Eye of the Storm (Hudson 3)

"Not while I was in the house," she said. "I did leave to do some shopping for us."

"Oh." I thought a moment. "Where is my phone? My aunt was supposed to see to that."

"I don't know. I've got lots else to worry about here," she added.

Furious about it now. I tried to reach Aunt Victoria, She had a phone service like some doctor when her office was closed.

The indifferent operator said she would pass along the message. I told her it was very important.

Hours later. while I was having dinner, the phone rang and Mrs. Bogart told me it was Aunt Victoria. I wheeled myself over to it and she handed me the receiver.

"I need that phone installed," I began before I even said hello. "You promised to take care of it and I..."

"We have some other, far more demanding concerns at the moment. Rain. I'll see about the phone when I get back."

"Get back? -Where are you?"

"I'm in Washington. with Grant. Your mother, my sister:' she added, her voice dripping with disgust, "made a pathetic attempt to take her own life."

"What?"

"She swallowed a dozen or so sleeping pills. Grant is beside himself. We've had to contain the news, of course, keep the disgrace out of the press."

"Is she all right?" I asked.

"All right?" She laughed. "Hardly. She's not dying now, if that's what you mean. The maid found her in time, which was probably what she expected would happen, and they rushed here to the hospital and pumped her stomach. The doctors and I believe she will have to be committed to the psychiatric clinic for a while, maybe quite a while.

"They're nominating Grant for Congress next week. too. He certainly doesn't need this just when his dreams are coming true."

She paused, letting out a deep sigh like someone enduring a great burden.

"As soon as I can. I'll return and we'll do what has to be done for you. For now, I'm afraid you'll be on your own."

"Where do you think I've been?" I snapped back at her. She didn't reply and I calmed myself. "What about Alison?" I asked.

"What about her?"

"How is she taking all this?"

"Fortunately, she's not here. She's in Italy, traveling with a group of students. Grant isn't telling her anything about it. Why spoil her trip?"

"Yes." I said. "Why do that?"

What had Alison ever done to be blessed with a world of happiness and pleasure, a world where sadness was stopped in its tracks and when it rained, it rained lollipops and jelly beans?

And what had I done to live in a world where smiles and laughter were mined like diamonds and cherished more than rare jewels?

"If you can." I said. "tell my mother I'm sorry to hear about her trouble and I wish she would get better."

Aunt Victoria grunted.

Even someone as insensitive as my aunt knew how I had wanted my mother to have sent similar good wishes to me after my accident.

But she never had.

Now I wondered if she ever would.

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