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  “It’s unfortunate.”

  “It is. I know my sister raised her children better than that. Before she passed I promised her that I would keep an eye on things, but I just can’t seem to find a way to fix this. Sometimes people make excuses until it is too late. I warned them.”

  Adeline’s voice registered concern. “Is your nephew unwell? I thought it was a simple fracture.”

  “It is, but you never know. They kept him in the hospital for a couple of days. The doctors said they feared a blood clot, but thank God that was a false alarm. His blood pressure is much too high, and they will be dealing with that. Enough about all of that craziness. It’s been going on for years, and I expect it will continue for many more. We, on the other hand, are planning our vacation. As far as the jackass goes, his wife can deal with him until I get back.”

  Carolyn smiled. “So, tell us, what are all these brochures and papers?”

  Adeline interjected, “First we need to make a decision about the funds. If we choose to utilize that benefit, I’ll have the money transferred tomorrow.”

  “How much money are we talking about?”

  “A substantial amount. I look at it this way. If I put a substantial amount into a house account at the casino, they are earning money on my money while I am staying in their hotel gratis. They benefit as we do. The room would quite probably sit empty if we were not to inhabit it. Rarely in this economy is anyone going to book the best when it is only utilized for sleep a few hours a night.”

  Anna shook her head. “I don’t know much about this, I’m not a gambler, but I thought the days of getting a pass for a big deposit were gone. They have everything computerized these days. They keep track of every dime you gamble because they make their money on gambling. If you gamble a lot and play games that favor the house, they will comp almost anything. Hell, I remember reading a few years ago when a whale was in town and his wife was drooling over a gazillion dollar necklace, the hotel comped the necklace. But if you’re not there to drop outrageous amounts of money, there’s no reason to comp you much because they don’t care if you leave the building.”

  “Whale?”

  “Big spender.”

  Adeline nodded. “You could be right. It’s been years, perhaps decades, since I have done anything in that arena. I’ll ask my lawyer. He goes out there four times a year.”

  “Your lawyer publicizes the fact that he gambles heavily?”

  “He does so for charity. Loves the games, and anything he wins — and, believe me, he always wins — he gives to a children’s hospital. It’s a win-win. The children get funded, and the casino gets great press.”

  “Well, if you have a vice, someone should benefit.”

  “Agreed. I’ll advise you when I know more about the subject.”

  Carolyn smiled. “So, the brochures. Start at the top.”

  Having already sorted the brochures by region, Anna quickly arranged them on the kitchen table. She started on the left in a timeline fashion. The local information was first. Then the information they could use on the first leg of their trip, everything they needed to know about Las Vegas. On the far right was the information she had gathered about Hawaii. The table was covered.

  “Carolyn, you just tell me if I am infringing in your area, but I have a friend that took a trip very much like this, and she had all these brochures for Las Vegas and Hawaii. I stopped by a hotel and got the local ones, and the rest of this stuff is from the Internet.”

  “Please, Anna, we’re in this together. I appreciate the help.”

  “Okay. Well, I know we’ve done some shopping, and I think we’re covered for the Hawaii portion of the trip. Hawaii weather shouldn’t be much different than Florida weather, but I think we might want to pick up a few more things for Las Vegas. Maybe we could pick up some things in Las Vegas. I found some really intriguing places to shop. They have high-end shopping at all the casinos; you can buy a gazillion dollars’ worth of just about anything you can think of. I also found a couple of interesting malls and some really delightful boutique shops. Some of it looks pretty stereotypical, but some of it looks appropriate. Actually, ideal.”

  Adeline didn’t seem excited about shopping. “We are only in Las Vegas for three days. I thought we were going to see a couple of the shows, do a little sightseeing, and maybe rent a car and drive down to look at Hoover Dam. Did you find anything similar to do?”

  “I got online…”

  Adeline shook her head. “You are both so computer literate. I really am struggling to catch up. I’ve spent far too much time locked up in that old house. I’m thinking about selling it.”

  Anna spoke first. “Are you serious? It’s such a beautiful home.”

  “It is more a gilded cage.”

  Anna shook her head. “It’s the wrong time to sell if you don’t have to. The market is horrendous. This is a time to buy, not a time to sell. If you can hold on, at least for a while, it might be better.”

  “It isn’t a financial issue; it is a quality of life issue.”

  Carolyn nodded. “I can understand that. I like my little condo. I have great neighbors, there’s always someone close if I need or want anything, and as long as the association dues don’t get out of control, I’m very happy here.”

  With a sigh Anna said, “My house needs a little work. Since my husband passed, my honey-do list has gotten long. But I like my home. I’m comfortable there. My memories are there. As long as the roof holds, I’m in good shape.”

  Adeline looked concerned. “Does your roof need replacing?”

  “At some point, but the problem is that I don’t want to get into that syndrome where you start to fix one thing and it makes something else look bad. Then you have to fix that. If I put on a new roof, I’m going to need to paint. If I need to paint, then I need to do something with the shutters. If the shutters get done, then the fence probably needs some work.”

