Eye of the Storm Read Online Free PDF Page A

look at her and see me in her face. but Victoria has one of those faces that seems to have created itself. She doesn't look much like Frances and I don't think she looks very much like me. Our noses are different, our mouths. Maybe we have similar eyes and ears," he conceded.
"Maybe she isn't your daughter then," I said.
"She didn't look much like Everett either. You've seen his pictures. What do you think?"
"Maybe there was someone else."
"What? Someone else?" He shook his head. "No. never."
"Why not? If my grandmother had an affair with you, she could have had one with someone else. too."
He stared at me a moment as if the idea had never occurred.
"Or are you upper crust. too. Jake, more upper crust than my grandfather, and can't even conceive of it?" I asked him.
He continued to stare and then he smiled and shook his head.
"No. Frances told me with an air of certainty that couldn't be challenged. We stood down by the dock late one afternoon, just before the sun set, and she said-- I'll never forget it because of how she put it-- she said. 'We've gone and done it up good. Jake.' Of course. I didn't know what she meant.
"'What's that mean. Frances?' I asked.
''I've got a cake in my oven.' she said. That's what she said. Some cake. 'Too much unbridled passion.' she added. 'passion that makes you throw caution to the wind.'
"I was stunned. I just stood there playing with a stick in the water and watching the ripples and thinking. What's going to be?
"'Of course. we won't see each other that way anymore. Jake. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I needed you so much.' she told me and walked away.
"I felt like everything had evaporated inside me. I felt like a shell. Any minute a wind would come sailing over the water, lift me like a kite, and blow me over the trees.
"I guess in a way it did because soon after that I joined the navy."
He sat there silently, staring down at his plate and his empty wineglass and then he closed his eyes.
"I never loved anyone but Frances." he continued. "I couldn't.
It was like I was given just enough love fuel for one woman and I used it all on her. I returned to work for her just so I could be around her.
"Sometimes, when I drove her places. I'd pretend I wasn't her hired driver. I'd imagine we were man and wife and I was taking her somewhere just the way any husband would take his wife some place. If Victoria went along, I even imagined I was like any other husband and father."
Everyone spends time in his or her fantasies. I thought. Everyone.
"Does Victoria have any idea? Did
Grandmother Hudson ever tell her?"
"Oh no. no." Jake said quickly. "But that's why I wanted you to know, to have this information. When and if she has you up against the wall, you can fling it at her and I'll be there to verify it.
"They got ways to test the blood and prove it beyond a doubt, you know. She'll know that so she won't be so sure of herself. It will knock her off that high pedestal," he promised.
"It would be revealing Grandmother Hudson's secret. too. I don't know if I could ever do that. Jake."
"Sure you can. If the time comes, you'll do it. You knew her well enough to know she wouldn't mind," he said confidently.
"Wow," I said shaking my head. "Talk about skeletons in the closet. The closets here should be rattling."
He laughed.
"I'd better get going.' he said. "I got to get up early and head for Richmond to pick them up at the airport."
"Don't you want some coffee. first?" I wanted him to have coffee because he had drunk so much wine, but it didn't seem to faze him.
"No. Thanks. This was a great meal. You want me to help you clean up?"
"No, Jake. I'm very experienced at it. remember?" I said referring to my days at
Grandmother Hudson's sister's home in London, as well as my days here.
"Right. Okay. MaybeI'll see you some time in the afternoon when I bring them around."
"Oh, are they staying overnight?" I asked quickly. "No. I'm taking them back for a nine o'clock flight."
Good. I thought. Jake kissed me on the cheek and