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when Nikki bounded out of her chair and announced that she was going for a run to work off the bountiful breakfast she’d consumed. Within seconds the others joined her.
    â€œSomething’s going on,” Annie said quietly.
    â€œA revolt is imminent would be my guess. You notice they didn’t ask us if we wanted to go for a run,” Myra said quietly.
    Annie gasped in horror. “Dear, dear Myra, surely you don’t think we could keep up with them, do you?”
    â€œNo, but it is nice to be asked. They could have said they were going for a walk and invited us along. We can walk, Annie. Sometimes I think they think we’re not . . . What’s that term I’m looking for?” Myra asked fretfully.
    â€œKathryn would say we aren’t cutting it. Holding up our end. If that’s what you think, you’re wrong. If you and I disappeared from this little group, they’d be lost without us. They look to us for direction. Not all the time, but we are the glue that holds us all together. Listen to me, Myra, getting caught has had a psychological effect on all of us. We’ve been forced to give up our lives as we knew them. We say we’re adjusting but we’re not. We just keep repeating the lie over and over and sooner or later we’ll begin to believe it.”
    Myra shrugged as she fingered the pearls at her neck. As she stared off into space she said softly, “I’m so glad you agreed to join us, Annie. I feel I have an ally in you. Why do I feel like I need an ally? Us against them in a manner of speaking. I don’t understand where these feelings are coming from. I don’t like feeling like this and it’s starting to worry me.”
    Annie, her eyes downcast, contemplated the crimson polish on her toenails. “I’m new to all of this, Myra, but I have to admit, I love it. I’m having the time of my life. The isolation up here on the mountain doesn’t bother me at all. I’ve lived here a long time so it’s home to me. It’s different these days but it is still home. However, I understand what you’re saying. Let’s face it, my friend, we’re old. The girls are young. When you’re young you think you’re infallible. You and I have lost children and we’ll never be the same again. We both know that, so it has to be factored into our feelings. Did any of that make sense, Myra?” she asked anxiously.
    â€œYes,” Myra said, patting her old friend’s hand. “Now, what do you think they’re up to?”
    â€œThis is just my humble opinion . . .”
    â€œJust stop it right now, Annie, you don’t have a humble bone in your body.”
    â€œThat’s true,” Annie responded airily. “So, it is my opinion the girls are scheming and plotting to find a way to go Stateside and not on my yacht. For the life of me I do not understand why Charles wants to take that boat to sea. It takes forever to cross the Atlantic. We might as well swim. At the risk of repeating myself, the girls want some action, sexual and otherwise, and don’t look at me like that, Myra. You really have to stop being such a prude.”
    Myra got up and started to pace the confines of the terrace, all the while fingering the pearls at her neck. “I’m afraid for Nellie and Pearl. For all of them, actually. Backup is all-important. We were so cocky early on. We thought we were infallible. We weren’t, Annie. Our backup was Jack and Harry. Nikki knew it but the rest of us didn’t. You also have to factor in all of Charles’s old friends from his spy days. We’re half a world away from Nellie and the others. I guess what I’m trying to say is I want to be there doing whatever I can to help. Backup support is crucial.”
    Annie joined Myra at the railing of the terrace. She propped her elbows on it and looked down the mountain, then her gaze went to the sparkling blue ocean. She