BooksBarbecue
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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

“Two more weeks,” Frankie said. “Then we’ll look together for a new place where we’ll start our life fresh. I can’t believe what a dumb idea it was for me to want to bring you and the boys to live at my mother’s. It would always have seemed like her house. That wouldn’t have been right.” There was a knock at Frankie’s door. “Just a second,” he called. “Rhonda, I’d better get back to the lounge. I’ll call you later.”

Frankie hung up the phone and hurried to open the door. He was taken aback to find the cruise director standing in the hallway.

“Hello, Gregory,” Frankie said. “What’s up?”

“As you know, my nephew is making great sacrifices to take over your job so quickly.”

Give me a break, Frankie thought, but kept his expression neutral. “I certainly appreciate that.”

“He’ll be coming on board tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. That’s what works best for him. He’ll need to move into your room.”

“My room?”

“Yes, Frankie, I’m sure you understand. The travel office will arrange a flight for you back to the States. You’ll need to clear everything out before we dock in the morning.” Gregory looked at his watch. “Don’t be late getting back to the lounge.” He turned on his heel and walked briskly down the hall.

Frankie fumed as he shut the door. You just had to stick it to me, didn’t you? If I had asked if I could leave tomorrow you would have said no. Well, I’m thrilled, buddy! Just like Rhonda was a few minutes ago when I thought I was giving her bad news. He laughed. Should I call her back?

Yes, but I’ll have to wait ‘til later.

55

When Regan returned to Edna’s house, the ladies from Golden Peaks, Gladys, Tilda, Dot, and Margaret were in full gossip mode with Edna. They barely noticed as she sat down next to Nora in the gazebo. I’ll stay for just a few minutes, Regan thought.

“My daughter is arriving tonight,” Edna announced. “I’ll bring her over tomorrow to Golden Peaks and show her the unit I plan to buy. She’ll be happy when she sees it. It will put her mind to rest.”

“Will she be happy to meet Wilbur?” Dot asked, then covered her mouth as she giggled.

“She’d better be,” Edna answered. “Who wouldn’t be happy that Wilbur and I have found each other? Except, of course, that grouch Stix.”

The ladies laughed.

“He’s not happy at all,” Gladys agreed. “It’s ridiculous how jealous he is of the time Wilbur spends with you. Sunday night when he heard you were selling this house and planned to buy at Golden Peaks, he ran out of the pool room.”