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That surprisedshe was like me?

"You will find it a disadvantage, this need to always be pleasant and do what Sara idiotically preaches: 'don't say anything about anyone if you can't say so her head in mimicry "Isn't that what she always parrots?"

"She's a very kindhearted, considerate person who thinks the sun rises and falls on your wishes," I said "And if she kne you felt about her, she would feel just terrible"

"She's merely afraid of me," Grandma Olivia said with a wave of her hand "She has about as much love for me as you do, but I don'tabout who loves you and who doesn't, you'll end up--end up like Belinda," she concluded

"Why didn't you tell me the truth?" I demanded

"It wasn't h "And it's not so I care to remember" The sadness dropped from her face and was quickly replaced with that habitual take-charge look "Besides, what good does that do now? Belinda is in a rest home Your mother is dead Your real father reive you Nelson may have confessed to his youthful sins, but believeaway in that house, living alone, his other children content to be far away, his son Kenneth unforgiving"

"Kenneth toldhe knows He's my uncle I have that now," I retorted

She snickered

"Relatives If you ask me, they're just additional burdens You inherit their weaknesses and problems on top of your own If you have a relative who committed a crime, people treat you as if you co the burden ofendeavor for me," she said "I've done well and I' forward to focus her steely eyes on me

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Itwith Nelson and hearing him slobber like a baby over the phone, because I wanted to be certain, absolutely certain that what he told you goes nowhere else I'm too old to do battle with a new scandal He was a fool to break down and tell you"

"I had a right to know It's my life, too," I protested "Now, I know that Kenneth Childs is my uncle," I continued "He's asked uardian"

She recoiled as if stung by a bee

"What? Absolutely not Why, that would be as good as standing on the street corner and announcing it all Is he mad?"

"He was in love with my mother," I said "You knohen he learned about his father andman and wife He wants to do this for me"