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come into Momma's life and sweep her off her feet so

quickly and se completely? I wanted more than any

other want to make him regret tearing my happy

loving world asunder.

"Leigh, will you?" Momma repeated, her voice

a little desperate now. Once again tod

ay her wants

would battle with mine and win. I nodded, "Thank

you. Oh, thank you so much, honey." She embraced

me, and I was so starved for this affection, so needing

to be warmed by her touch, that knew that if she asked

me now I might agree to anything.

But, I couldn't help feeling cold, lifeless in her

arms. It was horrible for me to agree to this. I was

betraying Daddy.

"And there is one other thing I have to ask of

you, Leigh, one thing--a secret to be kept between

two best friends like us, now, because I trust you with

keeping it. Will you promise to keep it secret? A

bosom buddy promise," she added, placing her hand

on her breast.

What could it be? I wondered.

"I promise, Momma."

"Good." She leaned toward me and whispered as if there were other people in the room. "Tony doesn't know my true age, even now, even though he has proposed and I have accepted. I don't want him to know. As I told you after we left Farthy, he believes

I'm twenty-eight."

"Won't you ever tell him the truth?"

"Someday, but not right now. Okay?"

I nodded, but wondered if they were so much in

love, why was it necessary to lie? Didn't being in love,

true love, mean you would have no lies between you,