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"Don't go before Iforth her ar of Joel, and backed against it "All right I'll stay, but I won't understand"

"Bart loves me, Cathy, really loves me When he says it, I can't help but believe him He wants me to divorce Jory Bart has said he will marry me" Her tearful voice diminished to a husky whisper "I don't truthfully know if I can live out my life with a husband confined to a wheelchair"

Sobbingposition fell in a cru like you are, Cathy I can't give Jory the support he needs now I don't knohat to say, or what to do for hi back the Jory I used to have, for I don't know this one I don't even think I want to know himand I'm ashamed, so ashamed! Now all I want to do is vanish"

My voice took on the steely edge of a razor "You're not going to escape your responsibilities that easily, Melodie I'e vows First, you will cut Bart out of your life You will never allow hiain You will say no every tiain Yes, I've already faced hio to Chris and tell hi on As you know, Chris is a very patient, understanding reat deal of control, but he won't condone what you're doing with Bart"

"Please," she cried "I love Chris like a father! I want hi me"

"Then leave Bart alone! Think of your child, which should co sex noay, it's sometimes not safe"

Her huge eyes closed, squeezed back the tears; then she was nodding and proain Even as she vowed, I didn't believe her I didn't believe Bart either when I spoke to him before I went to bed

Morning came and I hadn't slept at all I rose, tired and listless, putting on a false s myself He invited ht for solad Melodie has you to lean on," said Jory as I helped him to turn over

Each day Chris, the nurse and I took turnsthem when the therapist wasn't there to do it for his, due to the ained a little of their former shape

I took that as a huge step forward Hopein this house of darkto hope we colored yellow--like the sun we'd seldom seen

"I was expecting Melodie to co," Jory said with a bit of wistfulness, "since she failed to even stop by and say good night last night"

Days passed Melodie disappeared often, as did Bart My faith in Melodie had eroded No longer could Ito talk to Bart and turned to Jory for coether We cosaw coht pieces faster We sipped wine in the afternoon, grew sleepy by nine and pretended, pretended that everything would work out fine

There was so in bed ued "It's the lack of proper exercise," he said, pulling on the trapeze fastened to his headboard "At least I'--where did you say Melodie was?"

I put down the bootee I'd just finished and picked up the yarn to ames I knitted and watched TV When I wasn't with Jory, I was inof our lives My last book, I told myself What more did I have to say? What else could happen to us?

"Mom! Don't you ever listen to me? I asked if you knehere Melodie was, and what she's doing"