It was the sadness in her eyes that got to Rose. “Why do you always try to hurt me?” she cried. “Why do you want to do that?”

“I want to keep you from being hurt. I'm not saying your Bobby Manning is bad. But people can do things to each other—”

“I know all about what people can do to each other. I know that a mother can dump her baby because she's got to have her own life and a kid would get in her way!”

“I gave you the best mother I could.”

“You gave me a mother who died when I was thirteen!”

There was a long silence, and then Lu said, “You're angry at me. You have a right to be. But I hope someday you can get over it.” She spoke so gently—as if she actually gave a damn.

“I bet you do,” Rose spat.

“Not for me. For you.”

They were in Lu's newly redecorated bedroom. On the bed was the coppery gown Rose had helped design. Lu picked it up. “It's going to look like a million bucks,” she said. “Thank you.”

“You already said that.”

Lu nodded. She spread the gown on a boudoir chair and looked back at Rose. “I'm just so afraid you'll never let yourself be happy,” she said.

“May I ask Bobby Manning to come to the party?” Rose demanded.

“Of course.”

“Thanks.” She started for the door.

“Rose,” her mother called out. “Just remember, people can be cruel without meaning to.” “Bobby won't hurt me.” “I wasn't talking about him,” said her mother.

Chapter 21 - New York 2008

“I'M ASSUMING Bobby Manning did go to the party,” Carrie said as she and George sipped coffee in his chorus gypsy/Belle Epoque living room. The dishes had been washed and dried after George had delivered a speech on his belief that anyone who insisted on owning a dishwasher in Manhattan should move to New Jersey. Now Carrie, George, and the Yorkies were all sitting on a couch that had been part of the set for a summer stock production of My Fair Lady.

“Oh yes, Bobby came to the party,” George said. He paused to take a sip of coffee. “But it was a … weird night.”

“Weird how?” Carrie asked

“The party was great. Lu swanned around with her chic new look, and the apartment was done up like frigging Versailles. And Rose was gorgeous, but that came under the heading of What Else Is New?”

“Okay, and the weird part?”