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felt certain that Robert had been as great a disappointment to Mac as he had been to her, in spite of his successful career and his likely prospects for even greater achievements. Mac never once said as much, but Robert’s public success faded in light of his private failings, in her eyes. He had become so malleable to managers, advisers, whoever was more powerful than he was, that she doubted he had believed in anything he championed. Very early she had deliberately turned her back on the positions he took publicly, refused to comment, even to talk about him in any but the most general terms, but his marriage had been too close to ignore. The marriage was a charade, a travesty, a marriage in name only, with a wife who seemed content to pretend all was well.
    Lucy did not understand Chloe, and had never been able to develop any affection for her, in spite of all her good intentions. And now Chloe was a widow in Lucy’s house, and she had to decide what to do about that. The loop started its paralyzing round again.
    In spite of everything, she thought wearily, Robert had been the child in her womb, the infant she had adored, the son she had loved beyond all reason. In spite of everything, that was the underlying fact.
    There was a soft tap on her door, and she said, “Come in. I’m not sleeping.”
    Amy entered. “I thought you were resting,” she said, glancing at the bed, which had not been touched. “You didn’t even lie down, did you?”
    Lucy shook her head. “I can’t seem to rest, or even sit still. It’s all right. It will catch up with me and I’ll sleep a week.”
    â€œNot here,” Amy said. She walked to the window and stood gazing out. “You should just go back to Aunt May’s place. There’s nothing you have to do here now.”
    â€œBut there’s so much,” Lucy said, thinking of Robert’s clothes, papers, personal things, all to be sorted, stored, given away, something.
    â€œNothing you have to do,” Amy repeated. “I’m going to my apartment to get some things, and be I’ll back later tonight. I’ll stay here with Chloe and help take care of things. I can do my work from here as well as anywhere else.”
    â€œWhere is she?” Lucy asked.
    â€œIn her room.” Amy’s voice was without inflection. “Will you make your reservation, or should I do it for you? A flight tomorrow?”
    Lucy rubbed her eyes. “God, I don’t know.” Amy turned to face her, a silhouette against the light. “It’s a lot for you to have to cope with,” Lucy said. “It’s asking too much of you.”
    â€œMother, no one asked me. It’s okay. I’m fine. And,” she added slowly, “someone has to stay here with Chloe. Not you.”
    After a moment Lucy nodded. “I’ll make the reservation.” It would be good to be out of this house, back in Palm Springs with her sister, May, she thought. May had kicked her husband out when he admitted to a long-standing affair with a woman twenty years younger than May, and the two sisters got along well.
    Lucy crossed the room to her daughter and embraced her. Amy was a godsend, she thought, as she often had before. Tall, with broad shoulders for a woman, but slender and muscular, more like her father than like Lucy. Her hair was dark and curly, and her eyes so dark blue they sometimes looked black. “Thank God I have you,” Lucy said. All these single women, she thought with a pang. Me, May, now Chloe, Amy. Amy and her live-in boyfriend had separated a year before. All these single women, those philandering men.
    Amy kissed her cheek and drew back. “I’ll tell Travis I’m leaving. There’s plenty of food in the fridge, or you can order something in, whatever. It’s probably going to be pretty late when I get back. Don’t wait up. At least try to get some rest,” she said.
    Amy