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Chapter 1
Although it was only late May, the sun already shone strong and hot, beating down on two attractive blonde women as they made their way north on the beach along the Atlantic Ocean on Long Island. From a distance, side by side, it was obvious they were related, possibly sisters. Closer, one of them younger, animated, gesturing with her hands, the other older but in wonderful shape, amused at the antics of her companion and then suddenly serious.
“This may be the last time I have the Memorial Day party,” Pam Smith said, trudging in the sand.
Just a day away, the annual party had ceased to be the joyful friends and family event she’d pretended it was. The gatherings since her husband, Jack, had died had turned into ribald, drunken brawls where babies were conceived and middle-aged women took their clothes off for midnight swims in front of the world.
“Ha! Mother, it would be great, and I’m all for never having it again, but you say that every year,” her daughter Lisa replied, fixing her ponytail so her hair was off her neck.
“The heat is getting to me. I can barely tolerate it anymore. Besides, everyone is looking forward to the party this year. Even the grandmothers are coming up from Delaware, and you know they’d be disappointed. How many more will they be alive for?”
“That’s another thing. It’s appalling that they are dating men who are not only brothers, they are twenty years younger! And they plan on bringing them along. I’ll have two old people fornicating in my house. It’s too much.”
Lisa howled out a laugh. “It’ll be more than four old people, Mom. You’re dating a younger guy, too.”
“He’s not that much younger,” she snapped, sweltering. “I can’t believe this heat.”
And truly, since the last round of plastic surgery Pam had, she looked more like she was forty years old, younger than her current BF, Jake Stevens.
“Young enough,” Lisa said, smirking. “Anyway, Ryan can’t wait for the party. He’s talked about nothing else for the past week. I’m ready to muzzle him.”
“He’s such a help to me. You have no idea. He’s helped make all the arrangements, too. I hope it hasn’t been a problem for you, him being up at the house so much.”
“Mother, it’s a relief. It’s almost like the old Ryan is back, to tell you the truth. Helping you out has given him purpose again.”
“Well, as long as you don’t mind. He’s given me some ideas, too. It never occurred to me to be more philanthropic. After I had to give all that money to Andrew Roman, and you know he turned right around and handed it over to that jackass, Craig Harrow, Ryan said maybe it was time for me to do something with my money that would give me satisfaction. I still support all daddy’s charities, and Randy’s, too.”
“What would you want to do?”
“Probably something with the library. And for rescue pets. Ryan’s researching.”
“He never mentions a word. It’s nice that he’s keeping your confidence,” Lisa stated.
“There’s nothing to hide, so I’ll tell him to share away. There is only one problem.”
“And what’s that?”
“Hocus. Now that I have Ryan, he does a lot of what she should be doing.”
“You don’t want Hocus managing your finances, Mother. Let her stick around to answer the door and manage the housekeepers and the kitchen. I like the idea that there is someone else there with you. Although why on earth it has to be a palm reader is beyond me.”
“Yes, well, I didn’t know that when I hired her. I don’t have to think of anything with her there. She gets the mail and cooks for me. She even does the laundry. I never asked her to, either. She said she sees something that needs doing and she does it. It gives me more time to spend planning with Ryan.”
“He’s not your son, Mom. I know you want him to be, but he’s not. You don’t have to give him anything, or leave anything to him in your will. If I hear of any will changes, I’ll put a stop to it.”
“What difference does it make?” Pam asked. “If it goes to you, it goes to him, too.”
“You just don’t need to name him in the will. If something should happen to us, if we divorced, that might be a problem.”
“You’re not planning on divorcing any time soon, are you?” Pam asked, snickering.
“No, but with my record, you never know.”
“Well, I hope you stay together forever. In all my years I’ve never met another couple who is as perfectly matched as you and Ryan.”
“Just like brother and sister,” Lisa replied.
“Oh my god! Blue sea glass!”
