“Ah well, a little primping is good for the soul, don’t you think? I’m sorry the seaweed wrap didn’t work for you, dear. When I was in it I just pretended it was Sir Gilbert holding me tight. Naturally I didn’t want it to end.” Veronica looked in the mirror over her dresser and fluffed her hair. “Have you ever been in love, Regan?”

“Once in the seventh grade.”

Veronica chuckled. “No, I mean really.”

“I’ve had a few false starts. Who knows?” Regan shrugged her shoulders and inspected her nails, now covered with a shade called ravishing red. Are these too bright? she wondered. Maybe I should have gone with perilous plum or sexy strawberry. Who sits around and thinks up those names?

“When you are,” Veronica continued, “it will change your life. You will just know it’s right. I suppose you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince.”

“Well, I’ve kissed a lot of princes who’ve turned into frogs,” Regan muttered.

“Regan, I just hope you end up with someone like Sir Gilbert. I know I tend to go on a bit too much about him, but he was and always will be the love of my life.”

Regan sat down on the bed next to her. “It certainly seems like it.”

“Oh, dear, I was a bit spinsterish when I met him. And everyone thought I was crazy to spend so much time with a man so old. But he had such a young spirit. He made me feel so special and loved. Being in his presence was like coming home. Some people thought I was with him because of his money.” Veronica’s voice rose. “But it wasn’t true. He wanted to marry me quickly so that I’d be taken care of if anything happened to him. I thought it was too soon, but he insisted.” Veronica sighed. “Those two weeks were the best of my life. And I’ve never found anyone who could replace him. But”— Veronica jumped up—“that doesn’t mean I can’t keep trying, does it, Regan?” She clapped her hands. “We have got to get a party going here. The bartender and waiter will be arriving at four o’clock to set up, and we have to be ready by then. And I think it would be a jolly good idea to break out a bottle of champagne to drink while we’re getting dressed. What do you say, Regan?”

“Why not?”

“Indeed why not?” Veronica headed for the refrigerator. “After all, you only live once, right?”

“Right.”

“Oh, Regan, this is such good fun and we only have one full day left. I can’t help getting excited about meeting my niece and her children, but in a way I hate to see our journey end.”

Chapter 42