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"I'm hitchhiking," he told me. "I've got to get on an army transport."

"What would happen if you didn't? It doesn't sound like you planned it all too well:'

I fixed my gaze on his eyes and he shifted them away too quickly.

"You had a pass though, didn't you, Roy? You didn't just up and come to England now, did you?"

"Sure I had a pass?'

I leered at him and he smiled.

"Maybe I stretched it a bit, but that's all right." "Ro

y Arnold, you didn't?"

"I'll be okay," he said quickly. "You don't need anything more to worry about."

I shook my head.

"Someday, I'll stop getting everyone who comes into contact with me in trouble?'

"Don't go blaming yourself for anything, Rain. I'm a big boy and I don't do what I don't want."

"I always knew that, Roy Arnold. Just promise me one thing:' I said.

"What's that?"

"You won't follow in Ken's footsteps. No matter what happens, you'll never do that?'

"You don't need to hear me promise, Rain. I'd rather be dead." he told me.

Neither of us sounded hopeful, however. It was as though a dark, brooding cloud, the one that had followed our family from the beginning, had lowered itself around us, and wave our arms as fast and as hard as we could, we couldn't move it away. It would always be there.

I rushed forward, kissed him quickly on the lips, and then turned back to the house. He watched me until I stepped inside and closed the door. I took a deep breath and started down the corridor. Greatuncle Richard stepped out of the drawing room as I started by.

"You and your brother must be very close, very close indeed to have such an intense good-bye:' he remarked.

I glanced into the drawing room and realized he had probably been watching us out the front window. Before I could comment, he crossed behind me and headed up the stairs.

"We'll be leaving in an hour," he muttered.

"Not soon enough for me:' I whispered back at him.

When I returned to my room, I sat on my bed and tried to catch my breath. It was all happening so fast. Some great force had taken the reins of my Destiny and was driving it headlong in another direction. Where? Why?

My thoughts went to my father and I quickly opened my notebook and began a letter.

Dear.

Should I call him who he is? No more lies, no more false faces, I thought.

Dear Daddy,

I'm sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner I really appreciated being with your family and meeting my half brother and half sister. They are lovely children, and I know they'll make you very proud. I was also so happy to meet Leanna. I like her a lot, and I'm sure we would get along just fine.

It was never my plan to rush into anything, even if you wanted me to. Now, all of it has to be placed on hold anyway. I have been given very bad news. Grandmother Hudson has passed away. You never knew her as I did, of course, so I don't expect you to understand why or how, but she and I did grow very close to each other and I will miss her She had a great deal of faith in me and she helped me build my selfconfidence.

As I told you, she has made me part of her will, and I am returning tonight with my great-aunt and great-uncle to attend the funeral. I don't know what will happen to me next, but I expect that I will return to England in due time, and 1 hope then we can get to know each other better and I can become a small part of your life.