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Show house/ 436 .rained! She was one of Aunt Rachel.'^girls, caught between her Gerda. lother and Aunt- -•• I had expected her life to improve after larriage - but there was no illusion about it now. "Are these yours?" I asked, indicating the children. She nodded, laughing. "Some of 'em! I have seven." My mouth dropped open. "Taking after your mother, huh?" then I bit my lip, remembering that Aunt Wendy had died - [ was sure it was from having so many children. I introduced Henae- to Brian, watching him take in her stringy hairjN t&s bizarre dress, obviously an evening gown from the early fifties that she had found in a thrift store. He smiled down at her beautiful, blue-eyed children, but then drifted back to her, staring. Although he was polite, even warm, I could feel him wince and withdraw, seeing me with wider eyes. He did not know about the bonfire, how Rena-% would clap her hands and shout joyfully as the fire blazed high, or the soft, slow peace in her eyes as she shared the last bites of her potato. He each did not know these things - that R^oae and A of them have places in my heart, places taken long before I knew him. I really should have told him, prepared him. I showed her my ring. Her response is the one I envisioned yesterday, thinking of the family. Her eyes were wide, a brief twinkle reflecting the diamond. She ohed and ahed and crowed disfl-ayi-ng-it for her little girls. As her rough fingers sandpapered my white, pampered, hand, I noticed that she wore no engagement ring. Her band was simple gold, like my other's. She was probably a second or third wife. I flushed with embarrassment. Questions pierced, sharp and stinging in my solar plexis. Why was it enough for her, but not for me? '1 |