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"Congratulations," I said.

"Sounds like sour grapes."

"It's not. If Beau wanted to marry you and you wanted to marry him, then I wish you both health and happiness."

"We're the most exciting couple in New Orleans again, you know. Everyone's inviting us to dinner parties, and when we walk into restaurants, everyone stops eating to watch us take our seats. We're a very handsome couple and quite famous. Our names and pictures are always in the society pages. Beau says we should attend as many charity functions as we can. It looks good and he feels he's doing something important. I don't mind, although I can't remember one from the other, so don't ask me."

"What is Beau doing?" I asked as casually as I could.

"Doing? What do you mean?"

"With his life. He once wanted to be a doctor, remember?"

"Oh, he's too busy looking after my affairs now. He's a businessman and he'll make more money than he would being a doctor anyway. And don't say he's too young. Look at how well Paul has done," she added quickly.

"He used to talk about helping people, healing people, and how rewarding he thought that might be," I said sadly.

"So? Now he's helping and healing me, and that's quite rewarding for him, too," Gisselle responded. "Well, I've got to go. We have so many affairs to attend, I'm running out of clothes to wear. I have an appointment with a designer later. I think I should be wearing originals, don't you? Of course, you're lucky. The only place you have to go is some shack bar and restaurant, so you don't have to worry about looking stylish. Say hello to Paul. 'Bye," she sang, and hung up the phone.

I felt like smashing my receiver against the wall, but swallowed back the knot of frustration in my throat and hung up gently. Then I took a deep breath and went to join Paul, driving Gisselle's voice and words as far down into the basement of my thoughts as I could.

But a week later, Paul came up to my studio to tell me Beau had just phoned.

"He says your attorneys have completed all the work on the estate and he would like to meet with us to go over everything. I thought it would be convenient to have them come here."

"Here? You invited them to Cypress Woods?"

"Yes. Why? Are you u

pset about it?"

"No, I'm not upset. I . . Wait until he mentions it to Gisselle," I said. "He'll be calling back," I assured him.

But Beau didn't call back. He and Gisselle were coming and Beau would finally set eyes on his own daughter.

They drove up in Daddy's Rolls-Royce. I was pruning in the rose garden, doing everything and anything I could to keep busy and keep from thinking. Mrs. Flemming was on the other side of the house with Pearl. I had made sure that Pearl was dressed in one of her prettiest outfits and her hair was brushed and tied with a little pink bow. Of course, Mrs. Flemming didn't know who Beau really was, but she could tell from my excitement and nervousness that he was a special visitor.

Paul had gone to the cannery for what he promised was only a short visit, but he had not yet returned when I heard the car horn and turned to see the familiar luxurious automobile make its way up our long driveway. I took off my gloves and walked out to greet them.

"Where are your servants?" Gisselle demanded haughtily. "They should be right here when a guest arrives."

"Things aren't as formal in the bayou, Gisselle," I said. I turned to Beau. "Hello, Beau, how are you?"

"Fine," he said. "This is . . . magnificent. Gisselle's descriptions didn't do it justice," he added, looking around and nodding. "It's one of those places you have to see for yourself to really appreciate. I can see why you're happy here, Ruby," he added.

"Of course she's happy. She has a modern home and yet she lives in her beloved swamp," Gisselle said. James appeared in the doorway. "That's your butler, right? What's his name?"

"James," I said.

"James," she called immediately. "Will you get our bags from the trunk? I need to freshen up as soon as possible. The long ride and the swamp heat has turned my hair into steel wool."

James gazed at me and I nodded.

"Very well, madame," he said. I had already told him which guest room they would be using.

"I can't wait to be shown around," Beau said, his eyes fixed on me.

"I've seen the place," Gisselle said. "So I'll go right to our suite. We do have a suite, don't we?"