London holiday

Mrs. Smith-Porter observes her latest guests' arrival from an upstairs window of her London bed-and-breakfast: three American women. Lesley Vogel, Julia Englehardt, and Margo Skinner have no idea they're being watched - they're too caught up in the excitement of having finally arrived. This is the journey of a lifetime, one that began many years ago.... Best friends since their Missouri childhood, the three now lead very different lives. Lesley is a St. Louis society woman; Julia, a single, successful Manhattan interior designer; and Margo, a teacher in Chicago and divorced mother of a recalcitrant teen. Then, suddenly, on what starts out like an ordinary day, Margo becomes the victim of a shocking act of violence. The terrifying event awakens the women to the often-fleeting happiness of their daily lives and to the importance of the friendships they've let slide. Lesley decides it's time for a real reunion, and they escape to London. Mrs. Smith-Porter's bed-and-breakfast is the perfect getaway, "with neither TV nor fax to ruffle the tone." Safe in these cozy confines, they enter a gracious world of high tea in the garden, long drives through the countryside, unexpected romance, and the promise of three whole new lives awaiting them.