Music in the Night (Logan 4)

"I'd like to see my aunt, Belinda Gordon. I've been here before," I said. "My name's Laura Logan."

"Oh, yes." She turned to the nurse. "Do you know where Belinda Gordon is at the moment, Jenny?"

"She's in her room. I brought her there about ten minutes ago."

"Is she all right?" I asked quickly.

"She was tired. She spent almost the whole day outside," the nurse said. "Come on. I'll take you to see her," she offered with a smile.

I followed her down the corridor through another door to Aunt Belinda's room.

She was sitting in her chair, her eyes closed. The moment after we appeared in her doorway, her eyes snapped open and she blinked rapidly.

"There's someone here to see you, Belinda," the nurse said. I stepped into the room.

"Hello, Aunt Belinda. It's Laura. Jacob and Sara's daughter," I added when her face registered no recognition.

She smiled.

"Oh, yes. Laura."

I pulled the chair near the window closer to her and sat. "How are you feeling?"

Aunt Belinda was no taller than Grandma Olivia. If anything, she was an inch or so shorter. They both had small features, but I thought Aunt Belinda was prettier. She had sapphire-blue eyes, which even here were brighter, happier. Her smile was softer. There was a childlike innocence to her, despite the tales of promiscuity and the notoriety of her youth.

"I'm a little tired today. How is your family?" she asked.

"Everyone's fine, Aunt Belinda."

"You're Jacob's daughter?"

"Yes," I said, smiling. Just as before, she had trouble remembering the details.

"Jacob has how many children?"

"Three, Aunt Belinda. I have a twin brother, Cary, and a younger sister, May, remember? Don't you remember me coming to see you before?"

"Oh, yes," she said. She stared a moment and then leaned forward. "Have you seen Haille, then?" she asked in a whisper, her eyes on the doorway.

"No, Aunt Belinda. I have never met Haille."

"Oh. Well . . isn't it a nice day?" she said, gazing out the window.

"I came to see you, Aunt Belinda, because last time you were telling me about the first time you fell in love, really in love. Remember?"

"Oh? Oh, yes," she said with a smile. "I remember." Her face grew darker. "It was a forbidden love, a love to be kept in the shadows, full of whispers and stolen kisses. When we saw each other in public, we couldn't show our feelings. Then I lost him," she added sadly. "I lost him forever and ever."

"But how did you know it was love, Aunt Belinda?"

"Oh, it was love all right. Why? Did Olivia say something again? She's always telling on me, running to Daddy and whining that Belinda did this and Belinda did that. Well, she's not so lily-pure."

She pouted.

"No, Grandma Olivia didn't say anything, Aunt Belinda. I just wanted to hear about love. Somehow, for some reason, I think you know more about it than anyone else in my family," I added, more to myself than to her, but she perked up.

"I do." She leaned forward and took my hand. "I've been in love many times."

"Many times? But I thought there was only one great love of your life. That's what you told me the last time," I said, not hiding my disappointment.