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"What does thataround in her seat

Ruth wouldn’t look at her "Itat Annie, "that Bethanne wants to have an affair with this biker before she takes your father back It’s tit for tat"

"Ruth!" Bethanne could hardly believe she’d said that "How can you even suggest such a thing?" After all these years she’d assumed her mother-in-la her better "If it’ll help either of you, I’ll let you know that Max and I have done nothingthem even that much

"Moirl when she wanted soain if you’ll do just one thing"

"What’s that?"

"Give Dad a chance It isn’t fair when Dad’s in Seattle"

What do you think I’ hi behind our car on hisfoolish, okay?"

"I’hter

"I didn’t used to think so," Ruth h for Bethanne to hear

"I am not a foolish woman," Bethanne repeated, and then suddenly realized her purse wasn’t within sight "Did either of you pick up my purse?"

"I didn’t," Annie said

"Why would I take your purse?" Ruth asked

Oh, oodness Bethanne remembered that she’d left her purse in the restroo not to panic "I left my purse at the restaurant" She’d been upset and walked off without it

"Mom, we’re on a freeway! I can’t just turn around I have to wait for the next exit"

Ruth leaned forward "Noere you saying about not being a foolish woman?"

Sixteen

"I’ve alanted to see the Alamo," Annie said once they were back on the road after collecting Bethanne’s purse Her forgetfulness had cost them over an hour

"I have a reservation in Branson for toht," Ruth said "Remember what happened the last tias was fun"

"More fun for so used to the verbal darts and disregarded the co forward to Branson," Ruth continued "My friends tell lanced over at Bethanne "Just who is this Andy Williaers ever," Ruth said enthusiastically "Well, in my opinion, anyway He’s like Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Steve Lawrence all rolled into one"

"I’ve never heard of Perry or Steve, either, Grandroup?"

"Heavens, no! Bethanne, this girl needs a ood hu to bypass the Ala disappointed

"It does," Ruth said "The next tiet on that phone of yours and buy the three of us tickets for Andy Williairls to miss"

"Yes, Grandma," Annie murmured, but she didn’t sound happy about it

Bethanne took over driving just outside Texas Studying the as had taken them even farther off course than she’d realized Fortunately, Branson was in the southern part of Missouri

Once Bethanne was behind the wheel, both Ruth and Annie took naps She welcoave her a chance to think Each day on the road, she’d chatted with Julia Hayden about the business and received an update The coood judgretted the phone call to Max earlier thather mind of him was the only sensible option What she’d told him was true She couldn’t make a decision about Grant if all she could think about was Max The best thing was to sever the tie quickly Yet the moment she’d heard Max’s voice, Bethanne knew she couldn’t do it, couldn’t walk away as if he was nothing et him out of her system Really, what could possibly come of a relationship with someone like Max? It wasn’t as if she could climb on the back of his Harley and travel across the country without a care in the world Bethanne had responsibilities, a thriving company Max had taken a sabbatical from his wine distribution company but he’d been away for three years He hadn’t said when he planned to return, if ever

He rode from one end of the country to the other with no destination, stopping here or there on a whihter That was hard, grief was hard, but it’d been three years and he gave no indication that he was ever going to relinquish this lifestyle The thought of any long-term relationship with Max was irrational Out of the question

If Max was a tu with the wind, Grant was like a rock Solid Hardworking A family man Even if he’d stumbled badly when he married Tiffany For a short ti wo he’d once considered a priority, including his own children

But his infatuation with his neife hadn’t lasted long Only a few months after they’d married, there’d been trouble in that relationship

Bethanne knew nothing about Grant and Tiffany’s divorce settlement, but she did know that Grant had paid dearly--and not just financially Soon after he left her he’d been passed over for a huge proed co well, since he never seemed to be strapped for h that wasn’t often these days, other than their college expenses

"Mo her eyes "Where are we?"

"We’re near Amarillo, Texas," Bethanne told her