"I'm back," called Aunt Doris from the living room.

"She's back," Ross whispered into Charity's silky hair.

"Okay." Charity steeled herself, pulling away. She felt a bit hounded, but she didn't know what she could do to change things at this point. "Let's go."

Breakfast went beautifully, even if Charity did have to sneak peeks into a cookbook to find out just how long you really boiled a three-minute egg.

"Well, it could have been a trick name," she told Ross when he caught her at it.

"I'm sorry I've inconvenienced you with this change of arrival time," Doris told them both. She was seated at the enormous new table and looking pleased.

Charity had found lacy place mats and was using her best china. Orange juice sparkled in the juice tumbler. Charity's sil ver gleamed beside the plate, resting on a linen napkin.

"A friend offered to fly me out in his corporate jet," Doris went on. "And I couldn't pass that up, now could I?"

"Of course not, and we're glad you're here," Charity assured her.

The funny thing was that her words were true. She came out with more coffee, pouring first for Doris and then for Ross. As she sat down herself, Charity looked at the older woman with genuine affection.

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Aunt Doris never aged. She'd hit fifty-five and was planning to stay there for the rest of her life. Charity had no idea how old she really was, but she thought it had to be somewhere in her late sixties. Yet she looked hearty enough to climb Rattlesnake Trail that morning and take in a few surfing lessons in the af ternoon.

"It really is good to see you," Charity said warmly, patting Doris's shoulder.

Doris smiled, then looked about the room, her expression drooping a bit. "I was under the impression that Ma son was staying with you," she said.

"Mason is on a...a business trip." Charity bit her tongue, avoiding Ross's glance, knowing she was lying to Doris just the way Mason had, to protect her from the truth. But what could she do? Tell her that Mason had left because he didn't dare face her with his own lies? Charity leaned forward in her chair and took a sip of her coffee.

"Your apartment is lovely," Doris announced as she buttered her toast. "You have such exquisite taste, my dear. I never would have believed it in the old days."

Ross threw Charity a look of pure triumph and, when she was sure Doris's attention was elsewhere, Charity made an insulting face at him. Now the furniture would have to stay until Aunt Doris left.




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