Like sleeping beauty waking up in an enemy camp, I lost the enchantment that had begun the day I stepped into Farthinggale Manor. And had deepened the day I found Troy.
Distant and unreal they seemed now, only figments of my overactive imagination. I glanced down at my hands as I began to twist the nine-carat diamond engagement ring Troy had insisted I wear even if we never married. Then I was playing thoughtlessly with my pearls suspending a diamond and sapphire pendant, a special engagement gift from Troy. Funny how I had to cling to the hardness of those jewels to convince myself that only days ago I'd lived in one of the most fabulous and wealthy homes in the world.
Time lost itself that Sunday night in the church.
I grew old, and I grew younger. Fevered and miserable, my bones ached for bed.
"Let us all bow our heads and pray," instructed the Reverend, at last releasing his riveting gaze, and I could breathe more freely. "Let us humbly pray for forgiveness so we may enter into this new chapter in our lives without carrying into it old sins, and old grievances, and old promises never kept. Let us assign to each new day respect for those who we feel may have harmed us in the past, and pledge to ourselves we will do unto others as we would have done onto us.
"We are mortals put upon this earth to live out our lives with humility, without resentments, harboring no grudges . ." and on and on he talked, seemingly to me.
Finally the sermon was over, and he'd said nothing I hadn't heard before, so why was it I kept thinking he was cautioning me to keep my peace? Did he know that I knew he had fathered that pretty little girl who was carried in from a backroom nursery, and still sleeping, put in the arms of his wife? I stood up, assisting Grandpa to his feet, and headed for the door, not waiting in place as all hillbilly scum were supposed to do, so they'd be the last to leave and shake the pious, saintly hand of the Reverend.
Hardly were Grandpa and I out on the street steamy with heavy humidity, than a man was fast approaching me and calling out my name. At first I thought it was Logan . . . then my heart sank into my shoes. It was Cal Dennison, stretching forth his hand and beaming a happy smile into my face. "Heaven, dear Heaven," he breathed, "how wonderful to see you again! You look beautiful, absolutely wonderful. . . now tell me all about yourself, what you've been doing, and how you like Boston."
When streets were hot in Winnerrow, and inside it was even hotter, the residents of the village were not prone to enter bedrooms when porches were so inviting. I heard the clink and clank of ice in pitchers of lemonade, as I stood and floundered and wondered how to talk to Cal Dennison, who had once been my friend, and my seducer.
"I like Boston very much," I said, as I caught hold of Grandpa's arm and headed for the hotel where I had registered. Strolling Main Street was like walking a gauntlet of enemies, everyone stared at us, and I didn't need or want to be seen with Cal Dennison!
"Heaven, are you trying to brush me off?" asked Cal, his good-looking face glistening with a layer of sweat. "Please, can't we go somewhere and sit down and share a drink and talk?"
"I have a terrible headache, and I'm looking forward to a long, cool bath before bed," I said honestly.
His entire countenance seemed to collapse on hearing my excuse. "You sound like Kitty," he mumbled, bowing his head, and instantly I was stricken with guilt.
I remembered then that Grandpa was still at my side. "Where are you staying, Grandpa?" I asked, when we were outside the one and only hotel in Winnerrow.
"Luke done fixed up t'cabin fer Annie an me. I'm stayin' there, of course."
"Grandpa, stay with me in the hotel. I can rent you another room, one with a color TV."
"Gotta git me back t'Annie . . . she's waitin."
I resigned myself. "But Grandpa, how will you get there?"
His bewilderment made him sway even as he stood and waited for me. "I'll ketch me a ride with Skeeter Burl. He likes me now."
Skeeter Burl? He was the worst enemy Pa had ever made in the hills--and he liked Grandpa now? That was like believing July sunbathers liked January snow. And like the damned fool I could sometimes be, totally out of my head, I gently took Grandpa by the arm, and together we turned toward the hotel. "Grandpa, it looks as if you're going to have to spend the night in the hotel after all."
Instant alarm was his. He'd never slept in a "rented" bed. He didn't want to. Annie needed him! He had animals at home who would suffer if he didn't return. His pale and leaking eyes pleaded pitifully. "Ya go on t'yer hotel, Heaven girl. Don't ya worry none about me."
Desperation gave him needed strength. He tore loose from my restraining grip, and moving more swiftly than I could believe, Grandpa began hobbling off down Main Street. "Ya go on an tend t'yer business. Don't like beds not my own!"
"I'm glad he's gone," said Cal, catching hold of my arm and guiding me into the hotel lobby and toward a small coffee shop. "This is where I'm staying, too. I've come to Winnerrow to settle some estate legalities with Kitty's parents, who have fought me tooth and nail, claiming I contributed nothing to their daughter's estate, therefore I don't deserve to have even the part she left me."
"Can they break her will?" I asked wearily, wishing to God I'd not had the misfortune to run into him.
We settled down behind a small round table, and soon Cal was placing an order for a late-evening snack. He acted toward me just as if nothing had altered our relationship, and very well he might expect to end up with me in his bed. I sat stiff and
uncomfortable, knowing I was going to disillusion him the moment he made even one small advance.
Nibbling on my bacon-lettuce-and-tomato sandwich, I half listened to Cal as he spilled out all the difficulties he was having with his Setterton inlaws. "And I'm lonely, Heaven, so lonely. Life just doesn't seem right without a woman nearby. I am legally entitled to everything Kitty left me, but when her family contests, it forces me to hire lawyers, and that holds up all the settlements. I will lose half of Kitty's estate in court and attorney costs--but they don't care. They are having their revenge."
My eyes had grown very heavy by this time. "But they don't hate you, Cal, so why are they doing this?"
He sighed and bowed his head into his cradling hands. "It's Kitty they hate for not leaving them more than her good wishes." He glanced upward, tears shining in his eyes. "Is there a chance a beautiful young girl will turn my way again? We could get married this time, Heaven. We could have a family. I could finish my education, as you finish yours, and we could both be teachers."
I was numb with fatigue, unable to resist when Cal picked up my hand and held it to his lips, then pressed my palm against his cheek. And just at this point, Logan Stonewall, with a pretty girl at his side, sauntered into the coffee shop and pulled a chair for the girl, whom I recognized as Kitty's own sister, Maisie!