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“But I don’t want one!” Geoffrey shouted

At which Brooke jumped up and waved her hands about frantically “That’s it That just cuts it You’ve shouted atme fits It’s all for you and you don’t even want it—and I Oh, well, I just can’t take it anymore” And with that, she burst into tears and ran from the room

Geoffrey watched her go with a look of abject misery on his face

After a minute, Eloise stood and said what she always said whenever Brooke ran off in tears “I’ll just go and have a ith her”

But then Geoffrey delivered the shocker “No, Great-Granny Please sit down”

His calmly uttered request was such a surprise to Eloise, she sank back to her chair without a word

And he said so seriously, “I’ve been thinking a lot, about oes with us I don’t want it to be like that anymore and I mean to do better, I really do But she just” He stopped himself, sed hard “No What I want to say is that I will do better” He pushed back his chair “So I will go and talk to her andwill be” He seeo on from there

Rafe said gingerly, “Geoffrey, if you don’t want the party—”

Geoffrey put up his little hand “No Uncle Rafe, I mean it She surprised me is all And the party will be fine I will enjoy it very much, I’m sure” And with that, he pushed in his chair in and went to talk to his mother

Genny stared after hi for him No almost nine-year-old boy should have to be that wise

A few ether

Brooke apologized for running off like that And then she beamed them all a dewy smile “Geoffrey has toldlovely to look forward to”

In the week between Geoffrey’s arrival fro pretty well, Genny thought Brooke was all wrapped up incelebration

Geoffrey eet and open, as always And he see with Rafe and he spent tiardens with Genny and Eloise

By the end of the day Thursday, the giant waterslide had been set up not far from the lake and the archery field was ready for paintball The ician would put on his show on the family side of the terrace There was a candy-floss machine and one for popcorn, too The East Terrace was done up in a carnival theic show and the food and cake Before that, they could get wonderfully wet and round pool Brooke had had erected nearby, and in the archery field playing paintball