Girl in the Shadows (Shadows 2)

After we left the house. I walked with him to his car. The late afternoon sun was threading its rays through the tops of the trees that surrounded the pond. A light, golden laver like the icing on a cake made the water glimmer,

"It looks like a pond of Chardonnay," I said, nodding at the water.

Tyler laughed. "I guess Trevor Washington and his winery are having an influence on you."

"It is interesting. I imagine this was once a very beautiful vineyard."

"Probably. My mother remembers it in its heyday. I don't." He got into his sports car and looked up at me before starting the engine. "Aren't you bored here? There's not much for you to do except prepare for your exam and help Trevor. They don't even have cable television. Their set is still attached to an old- fashioned antenna."

"I haven't had time to think about it," I said. "with my uncle's death and all that followed."

"Yes. I guess that's true." He started the engine. "'Well, maybe one night. I'll show you around the area.."

"Really?"

He shrugged. "See you. Spend some more time on those algebraic equations."

I watched him drive off. He waved just before turning at the bottom of the driveway, the sound of his car engine reverberating over the street and dying away like thunder in the distance. It was then that I realized my heart was thumping, and it was then that I vowed to myself I would go on a serious diet and begin to once again do the exercises Brenda had once designed for me.

It was as if thinking about her brought her back. As soon as I entered the house. Mrs. Westington told me Brenda was on the telephone, calling me from Europe. I hurried to take, the receiver.

"Why are you still there?' she demanded as soon as I said hello. "Why didn't you go to Cousin Pete's? I called him and he said he knew nothing about you or Uncle Palaver's death. You never even called him. I felt so stupid."

"Mrs. Westington invited me to stay here and help her with her granddaughter, who's deaf and lives here alone. She's nearly fifteen, but she's very immature. She's hired her granddaughter's tutor to coach me for the high school equivalency exam as well and I'm helping with the small vineyard and wine-making," I said, all in one breath. Brenda was so quiet, I thought we had lost the connection. "Did you hear me?"

"Yes, but if you had gone to live with Cousin Pete, you could be in a regular school. April. I don't understand how you could simply take up with strangers like that."

"Once you meet Mrs. Westington, you'll understand. This is a big house. It was once a famous thriving vineyard and winery

"I've got another few weeks in Europe and then I'm coming back to live in Seattle," she said over my words, as if they had no importance.

"Seattle?"

"Yes. I was calling to tell you I've been offered a position on a professional basketball team in Seattle and I've taken it. Now that I know you're still there. I'll keep in touch. I'm going to stopover in San Francisco for a few hours. and I don't think you're far from there. right?"

"No. I'm not."

"Then we'll meet and talk about all this then. April. let you know my exact schedule. Afterward. I'll be on the road with the team a treat deal, but you can come to live with me once I'm set up in Seattle."

"Just you?" I asked.

"For now" she replied honestly.

"Well talk when you're in San Francisco," I said,

"Are you really all right?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I'll call you." she promised. "Take care of yourself."

"You, too."

I couldn't help crying softly. Just hearing her voice brought back so much so quickly it took my breath away. Mrs. Westington saw me wiping away the tears.

"Why don't you go up and take a little rest. Take a warm bath and relax. I know that boy overworked you."

"No, he didn't." I said.