Music in the Night (Logan 4)

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Nothing, except I was teaching him how to sail, wasn't I? So, I'll just invite him over to go sailing tomorrow and you and he can--"

"Can what, Cary?" I asked, my heart starting to beat with the possibilities.

"Go sailing yourselves."

"You would do this for me?"

"Yeah, I would," he said, looking away.

"You'll get into trouble with Grandma Olivia, Cary." "I'm not afraid of that," he said boldly.

Just then the wind picked up and whipped the strands of my hair around my face. Someone shouted and we looked back to see a flower display topple.

"Uh-oh, some poor slob is about to be bawled out for not setting that up properly," Cary said and laughed. "Grandma Olivia might take away his breathing rights."

I couldn't help but laugh, too.

"That's more like it, Laura. Remember when I told you that your smile lights up the day?" he said shyly, breaking off in embarrassment. "Don't worry, call him later. And this time, she won't get anything out of me either," he promised.

And suddenly, the sun did peek out from behind a cloud and the warm rays washed over me, making me feel reborn.

That night I dared a phone call to Robert. Cary had already called and invited him.

"I was going to you," he said. "Cary's invitation was such a surprise, I didn't know what to make of it. What's going on? Why the change of heart? One day he comes at me like he's my biggest enemy and the next . . ."

"He's so sorry for what he's done, he's trying to make it up to me, to both of us," I said.

"Actually, I don't care what his reasons are. I'm going to spend the day with you. That's all that matters, Laura. You don't know how sick at heart I've been these past days," he moaned.

"I do know, because I've been the same way," I said.

"My mother's been asking questions constantly about you. She thinks I did something to drive you away and she wants me to know that if I did, I'm really stupid. She'll let up on me now that she knows I'm going to see you tomorrow," he said with a laugh.

It was as if the blood had returned to my body, my heart began beating once again. I caught myself smiling crazily, and I knew I was walking around with a glow around my face.

I was the first up in the morning, and started to make breakfast for everyone. Mommy was so happy at my display of energy, she talked a blue streak as she helped me set the table. Even Daddy looked more relaxed, amused. The only dark thing he said was we should keep an eye on the weather. He said the sky had the look it usually took on right before we get hit with a nor'easter.

To me the sky looked beautiful. Even the clouds gathering on the horizon were welcome to my eyes. The wind was up, but Cary thought it was perfect for sailing. He spent part of the morning with Daddy at the cranberry bog while I prepared our lunches for the picnic on the beach.

"I'm glad you're taking some time off, Laura," Mommy remarked. "You've been working too hard. There's no sense in getting sick before you take your finals and end the school year now, is there?"

"No, Mommy."

"We're very, very proud of you, Laura. Everyone in the family is proud of you. Why, just the other day at the party, your grandmother came over to me especially to remark about how delighted she was to hear about your accomplishments at school. She wanted me to be sure to tell you that, and that she had a special surprise for you."

"And what's that, I wonder?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the sandwiches I was wrapping.

"Well, we're not supposed to tell you yet, but Daddy said she told him she's established a fund in the bank to take care of your entire college needs. That's a lot of money, Laura. It's nice to know your

grandparents care that much about you," Mommy added.

"Money's not the only way to show you care for someone, Mammy," I said.

"Oh, no, but it sure helps," she said with a light laugh. "Just think how that takes the worry out of your father's brow," she continued. "You know how he's been about the ups and downs in the business. He's not one to harp on bad times, but we've had our share," Mommy assured me. "Your daddy's very happy that Grandma Olivia thinks so much of you, too."

I swallowed away the tightness in my throat.