“He's having a great time. Mother, you know his trip was planned before I knew you were coming this week. I'd have changed it if I could."

“No, no. I wouldn't want anybody's schedule altered. And Mike? Are he and his friend Scott having a wonderful time looking at colleges?" If Michael Grant had a gift for languages, Cecily had cornered the world market on remembering people and their names. Jane could hardly keep track of her kids' friends, but her mother remembered all of them.

“Wonderful, but terrifying to me. I don't want to lose him, but I don't want him to know that."

“Of course you don't, darling," Cecily said, taking her daughter's hands in her own cool, well-manicured ones. "You're not worried about the cost, are you?"

“Not too much. You know I put all Steve's life insurance money into trusts for the kids. Then I get a third of the Jeffry family pharmacies' profits. I put half of that into the trusts and live on the rest. As long as the kids stay away from the ultraexpensive places like Stanford and Northwestern, I can probably afford it. The only thing I resent is that there isn't enough for any extras."

“You know we'd be happy to help."

“I know, Mom. So would Thelma, but I want to do it myself."

“How is 'dear' Thelma?"

“As awful as ever," Jane answered. Cecily laughed.

“Still trying to steal the children," Jane went on. "There are days I'm tempted to let her. Good news, though. Dixie Lee is pregnant, and she's an even more unsuitable daughter-in-law than I am. Thelma's gearing up for a new grandchild to spoil and bribe. Poor Dixie Lee."

“Is Katie home?"

“No, she's working at the pool this afternoon."

“What fun this is going to be, just the three of us girls.”

They were still standing in the kitchen doorway, and a pair of cats suddenly shot between their legs. "Where's the cowardly lion?" Cecily asked.