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"There was an incident at the music school," she began. At first I thought Uncle Roy was speaking too low for me to hear, but it was just a long pause.

"What sort of an incident?"

"A very bad one involving a boy."

Mommy's voice began to crack. I rose, undecided about whether I should go back to my room or just run to her. I descended a few more steps and listened hard.

"Tell me about it," Uncle Roy said. I could hear Mommy start to sob.

"Easy, Rain," Uncle Roy said in the most gentle, soft and caring voice I had ever heard him utter. "We've been through hard times together. We both know what it's like."

"I know. Roy." She paused and blurted. "She was raped. She went for what she thought would be an innocent walk with a boy after curfew hours, and he managed to get her into his car where he violated her."

"Damn." Uncle Roy said. "Did they get the boy?"

"Yes, but it's complicated. Roy."

"So he's getting away with it?" Uncle Roy quickly concluded. "Another rich boy getting away with something?"

Life was black and white to him. In his world people were either weak or strong, right or wrong, rich or poor. There was little room for compromise.

"We can't put her through any more pain. Roy. Austin is beside himself over it. I'm worried about him. too. I keep thinking it's all the curse, Roy."

"I know you would think that. You once told me we couldn't be man and wife because it would bring down all the wrath of God on our heads. You couldn't think of me as anything but your brother, even after..."

"Please. Roy," Mommy said. I was holding my breath. Even after what?

"I know, I know. I got to keep it all under lock and key in this heart of mine. I can't see how any worse could have happened to you. Rain. All right, where's this boy live?" he asked.

"He's gone by now, Roy, probably out of the country. You're right about it. His parents are wealthy people who just keep protecting him, getting him out of trouble. There's a curse for you."

"Their money keeps solving it though." Uncle Roy said bitterly. "Not forever. Roy. It will come back on them someday."

"Yeah,' he said skeptically. "Right. Never mind all that for now. How's she doing?"

"She's strong, Roy."

"She's your daughter. She got to be strong. She could have been mine, too," he said sadly. "Why does someone so good have to be hurt like this?" he raged.

I heard Mommy start to sob and then Uncle Roy go "Easy, Rain. easy."

I was at the foot of the stairs now. I inched forward to the doorway and peered in to see Uncle Roy on his knees in front of Mommy, embracing her so firmly, she was pressed to him, her face on his shoulder. He stroked her hair and then he kissed her on the cheek, his lips pressed to her face and moving down closer and closer toward her lips until he kissed her there.

"Rain." he said still holding her. "if only we could have made more of that time in England and..."

Mommy opened her eves and saw me standing there, "Summer!" she cried.

I turned and ran to the front door.

"Summer, honey!"

I closed the door behind me and hurried down the steps and out of the reach of our front lights. I rushed around the house and ended up in the gazebo, my heart thumping.

Why was I so upset and disturbed? I always believed in my heart that Uncle Roy was capable of being gentle and caring. He always spoke softly, lovingly to Mommy. It was the way a brother should be, wasn't it? Even though he wasn't a blood relation, he had grown up with her as his sister. A brother could hold and kiss his sister to comfort her, couldn't he?

But there was something more in the way he held her and kissed her, and what was he talking about? What had happened between them in England?

My whole world had gone topsy-turvy in minutes. It was as though everyone I knew wore masks, and the masks were falling away. I felt dizzy and weak and I had to lie down. My heart was still racing. Minutes later. I heard the door open and close. Uncle Roy came down the steps and started to call far me.