Page 29

I laughed.

He shook his head.

"It's too mysterious, all of it. Lately, my parents are behind closed doors more than ever, too. I know grandmother left you money in her will, but I still don't know how much. No one will talk about it. My father says, it's being discussed and my mother just shakes her head and says, it's a difficult situation. That's her way of saying I don't want to talk about it. It will make me sad or sick or too depressed. What exactly did my grandmother leave you?"

"It's being discussed," I said smiling.

"I'm serious."

"Brody, it's all in the hands of lawyers. I don't know all the details of it myself." I offered.

He shook his head.

"I'm thinking of becoming a lawyer someday. I'm smart enough to read between the lines and pick up on some of the comments dropped around the house. Grandmother Hudson left you a considerable amount, enough for Aunt Victoria to bust a blood vessel. right? And since you're not a member of the family, they want to challenge it and stop it from happening, right?"

"Brody..."

"Jeez. I'm not here as a spy or anything. Just tell me something!"

"You guessed right," I said. "but I think it's all going to work out just fine."

"Just fine?" He laughed. "If I know Aunt Victoria, that means you get thrown out on your rear end. What are you planning to do with yourself now anyway. Rain? Are you really going back to England?"

"Yes," I said.

"Did you meet someone over there?"

I realized this might be the door of escape I had been desperately searching for. I nodded.

"Yes. Brody. I did. I met someone I can love very much. Someone who will love me," I said. I was really talking about my father. but Brady

misunderstood just the way I hoped he would.

"Oh," he said. "Well. I'm not surprised or anything. You're a pretty girl. Anyone would want to have you as his girlfriend." he said.

I smiled at him. and gestured to our feast.

"This was all very good, Brody. Thanks for getting it."

"Huh? Sure," he said. I stood up and started to collect the dishes. He watched me closely.

"It really is getting late for you. Brady. Maybe you should think of starting for home?"

"Maybe," he said. He suddenly looked bitter, angry and hurt. I felt sorry for him, but what could I do?

I brought the dishes into the kitchen and put them next to the sink. When I returned, he was opening another bottle of beer.

"Brody. I believe you when you say you can drink a lot of that. but if you're going to drive tonight_ ."

"I'll be fine," he said impatiently. "You know, I've been thinking. I remember when you told me about your life, all the trouble, how you lost your sister through some gang and all. You've got to be careful about people. Rain. You're an orphan. really. You're out there hoping to find someone who will love you. You could be too vulnerable. You could jump into something too quickly."

"I know all that. Brody. Thank you."

"No, really. You should step back and give everything deep and serious consideration. Who is this guy in England? Is he much older?"

Before I had a chance to add to my web of deceit, the phone rang. I took it in the kitchen. It was my mother and their was a note of hysteria in her voice.

"Rain, is Brody there? Did he really drive down there?"