Toni stood, stepped behind his chair and began to massage his neck with skillful fingers. "Does your back still bother you at night?"

"No," he said in a hoarse voice. But it did, I knew it did. Hidden behind the shrubs, I went right on snipping roses, sensing they didn't know I was there.

"If ever your back aches again, buzz for me and I'll give you a massage to take away the pain."

Whirling his chair around in a full about-face, Jory confronted her fiercely. She had to jump back out of the way or be knocked down. "So, it seems if you can't get one brother, you'll settle for the other--the crippled one who can't possibly resist your many charms? Thanks, but no thanks. My mother will massage my aching back."

Slowly she drifted away, turning twice to look back at him. She didn't know that she left him staring after her with his heart in his eyes. She closed a French door behind her quietly. I stopped cutting roses for the breakfast table and sat on the grass. Behind me the twins were playing "church."

Following Chris's instructions, we were doing what we could to increase their vocabulary daily, and our instructions seemed to be working wonders.

"And the Lord said to Eve, go forth from this place." Darren's childish voice was full of giggles. I turned to look.

Both children had removed their brief sunsuits and taken off small white sandals. Deirdre stuck a leaf on her brother's small male organ, then stared down at her own private place. She frowned. "Dare . . . what's sinning?"

"Like running," answered her brother. "Bad when you're barefoot.

They both giggled and jumped up to run toward me. I caught them in my arms and held their soft, warm, nude bodies close, raining kisses on their faces. "Have you eaten your breakfast?"

"Yes, Granny Toni fed us grapefruit, which we hate. We ate everything but the eggs. Don't like eggs."

That was Deirdre who did most of the talking for Darren, just as Carrie had been Cory's voice most of the time.

"Mom--how long have you been there?" called Jory. He sounded annoyed, a bit embarrassed.

Rising, I held the naked twins in my arms, and headed for Jory. "I found Toni in the pool teaching the twins how to swim, so I took over and asked her to look in on you. They're doing very nicely in the water now, paddling all around with confidence. Why didn't you join us this morning?"

"Why did you keep yourself hidden?"

"Just snipping my morning roses, Jory. You know I do that every day. It's the one thing that makes this house cozy, the cut flowers I put in every room the first thing in the mornings." Playfully I stuck a red rose behind his ear. Quickly he snatched it away and stuffed it in with the daisies Toni had brought him.

"You heard Toni and me, didn't you?"

"Jory, when I am outdoors in August knowing September isn't far away, I just grab each moment and value it for what it is. The rose scent is in my nostrils, making me think I am in Heaven, or in Paul's garden. He had the most beautiful gardens. All kinds. He divided sections into those that held English gardens, Japanese, Italian--"

"I've heard all that before!" he said impatiently. "I asked if you heard us?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did hear every fascinating thing, and when I had the chance, I peeked above the roses to watch the two of you."

He scowled very much like Bart as I moved to put the twins on their feet, then gave their bare bottoms small spanks, telling them to find Toni, who would help them dress. They scuttled away, little naked dolls.

I sat down to smi

le at Jory, who glowered at me accusingly. He seemed even more like Bart when he looked angry. "Really, Jory, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was there before either of you came out." I paused and looked at his frowning face. "You love Toni, don't you?"

"I don't love her! She's Bart's! Damned if I want to take Bart's leavings again."

"Again?"

"Come off it, Mom. You know as well as I do the real reason why Mel left this house. He made it plain enough, and so did she that Christmas morning when the clipper ship was mysteriously broken. She'd have stayed on here forever if Bart had kept his position as replacement for me. I think she fell in love with him inadvertently, while trying to satisfy her need for me and the sex we shared. I used to hear her crying in the night. I'd lie on my bed, wanting to go to her but unable to move, feeling sorry for her, sorrier for myself. It was hell then. It's hell now. A different kind of hell."

"Jory--what can I do to help?"

He leaned forward, meeting my eyes with such intensity I was reminded of Julian and the many ways in which I had thwarted him

"Mom, despite all this house represents to you, it's grown to feel like home to me. The halls and doorways are wide. There's the elevator to take me up and down. There're the swimming pool, the terraces, the gardens and the woods. Actually, a kind of, paradise on earth-- but for a few flaws. I used to think I couldn't wait to get away. Now I don't want to go, and I don't really want to worry you any more than you already are, yet I must speak."

I waited with dread to hear about those few "flaws."

Tags: V.C. Andrews Dollanganger Horror
Source: readsnovelonline.net