Wicked Forest (DeBeers 2)

In my heart of hearts. I knew he was right. I looked away, tears building under my lids.

"Hey, hey." he said, reaching across the table to take my chin and turn my face to him. "Let's put it all aside for now This is our extended honeymoon. remember? I've rented a Sailfish for us. We're going out for a while."

"But I'm so burned already!" I protested.

"Cover yourself up and put on lots of sunblock. We're going to have fun," he insisted. "And forget everything but ourselves."

In the end I did what he wanted, of course, and we did have a good time. We made love again in the afternoon, slept, and dressed for dinner. It was a wonderful and romantic time, a true escape. It wasn't until we went to sleep the second night, in fact, that I realized I had been so carefree and frivolous that I had not taken my birth-control pills. It frightened me for a moment. but I forced it out of my mind. This was supposed to be a worry-free interlude, a time of magic.

Surely, I convinced myself, nothing bad could happen because of one moment we had spent in our little paradise.

.

As if we were being punished for being too happy, there was sad news awaiting us the moment we stepped through the front doors of Java del Mar, Jennings !greeted us and, despite his professional demeanor and an aloofness that made him seem mechanical at times, his face betrayed his secret thoughts. I had often caught him looking with amazement at some of the things

he saw and heard here, especially whenever Bunny Eaton was present. I also guessed from the way he looked at Mother that he liked her very much, perhaps even romantically, although it was difficult to imagine him that way with any woman.

I had expected to see Mother almost

immediately and knew from the vacant air within, the stillness, and the shadows that were draped over the wall like curtains of despair that something wasn't right.

"What's wrong. Jennings?" I asked even before he could say hello .

Thatcher was surprised at my concern and lifted his eyebrows,

"I'm afraid your mother has taken ill. Mrs. Eaton." he began, "It happened yesterday, but she insisted no one call and bother you. The doctor has been here. He wanted her to be admitted to the hospital, but she absolutely refused."

"What happened to her?" Thatcher asked.

She became very dizzy after dinner, so much so that if Linden had not been standing nearby, she might have fallen. She complained about a pain in her head and weakness in her arms and legs. Linden carried her to her room and we called Dr. Hackford, your mother's physician," Jennings told Thatcher. He came right away. When she wouldn't go to the hospital, he gave her something to help her relax, but he stated clearly that he couldn't be responsible for her if her condition deteriorated."

"What condition?" I demanded,

"Whatever is causing her dizziness. I imagine," Jennings said.

"I'll go right up to her," I told Thatcher. "Where is my brother. Jennings?"

"He's with her. He hasn't left her side. Last night, he slept in a chair by her bed," Jennings informed me.

"Thank you."

I hurried up the stairs to Mother's room. She had her eyes closed, but she wasn't asleep. Linden was slouched in the chair, his eyes closed as well. I entered slowly, softly.

"Mother," I whispered, and touched her arm when I was at her side. Linden's eyes remained closed.

She opened hers and smiled.

"Now, don't go bawling me out. Willow. I'm feeling much better. Rest was all I needed. In fact. I'm hungry," she said. She looked over at Linden. "Poor Linden has been so worried. He hasn't eaten or slept since I felt ill. Get him to eat and go to his own room. Willow," she urged. "I don't want him having any relapses because of me.

"Did you have a good time?" she added quickly. "Never mind that. Mother." I said. I knew she wanted to change the subject as soon as possible. "What happened to you exactly, and what did the doctor advise?"

She smiled.

"Why is it I think you already know the answers to those questions. Willow?"

"Well, how could you or go into the hospital if the doctor thinks it's prudent?" I countered.

"I know my own body. I'm fine." she insisted.