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done with college. Married Allen Tewksbury who made a lot of money. Had two children instead of only one. Didn’t get divorced. But Grandma and Grandad died before they could see Dory’s perfect life begin to unravel. Last year Allen was hit by a car and killed in downtown Chicago, walking back from a business lunch talking on his cell phone. So, I guess even if you do things “right” it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe forever.
    â€œListen, I should go, Dory. Let me talk to Robin and I’ll get back to you in a few days. Okay. Love you, too. Give my best to the kids.” She hooked the phone back onto the wall and sighed. “Poor Dory. She’s so high maintenance, and now there’s nobody around to take care of her.”
    â€œWhat? You mean Iris and Marshall aren’t a big help?” Sarcasm was the most pleasant tone I could muster.
    â€œDon’t be mean.” Mom came into the living room shaking her head. “I feel bad for the kids. They were both very close to Allen.”
    I didn’t, at the moment, feel like extending my sympathies to my cousins. Sure, it was terrible when their father died; they were like zombies at the funeral last fall. But those two have never really warmed the cockles of my heart. Iris is probably thirteen by now, and I guess Marshall is ten or so, but I never really thought of them as kids. They’re just no fun. The few times we visited them in Chicago all they wanted to do was show me their expensive belongings. Of which there were many. I knew they looked down on me because I lived in the country. They go to private schools and they think they’re très sophisticated, especially Iris.
    I don’t think they got that from Aunt Dory, though. I always liked Dory, even though she’s high-strung and nervous sometimes. She and Mom are so different you can hardly believe they’re sisters.
    Mom brought in a dust cloth and started wiping down the mantelpiece, removing each picture frame and then setting it back in exactly the same place. “So, why are you back already? Surely you couldn’t have had an argument in this short a time. You’ve only been gone half an hour.”
    I intended to tell her the whole story, in a calm, rational manner, but I barely got the first sentence out before meltdown occurred.
    â€œThe Melvilles’ graduation gift to Chris was a trip to Rome on some kind of summer program. He’s leaving Thursday and he’ll be gone for the whole summer and I’ll hardly ever see him again!” Full-fledged crying. “They just hate me and they couldn’t wait to get us apart!”
    Mom stopped dusting and sat down next to me. For a minuteshe was quiet, her hand rubbing my back. Then she said, “It was only a matter of a few weeks until Chris left anyway, honey.”
    â€œBut they were our weeks! We had plans ! Now everything is ruined. ”
    â€œI know this is upsetting to you, Robin, but you were going to have to face it sooner or later. And I’m sure the Melvilles don’t hate you—they just worry because the two of you are awfully young to have such strong feelings for each other. I have to admit, it’s worried me, too.”
    â€œ Why ? Chris is the best thing that ever happened to me!” I was choking on tears now, my voice contorted with hiccups and sobs.
    She nodded. “You were lucky to meet such a nice boy, yes. But there are other interesting people in the world, and other people you’ll come to love.”
    â€œHow do you know that? You never met anybody else after Dad!”
    She chewed her cheek. “I wasn’t looking for anybody else.”
    â€œI don’t even want to feel this way about another person! I just want Chris !”
    â€œOh, Robin, you’re so young—”
    â€œSo what if I’m young! Don’t you get it, Mom? I need him! I’m nobody without Chris! I’m nobody !” The