Suspicion of Betrayal (45 page)

Irene was still looking at her intently. "Even so, he has a right to know."

Gail kissed her cheek. "I love you, but really, what do you expect, that everything would suddenly be all right between us? It won't. Not ever."

"Oh, darling. Everyone has troubles. You can't have a perfect life."

"Don't I even get to have
my
life, imperfect as it may be? That's all I want."

Irene said quietly, "What are you going to do?"

Gail shrugged.

"Just don't do anything . . . irreversible. I mean, without some serious thought."

"That's all I've done lately—think about it." Gail picked up the yard bag. "Let me help you finish before it gets dark. Here, hold this open."

"Darling—"

Gail dropped an armful of clippings into the bag. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Mother. That's the truth. But What I do know is that it's going to be all right. Whatever happens, I can deal with it. I've never felt that before, not so completely." She smiled at Irene, and perhaps her mother could see the effort it took, but perhaps not.

Irene's blue eyes moved slowly over her face. "All right. I don't understand you, but as long as you're happy . .." She stepped back and looked at the trellis, brushing a hand over the foliage she had just trimmed. "This is better, isn't it? I think it's coming right along."

A breeze came off the bay and wandered through the trellis, filling the evening air with the sweet scent of jasmine.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As ever, I relied on the help of others in bringing this story to life. Thank you, thank you to lawyers Adele Blackmore, Laura Fabar, Milton Hirsch, Eric Cohen, and Richard Cahan. For insight on many of my characters, I am grateful to Norman Powell, Merry Haber, Rick David, Patti Neill, and Andrea Lane. For details
_;
I could not have done without, my thanks to Jorge Milian and
Mary Hoerber Milian, Dave Gilbert, Jerry Reichardt, and Harry Coleman. For my wonderful sister, Laura, another round of applause.