"You're going to pay to find out the secret of life?" Charity had asked, aghast.

"No, silly," Faith had retorted cheerfully. "I'm going to apply for a job with him. I'm great at this stuff."

Charity had been surprised to find herself sorry to see her sister go. But she was even sorrier about Aunt Doris.

"I had a wonderful time," Aunt Doris said as they drove her to the airport for her flight to Boston.

Charity felt the sting of tears. It would be a long time before she saw Aunt Doris again. What a link to her past the woman was. And it had somehow grown stronger with this visit.

"I'll miss you," she said.

"No, you won't," her aunt said firmly. "You'll be much too busy getting to work on having a baby. And once you have it, I'll be back to help take care of it, you just wait and see."

She reached over and patted Ross. "You take good care of my girl. Though I know I don't have to re mind you of that. Just seeing the two of you together has relieved any fears I might have had." She shook her head. "The way Mason told me about your new husband, Charity, I just wasn't sure."

Charity stared. "What do you mean?"

"Well, he hedged so, and his story kept changing. I was afraid you were living with some man who wasn't good for you. That was why I came out, to see for myself."

"You're not serious." Charity exchanged glances with Ross. "That was the only reason you came out?"

"To be honest, yes. But I'm glad I did. I found out the truth, and I can go back perfectly content. You've made a good marriage, Charity. I'm pleased."

The two of them watched her board her plane. After the huge silver vehicle taxied out across the runway, they turned and walked slowly to the parking lot together. Nei ther spoke. Suddenly they felt like strangers.

Finally Charity threw Ross a nervous smile. "I guess we're not married anymore, are we?" she said, trying to laugh and not succeeding very well. "We've been married so long, this feels sort of funny."

Ross put an arm around her shoulders, and they walked that way to the car.

"Are you pleased?" he asked at last. "Do you think we were successful?"

She looked out over the sea of cars while she waited for him to unlock the car door. Mixed emotions filled her.

"My objective was to make Aunt Doris happy," she said, even though she knew now that that was only half of the truth. She'd also wanted to make herself happy by gain ing a little respect from her aunt. It was time she admitted that. "And I think we succeeded in that, don't you?"




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