes forgetful, but not in a serious way. Her mind was quick, as always.
As Blythe thought about how Constance always had to be right, had to have the last word even if no one agreed with what she said, a sigh escaped her. She had learned to fight back in different ways. The tie-dye T-shirt she was wearing and the tiny tattoo hidden beneath it were examples.
“I thought we’d make a few stops along the way,” Gran announced. “Margaret Winters, one of my old college roommates, lives outside of New York City in Montclair, New Jersey. She’s invited us to have lunch with her.”
Blythe turned to her with surprise. “How long have you been planning this trip?”
“Since Margaret and another friend tried to put together a reunion of sorts for all the old gang a few months ago. There were twelve of us who hung around together at Cornell in the late ’60s. That was a very unsettled time for all of us with the war and all the student demonstrations against it. Some armed students even took over the student union building for several days to protest.”
“You mean Vietnam?”
“Yes,” said Aggie. “Your grandfather was drafted right after graduation but was