"I'm sorry. The names didn't mean much to me and I'm afraid I don't remember," Jane answered. "Somebody named Mimi, I think, and a person Shelley refers to as Tooky.' And I think there's one or two more."

"Pooky's coming?" Crispy asked. "Then get all your insecurities mustered and ready for action."

"Why's that?" Jane asked.

"Because she's so beautiful you'll feel like half a dozen ugly stepsisters."

"Some were coming by train," Jane explained. "Shelley picked them up."

"Oh, look! That little park is still there," Crispy

said from the backseat. "Look, Lila. Didn't you live

over there someplace? Which was your house? I don't

remember."

"The green one. Only it was tan then," Lila answered.

Jane turned the last corner.

"Why, this is my block!" Crispy said. "Remember? The house right…" Her voice trailed off as Jane drove through the gates of the Francisco mansion.

"Good God!" Avalon exclaimed. "This is Ted Francisco's house!"

Jane was so surprised at the vehemence of Avalon's remark that she spoke somewhat sharply. "Not anymore. It's a bed and breakfast belonging to Edgar and Gordon. You'll be bowled over by Edgar's cooking. And Gordon has redecorated the house magnificently. They even have a resident cat, Hector, who's a love." She wasn't going to allow any Dead Ted talk.

Instead of going to the driveway by the back door, Jane pulled up the circle drive and stopped at the front door. As her passengers began to get out and sort through their luggage and miscellaneous belongings, the door opened and Shelley said, "Oh, look who's here."

Two other women joined her in the doorway. Then there were shrieks of greeting and a lot of really insincere hugging and complimenting. But there was also some genuine warmth in their greetings and Jane felt herself just a little jealous of this kind of old-fashioned camaraderie between old friends. Most of these women had grown up together in the days before people routinely moved every couple of years. Some had probably been friends, or at least acquaintances, for the first half of their lives.