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"Hiding?"
"Drake tells me you're quite an artist."
"Oh, Drake. Did you exaggerate my abilities?"
"I just told the truth, Annie. You are good," he declared, confident of his opinion.
"I'm just learning," I told Tony. I didn't want him to be too disappointed when he saw my work.
"Well, I'm going to find one of the best art instructors in town and have him come out to Farthinggale to give you lessons. I won't let you be bored; I promise you that. We need a new portrait of the Manor, and I can't think of anyone better to do it than you, Annie."
"But Tony, you haven't even seen what I can do."
"I think I know what you can do," he said, his sharp, penetrating gaze resting on me with deep consideration. Thoughtfully, with narrowed eyes, he waited as I stared at him and wondered what he thought he knew. What did he see in me that I couldn't see in myself?
"One more surprise." Tony reached into his pocket and produced a small jewelry box. I took it from his palm and opened it slowly to gaze down at a magnificent pearl ring in a gold setting. "I searched and searched through your grandmother's things until I found what I thought would look best on your hand." He plucked the ring out of the box and took my left hand into his to slowly put the ring over my finger. He didn't seem surprised that it was a perfect fit.
"Oh, Tony, it's beautiful," I marveled. And it was! The pearl was large and set in rose gold.
I held my hand up and turned it about so Drake could see. He nodded in appreciation.
"Beautiful," he agreed.
"In time everything I have and everything that was your grandmother's will be yours, Annie.'
"Thank you, Tony, but you've given me so much and done so much, I don't know how to thank you."
"Just come to Farthinggale and get well there. That will be more thanks than I had ever hoped to receive?'
It was on my lips to ask why, but once again I told myself that all the questions, and hopefully all the answers, would be uttered at Farthinggale Manor, and suddenly it seemed so right that the mysteries of my mother's past would be solved for me where they had been born for her.
The next day, at the time we had arranged, Luke called to read me the new part of his speech.
"Everyone in Winnerrow knows about our family tragedy, Annie. When they look up at me after the principal introduces me as the valedictorian, it's going to be in their eyes. So I thought and thought about Heaven and how she would want me to react and what she would want me to say.
"Annie, you know your mother was an inspiration to me, maybe the biggest inspiration in my life,. because she was born to a hard, poor life and struggled up and out of it more or less on her own, battling so many hardships and emerging with dignity and beauty. I mean, she never let me feel out of place in your home, and I know it had to be painful for her to see me there?'
"Oh, Luke, she never--"
"No, Annie, it would only be natural for her to feel that way. I understood and . ." His voice nearly cracked. "And I loved her for it. I really did. God forgive me, more than I love my own mother."
"I think she knew that, Luke."
"I know she did. Anyway," he said, pulling his voice up, "I decided to add this paragraph. Ready?"
"My ear's glued to the phone, Luke."
I envisioned him on the other end, his posture straight, seriousness tightening his face as he held out his script and read.
"'The Bible tells us there is a season for everything. A time to be born and a time to die; a season of light and a season of darkness. This is a happy day, a wonderful day, a day during the season of light; but for my family it is still the season of darkness. However, I feel certain tilt my aunt and my . . my father would want me to remain in the season of light, to brighten the darkness and think only of what this day means for my family. It means hope and opportunity. It means another descendant of Toby Casteel and his loving wife Annie has emerged from the poverty of the Willies to become all he is capable of becoming. So I dedicate this day to the memory of Logan and Heaven Stonewall. Thank you."
My tears gushed. I couldn't hold the phone against my ear. I dropped the receiver into my lap and cried and cried. Luke called my name: "Annie? Annie? Oh, Annie, I didn't mean for you to cry so hard. Annie?"
Mrs. Broadfield, who was just outside the door talking to a floor nurse, came charging in.
"What is it?" she demanded.
I took deep breaths until if could plug up the sadness and agony enough to speak. Then I picked up the receiver.
