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"Aren't you feeling well?" Audrey asked me in a whisper when we were both in the wings.

"Yes, I'm just worried about Mrs. Hudson. She went in for a pacemaker this morning."

"Oh. Well, if she died, someone would come to tell you, wouldn't they?" she asked without much feeling.

"I don't know," I said. I really didn't.

"If she dies, will you go back to Washington, D.C.?"

"I don't know." I shook my head. "I don't know, but that's not why I'm worrying."

She took another look at me and bit down on her lower lip.

"Oh, I hope you don't get sent back," she said. "You're doing so well in the play."

"I think Mrs. Hudson's life is a little more important than this play, don't you?" I snapped at her.

"What? Oh yes, I didn't mean ...I mean.. yes," she said and walked quickly toward the back of the stage.

I felt sorry for her; she was just trying to find a way to become friends, but I didn't have the patience for it at the moment. Mercifully, the rehearsal came to an end.

Corbette seized my aim at the elbow to hold me back when I went for my books and hurriedly started up the aisle.

"Well?" he asked.

"Well what?"

"What about tomorrow?"

"Oh. I...forgot all about it. I'm sorry," I said and quickly told him what was happening.

"She'll be all right," he assured me. "My grandfather had that done last year. I'll call you tonight, okay? Okay?" he repeated when I didn't reply.

"What? Yes, okay," I said, more to get free than anything else. I practically ran out of the theater and toward the car. Jake was waiting beside it, the smile on his face giving me some instant relief.

"Everything's fine," Jake said quickly. "She's doing very well. The doctors will let her come home in a day or so."

"Really? That's great," I said.

"Yeah." He smiled. "Now they need you in that house more than ever."

On the way home, I thought about what he had said and how he had said it. That was what Audrey thought I was worried about, and surely Victoria did, too. Did everyone think I was only concerned with myself? Why shouldn't they? I realized. They knew nothing else about me.

When I arrived at the house, I discovered my mother and Aunt Victoria in the living room. They were both sipping wine and talking.

"How's Mrs. Hudson?" I asked from the doorway. Aunt Victoria smirked, but my mother smiled warmly.

"She's doing well, Rain. Thank you for getting her to do the right thing, finally. I've been after her to have a real examination and get this problem solved for nearly a year now. Doctor Lewis told me about your call." She turned her head from Victoria and winked. "How are you doing?"

"Good," I said.

"I understand you're getting good grades."

Victoria grunted.

"And you have the lead in the school play?"

"Yes."