come into Momma's life and sweep her off her feet so
quickly and se completely? I wanted more than any
other want to make him regret tearing my happy
loving world asunder.
"Leigh, will you?" Momma repeated, her voice
a little desperate now. Once again tod
ay her wants
would battle with mine and win. I nodded, "Thank
you. Oh, thank you so much, honey." She embraced
me, and I was so starved for this affection, so needing
to be warmed by her touch, that knew that if she asked
me now I might agree to anything.
But, I couldn't help feeling cold, lifeless in her
arms. It was horrible for me to agree to this. I was
betraying Daddy.
"And there is one other thing I have to ask of
you, Leigh, one thing--a secret to be kept between
two best friends like us, now, because I trust you with
keeping it. Will you promise to keep it secret? A
bosom buddy promise," she added, placing her hand
on her breast.
What could it be? I wondered.
"I promise, Momma."
"Good." She leaned toward me and whispered as if there were other people in the room. "Tony doesn't know my true age, even now, even though he has proposed and I have accepted. I don't want him to know. As I told you after we left Farthy, he believes
I'm twenty-eight."
"Won't you ever tell him the truth?"
"Someday, but not right now. Okay?"
I nodded, but wondered if they were so much in
love, why was it necessary to lie? Didn't being in love,
true love, mean you would have no lies between you,