Lightning Strikes (Hudson 2)

"Thank you, Leo. Why didn't you just send him back?"

"Mr. Endfield asked that I fetch you," he said. He looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry. The young man is waiting outside."

"He wouldn't let him in?"

Leo didn't respond. He didn't have to. I charged up the hallway to the front of the house. My greatuncle was in his office on the telephone continuing his preparations for a sudden departure. He glared at me and then turned his back as he continued talking on the phone.

Fuming, I practically lunged at the front door. Roy was standing in front, his hat in hand. He looked up expectantly when I appeared.

"I'm sorry, Roy. They pride themselves on being so polite and decent when the real truth is they're the cruelest, meanest. . ." I glared back at the house. If my eyes were cannons, the building would be blown away. "They're horrified now that they've learned I'm related to them. Grandmother Hudson was right about them. They're afraid their precious reputations might be damaged. They should know how terrible I feel about being related to them."

I folded my arms around myself and kicked a small stone down the driveway.

"What's this all mean?" he asked, obviously astounded by my display of raw rage.

"I'm going back to Virginia tonight for the funeral and everything. I didn't get a chance to tell you, but Grandmother Hudson put me in her will. I'm not sure yet what it all means, but one thing is for sure, my mother can't deny me anymore and pretend I don't exist. Her husband is going to want to know why I'm an heir and her sister will practically break her neck rushing to tell him and get him to help her get my rights denied."

"So your Mama's family still doesn't know anything about you?"

"Nothing real," I said.

He shook his head, his face full of concern.

"That's going to be some funeral, Rain, with a family feuding and arguing right in the middle of all of it. You sure you can handle all that yourself?"

"I've got no choice, Roy. If I don't, I'll be letting down Grandmother Hudson and giving them," I added, nodding a the house, "what they'd like. They'd like me to just go away, disappear, pretend I don't exist. My great-uncle is an expert when it comes to pretending," I added furiously. Roy didn't catch onto any innuendo or strange reference.

"Maybe you should just leave, Rain. You can forget them all and return with me to Germany. Lots of guys there are married. They do all right. It isn't a bad life for now and at least you won't have to be with a bunch of phonies," he said. I looked down, kicking another stone, remaining silent. "Not a good idea, huh?" he followed.

"I don't think so, Roy. I still have a few questions to answer about myself."

"Yeah," he said, looking off.

"I'll write you as soon as I know what's happening," I promised him.

"You coming back here?"

"Not here," I said, indicating the house.

"Back to England, though?"

"Maybe. I don't know yet. It's like I was riding on a magic carpet for a while and suddenly someone pulled it out from under me and I'm floating down, but down to what, I don't know."

"You sure are brave, Rain. I never knew how brave you could be. Someone else in your place would get the best deal and run,"-he said.

"I might still do that."

He stared at me a moment and shook his head. "I doubt it," he said and I smiled.

"I'll miss you, Roy."

"Will you? Good. Miss me a lot," he said. "Miss me 'til it hurts.'

I widened my smile and then he hugged me, kissed my hair and my cheek and put his hat on.

"Guess I'll just head back early then," he said. "It's hit and miss with a ride anyway."

"What do you mean? I thought you had your travel arrangements all set."