Noreen seemed to be relieved. “That’s easy to change. Careless of you but fixable.”
“She wants us to get married.”
Noreen laughed at that. “She couldn’t be that stupid. Or is she? Who is it?”
“Cheryl Morris.” The words almost choked him. Lowest of the low. The dregs. The type a Stewart didn’t speak to, much less...
His mother’s face had gone ghostly white. He’d never seen her look so upset. But how could that be? His mother was a rock. A solid, never-flustered person.
“Morris,” she whispered, then stood up.
“I’m sorry. I—”
She whirled on him. “Why her?Why?”
“Dad said—” He’d never seen his mother look so angry.
“What did that father of yours say?” She was leaning over him, her face distorted with rage.
Alastair’s belief that he was a man fled his mind immediately. He reverted to being a scared child, his voice full of tears. “He said she was a ‘fine girl.’ He said he was proud of the way she’d overcome her life. He said—”
She stood up and turned to the window. “No more. I can guess.”
“I wanted to please him,” Alastair sobbed. “Just once, I wanted to do something that heliked.”
When Noreen turned back, she was calmer. “Are you packed to go to camp?”
“Yes.”
“Then get your bag and leave. I’ll take care of this.”
“But how—?”
“Don’t ask questions. If I need you, I’ll let you know. Now get out of here.”
He obeyed his mother.
Noreen went to the safe that was hidden under an antique carpet and withdrew twenty grand in cash. She also pulled out a diamond necklace that her beloved father-in-law had given her. It was a beautiful thing and she’d hate to part with it, but women like Verna Morris tended to like flash. As for the girl, she had no worries. After what Noreen had to say, agreeing to an abortion wouldn’t be a problem.
As her son did, Noreen parked some distance away and walked to the Morris house. She certainly knew where it was. Not that she’d ever visited before, but she knew.
She wasn’t recognized by anyone. But then, the light was low and she had raided her husband’s closet. She had on his pants and shirt, a cap hiding her blond hair.
The house was well lit and she paused for a moment to see what was going on. There was an old van in the weedy driveway, all the doors open. Inside were boxes and bags of household goods. It looked like Verna had been told of her daughter’s predicament and they were at last leaving town.
Good! Noreen thought, but she wanted to make sure.
She went to the back of the house. No matter what, she didn’t want to be seen in this neighborhood, especially not atthishouse.
When she reached the back, the girl popped out of the shadows.
Of course, Noreen had seen her before—and been disgusted by her. She dressed above her class, above her age. Now her thick makeup was smeared.
Noreen couldn’t conceal the sneer on her face.
“Oh, Mrs. Stewart, I knew you’d come. I knew Allie would tell you. I promise that I’ll make a good daughter-in-law. I’ve studied everything, from drinking tea to how to dress to how to run a household. All of it. And I’m going to get a job as a newscaster. That’s respectable, isn’t it? I’ve done so much to prove that I’m worthy of being a Stewart.”
Noreen’s sneer reached epic proportions. One side of her upper lip almost disappeared into her nostril. “You stupid girl. Youarea Stewart.”