  “That’s one of the many advantages of living in a condo. All exterior work is done for you.”

  Anna’s reply was quick. “Yes, but what if you have terrible neighbors? Isn’t it a lot like living in an apartment?”

  “A little bit, but owners somehow seem more dependable than renters. This complex is for active seniors, meaning we don’t need our food prepared for us, and there are a lot of social things to do. For the most part, people are respectful and quiet. Once in a while there will be a grandchild screaming up and down the hallway, but usually it is with joy and wild abandon, and no one minds things like that.”

  Adeline took a deep breath. “Well, you know the issues I’m having. They are going to have to do some extensive rehab on the house. Once that is accomplished, I’m going to do an extensive remodel. Once the remodel of the physical plant is accomplished, extensive redecoration. I think the key term here is extensive.”

  Anna shook her head. “Sounds like a lot of work.”

  “I am blessed that the work will be done by others.”

  Anna decided to move the girls back to the topic at hand. “Back to the brochures. I thought that we could get together and do a complete spa day. Have our nails done, fingers and toes, get our legs waxed, as far up as you dare.” Anna winked.

  The girls met not long ago at a family wedding, and although they enjoyed each other’s company, they were from three different worlds and didn’t know each other all that well. Not once had they given thought to the fact that as girls they would never have socialized at all. Adeline was a woman of extraordinary means who seemed to have been born into the upper class. Anna was not allowed to swim in the public pool in her small southern town. The summer joy of splashing around was for white children only. Carolyn was more middle of the road. Middle class. Retired middle school teacher. Just the middle.

  Truth be told, the only one of the three that had family at that wedding was Anna, the bride’s father’s aunt. The bride Morgan — Anna’s niece — was one of the bright spots in her life. Never having children or grandchildren of he
r own, Anna doted on the child when she was younger, and since Morgan’s parents had gone stupid and all but disowned her, Anna felt even more strongly that their connection was hugely important. Anna made both Morgan and her son Jordan a big priority in her life.

  Adeline figured her invitation to the wedding was a “pity invite.” The groom’s sister Cara had been hired to look in on Adeline now and again when she seemed to be having some acuity problems. Her youngest daughter was far from home, her older children were less than useless, and at the time, Adeline seemed to be fading fast. Turned out that it was her house that was trying to kill her. Toxic mold was found and was currently being eradicated, and a near complete revamping of the entire plant was underway. Adeline had hired Cara to oversee the whole project — not from a professional vantage point; she had staff for that. What she needed Cara for was simply a young person that cared for her and about her and would have her best interest at heart. Cara had already proven herself in that regard.

  Carolyn — grandmother of A.J., Cara’s boyfriend — was also closer to Cara than the bride or Cara’s brother, the groom. It seemed the family was one that opened its arms to any and all that needed inclusion and as a result had invited the three ladies to become part of an ever-growing tribe. Each of the ladies knew someone from the group well, but they didn’t know each other well at all.

  Anna was determined to change that. She continued. “We can have a facial and get our brows shaped. Maybe even a massage. What do you think? I could book us in first thing in the morning.”

  Carolyn was shaking her head before Anna had time to finish the thought. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it in the morning. My granddaughter called me and invited me to breakfast. I believe I am going to be told that I am about to be a great-grandmother. Actually, I’m quite sure of it.”

  “Congratulations. How are you so sure?”

  “There’s nothing else my Suzi wouldn’t tell me over the phone. We have talked almost daily since she was nine. Due in no small part to my lack of parenting skills, Suzi and her brother had a very difficult childhood. My husband and I always tried to make up for that, but were never quite able. On my better days, I try to remind myself that I did the best I was able. On my poorer days, I feel as if the entire fiasco, that being her parents’ approach to parenthood, is my fault. I’d had several miscarriages, and by the time the kids came along I was a little shell-shocked and bewildered.”

  Adeline disagreed. “Don’t be ridiculous. We do the best we can with what we have. That is all we can ask of ourselves.”

  “Thank you. Anyway, I’m sure it’s good news from Suzi. She will be an outstanding mother. I’ve promised to meet them at a diner in Old Town at eight thirty tomorrow morning. My assumption is that her brother, A.J., will miraculously appear. He works across the street. I’m sure he will join our breakfast for the announcement and celebration.”

  “If only our children knew how transparent they are. They don’t seem to understand it as small children, and they seem to recognize it even less as adults.” As the wheels in her head turned, Adeline’s eyes grew wide. “Dear God let’s hope the reverse is not the same. I don’t want my children knowing what I’m thinking or doing at this phase of my life.”

  Their laughter could be heard out in the hallway.

  Belinda leaned toward the door to see if she could catch any of the comments Carolyn and her new friends were making. Although she could make out sounds and could hear the laughter, she couldn’t understand the words. After several moments she continued down the hall, unlocked the door, and let herself into the condo two doors down.

  “So, tell us, Anna, what else have you got planned for us in Las Vegas?”

