Chapter Five
Mother and Daughter
Monday, September 6, 2010, Los Angeles
The day Grace saw the painting — on the afternoon of her birthday — she was looking forward to taking the day off and spending it leisurely in the museum with her best friend Maggie. Grace was expecting Maggie to share gossip about a troublesome relationship, a treat more delicious than the art.
But Maggie was late picking her up. Typical.
Maggie had insisted on driving, saying with a wink and a smile it was her treat. How it was her treat had more to do with her suggesting it than with paying for anything. Grace had a museum membership, so they’d both get in on her card. And she couldn’t remember when Maggie had bought dessert, let alone lunch. There was always the tacit acknowledgment, which Grace did not discou
