"Don't be so upset. You can still go on, can't you?"
He looked away, fuming. "Damn right, I can still go on. I'm not going back to an estate and fancy cars like you are."
He turned on me. "Maybe you do belong in the Palm Beach world. Hannah. Maybe deep down inside yourself you really are like all that."
"I'm not thinking of going back to that. I'm thinking of my mother," I moaned.
"Right. Fine. Thanks," he said and walked off
"Heyden!"
He kept walking. I watched him a moment, sucked back my tears, and headed for the house.
By the time I walked in, they were all laughing around the table. Mrs. Stanton was serving a cold chicken salad with her mint iced tea and some of her bread, Uncle Linden was eating- like he really was famished. Most of the time I saw him eat at the residency Or anywhere, he pecked at his food, seemingly not enjoying a bite.
I saw how happy Mrs. Stanton was. She beamed over the two of them, growing happier and happier, every time Bess laughed or ate something.
"Hurry before these two devour it all." she called to me.
"I ate breakfast later than they did." I said "I'm not as hungry."
"Well, sit and have something."
"It's harder work than you think being a model. Rosemary." Uncle Linden said. and I felt my blood freeze. He had avoided calling me that up until now, giving me the feeling he was only doing what I was doing: charitably humoring poor Bess, but the look on his face reminded me of times when he drifted off or said strange things to me at the residency, calling me Willow and speaking to me as though I were my mother.
He turned to Mrs, Stanton. "People don't realize that when they are nervous or intense, they are burning up calories, too. You don't have to plow a field or run a mile to build an appetite." he told her.
She listened attentively and nodded. "How very true." "Of course, your food is so delicious. Mrs. Stanton, I would be hungry no matter what." he added, and she took on a smile that seemed to drop years from her face.
"Why, thank you. sir. That's very kind of you."
Mrs. Stanton looked at me, still standing and gaping at them all. "Where's Heyden?" she asked.
"Cleaning up and coming," I said, hoping that was exactly what he was doing.
"Well, don't you worry. Despite the way these two are consuming my salad, there is plenty more in the kitchen."
"Shouldn't have told us that." Uncle Linden warned. "We'll be asking for seconds, won't we. Bessie?"
"Yes." she said. laughing.
"Besides. We need our strength for the walk."
"What walk?" Mrs. Stanton asked.
I sat at the table and put some chicken salad on my plate. "To your beautiful lake. right. Bess?" he said.
Mrs. Stanton's smile faded quickly. "You don't go to the lake anymore. Bess." she told her. "Remember?"
"Of course I go to the lake. Grandma. Rosemary and I were at the lake just yesterday, weren't we. Rosemary?" she asked me.
I stopped chewing and looked at Mrs. Stanton.
"Yes," I said.
"See?"
"I thought you promised me you wouldn't go there, Bess. You wouldn't take Rosemary there. Remember?"