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"I'm with a new foster family, the Allans, and I'm back in Richmond, but it's all right. I'm going to go to a regular public school," Jimmy added quickly.
"Oh, Jimmy, I have so much to tell you I don't know where to begin."
He laughed.
"Just start at the beginning," he said, and I told him all that I had learned, described my meeting with Grandmother Cutler, and explained what had resulted.
"So you see, Jimmy, you shouldn't blame Daddy. He thought he was doing the right thing," I said.
"Yeah," he said, "I suppose, but it was still dumb," he added, only not sounding as hard as he could.
"Will you talk to him when he contacts you, Jimmy?" I asked, my voice full of hope.
"Let's see if he ever will," he replied. "I'm glad Fern was adopted by a young couple. They'll give her lots of love, but I can't wait till we find her again," he said. "And I'm glad about your going to a school for performing arts, even though it means I probably won't see you for a long time. But I'll try."
"I'll try to see you, too, Jimmy."
"I miss you," he said.
"I miss you, too," I said, my voice cracking. "Well, I'd better hang up. They were nice enough to let me make this call. Good luck, Dawn."
"Jimmy!" I cried, realizing he was about to hang up. "What?"
"I know I can think of you differently," I blurted. He understood.
"I'm glad, Dawn. It's the same with me."
"Bye," I said. I didn't realize I was crying until a tear dropped from my cheek.
On the morning of my departure the chambermaid staff presented me with a going-away present. Sissy gave it to me in the lobby by the front door as the bellhops were loading my suitcases into the hotel limousine.
"Some people are sorry for the cold way you were treated," she said and handed me a tiny package. I unwrapped it and discovered a solid gold mop-and-pail pin.
"We didn't want'cha to forget us," Sissy said. I laughed and hugged her.
Grandmother Cutler stood off to the side during all this, watching with her eagle eyes. I could see that she was impressed with the affection the hotel staff had for me.
Clara Sue stood sullenly in the doorway, Philip at her side, a slight smirk on his face.
I hurried down the steps without a farewell glance to either of them. My mother and Randolph were waiting at the limousine. Mother looked fresh and rested. She hugged me and kissed my forehead. I was surprised at how affectionate she was. Was it just for the audience of guests and staff, or had she come to feel something for me?
I looked into her soft eyes, but I couldn't be sure. It was all too confusing.
"Okay, Dawn," Randolph said. "We'll be up to see you as soon as we can get away from the hotel." He kissed me on the cheek. "If you need anything, just call."
"Thank you," I said. The limousine driver opened the door for me and I got in. I sat back and thought how different this was from my arrival in the night in a police patrol car.
We began to pull away from the hotel. I looked back and waved at everyone and saw Grandmother Cutler step out to gaze after me. She looked different, thoughtful. What a strange woman, I thought, and wondered if I would ever get to know her.
Then I turned to look out at the ocean as we came down the driveway. The sun had turned the water into a bright aqua. The little sailboats looked pain
ted against the blue horizon. It was beautiful here, picture perfect, I thought. My heart was full. I was off to do something I had always dreamt of doing, Jimmy sounded happier, and Daddy would soon be freed from prison.
The hotel limousine turned, and we were off toward the airport.
I couldn't help but remember the games Daddy and I used to play when I was very little and we were in the car and off to a new home.
"Come on, Dawn," he would say. "Let's pretend. Where do you want to be this time? Alaska? The desert? On a ship? In an airplane?"
