Laura would have to make plans. She would need help. Cindy would have to relieve her occasionally, and Nancy Dulany too. She would probably have to sleep in Peggy’s house for a few nights. Provisions would have to be made for Jobie. At fourteen, that would not be hard; he was already showing his father’s independence. Perhaps Peggy’s telephone should be disconnected, or perhaps made to ring somewhere else, in Admiral Treadwell’s office, where someone could be on duty to take messages. Food would have to be organized. Someone would have to make sure Ruthie was properly fed, taken to school, and fetched home again. Peggy must be allowed to cry. She would be hysterical. But she should be encouraged to do as many of the ordinary routine things as possible, as were within her strength, simply to keep her sanity. Poor Peggy! That was, of course, the essence of the problem. How much could she take? Even a perfectly normal woman would need help at a time like this!
No matter what happened, it would be imperative for Laura to keep a cool head. Peggy would be very hard to handle.
Laura pushed herself away from the door, went to the dining-room table. She took a piece of paper. She would make a list of things to do, and plan some discreet phone calls. She would know how to handle this.
She knew she would not fail.
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