Page 6

We heard Jake carrying my bags down the stairs. Grandmother Hudson glanced at the small clock in her hutch and then looked at me.

"You should get yourself ready," she said in a softer voice.

My heart began to thump like a tire that had gone fiat. I still couldn't believe I was going to be taken to the airport and flown across the ocean. Grandmother Hudson had seen to my passport. Everything had been done. There was nothing left to do but go. I stood up slowly.

"I'm not good at good-byes," she said, "but I'll walk out with you."

"I was hoping you would come along to the airport," I said.

"Oh, I hate that ride. Besides, you have to learn how to be on your own from the get-go," she added firmly.

I swallowed back my anxiety and started out. She was right behind me.

Juice stood by the Rolls holding the rear door open for me. His smile glimmered in the morning sunlight. I hesitated on the steps, took a deep breath and started toward the car. Grandmother Hudson followed. When I got to the car, I turned and we looked at each other. I had a sinking feeling in my chest. What if we never saw each other again? I had said good-bye to too many people this year, I thought. "Are you going to take better care of yourself?" I asked her.

"Do I have a choice with all these doctors poking their noses in my business?"

"No," I replied.

"Then you've answered your own question. Stop worrying about me. I'm an old lady. Worry about yourself, about becoming someone of whom we would all be proud, including your mama," she added.

It brought a smile to my face.

"Thank you." I glanced at Jake. The way he looked at us made me wonder if he knew more than he pretended to know. Impulsively, I stepped forward and gave Grandmother Hudson a hug. She stiffened as if it was unwelcomed, but in her eyes I saw the softness and affection that had drawn me closer to her all these months.

"I was afraid there was nobody in my family with a sense of propriety and the grit to do the right things. Don't disappoint me," she said.

"I won't." I couldn't hide the tears in my eyes. "Good-byes

are simply ridiculous," she muttered, spun around and headed back into the house.

Jake winked at me.

I got into the vehicle and he closed the door. Grandmother Hudson paused at the front door and looked back. I rolled the window down and we just gazed at each other. Then I lifted my hand as Jake started the engine. I waved once. She waved back and we were on our way. She watched us leave and then turned and entered the house.

How lonely she was, I thought, despite her brave and blustery act. She should be the one who goes off to drama school, not me. She's a much better actress. Both her daughters were disappointing to her and she didn't enjoy her grandchildren. Her friends were all society ladies who used her for her charity contributions. Her house was full of echoes, empty voices, dark memories, heavy whispers and heavier music drifting out of windows and caught in the wind.

"Don't worry about our queen," Jake said. He had been watching me in the rearview mirror. "I'll see that she does the right things and gets over to see you in short order."

"You?" I started to laugh, but there was a look on Jake's face that told rue not to underestimate him. "I hope so, Jake," I said.

As we rode to the airport, Jake told me stories of his own travels, filling them with little warnings about people, about scam artists.

"Be really careful about who you talk to and never show your money. Never show anyone where you're keeping it on you, Rain. Just take out a few bucks for gum and magazines and stash the rest safely, hear?"

"Yes, Jake."

"If you take your time and don't let anyone rush you along, you won't make mistakes. When you're in a strange place, it's always better to listen first and talk last."

"All right, Jake."

"Just go directly to your boarding gate and wait with your carry-on luggage right by you. If you leave it for a second, there'll be some creep ready to scoop it up. The airports are full of parasites who hang around just looking for someone like yourself who looks green."

"Me? Green?" I started to laugh, but Jake kept a serious expression.

"These people are experts, Rain. They know how to tell the difference between a seasoned traveler and an innocent young lady," he warned sternly.

'All right, Jake. I'll pay attention?'