reaction.
"Of course, he never gave me a second look. He
had all the prettiest girls. I was never much to look
at."
"That's not true, Aunt Sara. You're a very pretty
woman."
"Oh, I guess when I fix my hair and put on
something nice, I don't embarrass Jacob, but I'm no
movie star," she said, laughing. "Laura, Laura was the
prettiest one."
"Yes."
"And so are you. Your mother was always
pretty. She had the kind of beauty that caused
everyone to stop and take notice."
"You better not mention her name anywhere
near Uncle Jacob," I warned her bitterly.
She was silent as she looked into the darkness
again.
"He didn't always feel that way about her," she
said, but the way she said it sounded almost as if she
were jealous. "He used to think the sun rose and fell
on her smile. Just like all the young men, I guess." "You'd never know it," I said. This revelation was making my head spin. It was the first time Aunt
Sara had really talked about the past.
"Oh, I know it," she replied quickly. She shook
her head. "I know it."
"What are you saying, Aunt Sara?" I asked,
holding my breath.
"What? Oh." She laughed. "I'm not saying anything. Not anything important at least. Don't you think
anything of anything Jacob bellows," she emphasized,
patting me on the hand. "He's just uncomfortable