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"And I’ht not be the best ti, so she held back that infor to worry about We’ll be fine"

Robin looked up at the ceiling as though her patience had reached its li to Grant, she added, "A little help fro well enough withoutat Bethanne and his mother

Ruth and Bethanne stood side by side, with their arms linked

Ruth looked at her children "Really, there’s no reason to worry I have the route planned out, I joined AAA and I’veoff in Florida, and we’re flying back I’"

"Do you have a list of your medications?"

Ruth frowned "I take one blood-pressure pill and that’s it--oh, and I have eyedrops It isn’t like I need a per at straws Further me like a child I can take care of myself"

"The roads aren’t safe," Robin insisted, "especially for toain Ruth frowned "If someone does kidnap and murder me, as you seem to expect, you can rest assured that I died happy"

"Oh, honestly, Mother"

"What about Bethanne?" Grant asked "If she’s kidnapped and murdered, hoould you feel then?"

"I’ve had three karate lessons," Ruth said facetiously "I’ll defend her"

Grant burst out laughing Robin, however, didn’t see

"Fine" Robin pointed an accusing finger at Bethanne "Just know that if anything happens to h to fall in with this crazy sche you directly responsible"

Bethanne tightened her hold on Ruth’s arm "I accept full responsibility for your mother"

"No, you don’t," Ruth protested "I’ did happen, it would be just like ainst you"

"No, she won’t," Grant said, glaring across the roo right back She crossed her ar for them to capitulate In that case, Bethanne hoped Robin was a patient wo down And she was sure Ruth wouldn’t, either

After a tense moment, Robin dropped her ar to support me in this, you should never have come"

"Actually, I think I should be the one to drive thereed to that, Bethanne was counting herself out right then and there She wanted to get away, reflect, consider the possibility of a future with Grant She could only do that if he wasn’t trying to influence her Having hi was out of the question

Ruth looked from one to the other "You’d do that, son?"

"I’d need to e the dates, but if this is important to you, Mom, I’d make it work"

"Then you won’t needto withdraw her arht "Check that co you always have with you," Ruth said "Tell me when you’d be free for two entire weeks to drive me all the way across the country"

Grant took out his iPhone and scrolled down the screen "Like I said, I’d need to e some appointust would be eable"

"That’s too late," Ruth told hi to be there" She looked pointedly at Robin "It doesn’t ade truckers and biker gangs inti you say is going to change that"

"Now, Moain in August," Grant suggested "That way--"

Ruth shook her head "I heard all those promises from your father Year after year he said we’d drive across the country, but so always interfered It did with Richard and it ith you No, Grant, my mind is made up"

"And so is mine," Bethanne added for emphasis

"Then I say--" Grant turned to his sister with a shrug "--that we let theo"

"Like either of therinned and, leaning close, whispered, "Annie wants to join us"

"Annie," Ruth said aloud "Why, that’s a wonderful idea!"

His daughter’s naht Grant’s attention "What’s this about Annie?"

"She phoned last night and asked to co, as she’d half expected, Grant broke into a wide sood idea"