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about it all, of course. As a matter of fact. I was just

on the phone with him. He may even come here and

pay you a visit. By himself?" she added.

"What for?" I asked quickly.

"What for?" She laughed, "Why, to do the

responsible thing. He feels he has to take up the slack

Megan has left and continues to leave."

She smiled, really very happy about all this. "I'm surprised to hear he would worry about

me." I said skeptically.

"Don't be. You know that vow husbands and

wives take when they get married-- that for better or

worse one? Well. Grant is the type of man who takes

such things seriously. He's inherited Megan's mistakes

and he's not the sort who runs away from obligations. "Mistakes? If I heard that word used one more

time in reference to me. I'll scream loud enough for

my mother to hear," I threatened.

"Sometimes." she said ignoring me and running

her right forefinger along the top of my wheelchair. "I

wish my father would have had a son like Grant.

Why. if I had a brother with those qualities Grant

possesses, the family business would be so much

greater than it is. It's not easy for a woman in the

business world, no matter what sort of facade I

present.

"My mother was right about that." she said

looking up quickly. "but I didn't want to admit it so I pretended I was having no problems when I was always fighting an uphill battle. I really needed

someone like Grant at my side."

"Didn't you ever have anyone at your side?" I

asked her, half out of curiosity and half out of a desire

to press a needle into that self-contented smile. She stopped moving her finger, straightening