“If I live that long.” Hannah crossed her hands on the table. “I have such an uneasy feeling about Zachary, about what he’s capable of doing. I don’t trust him. I think he’s going to hurt his father, and Sarina, and me in the process.”

Grace rose, stood behind Hannah’s chair, and placed her hands gently on her friend’s shoulders. “Hannah. It’s going to be all right.”

Reaching for Grace’s hands, Hannah squeezed them gently. “I pray you’re right.”

11

Why Me?

There had been times when Amelia had felt close to Hannah, especially after that dreadful episode of Amelia’s involvement with that awful man Lance Lundquist, and the time when they’d been drawn close by the catastrophe of their home burning to the ground. But then there was their Caribbean cruise, and Hannah’s irritation and constant criticism of her. Perhaps sharing a suite had made for too close quarters. Amelia had been hurt and angry, and justifiably so. After that trip she considered moving out, and had escaped to Maine on a photo trip to think things over.

Reconciliation and what seemed to be a greater acceptance of each other followed, and Hannah could not have been kinder than when Miriam and Sadie arrived, and Amelia had summarily rejected them for many weeks while she worked out her anger at Thomas. Hannah and Max had given them a place to live and been so very kind to them. So, why had Hannah’s and her relationship deteriorated again?

Amelia admitted to being jealous of Hannah and Grace’s friendship, jealous that Hannah, who she considered less attractive than herself, had found love and marriage with Max. Wait a minute. Didn’t I reject Simon the art critic from New York’s proposal last year to move to New York and share his glamorous life?

Well, anyway, enough was enough. The constant bickering had to end. It upset her, poisoned her day, and was driving Grace out of the house. If Grace decided to move to Bob’s cottage, what then? Amelia’s stomach dipped. She ought to be more accepting of Hannah, and not react to the comments Hannah made. Hannah was, after all, under a lot of stress since Zachary’s arrival. Max and Hannah’s Saturdays, which were so important to them, had flown out the window.

When the phone rang, Amelia considered not answering it, and when she did, she was surprised to hear May’s voice.

“Amelia, this is May McCorkle. How you doing?”

“Pretty good, thanks, and yourself?”

“Sometimes good, sometimes not so good.”

“When is your divorce final?”