“No, Mother, we won’t ‘talk about it.’ I’m going. I don’t know when yet, I’ll have to figure that out at work, but I’ve been invited and I’m going.” There was iron in her voice, and both her parents could hear it. It was a new side of her they had never seen before.
“That’s a long way to go, and you’d be two girls alone,” her mother said, looking nervous.
“It sounds fantastic to me, and Audrey’s brother will take leave and chaperone us. I’m going,” she said, and turned away then, as her brother Henry winked at her.
“You tell ’em, Sis,” he whispered, and she nodded. They negotiated with their mother, but none of them ever stood up to their father. Henry had wanted to study architecture but was continuing medical school in the fall instead. Only Greg really wanted a medical career, and he had been influenced by their father to go into orthopedics instead of pediatrics, because orthopedic surgery was more lucrative. Benjamin Hatton, their father, was a force to be reckoned with. But Lizzie wasn’t going to let anyone take her vacation with Audrey away from her. It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her, and a chance to spend a week with a dazzling guy she’d had a crush on for two years. Whatever happened, nothing could induce her to miss it.
The two girls introduced their parents to each other. The Hattons were touched when they met Ellen, and saw how ill she was, and how proud she was of her daughter. It gave them a deeper insight into Audrey. Ellen was happy to meet them, and elated over Lizzie’s graduation too.
Lizzie left for Boston with her family that night, after three years in Annapolis, and her parting from Audrey and her mother was a tearful one. Audrey had never felt as alone in her life as she did after Lizzie left. She was the best friend Audrey had ever had, and Audrey was even more grateful to her mother for the fabulous graduation trip she had offered them. She couldn’t wait to see Will when they went. He hadn’t been home in months. Hawaii was a long way away and he was busy flying planes all the time now.
* * *
—
Lizzie’s job at Massachusetts General Hospital was as boring as she had feared it would be. The post-op female ward was full of women who had had hysterectomies or other procedures that weren’t very interesting medically, and most of the time it felt like maid service to Lizzie. She had a knack for diagnosis, and got no opportunity to use it in her current job. A week after she started, she explained to her supervisor that she had a long-standing “family obligation” in Hawaii, and had to fly there for about a week sometime in the near future. They weren’t delighted at the idea, but agreed to give her the time as unpaid vacation in November, before Thanksgiving. They asked her to work on Thanksgiving Day to compensate for it, as a goodwill gesture, so someone else could have the day off. She readily agreed. She called Audrey immediately and told her. Ellen was as excited as they were. She had wanted to do something special for Audrey, knowing full well how much her daughter did for her, and how much Audrey sacrificed taking care of her full-time. It wasn’t a fulfilling or happy life for a young girl, but she did it gladly for her mother. Audrey was thrilled at the prospect of such a generous vacation with her best friend, and the chance to spend a week with Will.
They made their plans and booked their flights on United from New York to San Francisco, and on Pan Am from San Francisco to Honolulu. It made the most sense to leave from New York, and Lizzie and Audrey were going to meet there on Thursday night, November sixth, the night before they left on their big adventure. Just flying Pan Am was going to be an extraordinary luxury for both of them, but Ellen had insisted. Neither she nor Audrey spent much money, and they weren’t frivolous, but this time, Ellen wanted to go all out, to give her an unforgettable vacation as her graduation present. They were flying west on Friday, November seventh, and flying back on Sunday, November sixteenth to San Francisco, and to New York on Monday. Lizzie could go back to work at the hospital in Boston the day after, and Audrey would take the train to Baltimore the night they landed in New York.
Will had suggested they stay at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, and he was taking the week off so he could shepherd them around. He was looking forward to it too. The girls were going to be flying into gorgeous warm weather on a lush tropical island, and they shopped for it accordingly in their respective cities. They needed shorts and bathing suits, sundresses and sandals, and some pretty, lightweight dresses to wear out to dinner. Both girls arrived in New York with a suitcase full of their new summery wardrobes.