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to happen between me and my mother and aunt.
He laughed.
"Right. In a television advertisement they could say. "Lawyers, don't leave home without one.'' he recited, writing the words in the air between us. I couldn't help but smile.
"That's better. We don't have to be dueling with words."
Was I a fool to permit his sweet talk and smile to relax my defenses? Grandmother Hudson had taught me a saying early on: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
An idea occurred to me, a quick test of Corbetters sincerity.
"Maybe I don't have as much money as you think. Corbett, and maybe I'm not a landowner. Maybe everything you've heard is just an
exaggeration. Maybe I'm waiting to get my walking papers and be off, never to be seen or heard from again,"
His smile froze and then slowly evaporated. "What is the truth?" he asked.
I smiled to myself seeing how the look of uncertainty had entered those magnificent eyes and snuffed out some of their charm and glitter.
"Well," I said gazing around and lowering my voice. "I'll tell you as long as you promise not to make this the news of the day."
"Hey. I'm not a aossip."
"Good. They said I could stay here awhile as long as I kept it clean."
"Huh?"
"They actually wanted me to stay awhile and maintain it. They'll pay me, of course, and they'll even pay for my train ticket to wherever I want to go afterward, They hope to sell it in about a month. I think. Someone's got to be here to watch over it all until then and no one in Mrs. Hudson's family is willing to live here."
"Are you saying she didn't leave you a wad of money?"
"Hardly," I said laughing. "Is that what people really think?" He stared.
"Oh, she had arranged for me to return to England for another year and I'm hoping to win a scholarship for expenses, but if that doesn't happen..."
"What?"
"I have a cousin who manages a department store in Charlotte and she said she could give me a job. maybe in the cosmetic department."
"You mean you wouldn't even return to college?'"
"Not for a while. I couldn't afford it," I said. "You know how expensive college can be. and I don't have a sugar daddy. I don't have any daddy," I added, my voice sharper, my eyes narrowing.
He nodded and stared. Suddenly, he looked very uncomfortable and shifted in his chair.
"What's this meeting you're having here in a little while?" he asked, still a little skeptical.
"Oh, just a meeting to get my instructions." I said, sounding as nonchalant about it as I could, Then I smiled. "So, you want to take me to dinner? About what time?" I asked.
"Huh? Oh, er... first I gotta see if I can get us reservations. It's a small place and it's gotten so popular lately."
"You want to use the phone? You can as long as it isn't a long- distance call. I promised them I wouldn't make any long- distance calls," I added.
"Really? Well. I think it would be long distance from here. Yes, yes it would. Why don't I just call from home and let you know," he said.
"Fine."
He was squirming now, glancing at the doorway.
"You know you were so right when you said I should let you apologize. It isn't right to hold a grudge and everyone should be given a second chance, don't you think?" I asked him.
"Yes, sure." he said.
"Boys will be boys, but you're older now and wiser. Something like that wouldn't happen again. I'm sure. I just know you're a more considerate person. Corbette. How's your brother, by the way?" I asked.
He was so ashamed about having a brother with Down's Syndrome that he had initially told me his brother was dead. I had found out he wasn't dead: when I had confronted him, he had blamed it all on his mother who couldn't face the facts. The truth was it was easier for him to simply say his brother was dead because to him he was dead.
"He's okay. No different," he quickly replied. He glanced at his watch, "Well. I'd better get a move on if I'm going to make any arrangement for tonight."
"So soon? We didn't really get a chance to catch up," I said.
"Well... well, we'll have