on? A part of her said “yes,” while another part of her screamed “no.”
“It’s a big responsibility. But you need to learn more about what’s going on behind the scenes. Now that you’ll have more time, you might be freer to do so more quickly than you thought.”
Blythe rolled her eyes. “You mean now that I’m rid of Chad and have no plans to marry?”
Gran caught her eye. “You’ll see. It’s all for the best. He was too controlling.”
Blythe’s stomach twisted. Gran was right. She’d escaped a bad relationship. It had started her sophomore year and lasted until the Christmas holidays this past year when she knew for sure she’d made a horrible mistake. Chad had demanded, not asked, that she invite him to Wellesley for the holidays so he could keep an eye on her. And the business! He’d always loved the idea that she would someday be CEO of The Robard Company.
Constance had thought he was perfect for her. But Gran had talked to her about him, asking questions that made her see Chad for who he was.
Blythe reached over and squeezed Gran’s hand. She could always trust Gran to care enough to be honest with her.
CHAPTER THREE
AGGIE
Aggie stared out the car window, pleased with herself. She loved Blythe more than anyone but Brad, and she wanted Blythe to know her value. With a stepmother who undermined her and a mother who’d abandoned her, Blythe was unaware of how bright and stunning she was. Blythe, like herself, had a natural ability to understand retail business. At twenty-one and about to graduate from Cornell, Blythe was more than ready to learn the business.
Owning a chain of eleven hardware stores was hard work, especially in light of competition from the big chains like Home Depot and Lowe’s. Still, Aggie knew that there was a place for smaller, friendlier, multi-purpose stores that offered high-quality, specialized hardware, seasonal lawn, garden, and home-maintenance equipment and products, and pet merchandise, along with gifts and interesting decorative objects for the home. It was this mix of goods that had made The Robard Company succeed.
Just after one, at Aggie’s directions, Blythe exited the Garden State Parkway and began weaving through streets to reach Margaret’s home, an impressive house on Eagle Rock Way in Montclair.
Aggie looked around with interest. Though they’d lost touch through the years, she knew from earlier correspondence that Margaret was the mother of two children. Divorced after ten years, Margaret still lived in the house her husband, Donald, had provided and had become a socialite in her own right. She was the one who’d been in touch with another friend to plan the reunion they’d hoped would take place in Naples, Florida. Sadly, Aggie was one of the few people still alive who was willing and able to make the trip. In the meantime, Margaret had received the news she was dying of cancer. Aggie wanted the chance to say goodbye and thank her once again for her friendship.
Even though they’d come from different worlds, she and Margaret had been close as freshman roommates at Cornell. Coming from Springfield, Massachusetts, Aggie was awed by Margaret’s New York City beauty and sophistication. Looking back, Aggie realized how lucky she had been that Margaret considered her a project of sorts, exposing her to a world of money and power. It had given her a basis of knowledge that, in later years, helped grow the business Arnold had inherited. Aggie had always been grateful to Margaret for her friendship and wanted her to know it.
As she and Blythe walked up the flagstone pathway to the front of the house, Aggie drew a deep breath. Margaret had let her know she’d lost her hair from the chemotherapy treatments.
The woman who greeted them at the doorway was a shadow of the person Aggie remembered. At the smile that spread across Margaret’s ravaged face, tears stung Aggie’s eyes. She looked so frail.
“Hello, old friend!” Margaret said, her smile slicing her drawn face in half.
Aggie enveloped Margaret in her arms, careful not to hurt her. “It’s been so long … way too long … since we’ve seen one another.”
“I know. And this beautiful, young woman is Blythe? Why, I remember how happy you were when she was born.” Margaret held out her hand to Blythe. “I’m so glad you’ve come to lunch with your grandmother. My grandchildren live out on the west coast. How I’ve missed having them near as they grew up.”
Blythe gently shook Margaret’s hand. “I’m happy to