He came up behind her and said, “If we’re going to keep meeting like this, we really should get to know each other better.”
Claire couldn’t help laughing at his come-on line.
“And what would you like to know, Mr. Benson?” she asked, beaming up at him.
Two years older than Claire, Ed Benson was good-looking in a Harry Potter sort of way. While his black-rimmed glasses gave him a distinguished look, his soft hazel eyes revealed humor and mischief, which Claire found enchanting. Adding to his credentials as a possible love interest was the fact that his strong, lean body indicated that he was the outdoors type. That, too, met with Claire’s approval.
During the following months, they spent time getting to know each other. Claire learned he was kind, intelligent and ambitious. His goal, he told her, was to be a bank president by the time he retired. Ed learned that Claire, despite her wealth and beauty, cared very deeply about people, especially the poor and oppressed. They found that, while both were liberal in their concern about human suffering, they were conservative regarding moral issues of the day.
They were married in Boston’s historic Old North Church the following spring. And, like words of a popular song, with love and marriage came a baby carriage. Their son, Edward Andrew Jr. arrived during their second year of wedded bliss. While Ed was busy making a name for himself in the business world, Claire was a stay-at-home mom caring for her “little Drew-man,” as she called him.
When Drew was old enough to attend private school, Claire became more active in community service. She volunteered as an aide at the New England Regional Hospital and involved herself in several causes. But not those involving high-profile, media-grabbing issues; rather, she worked quietly behind the scenes. When a child in the Mattapan housing project was struck by a hit-and-run driver, she paid the hospital bill anonymously. During the winter when a fire destroyed a three-decker tenement in Lynn because of a faulty space heater, she paid for temporary lodging for three families made homeless until suitable housing was found for them. And every year she sent anonymous donations to organizers of Christmas parties to buy gifts to brighten the eyes of inner city children.
During the ensuing years, Drew went on to a prep school in Andover, then to Northeastern where he majored in computer science. Now married, he and his wife, Beverly, have two boys, Randy and George, and live in North Andover. His work as a programmer for a major computer company takes him to Europe several times each year.
Ed is two years away from retiring as president of the Bay State Commercial Bank in Boston. His career in the banking business took him from teller to bank president in twenty-two years. His knowledge of banking and investments gave him a compelling voice when he spoke at congressional hearings as one of ABA’s Experts on Call. Ed’s successful career, Claire’s financial independence and their son’s happy marriage contributed to the well-being of the Bensons as they faced their golden years.
Chapter 2
When the Red Hat Society swept the nation in early 2000, trendy women in Boston as elsewhere were quick to join the fun. In the words of Sue Ellen Cooper, the organization’s Founder and Exalted Queen Mother,
“The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and élan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next.”
Claire soon joined the Red Hat Society along with three close friends – Rosemary O’Neil, Meg Gordon, and Anne Ferguson – all of whom formed chapters in their respective communities. Claire loved the names they gave their chapters. Rosemary lived in Peabody and named hers the Peabody Peacocks; Anne called hers the Charming Chicks of Cape Ann; and Meg Gordon, who lived in historic Salem, dubbed hers the Wicked Witches of Salem. After several suggestions from Claire’s members, she decided they’d be Boston’s Bean Town Beauties, because they all lived in the Boston suburbs and beans were a favorite food during colonial times.
There was much to see and do throughout New England, and these Red Hat ladies, mostly retirees, were ready, willing and able to have a little fun. Their days of PTA and school field trips, Junior League and fund-raisers, and other volunteer activities were over. “Been there, done that,” was their motto. Now they would leave those motherly duties in the capable hands of the next generation. They would follow their Exalted Queen Mother’s advice and enjoy their golden years by “going for the gusto.”
As a “disorganization,” the Red Hat Society doesn’t adhere to Robert’s Rules of Order. On the contrary, Queens and their members do whatever they wish regarding meetings and social activities, all within good taste. However, there is one basic requirement: the ladies must wear a red hat and dress in purple at all their Red Hat events. All formal and casual styles of dress are permitted, from shabby chic to elegant, depending on the occasion, just as long as it’s purple, any shade of purple. With a red hat, always with a red hat.
Chapter 3
In the summer of 2008, Claire returned home from a Red Hat luncheon with an idea swimming around in her head. Although she, Anne, Meg, and Rosemary were long-time friends, most of their respective chapter members didn’t know each other. She thought it would be fun to get these ladies together for an event everyone would enjoy. After all, that was what the Red Hat Society was all about: meeting other women, sharing good times, developing friendships.
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. She’d invite Anne and the others up to Stone Brook for a weekend to brainstorm ideas. Perhaps next month, in late September or early October when the foliage was beautiful in the mountains. Being New England natives, all three had visited the White Mountains when their children were young. As Claire’s close friends during those child–rearing years, they brought the children to Stone Brook for short visits that she and Ed thoroughly enjoyed, and all four families entertained each other in their homes during holidays and birthdays. Claire loved these women and thought it would be great fun to spend a whole weekend together, just the four of them. A girls’ night out, so to speak, but this would be a whole weekend to enjoy each other and plan a Red Hat event for their chapters.
