Page 3 (2/2)

"What in all hell" Daddy started for Belinda's closed door I folloith Mother a distant third, but when Daddy opened the door and realized the horrendous screaed forward

"Winston, what's wrong?" she cried

Daddy flicked on the light, illuht before us Belinda was sprawled on the floor, her nightgown bloody and crus was a newly-born infant, the umbilical cord and afterbirth still attached

Belinda's eyes ith terror The baby's eyes were closed, and it jerked its tiny ar

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph," Daddy exclaimed under his breath, his feet hammered to the floor by astonishment

Mother's eyes rolled back in her head and she folded at Daddy's feet as if her spinal cord had turned to jelly "Leonora!"

"Take her to bed, Daddy," I said "I'll see to Belinda"

He gazed back at the sight once ination Then he squatted, slipped his arms under Mother and lifted her like she was a baby herself, carrying her back to their bedroom

I entered Belinda's roo the door behind me Our servants downstairs were surely awake by noell Belinda whi She had her arms raised, but she was afraid to touch the infant or herself

"I couldn't stop it It just happened, Olivia," she azed down at the bloody sight

"You were pregnant? All this tinant?" I asked incredulously

"Yes," she said, gasping

Now everythingthe past fewweight She was ravenous at every meal lately and didn't see hips and bloated face I really didn't care It was more Daddy who coht before his eyes and in its place grew this self-indulgent creature I called my sister

Oh, once or twice, I said things like, "Aren't you afraid you'll lose your entourage of boyfriends?"