  Slightly defensive, Anna’s hands fluttered over her brochures. “I’m not planning the trip. I’m just offering up some suggestions. Besides the shopping, there are a lot of other things to do. There are a lot of shows. We can figure out which ones we want to see when we get there. I was thinking about it last night. We might have better luck with tickets if we buy early, but we promised each other this trip was going to be by the seat of our pants. No planning. If we’re meant to see the shows, we’ll be able to get tickets. If we find a show we really want to see and we can’t get tickets, it gives us an excuse to go back to Las Vegas on another trip.”

  Adeline and Carolyn commented in unison, “Agreed.”

  With the obvious support of the girls, Anna sounded more confident. “So, what I found is that we can get around pretty easy on the strip. They have a little train between casinos, and someone online said they have pedestrian overcrossings all over the place so you don’t even have to walk across the street and fight with traffic.”

  “A little exercise will do us good.”

  Anna smiled. “Especially if we’re going to be wearing bathing suits in Hawaii.”

  Carolyn crossed her arms. “Don’t start that discussion again. I’m too old to be trotting around in a bathing suit.”

  Anna shook her head. “No one in Hawaii is ever going to see you again. What difference does it make if they see you in a swimsuit?”

  “I don’t live my life for the pleasure of others. I live my life according to my own rules, and my rules dictate that I not make a fool out of myself in public. At least not on purpose.”

  Surprisingly, it was Adeline that piped in. “We’ll see about that. You need to loosen up.”

  Carolyn muttered, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

  Anna laughed. “Sure you can. You just need to use the right treat. For my old dog it was those little sausage dog treats. I tell you, those things are puppy crack. My dog would do anything for one of those treats.”

  “I didn’t know you have a dog.”

  “Had. I had to have her put down about a year ago. She had liver cancer. She was suffering.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “She was a good friend till the end. I haven’t gotten another dog because I didn’t want to be tied down and part of me couldn’t stand the thought that I would be trying to replace her. I miss her, but I’m happy to be free of the responsibility of pet ownership right now. Maybe once my heart heals and I have this travel bug out of my system I’ll find another dog. Having a dog was an important part of my life.”

  Carolyn smiled. “Or you could just have that beautiful grandnephew of yours care for your dog while you’re away. I’m sure Jordan would love to do it, and he’s such a lovely child. It says such good things about his mother. It would be a good experience for him.”

  “Actually, I’m hoping to make that impractical. Morgan and I have talked about me taking Jordan on a short trip or two. If he loves it as much as I think he will, then we will schedule something more adventurous. Seeing the world is one of the most effective educations one can provide. I am able to do that. Morgan has to work. Young people are suffering in this economy. I have danced around the possibilities with Jordan but haven’t made any commitments. We’re thinking about going to the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone.”

  Adeline sounded much more the team player than usual. “That sounds like a grand idea.”

  Anna shook her head. “He is such a good boy, but full of energy. I’m not sure I’m up to it.”

  “Perhaps we should go with you.”

  “I can’t see you camping in the wild, Adeline.”

  Undaunted, Adeline laughed. “I’m sure there is a reasonable hotel within a reasonable distance from any wonderland this country has to offer.”

  “I’m sure there is, but Jordan wants to camp.”

  “Then Jordan shall, and I’ll meet up with the two of you just as soon as I’m done with my nice hot shower and I have eaten my complimentary breakfast.”

  Even Anna had to laugh.

  Carolyn got them back on track. “What else are we looking at in Vegas?”

  “Believe it or not, there’s a place where you can rent an earth-moving machine and play basketball with it and build a pyramid from huge tires.”

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nbsp; It was Adeline who spoke up first. “We should try that. How many women can say they’ve done such a thing? It sounds interesting.”

  Encouraged, Anna volunteered. “We can ride a zip line.”

  “A what?”

  “They put you in a harness, very safe, the same harness they use for paragliding; they then attach you to a cable that is suspended high above the ground and give you a shove. You then glide from one station to the next.”

  “Station?”

  “For all intents and purposes it is a landing zone. I’m guessing that there’s some information and staff. They shoot you off, and you are again on your way. They say it’s exhilarating. That it is as close as we are likely to get to flying. A once in a lifetime experience.”

  “Do they say anything about heart patients?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Carolyn. I didn’t know you were a heart patient.”

  “I’m not, but after that experience, I might be.”

  Anna chuckled and continued, neither confirming nor denying a desire to ride a zip line. She would let the idea simmer in their brains. She continued down her list. “Do you like that TV show where they do all the crime scene investigating?”

  “I do.” Carolyn sounded excited while Adeline simply shrugged her right shoulder.

  “Well, they have a show type thing out there, and you can be an active part of an investigation. They have it all set up, and you take notes and see if you can figure out from the information they give you exactly what happened.”

  Carolyn looked toward Adeline. “That could be interesting, depending on how it’s done. I’m always a little leery of touristy things. I had a friend visit me here in Florida. Driving down the road, they saw a tourist attraction about alligators. The sign said they had the biggest alligator in history and you could pay your money and have your picture taken with it. The stupid thing was made out of plastic.”