our fortune with his terrible investments and ventures
and heavy gambling. Our financial advisor just called
to give me the very bad news. We can't keep up this
estate. Grace. The best we can do is rent it out and
move ourselves into the beach house. Into the beach
house! Can you imagine that? Can you imagine what
these people will do to us, say about us? I can't show
my face anywhere in Palm Beach anymore." "Where is Kirby now?"
"In hell. I hope," she cried, and took a deep
breath. 'I don't know where he is exactly. Hiding from
someone he is indebted to. I'm sure. I've asked my
lawyer to begin marriage dissolution activity. I've got
to dissociate myself from him as quickly as I can so I
can salvage something for us.
"I'm sorry." she told me, "This is all my fault. I
never should have begun with him. I should have
listened to wiser heads instead of my own foolish
heart. Look what I have done to us."
"Oh. Mommy, you haven't done anything to us.
He's done it all."
"Yes, well, he wouldn't have had the chance if
it wasn't for me," she said, thumping her chest so hard
with her fist it made me wince.
Then she sat straighter, flicked the tears from
her cheeks, and firmed her lips. "Well. I have my
work cut out for me. I might as well begin. We've
been down before, and we've come back. We'll do it
again." she said with determination. "As long as
you're all right. Grace. As long as you get well." I bit my lower lip.
How could I tell her now what I had been