That evening Claire shared her plan with Ed.
“I’m thinking of inviting Meg, Rosemary and Anne up to the Lodge next month,” she began. Then she told him the purpose of her invitation.
“Since we’re all Queens, I’d love it if the four of us could get our chapters together for a special event. Perhaps a mystery trip somewhere; that’s always fun and exciting.
“Good idea,” said Ed. “Have you decided on a date?”
“No. I’ll have to talk with the girls and see when it’s convenient for everybody.”
“Let me know when you do. Maybe I can get in some golf at the Jack with Paul that weekend.”
The Jack was the Jack O’ Lantern Golf Resort in Woodstock, where Paul Benson had a vacation home. Paul, Ed’s younger brother, was an oncologist at the Brookhaven Cancer Clinic in Boston. They frequently got a foursome together for a weekend of golf when their wives were busy with their girlfriends.
To set her plan in motion, Claire called Meg Gordon early the next morning.
“Good, morning, Meg,” she said brightly when her friend answered the phone in Salem. “Busy woman that you are, I thought I’d call early to catch you before you left for the office.”
“Hello, Claire. What a pleasant surprise! What’s up with you so early this morning? Nothing wrong, I hope.”
“No, not at all. Everything is fine with Ed and me, thanks. I just got this brilliant idea I’d like to discuss with you.” Then she asked, “What do you think about our four chapters doing something together, maybe a mystery trip or something like that?”
Claire heard laughter coming from the other end of the phone. “Oh,
Claire, that’s so like you, always ready for new adventures. You’ll never change. I think that’s a marvelous idea, and I think Rosemary and Anne will think so, too.”
“I hope so. If they do, how about getting together next month at the Lodge to plan something. The foliage is beautiful in the mountains in late September and early October. Do you think that will give us enough time to do something together before the weather gets bad? If not, we can plan something for next spring. I’m wide open to suggestions.”
“It’s a wonderful idea, Claire. Count me in. Do you have a date in mind?”
“How about a weekend in late September? Maybe the 26th, 27th and 28st. The foliage will be beautiful then. I’ll see if that’s convenient for Anne and Rosemary.”
“Let me check my calendar and Tom’s. It’s difficult to commit this far in advance. Right now, I have several closings before school starts. But if anything comes up that weekend, I’ll work around it, even if I have to come late or leave early, if that’s OK with you. I’d really love to do this. The 26th, did you say? For now I’ll say yes, but I’ll call you later to confirm.”
Then she asked, “What about clothes? Any suggestions?”
Claire’s preliminary agenda included a surprise dinner Friday night and lunch on Mt. Washington on Saturday, but the rest of the time would be whatever her friends wanted to do.
“Good question. Something dressy for dinner Friday night and a sweater or jacket for lunch on Mt. Washington Saturday. The rest of the weekend will be casual, so whatever is comfortable.”
After a few more minutes discussing plans for the weekend, the phone call ended.
Chapter 4
Claire was happy that Meg would try to work the weekend into her schedule. She and Ed had known Meg and Tom Gordon for many years and considered them close friends. They were one of those couples who were meant for each other. They began dating when they were teenagers, shortly after Meg’s family moved to the North Shore from Connecticut, and there was never anyone else for either of them. They both attended colleges in the Bay State, allowing them to see each other on weekends. Tom went to Northeastern in Boston and studied engineering, while Meg majored in business administration at UMass at Amherst. Married shortly after graduation, they enjoyed a brief honeymoon in Nassau and moved into a trendy Spencer-type loft in Boston’s North End.
Soon after their marriage Tom went to work for Universal Electric in Swampscott and Meg became an associate in a real estate agency in Lynnfield. Both made the right decisions. Tom stayed with UE for the next thirty-five years. Raises and promotions took him from part-time intern to lead engineer to project manager to chief engineer. He planned to remain with the company as a consultant after retirement.
With Meg’s natural intelligence came self-confidence. It didn’t take her long to learn the real estate business inside and out. Like Tom’s, her road to success was straight and narrow. She loved the real estate business, worked hard, and commissions and advancement came quickly. Within five years, she was co-owner of Bay State Realty, appraising and selling residential and commercial property throughout the Commonwealth. She became a member of the enviable Multi-Million Dollar Club and a highly respected real estate broker, licensed in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.
In her younger years, Meg was a Rita Hayworth look-a-like and the resemblance was still with her at age sixty-two: flaming red hair, dark brown eyes, long, dark lashes, and a beautiful, infectious smile. While her figure had filled out a bit, she still maintained a stunning appearance, meticulous in dress and manner, and could easily pass for a model. Supermodel Naomi Campbell had nothing on her.
Life had been good to Meg and Tom Gordon. Their son, Danny, a West Point graduate, is now an Army major with military intelligence; their daughter, Lisa, is an anesthetist at one of Boston’s leading hospitals. Both are married with children of their own, who are the pride and joy of their grandparents.
