Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

Troy lowered his head in disappointment.

"Leigh will come back another day, Troy. It's not nice to act this way in front of guests," Tony instructed. Troy looked up at me, tears building up in the corners of his eyes. "Now thank them for visiting us and wish them a good trip home."

"Thank you," Troy said. "Have a good trip home," he recited.

"Thank you, Troy," I said.

"I'll have Miles bring your car around," Tony said and started out.

"Want to walk us to the car?" I asked Troy. He nodded and took my hand.

I knelt down before getting in the car and gave Troy a kiss on his cheek. He touched his cheek, thought a moment and then gave me a kiss on mine before turning around abruptly and charging up the steps to go back into the house. Curtis opened the door for him, but he hesitated at the front door and looked back longingly.

Tony and Momma spoke quietly behind the car and then she got in behind the wheel.

"So long, Leigh," he said, his eyes seeming to look into me and read my thoughts. "I hope you enjoyed your day at Farthy and will return soon."

I looked away, hoping Momma didn't think I was rude.

"Bye, and thank you again for the wonderful birthday present," I said, lifting the gold pendant.

"It's all been my pleasure?' He stepped back and we started away. I looked back and saw little Troy still standing by the front door, waving his little hand. It brought tears to my eyes. We drove down the long drive and back under the great arch and I indeed felt as if I had just left a magical kingdom, full of wonderful things, and yet full of mystery and sadness, too. I hadn't been wrong. It was just like a storybook place after all.

"Isn't Tony wonderful?" Momma said as soon as we pulled away. "And wasn't it sweet of him to remember your birthday and buy you such an expensive gift? I just happened to mention your birthday was coming up, not expecting he would remember, and certainly not expecting him to buy you something."

"It was nice." I didn't say that I thought it was unusual for a man I had never known before to buy me such an expensive present, even if he was very wealthy.

"Did you have a good time at Farthy? Wasn't it everything I promised it would be?" Momma's face was still bright with excitement.

"Oh yes. Troy is so cute, isn't he?"

"He's cute, but Tony spoils him. It's only going to make things more difficult for him later on." I was surprised at how stern she sounded.

"Tony feels so bad for him, losing both of his parents so young. Don't you think that's it?" I waited, but she didn't answer. Suddenly she laughed.

"Tony swears we look more like sisters than a mother and daughter. It's because I take such good care of my complexion. I drink a lot if water and I stay away from greasy, heavy foods and always leave the dinner table a little hungry. Never stuff yourself, Leigh. It's unladylike, besides being ruinous to your figure."

"I know. You always tell me that."

"Well, it's true. Look at me. Aren't I proof that it's true?"

She twisted herself around in the driver's seat as if she were showing me her figure for the first time.

"Yes."

"Do any of your friends' mothers look like me?" she demanded.

"No, Momma." ft wasn't the first time we'd had this conversation. I didn't understand why I had to keep telling her she looked so beautiful.

"I don't intend to ever look old," she declared with determination.

"But you can't stop yourself from growing old, can you?"

"I can't stop myself from getting older in years, but I can stop myself from looking older," she boasted. "How old do you think I look? Go on, tell me what you think."

"I know how old you are, Momma. I was talking to Tony and . ."

"You didn't tell him how old I was, did you?" she demanded, her face suddenly screwed into an expression of panic, her eyes glittering at me. "Did you!" Her delicate eyebrows rose.