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He stared at me and then he smiled and we hugged. He never held me as tight. I thought he wasn't going to let go. Finally, he did.

"You be good," he said. "No," he added, "you be better than them. You're really Latisha Carrot's girl, hear? You always remember that, Rain. No matter what they tell you, that's who you are."

I nodded.

He reached out and touched my face and then started away. I didn't want to see him leave. I waited in the yard for a while, having my private little cry. Then I went into the house, said my farewells to Aunt Sylvia and her good friends before leaving myself.

I told the limo driver to take me to the cemetery again. I wanted to say my private good-bye to Mama. I stood by her grave and closed my eyes and heard her voice.

"Good-bye Mama," I whispered. "Thank you for loving me more than you loved yourself even though you didn't give birth to me. There will always be a place for you in my heart. No one will ever take that place."

I said a little prayer, touched the fresh earth after my tears fell to it, and then I rose, took a deep breath, turned and walked away to the waiting limousine and the future that dangled its promises before me.

Epilogue

.

Jake was waiting for me at the airport gate. He

took my bag and gave me a hug.

"I'm sorry," he said. "How you doing?" "I'm all right, Jake. How's Mrs. Hudson?" "Feisty as ever, even more so since you left," he

said laughing. When I arrived, Grandmother Hudson was waiting for me in the living room. I paused in the doorway.

"Thank you for sending the flowers," I told her. "They were beautiful?'

She nodded, looking embarrassed as usual by any show of emotion.

"You should soak in a warm bath, relax and then come down for dinner. I have spoken with Mrs. Whitney and she wants you to know that you can postpone your exams for a week, if you like."

"I'd rather not," I said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'd rather keep busy," I said.

"That's very wise," she told me.

I picked up my bag and started to turn away.

"I've asked Sissy to make stuffed pork chops. Your favorite, I believe?'

"Thank you," I said. She looked away quickly and then went back to her needlework.

I took her advice and soaked in a warm bath. While I was lying in the warm water, I suddenly began to cry. I couldn't stop myself. The tears poured out so fast, I thought I might fill the tub to the brim and let it spill over. Then, just as suddenly as they had come, they stopped. I scrubbed my face, dried myself and got dressed for dinner,

After I ran a brush through my hair quickly, I rose and stood by the window, gazing out at the sky. A knock on my door pulled me from my reverie. It was Grandmother Hudson, dressed for dinner and looking as elegant as ever.

"I was hoping you were ready to go down," she said.

Go down together? I thought. I had always been there before or right after her, but we had never gone together.

"I'm not all that hungry," I said.

"When you smell Sissy's cooking, your stomach will change your mind," she insisted.

She might be right, I thought.