Eye of the Storm (Hudson 3)

on his or her self-interests and had tunnel vision. They didn't see it. Mama Arnold always told me there were none so blind as those who refused to see, those who looked away or down or at some fantasy rather than the truth. This family took the prize when it came to doing just that, from my great-uncle's strange fantasies in his London cottage, to my mother's refusal to face reality, to go off and distract herself with new purchases at the least little drop of controversy or stress.

My aunt Victoria mumbled about her, complaining, calling her another Scarlett O'Hara because she was always saying "I'll worry about it tomorrow." Tomorrow, tomorrow-- it never comes of course. Victoria liked to remind everyone.

Well, whether my mother was going to face it or not, tomorrow had come to this family.

Grandmother Hudson in her last will and testament had insisted it come. Even in death, maybe especially in death, she hovered over her family, scowling down at them and demanding they finally take responsibility for their actions, for who they were and what they were.

I wasn't about to stop all that from happening. but I couldn't be more frightened of what the future held for me. I didn't have all that many choices, True, I had found Larry Ward my real father in England and met his family. He had achieved his dream: he had become a Shakespearean scholar and taught in a community college. He wanted me to visit and get to know his family and get them to know me better, including his wife Leanna. but Grandmother Hudson's last bit of advice was not to push myself on them. She was afraid they would come to resent me. Maybe after a little more time, I thought, when I was more sure of myself, I would revisit him and his family.

Meanwhile, with my stepbrother Roy still in the army in Germany, the only friend I had here was Jake, Grandmother Hudson's driver. He and I had also grown very close during my time here, and one day before I left to study the performing arts in England, he surprised me by bringing me to see his new race horse that he had named after me.

Jake had history with this family and this property. It had once belonged to his family, but years ago, his family lost it and the Hudsons took it over. Jake had traveled a great deal in his life.

He had been in the navy and he had never married and had no children or family of his own. I often felt like he was adopting me.

Today. he waited for me outside to drive me to the cemetery. I had been there before with everyone else of course, but this time I was going alone to say my own good-bye.

After the funeral and the reading of the will. I had moved myself into Grandmother Hudson's room. I didn't change anything, didn't move a picture or shift a chair. It helped me to feel she was still there, still watching over me.

Aunt Victoria had already been through Grandmother Hudson's things, making sure she had all her valuable jewelry, watches and even some clothing. Parts of the room, dresser drawers and closets looked absolutely pillaged. In fact the drawers were so empty there was not even a piece of lint left and the closets were full of gaping areas, even the hangers gone.

Of course, having lived here and helped take care of the house. I was quite familiar with

everything, especially in the kitchen. I recalled the meals I had cooked for Grandmother Hudson and how much she had appreciated them. Her attorney provided me with all the information I needed to maintain the house and property. He said if I wanted, which I did, he would continue to manage and oversee that aspect of the estate. I had the feeling

Grandmother Hudson had told him many nice things about me. He seemed very pleased that I had stood up to my mother. Her husband and Victoria.

"Up to now," he said, "you're living up to your grandmother's expectations. Rain."

I thanked him for the compliment and told him even in the short time we had spent together, she had provided the example for me to follow. The only thing was, I wasn't confident about how much longer I could follow it.

I glanced at myself once more in the mirror and then started down the stairway to make the trip to the cemetery. It was a mostly cloudy day with a cooler breeze. announcing the imminent arrival of fall. A perfect day for visiting graveyards. I thought as I stepped out of the house. Jake was leaning against Grandmother Hudson's Rolls-Royce, his arms folded, waiting for me. The moment I appeared, he smiled and stood straight.

"Mornin' ", Princess." he called as I crossed the drive toward him.

"Good morning, Jake."

"You sleep all right?" he asked.

I knew everyone was wondering if I would be able to live in a house this large all by myself. Aunt Victoria was hoping I would get spooked and go to her, practically begging to accept the deal she had offered through Grant Randolph.

"Yes, I did. Jake.'

He smiled. Take was a tall, lean, balding man whose bushy, thick eyebrows almost made up for his loss of hair. He had dark brawn eyes which always seemed to have an impish glint, lighting up his narrow face. His chin was slightly cleft and his nose was just a little too long and too thin, but his smile for me was almost always warm, friendly, just as it was this morning.

Lately, he had a crimson tint in his cheeks. I knew he was drinking a little more than usual, but he called it his fuel and I could never say I saw him look or act drunk.

He opened the rear door of the Rolls for me. I hesitated, gazing in at the seat where Grandmother Hudson always sat firmly. I could still smell her perfume, the scent floating out to me. It made me hesitant.

"You all right with this. Rain?"

"Yes, Take. Yes," I said and got in quickly. He closed the door and we started for the cemetery.

"Victoria called to tell me I'd be picking up Megan and Grant at the airport tomorrow," he said as we drove along. "Did you know about that?"

"No."

"Thought so." he said nodding and shaking his head. "Sneak attack."