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Show - 80 - Penny held the decantor under the spigot of one of the old barrels and filled it to the brim with sparkling Napa Chablis wine. She turned to leave, but standing close by was the ghost. "Well, I haven't seen you for quite some time. I've missed you," she said. Claudine smiled and her hand went up to the gardenias draped around her shoulders. This was the first time that Penny had ever seen happy, her look Again, she realized how beautiful the ghost was, and could understand why Dirk and Andre' had loved her so deeply. The young girl had the feeling that, for the first time, Claudine really trusted her. "Ma Chere, are you beginning to learn a little more about the circumstances surrounding my death?" This statement shocked Penny very much. Death, Claudine dead. Yes, she had almost come to believe that this girl was a living, breathing human being. She had become such a big part of her every day living this past year that Penny had almost ceased to think of her as deceased. "Yes, I'm learning much more about your life here at Gaven House. Maddie has told me about Andre" Junot, but you must give me more information about him, also. Did you love him more than Dirk? Did you give up Dirk for Andre?" questioned Penny. "My first tragic mistake, Penelope, was to have encouraged Andre1 at all, and no, I did not love him more than Dirk. He was my first love! My one and only true love, but I tried to interfere and destroyed Dirk and myself. To please me he compromised his principles. In my desire to placate my parents, I thought I could forget Dirk. I realized too late that it was a weak thing to do." Her voice trembled and the sadness in her features was again evident. "I am sure my Maddie knows how I felt. There were many times when I confided in her." "What happened to Dirk? I believe Maddie told me he continued to bootleg, even after you returned from France." said Penny. |