Heartsong (Logan 2)

"I've got to show this to Kenneth," I muttered. I stood up and gazed at my suitcases. "Before I go to Grandma Olivia's."

I put the suitcases back in the room and hurried down the stairs. I went to the kitchen and called the taxi company, asking for a car immediately. Then I went outside, hardly able to take my eyes from the face of the model in the latest En Vogue catalogue. She even had that little turn in her upper lip.

Uncle Jacob and Aunt Sara were sitting on the front porch. Both looked up with surprise and interest as I burst out of the house, the catalogue in my hand.

"What did you get, dear?" Aunt Sara asked. Uncle Jacob didn't want to show any interest, but couldn't help himself.

"My friend--Alice Morgan. Remember? From Sewell?"

"Oh yes."

"She sent me this catalogue because there is a model in it who looks so much like my mother," I explained. Uncle Jacob's eyes widened with more interest.

"Oh. Really?" Aunt Sara said, leaning toward me as I opened the catalogue to the page Alice had marked. "Yes, there is some resemblance. Isn't there, Jacob?" she asked showing him the catalogue. He stared and then grunted.

"Some. What of it?" he muttered.

"There's more than some," I said taking the catalogue back.

"What about it?" he asked.

"I want to know more about her," I said.

"What for? When someone dies, we should let her rest in peace," he said, directing his gaze more at Aunt Sara than at me. The reference to Laura was clear. She pressed her lips together and looked away.

I saw my cab coming down our street. "That's for me," I said as it drew closer.

"For you? What for? My mother's sending her car. No need to waste money," Uncle Jacob said

, "just because you're going to be living with people that have some."

"I'm going to show this to Kenneth," I said. "I'm going back to his house."

"Now?" Uncle Jacob demanded.

"No one knows my mother's face better than Kenneth," I explained. "I'll feel better showing it to him."

"You're just wasting good time, your own and everyone else's," he said. "There's enough to do and-- "

"I'm all packed. There wasn't that much to do. My bags are upstairs, ready to be brought down," I added to please him.

"Good," he said.

The cab pulled up front and I started for it. "Melody," Aunt Sara called. I turned back. She stared like someone who had forgotten why she had called me.

"Yes?"

"Don't you want any lunch, dear?"

"No, but thank you, Aunt Sara. I'll be back as soon as I can," I said.

"Just have Kenneth or the cab take you to Grandma Olivia's house," Uncle Jacob said. "I'll call for Raymond and he'll take your bags there while you're wasting everyone's time."

"Thank you, Uncle Jacob," I said. "I hope you get better soon and get back to the sea you love so much."

He looked surprised. I smiled as his thoughts stumbled over my words of kindness. Then I hurried into the cab, the magazine clutched tightly in my hand.

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