Beverly Byrne by Come Sunrise Read Free Book Online Page A

scarlet blossoms
lining the long avenue to Jericho. "You and Aunt Lil must come and visit
as soon as I go home. You'll love it."
     
    "Are
you planning to go home after the war is over?" he asked, adjusting the
position of a jam jar filled with privet sprays.
     
    "Yes,
of course." She was surprised that he didn't know. "Everyone at
Jericho will be waiting for me. The servants have all been with us for years.
And all Mummy's and Daddy's things are there."
     
    "Your
mother and father were happy in Africa, I believe."
     
    "Oh
yes, and so was I. You'll come and visit, won't you?" She was suddenly
full of tenderness for this taciturn, sere old man.
     
    "I
don't travel much," he said softly. "It's kind of you to invite me,
however."
     
    "But
I owe you both so much! I know you were Daddy's friends, and you've been such
good friends to me. I want you to come."
     
    He
looked away. "I knew your father of course, for many years. I cannot claim
to have been his friend. He and Charles were very close always. But I was older
and ..."
     
    "And
what, Uncle Warren?" She wanted to hear more of her father's youth. The
subject had begun to prick her curiosity of late.
     
    "And
less tolerant," he said.
     
    It
struck her as a strange remark. "I don't quite follow you."
     
    He
favored her with one of his rare smiles. "Never mind, it was all a long
time ago. You get on well with Luke, don't you?" he said, changing the
subject abruptly. "You see a lot of him."
     
    "He's
very kind to me." Amy fingered the velvet leaf of a clump of potted
violets.
     
    "Luke's
a nice boy." Warren seemed to be forcing out the words, as if mentioning
Luke's virtues was painful. "He's very religious you know. I think it's
because he almost died when he was a small child."
     
    "I
didn't know that."
     
    "No
one ever mentions it now. But he was very ill. For many weeks. Cecily was
beside herself. I remember it well."
     
    "I'm
glad he recovered." She didn't know what else to say.
     
    "Yes.
Such things have consequences though. You must realize that."
     
    "Luke
seems perfectly healthy to me."
     
    "Oh,
he is of course." Warren changed tack abruptly. "Tommy's coming home
for Thanksgiving, isn't he?"
     
    "I
suppose so. I haven't heard from him lately."
     
     "I'm
sure he's coming home. Lil told me. This week I think. It will be nice to see
him again."
     
    Amy
agreed and escaped to her own room. The atmosphere in the makeshift greenhouse
had become disturbing.
     
    She
went with Luke to meet Tommy's train. He was reserved, and his limp was
pronounced. "Did you hurt yourself?" Luke inquired anxiously.
     
    "No,
I bloody well didn't! I'm just tired that's all. Had to stand most of the
way." He flung his case into the back of the taxi and sat up front with
the driver so they had no further opportunity to talk.
     
    That
was on Tuesday. Amy didn't see either Luke or Tommy again until Thursday noon
when they arrived at the apartment for Thanksgiving dinner. They seemed barely
on speaking terms, and the conversation during the meal was strained, despite
all Lil's efforts.
     
    Later
Lil played the piano. She had all the latest sheet music, Berlin's
"Araby" and "When I Leave the World Behind," as well as
Amy's favorite Cohan song, "Give My Regards to Broadway." Amy wanted
very  much to dance with Luke. In the past Tommy had always been good-natured
about the things he couldn't do, but he looked surly and black this afternoon.
Luke didn't ask her to dance.
     
    They
were expected at one of the other aunt's for a holiday tea. At the last minute
Tommy refused to go, so they left him behind.
     
    The
tea party was crowded with relatives. Donald Varley was there, and Luke spent a
long time talking to him. Amy was involved in a conversation with the girl who
had recently become engaged. It centered on bridal dresses and honeymoon plans,
and she felt stupid and young and tonguetied.
     
    When
they returned to the apartment Tommy was gone and the decanter of brandy on