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"Thanks. So are you."

"No, I mean it," she said coming up to me slowly. "You read with feeling. Most of them just read. I can see why Mr. Bufurd cast you as Emily."

"Thanks? I said with more sincerity, but still a little cautious. The girls Mr. Bufurd called his bubbles had a way of hiding their true feelings behind a lot of sudsy smiles. Not one of them had come to my aid in there, and most looked like they enjoyed seeing me uncomfortable.

"Don't let Colleen bother you?' she advised as we started down the pathway. "She's nasty to everyone."

"It doesn't excuse it and frankly, I don't let people like that push me around. My brother Roy always says if you act like sheep, they'll act like wolves," I told her.

She smiled.

"Where is your brother? Does he go to Sweet William?"

"No," I said laughing at the very thought of it. "He's joined the army."

"I'm an only child. Do you have any other brothers or sisters?"

"No. I had a sister but she was killed," I said.

"Killed? You mean like in a car accident?"

"No," I said. I hesitated. If I told her anything about myself and my other family, would she run to the others with stories? I wondered. "Are you just fishing for gossip?" I demanded. She looked terrified.

"No," she said quickly. "I was just ...I was just ..." She walked faster rather than finish her sentence. I felt sorry for her and the way I had snapped.

"Audrey," I called. She turned. "Wait up."

She did, but she still looked like she was trembling.

"I didn't mean to snap at you like that," I said. "It's not easy for me to talk about it and the girls here don't seem very sincere to me."

She nodded, her eyes softening.

"They're not," she said. After a beat she added, "I don't have a single friend here." Before I could say another word, she said, "There's my mother. I have to go?'

I watched her practically run down the pathway toward a black Mercedes sedan. She rushed around to the passenger's side and got in quickly. A small woman with dark hair and sunglasses rolled down her window and looked my way. Then she rolled the window up and drove off.

Moments later, Jake pulled up and I was on my way home, too. Jake talked his usual blue streak, peppering his conversation with little questions. I just couldn't imagine Grandmother Hudson putting up with him. He was too much like real people, spontaneous and uncomplicated. Mama would like him, too, I thought.

When we approached the house, I saw another vehicle and Jake told me the doctor was there.

"What's wrong?" I asked quickly.

"Mrs. Hudson never told you she has a chronic heart problem?" he asked. "No:' he answered for himself quickly, "I don't imagine she would share that with you. She doesn't acknowledge it herself."

"What sort of heart problem?"

"I don't know all the details, but from what I understand, she needs a pacemaker but keeps putting it off. That woman won't admit to any weaknesses or failings. It's not in her nature?' he said, but he said it with admiration and not criticism. "Maybe you can get her t

o take better care of herself."

Me? I thought with a laugh. I would have as much influence on her as a girl living in China.

The doctor was just coming down the stairs when I entered the house. He was a tall, thin man with a reddish-brown mustache and dark brown hair. _

"You must be Rain," he said. "I'm Doctor Lewis. Mrs. Hudson's daughter told me all about you."

"Hello," I said. "Is she all right?"