Gates of Paradise (Casteel 4)

"Oh, don't tease me, Drake. You don't know how it's been being shut up like this."

His impish smile evaporated instantly and his eyes became soft and caring.

"Poor Annie. I am being cruel. I promise I will get myself back here more often to take you out and about. But, about Winnerrow. As soon as I entered the house the servants nearly ran me over rushing to find out about you. Mrs. Avery was in tears immediately, of course; even Roland looked on the verge of bawling. Gerald was the only one who kept a stiff upper lip, but that's because . ."

"His upper lip is stiff," I recited along with him. It was a joke we made behind Gerald's back.

"Oh, I miss them . . . all of them."

"I saw some of your school friends at the drugstore. They were all anxious to hear about you, and all send their love."

"And Aunt Fanny? What about Aunt Fanny?"

"Well . " He shook his head. "She was weird. I found her sitting out back reading. Yes, reading. And she was dressed kind of conservatively in this longsleeve, white cotton blouse and long, flowing skirt. She had her hair brushed down and pinned back. I actually didn't recognize her and asked Gerald who was that sitting on the gazebo."

"The gazebo!"

"Reading? What?"

"Get this--Emily Post. When I approached, she looked up and said, 'Oh, Drake, how wonderful ta see ya.' She held out her hand and wouldn't let go of mine until I kissed her on the cheek hello. I think it was the first time I ever kissed her. I actually had a halfintelligent conversation with her. Your mother and father's death has had a dramatic effect on her. She is determined to better herself, she says, to--how did she put it?-.--to be a credit to Heaven's memory. Can you imagine? I have to give her some points, though. The house was immaculate, and from what the servants told me, she hasn't been fooling around with any of her young boyfriends. In fact, she's been living like a nun."

"Did she ask about me?"

"Of course."

"Is she coming to see me?"

"She wanted to, but I was afraid to say anything until Tony tells me the doctor says it's all right."

"But she's my aunt. I can't be kept like a prisoner in solitary confinement!" I pleaded, perhaps too emphatically. Poor Drake looked absolutely devastated by my outburst. "I'm sorry, Drake. It's not your fault. You did only what you thought was right, I'm sure."

"It can't be much longer, anyway, Annie. You look so much better already. Now that I'm a little more used to it, I think that hairdo does suit you. When I first came through that door, I thought Tony had put some movie starlet in this room while I was gone."

"Oh, Drake."

"No, you look a lot better than you did when I left. I mean it."

"I hope you're right, Drake." I looked down and then remembered tomorrow's service. "Did you speak to Tony before you came up here? Did he tell you about the service?"

"Yes, of course. be right at your side."

"And Luke? Has Luke called yet?" I asked hopefully.

"You mean, he still hasn't called?" Drake shook his head. "He told Fanny h

e was going to call. The selfish little--"

"Oh, Drake, I can't believe that of Luke. Please call him yourself. Tony called the dorm and left word and instructions about the service tomorrow, but be sure Luke gets the message, will you? Maybe someone at the dorm is pulling a prank on him and hiding his messages," I added desperately. What if what Drake was suggesting were true? People change when they leave home, I thought. Maybe all the pressures and hardships of his life in Winnerrow had finally taken hold and he had decided to throw off all connections with that life, including me!

Oh God no, I prayed. The world couldn't be that cruel.

"Sure.try to get ahold of him later. Well," he said, getting up and going to the suitcases, "here are the things you wanted."

"I don't have a maid anymore to help put them away. Tony fired Millie."

"I heard. No problem. I'll hang everything up for you." He fixed a section in the closet for my things. "Look at all this. These things were all Heaven's?"

"And my grandmother Leigh's. Tony hasn't thrown out a thing."