all this to her." He tightened his face and straightened
his shoulders. "I'll handle it myself.
"Damn," I heard him mutter as he turned and
walked out.
I stood alone, feeling as if I had been deposited in someone else's nightmare. Felix wanted me to see what else I needed? I needed my family back. I needed to go home. For a moment I debated whether or not I should just run out after him and cry for him to take me home, but what would that do to
Grandmother Emma? And to Daddy? I'd be the cause of so much more trouble. And then, of course. Ian
would be disappointed in me.
"Open your suitcases, unpack and settle down,"
I could hear him whisper.
I put the bag of his letters on the small desk.
then I went to the dresser, but when I opened the
drawers to put in my things. I found they were full of
socks, underwear, and blouses. Actually, nothing had
been removed to make room for me. When had Greataunt Frances learned I was coming? Hadn't she had
any time to prepare? What was I supposed to do? I
took out a blouse and held it up. It was small enough
to fit someone like me. I thought, I probably could fit
into some of her old clothes. This had definitely been
her room when she was a little girl, and from the
looks of it, no one had been in it since. I wondered
where she slept now
I condensed her things to make room for my
own things in the drawers. How fortunate it was that I hadn't brought all my clothing. There would simply be no room. When I finished unpacking. I realized Greataunt Frances had not shown me where the bathroom I was to use was located. There was none in the room, as there was in my room back at the mansion. I had to put away my bathroom things. Where do I go? It can't
be far, I thought and went out searching.
The first door on my right opened on another
bedroom. There was a similar-size bed, but this one
wasn't even poorly made. The blanket was tossed
back and dangled off the side, and the four pillows
were all over the bed. It looked like the bed a person
having a terrible nightmare had just slept in or had