such frivolous self-indulgence was uncalled for with soldiers dying in Vietnam and conscientious objectors being sent to prison.
The once peaceful anti-war demonstrations were becoming violent. Protesters were being dragged away by the police, innocent bystanders attacked. Troublemakers had infiltrated the ranks of genuine protesters. The whole situation worried her. It was a powder keg, and Kerry and Trevor were sitting right on top of it. Because of Andy’s commitment to the army she didn’t want to be close by when it went off.
Chapter Eight
On the Friday night of the Christmas party, Caroline rushed home from work to get ready. She was meeting the other girls at six o’clock outside work because it was the most central place to congregate. Kerry, who was going to a work party with Trevor, would be staying the night with his parents.
“I won’t be home until late Saturday, Caro. Do you think you’ll be all right? Trevor’s grandparents live in the country, and we’re going up on Saturday for the day, so we won’t get back until late.”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. I’ll keep all the doors and windows locked and not let in any strange men.” Caroline grinned. “I promise.”
Kerry wore an after-five dress for her Christmas function, as it was a formal affair. Trevor had promised to drop Caroline off at work so she could meet up with the other girls, the dateless and desperate, as they jokingly called themselves.
She wore a pale blue toweling frock with shoestring straps. It had floral appliqués around the hemline. High-heeled white sandals gave her added height. She was tall for a woman, a fraction over five feet six inches.
She combed her hair. The sun had already bleached it a shade or two lighter than normal, and the blonde streaks scattered through it, suited her fair complexion. She allowed herself a full fringe and parted her hair down the middle, drawing it back from her face by flicking it behind her ears to show off her gold stud earrings.
“You look terrific, far too pretty to be eating your heart out over a selfish brute like Harrington. Promise Aunty Kerry that if you meet someone nice at the party, someone who wants to take you home, you’ll let him.”
Caroline laughed. “I won’t promise, but maybe I will. I’m fighting a losing battle anyway.”
Trevor arrived to pick them up, and he whistled his approval.
“Good thing I’m not taking you both to the party, I’d be fighting guys off all night.”
Arms linked, Kerry and Trevor left the apartment, Caroline following a step or two behind them, and when they got to the car, she sat in the back - alone.
As they pulled up to the Harrington Building, Trevor turned around. “I’ve been thinking. I could pick you up from the barbeque and you could spend the night at my place. Kerry’s worried about you staying on your own, especially with that spate of burglaries in the neighborhood. You could come to my grandparents, too.”
“Thanks Trev, but I’ll be all right.” She opened the car door. “Go off and enjoy yourselves. Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl now.”
The other girls were already waiting on the pavement, so Trevor drove off straight away. Judith’s beehive hair-do was even higher than usual. She must have used a whole can of hairspray to keep it in place.
On arrival at the Harrington mansion, Judith parked the car out in the street. Walking four abreast, they strolled through a pair of enormous iron gates set into a bluestone wall.
A uniformed security guard escorted them to the pool area. Probably making sure we don’t trespass into the house. Caroline would have given up a year’s pay to have one tiny peek inside the place where Bryce had spent his childhood.
Hurricane lanterns illuminated the expansive gardens and a soft mantle of light encircled the numerous trees and shrubs.
A huge barbeque had been set up at one end of a cobblestoned poolside area. By the
The once peaceful anti-war demonstrations were becoming violent. Protesters were being dragged away by the police, innocent bystanders attacked. Troublemakers had infiltrated the ranks of genuine protesters. The whole situation worried her. It was a powder keg, and Kerry and Trevor were sitting right on top of it. Because of Andy’s commitment to the army she didn’t want to be close by when it went off.
Chapter Eight
On the Friday night of the Christmas party, Caroline rushed home from work to get ready. She was meeting the other girls at six o’clock outside work because it was the most central place to congregate. Kerry, who was going to a work party with Trevor, would be staying the night with his parents.
“I won’t be home until late Saturday, Caro. Do you think you’ll be all right? Trevor’s grandparents live in the country, and we’re going up on Saturday for the day, so we won’t get back until late.”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. I’ll keep all the doors and windows locked and not let in any strange men.” Caroline grinned. “I promise.”
Kerry wore an after-five dress for her Christmas function, as it was a formal affair. Trevor had promised to drop Caroline off at work so she could meet up with the other girls, the dateless and desperate, as they jokingly called themselves.
She wore a pale blue toweling frock with shoestring straps. It had floral appliqués around the hemline. High-heeled white sandals gave her added height. She was tall for a woman, a fraction over five feet six inches.
She combed her hair. The sun had already bleached it a shade or two lighter than normal, and the blonde streaks scattered through it, suited her fair complexion. She allowed herself a full fringe and parted her hair down the middle, drawing it back from her face by flicking it behind her ears to show off her gold stud earrings.
“You look terrific, far too pretty to be eating your heart out over a selfish brute like Harrington. Promise Aunty Kerry that if you meet someone nice at the party, someone who wants to take you home, you’ll let him.”
Caroline laughed. “I won’t promise, but maybe I will. I’m fighting a losing battle anyway.”
Trevor arrived to pick them up, and he whistled his approval.
“Good thing I’m not taking you both to the party, I’d be fighting guys off all night.”
Arms linked, Kerry and Trevor left the apartment, Caroline following a step or two behind them, and when they got to the car, she sat in the back - alone.
As they pulled up to the Harrington Building, Trevor turned around. “I’ve been thinking. I could pick you up from the barbeque and you could spend the night at my place. Kerry’s worried about you staying on your own, especially with that spate of burglaries in the neighborhood. You could come to my grandparents, too.”
“Thanks Trev, but I’ll be all right.” She opened the car door. “Go off and enjoy yourselves. Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl now.”
The other girls were already waiting on the pavement, so Trevor drove off straight away. Judith’s beehive hair-do was even higher than usual. She must have used a whole can of hairspray to keep it in place.
On arrival at the Harrington mansion, Judith parked the car out in the street. Walking four abreast, they strolled through a pair of enormous iron gates set into a bluestone wall.
A uniformed security guard escorted them to the pool area. Probably making sure we don’t trespass into the house. Caroline would have given up a year’s pay to have one tiny peek inside the place where Bryce had spent his childhood.
Hurricane lanterns illuminated the expansive gardens and a soft mantle of light encircled the numerous trees and shrubs.
A huge barbeque had been set up at one end of a cobblestoned poolside area. By the
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