Page 73 of Gary

Chapter 15

“What are you going to do?” Sharon asked her daughter quietly.

“I don’t know.” She twisted the fringes of the blanket around her fingers agitatedly. “I cannot forget who he is, what he represents. Oh mom! He has suffered so much.”

“He was not responsible for what they did, Sadie.”

She looked over at her. “You have forgiven him.”

“There is nothing to forgive. That young man has been through hell and back. Being rich did not insulate him from suffering.”

Sadie nodded. “His uncle Graham told me how much he fought to get away from the activities of his family. He endured beatings and punishments because he refused to participate. His uncle George was the worst and died violently.”

“When is he leaving?”

“In two days.” Her breath hitched. “He hasn’t called me.”

“Can you blame him?” Sharon rose and went towards the kitchen. “You rejected him. I am making myself some tea. Would you like a cup?”

“Thanks. I don’t know what to do.”

“And I cannot help you there, honey.” Sharon plunked the kettle down and turned the knob. “It is up to you.”

“I love him,” she admitted quietly.

“That should make things clearer.”

“It should.” She worried her bottom lip. “My problem is him not telling me from the beginning.”

“Would you have accepted him?”

“No.’ She shook her head and closed her eyes briefly. “I am going to have to think about it.”

“Don’t take too long doing so. He is leaving, remember?”

“Yes.”

*****

That night in bed, she sat in the darkened room and recalled the night he had spent with her.

“Let me.” He had taken the brush from her as she was brushing her hair. “I love it loose.”

“It’s not very manageable.”

“How do you get it so curly?” He had been so gentle, running the brush through her curls slowly.

“Products and genetics. Somewhere in my family there was a crossbreed.”

“Indian?”

“And Caucasian.” She slid him an impish look. “Must be why I am drawn to you.”

Moving her hair aside, he kissed her neck. “I would like to think it’s my charm and looks and of course, how I make you feel in bed.”

“Definitely the latter.”

“How do I make you feel in bed?”