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"It's what I wish," Grandmother Hudson said. "And it's my decision."

"It's not a rational decision. It's not the action of a woman who has all her faculties."

"How dare you," Grandmother Hudson said, slamming down her fork. Her face turned a bright shade of crimson and her eyes widened.

"Mrs. Hudson really shouldn't be disturbed at dinner," I said.

"What?" Victoria spit at me with her eyes like two hot coals.

"If you are in direct contact with Doctor Lewis, you'd know that," I continued.

Victoria's mouth opened and closed, her rage reaching such a peak she strained the veins in her neck and her very vocal cords. Her face turned so red, I thought blood would come shooting out of the top of her head like a geyser.

Grandmother Hudson looked at me, relaxed, and then continued eating calmly.

"How did you get this flavor into the string beans, Rain?" she asked as she held up a forkful.

"I think it's because of the almonds," I replied.

"Oh yes." She laughed. "You know I didn't even realize. Victoria, you must try some of this."

"I said I wasn't hungry." She rose as if a fire had been lit under her chair. "I'll be back on the weekend when Megan arrives. The three of us should have a family meeting."

"Yes, we should. It's been... what, ten years or so since the last one?" Grandmother Hudson asked.

Victoria looked like she would swallow her tongue. She glanced at me and then mumbled something indiscernible and marched out. We heard the door slam.

"So?" Grandmother Hudson said as if she never noticed Victoria had come and gone. "What surprise do you have for dessert tonight?"

I didn't ask her about the will nor did I mention it again for fear it would make her angry, but I couldn't stop wondering, just like Victoria, why Grandmother Hudson had suddenly decided to include me. Did that mean she was preparing to acknowledge me as part of the family? What would my mother say or do?

I didn't have long to wait. On Saturday, just as she had promised, my mother drove up with Alison and Brody. After breakfast, I had done some straightening up. Grandmother Hudson hadn't settled on a new maid yet. Since we didn't use all that much of the big house, there was just some light dusting to do and washing the dishes and silverware we used. I volunteered to prepare a lunch for us all and put together a shrimp salad. Jake had gone to the supermarket for us and brought back a few loaves of French bread, too. I was happy to keep busy and my mind off meeting my half-brother and half-sister for the first time.

Afterward, I went up to my room to shower and dress, putting on a casual navy blue dress with my matching shoes. Despite her blustering about so-called duty visits and such, Grandmother Hudson chose a very nice print dress and did her hair up with some very pretty combs. I joined her in the living room to wait. She was listening to one of her favorite Saturday talk shows on the radio and doing a needlepoint. She looked up at me when I entered and took me in from head to foot in a single visual gulp.

"You look very nice," she said.

I thanked her and sat where I had a view of the driveway.

"It's almost time for them to be here," I said.

"I wouldn't count on Megan being on time. The clock might as well not have hands as far as that girl is concerned?'

"Victoria strikes me as being the exact opposite," I said.

"Oh, she is. She hates it when someone is late. She was always bawling Megan out for being tardy." "Why are they so different?" I asked.

She stared at me for a moment, looking as if she was about to reveal her theory. I was really expecting an explanation when she turned off the radio, but before she could reply I saw my mother drive up.

"They're here!" I cried and my heart began to pound. "You'd better go let them in. I'm sure Megan's forgotten her key," Grandmother Hudson said.

Let them in? Me?

"Well?" Grandmother Hudson emphasized with her eyes wide.

I rose slowly and went to the door, opening it just as my mother and Alison were reaching the first step.

"There she is. How are you, dear?" my mother called.