Ruby (Landry 1)

brother's accident and my mother's illness. A once

proud, strong man, now he walked with his shoulders

turned in, his head lowered, his back bent. He was

always pale, his eyes empty, his enthusiasm for his

business at a very low ebb.

" 'Pierre,' " he said, I don't think you

r mother's

long for this world, and frankly, I feel my own days

are numbered. What we would like most to see is for

you to marry and start your family.'

"Daphne and I were planning on getting

married anyway, but after his conversation with me, I

rushed things along. I wanted to try to have children

immediately. She understood. But month after month

passed and when she showed no signs of becoming

pregnant, we became concerned.

"I sent her to specialists and the conclusion was

she was unable to get pregnant. Her body simply

didn't produce enough of some hormone. I forget the

exact diagnosis.

"The news devastated my father who seemed to

live only for the day when he would rest his eyes on

his grandchild. Not long after, my mother died." "How terrible," I said. He nodded and turned

off the engine.

"My father went into a deep depression. He

rarely came to work, spent long hours simply staring

into space, took poorer and poorer care of himself.

Daphne looked after him as best she could, but

blamed herself somewhat, too. I know she did, even

though she denies it to this day.