Back at the house, he helped me prepare for bed. "Get a good night's rest tonight. Rain," he said.
"Are you going to leave?"
"I'll stay, if you want,"
"Of course. I want you to stay. I'll never be the one to tell you to leave. Austin," I promised. He smiled, brushed back some strands of hair from my forehead and kissed me.
"Close your eyes. I'll be back," he promised and left.
I was so tired I didn't hear him return and get into the bed beside me. The phone woke us in the morning. For a moment I regretted forcing Aunt Victoria to have it installed.
"Hello," I said, clearing my throat. "Is Austin there?" a man asked,
"What? Oh. Yes," I said.
There was a moment of silence and then he said in a very stern voice. "Please put him on."
I turned in the bed. Austin wiped his eyes and sat up. "What?"
"It's for you." I said.
"Me?" He grimaced, then he got out of bed and came around to take the phone. 'Hello?"
Watching him listen I saw his face turn crimson. His eyes flitted from my face to the fl
oor. He turned his body so that I couldn't look directly at him.
"Okay. I understand,'" he said. "I'll be right there."
He hung up and for a moment just stood there in silence, "What?"
"That was my uncle," he said. 'I've got to go."
He hurriedly began to dress.
"What is it? Austin?"
"I don't want to upset you," he said buttoning his shirt.
"What?" I demanded.
"Your aunt's attorney called my uncle and threatened to make a formal complaint to the state about me. That would mean my uncle would have to appear at a hearing and I would have to go. too." He hesitated and then he added. "If she goes through with it, he could lose his license and his entire business."
"Oh. Austin. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," he said. "I should have told my uncle about us. Naturally he wants to know what's been going on. I don't want to do anything that would hurt him. He's been more like a father to me than my real father."
"I feel terrible."
"That's why I was reluctant to tell you. Rain. Don't go blaming yourself now," he warned, "We'll straighten it out."
"In the meantime, stop worrying about me," I told him. "I'll be fine. I won't do anything stupid like last night. I promise. Just take care of your uncle and yourself."
"You are going to get someone else to help here. aren't you?"
"Yes."
"I'll see about helping you do that and..."