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unimaginable length of cat or dog time.
    Meg turned to Seth to see him watching her. He smiled. She smiled. Then she asked, “Do you think Mother and Daddy will be all right?”
    â€œWithout us to hold their hands? I think so, Meg. They’re adults, and they’ve survived this long without our help—well, maybe with one exception—and they’re notexactly decrepit. Why on earth are you worrying about them at this moment?”
    â€œBecause I can’t find anything else to worry about? I know. That sounds completely ridiculous. And you and I are going to go see interesting things and play. Maybe it’s all my Puritan ancestors insisting that enjoying oneself was immoral.”
    â€œAnd that’s why you’re torturing yourself? You’re right; that is ridiculous.”
    â€œYes, and I know it. It’ll pass, I’m sure. Let’s go make coffee.”
    They were finishing up breakfast, and the sun had finally risen over the horizon, when Bree stumbled into the kitchen. “You haven’t left yet?”
    â€œAlmost ready,” Meg replied. “We were fortifying ourselves for the journey. I’ve left you a list of things that need to be done . . .”
    Bree filled a mug with coffee and dropped into a chair. “Meg, I am neither an idiot nor a child. I think I can keep the place going for a week or two. Please, feel free to take two weeks. Have fun. See the sights. The orchard will still be here when you get back.”
    â€œI know. I guess I’m just keyed up. Seth, are you ready?”
    â€œI am. Is your suitcase closed?”
    â€œNo. Let me check it one last time, and then I can put it in the car.”
    â€œGo!”
    Packing really and truly finished, Meg checked to be sure she had her tablet and her maps in her roomy bag, and took one final look around the bedroom. Everything looked fine. Why did she feel as though she was setting off on an expedition to the North Pole? Heck, they wereheaded toward warmer weather, and they were going to see things she’d been hoping to see for half her life. Time to hit the road.
    Downstairs, Seth was waiting for her in the kitchen, leaning against the wall. “Ready?”
    â€œI hope so. We’re aiming to get to Mystic before lunch, right?”
    â€œYes. Do not decide you need to pack a complete lunch in case we get hopelessly lost in the wilderness that is Connecticut. You do have your cell phone, right?”
    â€œYes, and the charger. And the backup charger.”
    â€œYou have enough warm clothes, in case the next ice age arrives fast?”
    â€œI do. Jackets of three different down ratings in the backseat.”
    â€œThen may we please get going?”
    As if on cue, Bree came down the back stairs. “What he said. Go! Now!”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Meg said meekly and followed Seth out the door.
    Once they were settled in the car, luggage safely stowed, Seth pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the back route that led to the turnpike. “It’s not too late to change your mind.”
    â€œAbout what? Marrying you? Driving halfway down the East Coast?”
    â€œTake your pick. You’re acting kind of weird.”
    â€œI’m excited. And maybe nervous, I guess. I remember taking road trips with my father when I was about ten or twelve. He was always an impatient driver. He would lecture the other drivers on the road, not that they could hear him, telling them what they were doing wrong, and thenhe’d whip around them, which half the time scared the other people to death. He had some weird theory about efficient gas consumption.”
    â€œNo accidents?”
    â€œNo. He was either careful or lucky. Or both. Anyway, my mother would make soothing noises, but that was about all. I sat in the backseat and kept my mouth shut and tried to pretend I didn’t know either one of them.”
    â€œYour mother never