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 Good God! he burst out, aghast.
 I know, it sounds insane. I was too upset to fight. I didn t want people to know how stupid I d been.
She shook her head.  Apparently your mother knew what he planned to do. She grimaced.  Your
father& well, he wasn t exactly a model of the virtues.
 Yes, I know, he said coldly.  My mother knew?
 She was barren. They were both horrified that the mansion and all their money might go to a distant
relative. They wanted a child, but not an adopted one. I was so naive, she added miserably.  I had a
great time overseas. I loved being pregnant. Myron flew over when I went into labor. When you were
born, they were overjoyed. You were at least half a Pendleton, you see. I was just the incubator.
 It was cruel, he said heavily, dropping into an armchair across from her.  It was even worse when
he died. He left you out of his will entirely. I won t tell you what he said. If only I d known, he
groaned, and his eyes were anguished as they met hers.
 I didn t mind about the will. I never expected anything. I was just happy that I got to be with you while
you were growing up. I m sorry you had to find this out, she apologized.  I know you loved your
mother.
His black eyes darkened even more.  I never loved her, he returned at once.  She was as cold as ice. I
remember being sick and throwing up with the flu when I was about five years old. She was horrified
that I might soil her dress.
 Yes, you had measles, she recalled softly.  I sat up with you for two nights, feeding you ice chips,
so you wouldn t get dehydrated.
 You were always the one who took care of me, he replied huskily.  My mother had no time for me.
She was too busy being a socialite. My father wasn t much better. He was interested in making more
money. Neither of them had the foggiest idea of how to be a parent.
 I did my best to make up for them, Mrs. Harcourt said.
 And you did, he said, his eyes soft as they met hers.  I had a wonderful childhood, thanks to you.
He grimaced.  You should have told me!
She dabbed at her eyes.  I know, she said heavily. She looked at him worriedly.  Those reporters are
going to make it look so bad, she moaned.
Jason lifted an eyebrow.  That s what you think. Gracie and I already have a plan.
Her eyes widened.  A plan? What is it?
He smiled gently.  We re going to turn the tables on Kittie.
 We are? she exclaimed, fascinated.
He chuckled.  Oh, yes. Her plan is going to backfire on her, big-time!
15
 YOU RE GOING TO MAKE a businesswoman out of me? Mrs. Harcourt exclaimed.  But I m just
a plain old country woman. I ll never be able to convince anybody that I m business material. You ll
be ashamed of me, Jason. Everybody will laugh at you.
He got up from his chair and pulled her up, looking into her eyes that were so much like his.  You re
my mother, he said, and the words came out raspy and with wonder.  My very own mother. I could
never be ashamed of you!
As more tears flowed down her pale cheeks.  All these years, she whispered,  I ve watched you
grow. I ve seen the way you treated people, how you make everybody feel important and never look
down on anyone because they re poor. You have so many good qualities, Jason, so many more than
your father ever did. She gazed up at him.  I ve been so proud of you. I wanted more than anything
to tell you. But it wasn t Myron s threat that kept me quiet. It was the fear that you d, well, be
humiliated to know your mother was an ignorant, common sort of person& .
 You stop that, he said firmly.  You re the nicest person I know. You never gossip, you re always
smiling, you give away what little you ve got to anyone with a greater need, and you cook like an
angel. You have wonderful qualities. I m proud to be your son. His voice broke on the word.  More
proud than I can tell you.
 Oh, my dear, she whispered tearfully, and suddenly pulled him into her arms, rocking him as she
had when he was little and scared and hurt. So many times she d ached to do this, to hold him and
have him know that he was flesh of her flesh, blood of her blood. She d loved him more than her own
life. And now, at last, she could tell him.  My son! she choked.
Jason couldn t answer her. His voice would have betrayed him. He held her tight and rocked her in the
silence of the living room. Nobody was going to hurt her. He d fight the world to keep her safe. She [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]