A Turn in the Road (Blossom Street #8)(45)

“Mom?” Annie prompted.

“I…I don’t know,” she said. “Will you be seeing Jason again?”

“Probably not,” Annie admitted reluctantly, “but he has my cell number.”

Max had hers, too, but he wouldn’t use it, wouldn’t phone until she’d called him. That was how they’d left it.

“We’re in a different time zone,” Ruth announced, changing the subject as they crossed the state line. “Arizona isn’t on daylight savings.”

Bethanne knew that her mother-in-law had always been uncomfortable with conflict and tried to avoid it whenever possible. Bethanne had been much the same for most of her married life. But that had gradually changed; she’d reinvented herself as a businesswoman, which had required her to negotiate, to compete and to promote her services. A woman who lacked confidence couldn’t do those things.

The tension in the car eased, and the silence became companionable. Bethanne turned on the radio, filling the car with ABBA and the Fifth Dimension. It wasn’t long before Ruth and Bethanne were singing along and Annie’s voice harmonized with theirs.

“That’s just plain good music,” her daughter said, apparently surprised that she’d be enjoying the same songs as her mother and grandmother.

They drove out of range and lost that station after half an hour or so. Bethanne snapped off the radio, and they lapsed back into silence.

“How are the wedding gloves progressing?” Ruth asked after another lengthy period when no one seemed inclined to talk.

“When has Mom had time to knit?” Annie joked. “Frankly, I never imagined I’d see my mother on a Harley.”

Her daughter didn’t know her nearly as well as she thought, but Bethanne didn’t say anything. Annie’s vision of her was a contradictory one—including both the independent businesswoman of today and the complacent wife of years past.

“This is all too weird for me,” Annie was saying. “My mom and Mad Max? It’s just…odd, you know.”

“Odd?”

“Don’t get me wrong, Mom. I realize this is your life and everything, but a guy on a bike? Really? My mother?”

“I don’t find it odd at all,” Bethanne muttered. But it was a moot point, since she likely wouldn’t see Max again, although the prospect saddened her.

Ruth broke into a half smile.

“That reminds me of my family’s opinion of Royce and me.”

“Who’s Royce?” Annie immediately asked.

“I think he’s another friend your grandmother hopes to see in Florida.”

“Oh-h-h,” Annie said, dragging out the word in a meaningful way.

Bethanne could only assume her mother-in-law wanted to discuss this man—or else why bring him up?—but she had to grin at Ruth’s blush.

“So, tell us about Royce,” Bethanne said, taking advantage of the change in subject so she wouldn’t have to answer questions about Max. She wasn’t so different from Ruth, after all, trying to maintain the peace and avoid discord. Perhaps she hadn’t changed as much as she thought….

“Oh…” Ruth stared down at her hands. “As you’ve already guessed, we dated during our senior year. We broke up after I went to college and he became a marine.”

“So he’s attending the reunion, too?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re hoping to reconnect with him?” Bethanne asked.

Ruth nodded. “We had a…nasty falling-out, so I’m a bit apprehensive.”

“Oh, Grandma, he’s probably just as excited about getting together as you are.”

“Do you really think so?”

Ruth’s question was so sincere and charming that Bethanne wished she could lean over and hug her.

“So it’s been years and years since you last saw him?” Annie asked.

“Oh, yes…so many that I can hardly believe it. I heard he lost his wife a few years back, and Richard’s gone, and, well, I hoped… Oh, I don’t know, other than that this would give me the opportunity to resolve things between us. We parted on such bitter terms.”

“Does he realize you’re coming to the reunion?”

“I…I don’t know.”

“Are you going to fall in love all over again and marry him, Grandma?” Annie teased.

“Annie,” Bethanne chastised. “Come on. Don’t put your grandmother on the spot like that.”

Ruth twisted around to look at Annie. “Honey, remember we haven’t seen each other in over fifty years and—and there’s a lot we have to say.”

“Can’t you say it on the phone?” Annie asked. “You should call him.”

“Call him? When?”

“Now. Or before you show up at the reunion, anyway.”

“I don’t think I can do it,” Ruth murmured, pressing her palms against her cheeks. “What I need to tell him—well, it’s the sort of thing I’d rather do face-to-face.”

“Oh,” Annie said as though she understood. “You loved him, right?”

“Yes. Very much. And then I met your grandfather and…everything changed.”

“Do you still love Royce?”