Part 26 (1/2)
”I was able to see clearly for the first time that she never wanted bad news. She would say to all of us when we came home, 'Tell me the good news.' If my father tried to tell her something serious or sad, she would leave the room.”
”Who died first?”
”My father. At that point Sybil went from willful to promiscuous. I couldn't tell my mother because that wouldn't have been good news, but Sybil was beautiful, and she loved the attention men paid 212 her. She would hide the jewelry and gifts they would give her from our mother.”
”Was she a prost.i.tute?”
”Not right away. But when she realized the money she could make, she was out every night that last year my mother was alive, not walking the streets, but seeing men she knew and were willing to pay. My mother died without knowing what my sister had become.”
”But she got you involved.”
Sabrina sighed. ”Yes, once my mother died we had even less money. My sister didn't like sharing her money, and she didn't like the house we had grown up in-it wasn't fancy enough. When our mother died, she gave me a little bit of time but then said it was time for me to make it on my own.”
”How old were you?”
”Sixteen.”
Rylan didn't know the last time he thought he could sob his eyes out. At 16 a young woman is supposed to be dad's girl, special in his eyes and treated like the treasure she is until that special someone comes along.
”What are you thinking?” Sabrina asked. Rylan had not realized she'd been watching him so closely.
”That it must have been awful, and that's not the way it's supposed to be when you're 16.”
”I've asked myself how it is supposed to be, but I don't really want to know. In some ways it's easier not to know what you've missed.” Sabrina shook her head again. ”There I go, sounding like my mother, who wanted only good news.”
”I think there's a difference between living in unreality and not torturing yourself with things you can't change.”
Sabrina stared at him.
”What did I say?”
”I just appreciate your understanding.”
”I'm glad, and speaking of appreciating, I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your taking the time to see Crystal last weekend.”
213 ”She doesn't think I'll be back to see her, but I will.”
”Of course you will,” Rylan said dryly. ”There's no chance you'll stay away from the roughest neighborhood in town.”
Sabrina had to smile. ”It's not my fault she lives there.” ”Do me a favor. Just take me along.”
Sabrina only smiled at him, and it was Rylan's turn to shake his head. This one needed watching, he was completely convinced of that.
”It's getting dark,” Rylan said next. ”I'll walk you back.” ”It was nice to be out.”
”We'll do it again,” Rylan suggested as they turned toward Jeanette's.
”The walk or the talk about my past?”
”Both if you're amenable.”
”Why is that?” Sabrina asked.
”Because I can't know who you are if I don't know what your life has been like.”
”And you want to know who I am?”
”Yes, I do,” Rylan said quietly.
Sabrina looked at him and he looked back, but they didn't speak on it again. He walked her inside, took a little time with Jeanette, and then left for home, wondering all the while what future walks and talks would look like.
”It's even hot in the shade,” Jessie complained on Sunday evening. She was having a picnic with the girls, and they had invited Sabrina along.
”Enjoy it,” Sabrina said. ”Before you know it we'll be freezing and wis.h.i.+ng for a little of this heat.”
”Must you remind me?” Jessie said just before Clancy called to them.
”Come over. You can't get wet there.”
214 ”And of course that's our goal in life,” Jessie murmured, keeping her voice low, ”to get wet.”
Both women stood and went to the bank of the creek. They did get wet, something that thrilled the little girls, but eventually they went back to the blanket to eat. Jessie had fixed a great supper of chicken, fluffy biscuits, two salads, and cookies. A jug of water helped to wash it all down.
Sabrina eventually lay back, saying she was going to pop. ”I think if I'm not careful, I could fall asleep right here,” she added.
”Wouldn't you be surprised come Monday morning?”
”Speaking of Monday,” Sabrina remembered, ”will it put you in a bind if I'm a little late? I want to ask around for an apartment or a room to rent.”
”No, that's fine. Take the whole morning,” Jessie added, wanting her to live in a safer part of town.
”Thank you.”
”Where will you start?”
”Where should I start?”
Jessie had a few suggestions, with absolutely no idea if anyone wanted to rent a room, but that's what filled the conversation for the next hour. By the time Sabrina took herself back to Jeanette's, she knew almost every house in town.
”I thought Sabrina would be here,” Rylan said to Jessie on Monday morning.
”She'll be here at noon,” that lady had answered. ”She's looking for an apartment.”
That conversation had taken place some 15 minutes past, but Rylan had yet to spot the woman in question. He walked the streets he thought she might try and tried to remember who rented rooms in their homes. He was about to give up when he spotted her. She had just come from a two-story house, walking slowly. Rylan's long 215 legs covered the distance swiftly, but he was still just ten feet from her when she spotted him.
”h.e.l.lo,” Sabrina said.
”How's the search coming?”
”Not great,” Sabrina said, not mentioning that the man in the house she had just left was willing to rent to her, but he had no wife.