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"I can't imagine," I said.

He laughed, and I left his office, feeling excited and optimistic. I couldn't wait to get home and call my mother to tell her what I wanted to do.

"And your lawyer thought this was prudent?" she asked. "More than prudent, a good business decision."

"Is this what you really want. Willow? Because if I thought for one moment that you were doing this out of some sort of pity. or some sort of imagined obligat

ion to your father or to me. I would be very upset."

"It's what I really want," I said definitively. "If it's all right with you, of course."

"How could something as wonderful as this not be all right with me?"

And with Linden?"

-He's not yet ready to consider such questions. I'm afraid," she said sadly.

"He will be I'll be there to help and to bring him back. I know I can do some good."

Every medical student, every psychology student begins to think he or she can practice, diagnose, and prescribe before he or she is truly prepared to do so. I thought the moment after I uttered those words. It underlines the truth behind the old saying that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I knew I shouldn't be making such promises and claims, but I couldn't help it.

"Oh. I believe in you, Willow. Very well," she said after a moment of thought, "Have your attorney do what has to be done and call my accountant. Maybe together we can do battle against all the forces that would destroy us.-

"Yes," I said. smiling, "we can and we will."

I was very excited after speaking with her and immediately called Mr. Bassinger, asking him to get things arranged as quickly as possible.

In the days that followed. I completed the packing and storing of valued family possessions and Daddy's office furnishings, Aunt Agnes called very soon after she had been informed of the sale. I hadn't called her, but she had her spies.

"Why didn't you phone me immediately?" she demanded the moment I said hello,

"Aunt Agnes?" I asked, pretending not to recognize her voice.

"Yes. yes. Well?"

"Call you about what?" I asked, expressing innocence and ignorance.

The estate! How could you not realize what I was asking about?"

"I've had so much on my mind these past days. Aunt Agnes. Please forgive me. And, oh, please tell Margaret Selby that I will not be able to attend her wedding after all. I have to return to Palm Beach for some important business matters."

"What business matters?"

"Oh, just some investments, nothing

glamorous," I said.

"Investments? In what?"

"Why, property, of course. Real estate is the best sort of investment these days, Aunt Agnes. I'm surprised you don't know that."

"I know it. What sort of real estate.

commercial?"

"No. Please, don't bother yourself so with all this. You have so much going on back there with the wedding and all. I'll be fine. I have Mr. Bas singer helping me, of course."

She was silent a moment, digesting it all quickly. "Why would you return to that place, considering the information everyone there has about you and your... real mother?" she asked.