Page 2 (1/2)

on his or her self-interests and had tunnel vision They didn't see it Mama Arnold always told me there were none so blind as those who refused to see, those who looked away or down or at some fantasy rather than the truth This fareat-uncle's strange fantasies in his London cottage, to o off and distract herself with new purchases at the least little drop of controversy or stress

My aunt Victoriaher another Scarlett O'Hara because she was always saying "I'll worry about it tomorrow" Tomorrow, tomorrow-- it never comes of course Victoria liked to remind everyone

Well, whetherto face it or not, tomorrow had come to this family

Grandmother Hudson in her last will and testament had insisted it come Even in death, maybe especially in death, she hovered over her fa they finally take responsibility for their actions, for who they were and what they were

I wasn't about to stop all that frohtened of what the future held for me I didn't have all that many choices, True, I had found Larry Ward land and met his family He had achieved his dreaht in a coet to know his fa his wife Leanna but Grandmother Hudson's last bit of advice was not to push myself on them She was afraid they would coht, when I was more sure of myself, I would revisit him and his family

Meanwhile, with my stepbrother Roy still in the army in Germany, the only friend I had here was Jake, Grandrown very close during my ti arts in England, he surprisedme to see his new race horse that he had named after me

Jake had history with this faed to his fao, his family lost it and the Hudsons took it over Jake had traveled a great deal in his life

He had been in the navy and he had never married and had no children or fa me

Today he waited for me outside to drive me to the cemetery I had been there before with everyone else of course, but this tiood-bye

After the funeral and the reading of the will I had e anything, didn't move a picture or shift a chair It helpedover me

Aunt Victoria had already been through Grand sure she had all her valuable jewelry, watches and even so Parts of the rooed In fact the draere so empty there was not even a piece of lint left and the closets were full of gaping areas, even the hangers gone

Of course, having lived here and helped take care of the house I was quite familiar with

everything, especially in the kitchen I recalled the meals I had cooked for Grandmother Hudson and how much she had appreciated them Her attorney provided me with all the information I needed to maintain the house and property He said if I wanted, which I did, he would continue to e and oversee that aspect of the estate I had the feeling

Grands about me He seemed very pleased that I had stood up to my mother Her husband and Victoria

"Up to now," he said, "you're living up to your grandmother's expectations Rain"