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"What do you want me to do, make some announcement in the papers, embarrass all of us?" "This is blackmail," my mother said angrily.

"I told you I don't want any of your money. I'm trying to save this girl's life. You think you'd be glad of that. If she stays where she is now she'll get into some trouble sooner or later. I made up my mind I'm not going to let that happen. "Are you going to tell me all these years, you never wondered about her, never thought about her?"

My mother sat back and looked at me. I couldn't help but fill my face with the same question.

"It's not that I don't want anything to do with her," she said in softer tones. "Of course I've thought about her, but my husband doesn't even know about this. When he asked who your husband was and why he was calling and asking for me or my father, I told him I had no idea."

"How come he didn't ask your fat

her then?" Mama wondered.

"My father died two years ago," she said.

"Well, then maybe you should tell your husband now."

"I can't do that. We have two other children. My husband's an important attorney. He's going to run for political office in the near future. This would just break him. No," she said shaking her head

emphatically, "it's all out of the question. I can get you some money, perhaps."

"Money," Mama spit. "You people use it like Band-Aids. Don't you ever think about the pain you're causing? Money," she said. Mama looked at her food and then she rose from her chair and stood as firm as a statue while she gazed down at my real mother.

"I don't have anything compared to you, Mrs. Randolph. What you're wearing might pay our rent for a year. That fancy pocketbook probably cost as much as we spend all year on food. I'm ashamed of where I am now. I'm ashamed of my life and I'm afraid for this girl your daddy handed over to us like some sort of packaged goods. I was hoping you had an ounce of charity or love in you. This girl doesn't belong in a ghetto. She doesn't belong in harm's way, and not because she has your blood. Your blood isn't any better than mine. She's a real good girl, smart and pretty. She deserves better than I can give her. I was hoping once you set eyes on her, you'd see that too and you'd feel something in here," she said putting her hand over her left breast. "I guess you aren't the woman I hoped you'd be. Come along, Rain," she ordered and I stood.

I gazed once at my beautiful mother. She was a stranger and yet there was something in her eyes that attracted me, some warm flow of energy that made me hesitate for a moment before starting away with Mama.

"Wait," my mother said.

Mama hesitated.

"Please, sit and have your lunch. I have a possible solution," she added. "Please," she pleaded when Mama still hesitated.

Mama lifted her chin and looked down skeptically, but then she returned to her seat. I noticed how we had attracted the attention of almost every table around us.

"That shrimp is really delicious. You should eat some of it."

"I'm not really hungry," Mama said but she poked a fork into one and tasted it. She couldn't hide her pleasant surprise. "What's your possible solution?" she asked finally after a few more bites.

"As I told you, my father died recently. My mother needs someone to live with her. She's not very well. My younger sister Victoria and my mother don't get along and Victoria, who isn't married, won't live with her. Mother is a stubborn woman and insists on being independent anyway. She barely tolerates the maids and I'm usually replacing them regularly because they can't deal with her. I'd like someone to be there with her.

"It's a big house with plenty of room," she continued. "I'll even put her in private school nearby. It's all just outside of Richmond."

"You want her to live with your mother instead of you?" Mama asked, incredulous.

"She'll be out of the world you call hell."

"What are you going to tell your mother?"

"My mother knows the truth. She'll understand and keep discreet. However, as I said, no one else in my family does. Victoria knows nothing and I'd like to keep it that way for now," my mother added.

"Even your husband?" Mama asked. "You'll still keep him in the dark, too?"

"Yes," my mother insisted. "It's best, believe me. I mean, she's a beautiful girl and I can see she's bright, but it's not something he would understand."

"And then what?" Mama asked. "What about after?"

"We'll see. Let's just take it a step at a time. I'll get the information to you and send someone around to take her."

I wanted to scream. Not once had my mother asked me a question directly, or even called me by my name. I was supposed to put my life in the hands of this woman?