Page 30

"Yes." I said.

"What is he doing there?"

"I didn't invite him." I told her immediately. It occurred to me that they might think I was

encouraging him, just as a way to stop them from challenging the will. 'He just appeared on the doorstep. I tried to talk him out of remaining here any longer, but he insisted he stay for dinner. He brought some Chinese takeout and we've just finished eating," I said.

"And?"

"That's all," I replied. 'Nothing has been said." I added, knowing she really was primarily interested in that.

"Well, what's he doing there'?" Her voice rang strident and thin.

"You can speak with him yourself," I said and called him to the phone. "It's your mother."

"I guess my sister didn't throw away the note after all." He took the receiver, and I returned to cleaning up the dinner dishes.

"I just felt like taking a ride, Mom. What's the big deal?" He listened a moment. "You weren't home and I didn't know where you were. Dad's in New York. I don't know." he said. "It's getting late. Maybe I better just spend the night and leave in the morning. Motel? What for? I've got my usual room here. Why are you getting so uptight? We're just having a very nice time."

He listened again, shaking his head and raising his eves from me to the ceiling.

"Mom. I've never stayed with Aunt Victoria and I don't intend to pop over there tonight. She hasn't so much as said twenty words to me this year. I'm all right. Stop worrying about it." he insisted. "Right, right. Okay, here she is. She wants to speak with you again," he said. "Promise her I'll brush my teeth, will you? I've got to go to the bathroom." he said.

I took the receiver. "Yes?"

"He drove there because he's got a terrible crush on you." she blurted. "He's always asking about you, even when you were in England. You've got to be careful about it."

"I understand," I said.

"You have to be careful with him." she continued. "Brody is a very mature young man and very charming. Don't forget who you are and who you are to him. Rain' ."

"I don't need you to remind me of that, but if you would just put it to an end already, we wouldn't have these worries. If he's so intelligent and so mature, he should be able to handle it."

"I will. Grant and I will definitely talk to him right after he comes home," she promised. I had heard that promise before and didn't have any reason to believe it would be fulfilled now.

I heard Brody return to the dining room.

"Tell her I'm behaving like a real Southern gentleman," he called.

"I'm nervous about his staying there. I'm going to call Victoria," my mother said.

"Fine with me." I said.

"I wish Grant were home," she muttered. "He'd get him to leave."

I wanted to say maybe it was time for you to take full responsibility and not put everything on your husband's shoulders, even your own past mistakes. Maybe it was time you really, tried to make us all a family. Maybe Brody's actions have made it painfully clear and you should lift your head out of the sand. Maybe tomorrow was here. Mother. That's what I wanted to say, but instead. I just said good-bye,

"Sorry about all that," Brady said as soon as I entered the dining room. He had, indeed, finished a whole six-pack and was into the second,

"She's very worried about you. Why don't you just go over to your aunt's house?"

"What is she so worried about?" He smiled. "What do they know about you that I don't know?" he asked with a lustful smile. "Are you a seductress? Will you put a spell on me? I might not resist," he said.

"Brody, listen..."

"I'm just kidding, just kidding. So, where were we? Oh yes, you were telling me about your love life in England. Where did you meet this guy? At school?"

"Yes," I said.