Gates of Paradise (Casteel 4)

"You drank too much, Logan. I know you had something before we left for the party, too."

"Well? That's what a party's for, isn't it?" he said with surprising curtness.

"No," she said forcefully.

He found his key and concentrated on getting it into the ignition. I couldn't remember ever seeing him so confused. Suddenly a drop of rain struck the windshield with a splat. It was followed by another and then another.

"It looks like it's going to rain on the party, anyway," he said sullenly. "Roland was right."

"That's the best thing that could happen," my mother said. "It will cool everyone down, and everyone," she added, looking at him pointedly, "could use a little cooling down."

Daddy started the car and we lunged forward. "What's that supposed to mean?" He turned to Mommy and looked at her belligerently.

"You shouldn't have let her kiss and maul you like that, Logan. Everyone saw it."

"Well, what was I supposed to do--beat her off?"

"No, but you don't have to be so cooperative." "Cooperative? Oh, come on, Heaven. That's not fair. I was stuck, I--"

"Slow down, the rain is getting harder, and you know how these roads can get," Mommy admonished.

"I didn't want to dance like that with her, but I figured if I pulled away, who knows what she might say. She's as drunk as a Saturday-night Indian and -"

"Slow down!" she yelled, more vehemently this time.

Sheets of water were pouring over the windshield now, and the wipers were unable to clear it away.

I hated to see them like this. I realized that the only time they had these fights was when Aunt Fanny was involved. Somehow, she always managed to cause trouble between them, scratching at old wounds or pouring salt over new ones. Too bad she didn't run off with one of her young men arid leave Luke to live with us, I thought. Then we could truly be a happy family and never have to worry about angry situations like this one.

"I can't see anything!" Mommy exclaimed, but Daddy wasn't listening.

"Can you imagine what's going on back there?" he said, and laughed. He looked at Mommy. "I'm sorry if I caused you any pain, Heaven. Honest, I was just trying to--"

"Logan, keep your eyes on the road. These turns . . ."

The road down to Winnerrow was steep and sharply curved. The rain, coming in from the east, was pounding the mountainside now. Daddy's erratic driving had me swinging from side to side

in the rear. I reached up and took hold of the handle above the window.

"You know I didn't mean to do anything--" he began again, but Mommy cut him off.

"All right, Logan," she stated emphatically. "We'll talk about it when we get home." Suddenly, as we approached a sharp turn, a vehicle coming up the hill was too far on our side.

I heard Mother scream and felt the car swerve to the right. Then I felt the brakes lock.

The last thing I remember was Mommy's shrill scream and my daddy's now instantly sobered voice call out my name.

'Annie . . . Annie . . . Annie . . ."

FIVE

The Greatest Less

.

I opened my eyes, but it seemed to take an enormous effort, my lids felt as if they had been sewn shut I blinked and. blinked, each time ray eyelids opening and closing with less effort.

Where was I? The room was so white. An ugly, plastic light fixture was at the center of the ceiling. And this bedding . it smelled starchy and felt so rough. And there was a tiny ringing in my ears.