Leaning back, Christine let her gaze drift. The West Side Tennis Club was respectfully dingy, very American. Perhaps that was why she’d always liked it. It was noisy. The Long Island Rail Road ran alongside, competing with helicopters, planes and road traffic. Christine had never completely gotten used to the relative quiet of suburbia after a lifetime in the inner city. Now she sat back, absorbing the noise, trying to think of the right words. It occurred to her that parenting didn’t stop when children became adults. Perhaps it never stopped at all.

"Ashley loved Spencer, Kyla."

"I know." Kyla stared down at the shredded paper napkin. "I didn’t think she did. I thought if Ashley had loved Spencer, she would have been happy. And if Spencer had loved Ashley, she would have… well, Spencer would have acted like all the other women who hung around Ash."

"Do you think Ashley would have loved her if she had been like all the other women?"

Kyla flushed, amazing herself and amusing her mother. It was a bit disconcerting to think of Christine Davies, mother, grandmother, knowing about passion. "It wasn’t until after I met Martin that I realized love doesn’t always make you smile and glow," Kyla went on, keeping her eyes lowered. "There are times when I was miserable and confused over my feelings for Martin and I began to remember that last talk I had with Ash before I went to see Spencer. I realized how alike Ash and I are, how the stronger our feelings are, the more moody we can become." On a deep breath she met her mother’s gaze levelly. "I tried to rationalize that Spencer wouldn’t have left, that she wouldn’t have married Eric if she had really cared. And that if Ashley had, she wouldn’t have let Spencer go."

"Pride can be just as strong as love. The things you said to Spencer made her feel unwanted, and betrayed, I imagine that Ashley would have spoken to you about it."

"If the situation had been reversed, I would have scratched her eyes out and told her to go to hell."

Christine’s laugh was a warm, young sound. "Yes, you would. Then you’d have gone to the man you loved and used your claws on him. Spencer’s different."