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As I stood and looked at hi hih

t falling leaves went liainst the glass "Daddy used to do all the chores e lived in Gladstone Moave her twice as many to clean"

"I want my wife, Mom, NOW!"

I was reluctant to go in search of Melodic for no reason could naloo

"Would you like a cheerful wood fire burning?"

"I only want my wife Do I have to repeat this ten times? Once she's here, she can start the fire"

I left hi my presence irritated hi him back to himself

Melodic was not in her room as I'd expected her to be

The halls I trod seeer The closed doors I passed seemed the same heavy, solid doors I'd stealthily opened when I'd been fourteen, fifteen Behind me I sensed the orandmother

I turned to the western wing Bart's wing

Almost automatically my feet took me there as my mind stayed blank Intuition had ruled most of my life and, it see this way? Why didn't I look elsewhere for Melodic? What instinct was guiding o?

Before Bart's wide double doors that were heavily padded with luxurious black leather, goldtooled with his ram and the family crest, I called softly, "Bart, are you in there?"

I heard nothing However, all the doors were made of solid oak, heavily paneled beneath the ostentatious padding Very soundproof doors and thick walls that kne to hold secrets, so no wonder we four had been so easily hidden away I turned the doorlatch, expecting to find it locked It wasn't

Al rooazine out of place On his walls hung his sporting equip in a corner, a rowing machine inside a closet with the door partially open I stared at the photographs of his favorite sports stars I often thought Bartfootball and baseball athletes just so he'd have so in co he'd have been more honest to plaster his walls with pictures of those who'd earned fortunes in the stockin industry, or politics

His rooms were all black and white with red accents; dramatic, but somehow cold I sat down on his white leather sofa fully twelve feet long, my feet on his red carpet, with black velvet and satin pillows behindwith crystal decanters and various stelasses, and every kind of liquor he kept there for his private use, along with snack foods There was also a s whatever light cooking he wanted