"What about my mother?" I asked quickly.
"I haven't heard anything new. Jordan. Sorry about that."
"Does my father know anything?"
"Maybe. If so, he hasn't told me."
"Did he get that special car?"
"Not yet."
"Didn't he want to come see me, come with you?"
"He took a little vacation," Felix said. "He and Kimberly went to Florida for a week."
"Oh. Do you know anything about Ian?" He just shook his head.
"Will you take us to see Grandmother Emma?" I asked. I was sorry about firing one question after another at him, but he wasn't telling me anything about my family.
"She doesn't want any visitors at the moment," Felix said. "What about taking us to see my mother. Can you?"
"I'll ask your grandmother," he said. He didn't sound hopeful.
"I want to write to Ian. but I don't know where to send the letter, Felix."
"I'll see if I can find that out for you," he said, but again, it didn't sound hopeful. It sounded empty, words without letters, words made of air.
"It does sound as if Emma will be here someday," Great-aunt Frances said. She looked very troubled.
Felix rose.
"Yes. I would expect so. Miss Wilkens. When she has her mind made up to do something. Mrs. March will do it one way or another."
"I know. You don't have to tell me about my sister." she said. He looked at Alanis and then at me.
"You just do the best you can for now. Jordan," he said. "I have a few matters more to discuss with Mr. Marshall, and then I'll be heading back. I brought some things for you and left them in a carton in your room,'" he added.
"Things for me?"
"Just stuff from your room back at the March house. Nancy packed them for me. She's given her notice," he said. "She's leaving in two weeks." He turned to Great-aunt Frances. "Nancy was your sister's housekeeper and cook."
"Yes. Jordan told me."
"I've got to find a new one now," Felix said.
He started out. I hated to see him go. Just talking to him about my family made me feel closer to them. He turned. and I think he saw the sadness in my face.
"I'll return again in a short time." he told me. "If something comes up, you know how to reach me."
I knew I would call my grandmother's house and press two when the telephone answering service rattled off the extensions. Two went directly to Felix. I nodded.
"Take care. Miss Wilkens." he told Great-aunt Frances.
As soon as he left. I turned to Alanis and said. "Let's go see what's in the carton."
She followed me up. It was a big carton on the floor at the foot of my bed. I hurried to it and opened it quickly. In it I found my framed pictures of my parents and Ian. which I showed to Alanis.
"Your mother's pretty and your father's pretty Good-looking too. So this is Ian," she said, studying his picture. "He's not bad-looking either."