a child to think about, but as Tony and I drew closer
and closer, all restraint weakened until I could deny
what was happening no longer.
"It happened one night after I had finished
working and had cleaned up to go home. It was a
warm day, a warm late afternoon. He asked me to take
a walk with him to look at the ocean. I hesitated, but
he pleaded, promising to bring me right back: l-
relented and we walked to a small hill and looked out
over the sea. The sun was red and low, the bottom of
it just touching the ocean. The sight was breathtaking.
Suddenly, I felt his hand in mine, and when we touched, my heart cried . . . no . . . demanded to be
heard.
"I confessed my unhappiness to him, but I told
him I couldn't just rush into anything. He was very
understanding, but determined.
"I tried on three or four occasions to explain
things to your father, but he either ignored it or didn't
really listen. His mind's always on his business.
Finally, at the Bon Voyage Ball, I made Tony a
promise. Even so, I tried to break it. I suffered so on
that trip to Jamaica, but love will not be denied, when
it is as real and sincere as it is between Tony and
myself, and I knew at the end that I had to do
something dramatic or I would pine away in the
darkness like a flower.
"Will you try to understand? Will you, Leigh?
It could happen to you someday and you might need
someone, someone you love and who loves you, to
understand." She squeezed my hand and pleaded with