Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

"Be happy, Leigh. Please. Just for one day, put

aside any dark thoughts and be happy for me." "I'll be happy for you, Momma." She brushed a

quick kiss on my cheek, then we hurried downstairs. I

was stunned by Momma's revelation. Was everything

good and true and honest only in storybooks? Nothing

seemed to be what it appeared to be. Life was as

complicated as . . as the maze outside. No wonder it's

so easy to get lost, I thought.

Grandma Jana left just before the wedding

reception actually ended. She was anxious to get back

to her home in Texas, even though everyone treated

her like a queen here. Tony had arranged for Miles to

drive her to the airport. I walked out to the awaiting

limousine with her, since Momma was too busy to say

a proper goodbye.

"Goodbye, Grandma," I said. "Have a good trip

home."

She stood there staring at me thoughtfully, and

then she hugged me to her so tightly, she nearly took

my breath away. She looked at me and then her eyes

narrowed and hardened. For a moment I thought she was going to tell me everything, just blurt out the truth of all of Momma's dreadful lies and why she had been upset to learn of Momma's divorce and new marriage, but her eyes softened and her grip on my

shoulders loosened.

"I hope you will be happy here, Leigh, but if for

any reason you're not, just remember, you can come

to me. I don't live as fancy as all this, but I'm quite

comfortable," she said, sounding far from the ogre

Momma often made her out to be. How much of the

rest of what Momma had told me about her early life

in Texas had really been true, I wondered.

"Thank you, Grandma."