He turned, a look of disbelief on his face. "You wouldn't just come out and ask them?" "Why not?"
"Grandma Olivia can be. . . tough."
"So can I," I said firmly. "When I have to be."
He laughed.
"Maybe you shouldn't, Melody," he said after a
moment, his smile gone. "Maybe some things are
better left below deck."
"Secrets fester like infections. After a while
they make you deathly sick, Cary. That's the way I
feel. It's the way you felt when people were making
up stories about you and Laura," I said searching for a
way to make him understand how important it was to
me.
"I tell you what," he said, reaching for my hand.
"I'll make you a promise. I promise to try to find out
as much as I can about your parents, too."
"Will you? Oh thank you, Cary."
He held on to my hand. "It's okay," he said.
"You're probably right. You probably should know
everything there is to know about the Logan family." I smiled at him. "When I first came here, I
thought you hated me."
"I did," he confessed. "I knew why my mother
wanted you here and I felt bad about it, but. . ." "But?"
"You're very nice," he said. "And the only
cousin I have, so I have to put up with you."
"Thanks a lot."
"Let's check the dress," he said and got up. "It's
not completely dry, but it's dry enough. You'll get by
with it."
"Thanks," I said rising. He handed me the dress