My husband, of 28 years, died in my arms while on a fishing trip to the Black Warrior River, not far from our home in Alabama. Davey was my world.

My wealthy beauty-queen sister presented a trip to Scotland and all the frills for my fiftieth birthday. It turned out to be more of an invasion on our part. When Southern women team up, we have a way of being present that overwhelms gentler cultures. We go, we see, we conquer. In Beth's case, she landed a trophy. We have a lot of experience walking the processional, it was her eighth trip. As a romance writer, I create ideal men in my stories. I'm not obliged to marry them. However, I found the place and the company sent to amuse me, more than intriguing.