Free Getting Old Is to Die for by Rita Lakin

Gladdy's life, as she had known it, had just ended.
    Cousin Martha, twelve years old and the image of her redheaded mother, stared at Emily, hardly understanding. Emily ran to her and hugged her. It was hard to do; Martha's arms were full of gaily wrapped birthday presents.
    "Someone shot my father," she told her. Martha dropped the birthday presents and started to bawl.
    Gladdy turned to the girls. "Emmy, please take your cousin upstairs."
    Neither one could move.
    Uncle Joe, a shock of thick black hair falling over his forehead, bent down. He was nose to nose with them, his voice gruff. "Did you hear your mother? Both of you--get out of here!"
    They ran.

    16

    A MOTHER CALLS

    A lovely time is being had by all. The Gold/Levinson family and the Langford/Berman clan are just finishing dinner in the tasteful Amish-style dining room. Jack sits back, absorbing everything. They are in Emily and Alan's apartment, only five blocks from where his own daughter Lisa's family lives, on the west side of the city. The apartment is charming and cozy, filled with gentle clutter and comfortable, relaxing furnishings. He is not surprised. Emily has Gladdy's warmth and liveliness about her. The family interests abound. They like art and the walls are filled with original works of New York artists they favor. The den contains the family archives. Photos of Emily and Alan Levinson and their three daughters and one son skiing and snorkeling and hiking. Lots of travel snapshots. And family occasions like birthday parties. And Grandma Gladdy grins down at her children and grandchildren in many of them.
    These are two fine families. Hopefully, Jack thinks, someday soon both will be related by the marriage of us two oldsters. And what a plus: They already like one another. All the kids seem to hit it off. Eleven-year-old Jeremy, especially, is in heaven, being at eleven-year-old Lindsay's house. Lindsay, with her curly reddish brown hair and face full of freckles, looking sweet in pink, has obviously dressed up for him.
    Earlier, fifteen-year-old Patrick showed thirteen-year-old Jeffrey the cartoons he'd drawn. He hopes to make it big in that field. Jeffrey is impressed with this boy, two years older than he is, who already has career plans. The missing Levinson children are Elizabeth and Erin, twenty-one and nineteen, respectively, both away at college. Jack already knows about them--Gladdy boasted like a good grandma should--but he listens again patiently as the proud parents report that Elizabeth is majoring in dance, with a focus on ballet, while Erin is studying to be a vet.
    The husbands immediately find they have much in common: Alan, a doctor; Dan, a lawyer. At one point they get into a spirited conversation about medical liability laws. The women have their careers to discuss, as well. Emily is a school counselor; Lisa is a clinical psychologist. They, too, have a lot to share with one another. There is much exchanging of war stories. Lots of good wine flowing. Laughter. A perfect evening.
    Only one thing is missing: Gladdy. Her name comes up over and over with "I wish Mom were here," from Emily, and "I wish she were, too," from everyone else. And on all the adults' minds is the reason Jack is in New York.
    Jack knows he will get hell from Gladdy when she finds out. How could he have done this without her? He feels plenty guilty about it. Not only has he arranged this behind her back, he hasn't even called to let her know. Even worse, he's already asked her family to keep his presence here a secret, making them all feel uncomfortable. It's left unsaid this evening, but all of them know how much is at stake.
    The lemon chicken with wild rice is a big success, but Emily's homemade blueberry cheesecake is the topper. By the time they are having coffee, the kids are already immersed in the TV. Baby Molly sleeps sweetly in her carrier.

    The phone rings. Emily, still laughing, goes into the kitchen to answer. From the dining room, they hear her