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"Thank you," I said, but I knew I had spoken too softly for either of them to hear

"We had a nice conversation in the garden while you were crossing T's and dotting I's, Sanford" "Oh?"

"Janet told me she loves to dance," Celine said "Really?" Sanford sounded surprised

I had said I liked dancing, but I hadn't done enough dancing to say I loved it, especially the sort of dancing she meant She turned to face me

"I was younger than you when I started training, Janet My randmother Annie, was a prima ballerina It broke my mother's heart almost as much as it did mine when I had to stop" She had turned to look at ht had returned to her eyes

She took a deep breath before continuing

"Both my parents are still alive They live in Westchester in the same house where my brother Daniel and I were raised," she explained

My heart began to pound again It was one thing to drea a morandparents and uncles and aunts Maybe there was a cousin, too, a girl about e hom I could become best friends

"Unfortunately, both of Sanford's parents are gone," she continued She gazed at hiain "His sister Marlene lives in Denver but we don't see her very much She doesn't approve of me"

"Celine, please," he said weakly

"Yes, Sanford's right No unpleasantness, never again You don't need to know any of the unpleasantness I've had to bear You've known enough during your poor little life," she said "You don't have to worry about money, either We're rich"

"You shouldn't say things like that, Celine," Sanford gently chastised I could tell immediately that he was sorry he'd spoken

"Why not? Why shouldn't I be proud? Sanford owns and operates a glass factory We're not as big as Corning, but we're coed

"Yes, dear" He looked back at me "Once you've settled in, show you the plant"

"You can show her, but she's not going to spend a great deal of time down there, Sanford She'll be too busy with her school