[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

cards with her, and slowly became more and more of the romantic young man which he had always had
the potential but never the desire to be.
Now, as they were commenting on the sudden fresh sea breeze, Joe Dougherty came out of the front
door and took a chair next to theirs, so they were sitting around a small, white wrought iron cocktail
table. He said,  Two days ago, or better, you said you wanted to resign as tutor and govern-ess for the
kids.
 Well  she began.
He held up a hand to stop her.
 I'd be the first one to admit that you have ex-cellent reasons for wanting to get away from the
Dougherty family forever. And when I told you that I intend to remain on Distingue despite all that's
happened here, I saw how you paled. He cleared his throat.  But I've never been one to run from pain
or bad memories, and I won't start the practice at this late date. Besides, because of this affair, I'm
finding it more and more difficult to se-riously consider going back to the crowded sub-urbs and polluted
air of New Jersey. I'll stay that is, if Ken here is finally willing to accept me as his neighbor.
Ken blushed.  I was always so sure that an industrial man like yourself, someone who always has his
finger in a lot of pies, would be hell-bent on turning the island into a tourist trap.
 You believe I haven't any such designs?
 I do now. But I was always so afraid you'd ruin Distingue.
 I've not known it long enough to love it like you do, Joe said,  But I'm getting there. He looked
back at Sonya.  I'm willing to accept your resignation and break your contract, but I do wish you'd
change your mind about leaving.
 Well  she began.
He stopped her.  Let me finish. I find you to be one of the most valuable employees I've ever had.
You're intelligent, cheerful and amazingly coura-geous. When a professional bodyguard couldn't protect
my children and keep himself alive, you took them under your wing. When you were put into an
impossible situation, you performed the impossible solution and saved both yourself and my kids. I owe
you all I have.
 If you'd let me get a word in edgewise, she said, a smile on her face,  I'd save you all this
embarrassing repetition. I've decided not to leave you, the kids or Distingue, after all.
He looked blank, for a moment, then broke into an enormous Irish smile.  What changed your
mind?
 Ken, she said.
He looked at the two of them, smiled and said,  Oh, it's like that, is it, now?
 It may be, Ken said.  Eventually. Right now, we're just getting to know each other. For the last
three days, I've learned a lot from Sonya, more than I thought anyone could teach me now that I'd grown
up. She's shown me a brighter side of life, a more pleasant outlook on things than I'd ever known I could
have. I've gained I guess you'd call it perspective.
 And you? Dougherty said, looking at Sonya.  I still haven't heard what he's said to you that's made
you rethink your position.
She said,  I've always avoided people who seemed sober or serious, always opted for friends who
were fun-loving and cheerful and even giddy. I wanted to run from the bad memories as-sociated with
Distingue, but I also wanted to get away from Leroy Mills' secretiveness which I once thought sinister
and now see is only his way. I wanted to get away from Henry's once-a-week grump. Now I see that it's
not much to endure that in order to work with him on the days he's himself. I was the opposite of Ken,
too eager to experience only the best parts of life, and I too needed bal-ance. I think, from him, I've
gotten a little of that.
Dougherty got to his feet and, still beaming, said,  Well, then, may I tell Helen and the kids that
you've changed your mind and are going to stay on after all?
 Please, yes, she said.
When he was gone, they remained seated in the rattan chairs, holding hands, looking out at the palms.
He said,  Ummm, smell the sea.
She sniffed and said,  Isn't it a beautiful day? I still have a sore neck, and I'm stiff in all my joints still,
but otherwise it's a perfect day. I've probably had better days, but right now I can't think of them and
don't particularly want to.
 Rightly put, he said.  There, look at the sea-gulls playing tag in the sky! [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]