Gates of Paradise (Casteel 4)

How sad it was that this suite had been turned

into a room filled with nightmares. The bed had

become my cage, the bathroom and hot tub my torture

chamber. I truly felt like one escaping a prison. All the magic and wonder of Farthy was just something Luke and I had imagined, a child's dream. Reality was

much harder and crueler.

I saw the same disappointment in Luke's face

when I looked back at him as we moved down the

corridor. He saw the cobwebs, the dead chandelier

bulbs, the faded carpet, scuffed walls, and the old

faded curtains over the large windows, keeping the

hallways dark and dank.

I directed Luke to take me to the elevator chair.

"It will make it all easier."

"Now Annie, ya sure ya know how ta work that

damn thing? I sure don't want any accidents occurrin'

here and give that Tony Tatterton a chance ta come

after us with I told ya so's."

"It's easy, Aunt Fanny."

I slid over into the seat and strapped myself in

firmly. Then I pressed the down button and the chair

began its descent.

"Well, I'll be darned. Look it, Luke. We're goin'

ta hafta git one for Hasbrouck House right quick." "Company name's right on the chair," Luke

said. He took a pen out of his top pocket and jotted it

down. Luke was always prepared, always the student. "How has college been, Luke?"

"Ifs been okay, Annie," he said, walking along

with me as the chair moved down the stairway. "But

I've made a new decision."

"Oh?"

"I'm withdrawing from summer school. I don't