Page 52 (1/2)

"Anything you need, of course" he said

"I need you to be well" I said "One invalid on the property is all we're per ordinances"

He nodded, laughing silently

"Okay, Princess," he said "I'll shape up" "Good"

After he was gone I was left to ponder and anticipate my Aunt Victoria's visit and intentions There was no doubt in my mind she believed she had the upper hand I was sure she had been plotting with Grant againstcurious about them all, especially my mother, despite how much I wished I could put them out of my mind forever and ever

Just as I returned to my room after a therapy session Victoria appeared I wasn't even inin the wheelchair and I had just turned on the television set to continue with the soap opera I had been following I heard the familiar click of her heels on the corridor floor and then she was there, pouncing on the entrance as though so For a moment she was confused I wasn't in the bed Then she saw -board posture

"Well, how are you?" she asked

"How do I look?" I countered

She was clutching her purse under her right arainst her hip like a pistol and holster Dressed in her usual dray skirt suit and blouse with those thick-heeled shots, she looked as firm and as formal as ever However I could see she wasn't co Her eyes shifted about like a frightened chicken She had put on a dab of lipstick and what looked like a touch of rouge

"You look remarkably well,' she replied She spotted the chair and went to it For a er I had a te I started to take lessons but I was never graceful or relaxed enough and always came aith an ache here or an ache there," she said indicating her lower back and her thighs

"Megan was very good at it My father bought her a horse A beautiful Arabian It

cost a fortune to rew bored with it, of course, and finally an even knew he had, months before she even asked about her horse She never told you?"

"We didn't have a long enough hter conversation for any of that," I said dryly

"I suppose not You know, her taking you back, bringing you to ourabout you is just in character for her She has no attention span, whether it be new clothes, children, horseback riding, golf, anything, even her own husband"

"How is she?" I asked