Meg and Tom, now in their early sixties, are in good health and continue to enjoy themselves and the world around them. Living in the cradle of American Independence, they have always been fascinated with American history. Their home is a four-story red brick Federal-style of English neo-classic design, located in the waterfront district of historic Salem. A variation of Georgian architecture of the 1770s, these magnificent homes were built in port cities along the New England coast by affluent merchants and sea captains. In addition to Salem, they can still be found in Castine, Maine; Savannah, Georgia; and Annapolis, Maryland. Like old George Endicott’s enduring Stone Brook, they were built to last for generations.
Chapter 5
Claire Benson’s next call was to Rosemary O’Neil, a recent widow who lived in Peabody. Claire met Rosemary when they were volunteers for Boston’s Jimmy Fund, an organization that supported the fight against cancer in children and adults at the Brookhaven Cancer Clinic, where Claire’s brother-in-law, Paul, is on staff.
For many years both women had been actively involved in the program, which was especially meaningful to Rosemary. Her young nephew, Ryan, died of leukemia at age eight. She remembered the kindness of the doctors at Brookhaven and the financial help his parents received from the Jimmy Fund. Sadly, it was cancer that took her husband, also.
Both Claire and Rosemary were dedicated to the Jimmy Fund, which began in 1948. A New England children’s charity arranged a radio broadcast from the room of a young cancer patient named Jimmy, who loved the Boston Braves Baseball Team (later the Milwaukee Braves and now the Atlanta Braves.) One day the players paid a visit to Jimmy in his hospital room. People heard of his love for the team and sent donations to buy him a television so he could watch them play. Now, sixty years later, people continue to send donations to the Jimmy Fund to support Dr. Benson and the medical staff at Brookhaven in their research and treatment of this ill-fated disease.
It was cancer that took Rosemary’s husband of forty-five years the previous January. The distinguished Judge Harold O’Neil was diagnosed with prostate cancer early in August when he had his annual physical and was referred to Brookhaven under the care of Dr. Benson. He and Rosemary were devastated when their friend told him, “Unfortunately, Harold, the cancer cells are aggressive; I would say you have five months at the most.”
He was right. It was five months almost to the day when the end came. During that time, Harold resigned from the bench and, being astute in legal matters, put his affairs in order. While he was still well, he took his family on a cruise, including sons Brad and Russell, their wives, and the grandchildren.
Claire and Ed attended Harold’s funeral on a cold, raw day in January. Despite the weather, the church was crowded. Among the mourners were prominent law enforcement officials—judges, attorneys, and police officers—and other community and civic leaders who came to express their respect for a man of honor and integrity who was loved by many. The service was held at Pembroke Baptist Church where the O’Neil family worshipped for many years.
A story by Harold’s young niece swelled Rosemary’s heart with pride, and brought tears to the eyes of many, including Claire. In a small, trembling voice, Sarah Bradley told about the time she stayed overnight with her favorite aunt and uncle while a student at Northeastern.
“Uncle Harold and I were the only ones who got up early the next morning, and he fixed my breakfast while I showered and dressed,” she said between sobs. “Not only did he make me a delicious omelet, but he also went out to the garden and picked a bouquet of flowers just for me. He didn’t put them in the center of the table, but directly at my place. After breakfast, he kissed me goodbye and told me to study hard. Then I left for classes and he left for the courthouse. It’s a memory I’ll cherish always,” she said tearfully.
Claire recalled the girl’s poignant story now as she dialed Rosemary’s number.
“Hello, Rosemary, this is Claire. How are you doing?”
“Claire, how nice of you to call. I’m doing OK, thanks. I’ve been thinking about you. How are
you and Ed?
“We’re fine, thanks. Drew brought the family up to the Lodge last month and it was so nice seeing them all again. His two children have grown so fast, I can’t believe it. They were toddlers when you last saw them, as I recall. Randy is now seventeen and plays bass guitar with a band at school, and little George just turned fifteen and already wants his driver’s license.”
Rosemary laughed lightly, “It won’t be long before we’re both great-grandmothers, Claire. Both Brad and Russ also have teenagers who keep them on the run.”
Rosemary agreed that it would be fun to get their Red Hat chapters together and accepted Claire’s invitation for the weekend of September 26 at the Lodge. Then, thinking ahead, she made another plan.
“My neighbors, Rita and Ned Howell, have a cabin on the lake in Glendale and invited me to spend a few days with them.” she explained. “They went up July 4th weekend and plan to stay through the end of September. I’ll drive up alone on Friday so I can visit them when I leave you on Sunday.” Then she added, “What can I bring? I’d like to bring something, maybe snacks or a dessert?”
“Snacks for the cocktail hour would be fine. Thanks.”
Before the conversation ended, Claire mentioned her dinner plans for Friday evening and lunch on the mountain, suggesting Rosemary dress accordingly.
Chapter 6
The third woman on Claire’s guest list was Anne Ferguson, an author living on Cape Ann. Anne was a lively eighty-year old who looked and acted like women twenty years younger. Her oval, wrinkle-free face still held the beauty of her youthful years, despite her need for prescription bifocals. Naturally-shaped eyebrows over piercing blue eyes and trendy hairstyles were hallmarks of her ageless good looks. Her strong, trim body was the result of walking three miles a day around Rockport in addition to hiking the Cape’s woodland and coastal trails with a walking club on Sunday afternoons.
The Mystery Trip Page 2
