guilty because that's what Aunt Mary had called her.
"I've heard about you," Ron said to Elizabeth, "but your press doesn't do you justice."
"What have you been saying about me?" Elizabeth demanded of her sister.
"She didn't say anything," Ron said. "My daughter was telling me about you."
"I'm not interested in what one of these brats has to say."
"I guess that's why your parents didn't pay much attention to what you said when you did the same thing," Ron replied.
"You have been talking!" Elizabeth yelled at her sister.
"You really need to learn to be more discreet," Ron said. "It's not advisable to yell when you are putting the squeeze on Kathryn for money, at least not when there are young girls around who look upon her as their guardian angel. They tend to resent it."
"I don't care what they think."
"And talk about it."
"I don't care - "
"It's never wise to ignore people you don't know. You never know when one of them might have the power to help you. Or hurt you."
"Who the hell are you?"
"He's Ron Egan," Kathryn said. "Maybe you remember the article in The Charlotte Observer a few months ago about a Charlotte man who was making a name for himself in managing international mergers and takeovers. Ron, let me introduce you to my sister, Elizabeth Rush."
Elizabeth directed a sharp, calculating gaze at him. "I take it you're rich."
"Elizabeth!" Kathryn exclaimed.
"Yes, I guess you could say that."
"Then you can afford to give me a car, "she said, turning back to Kathryn. "He can buy you anything you want."
"Mr. Egan is the father of one of my girls," Kathryn said, so angry she could hardly control her voice. "I'm not his mistress nor anything else that would make it acceptable for him to buy me a car."
"Don't be so stuffy."
"You'd better go. I'll think about the car."
"I need to know now."
"If you'd take the advice of a disinterested stranger, let me suggest that you've made your case. Now leave before you blow it."
Elizabeth looked as though she was going to ignore Ron's advice, but she looked at her sister then changed her mind. "Bill likes white, but I want something red. I'm tired of looking like the typical suburban housewife with the typical two point five kids."
She picked up her purse and left without saying a word to Ron.
"So that's your sister, the one you feel guilty about."
"Today wasn't a good day for Elizabeth. One of the boys is sick enough to be at home but not sick enough to stay in bed. Then her nine-year-old got into trouble in school."
"If he takes after his mother, I'm surprised he isn't in jail."
Kathryn knew her sister didn't make a good impression, but she never allowed anyone to criticize her.
"You have no right to make a remark like that. You don't know Elizabeth or what she's had to go through."
"You're right, and I don't want to get to know her, not when she treats people she thinks beneath her like trash. Nor do I see any excuse for her to treat you like you were her own personal lackey."
"She doesn't. She - "
"I heard the woman order you to buy her a car. No, two cars."
"She knows I don't have that kind of money."
"No, she thinks I do."
"She didn't mean that."
"I'm certain she did, as well as think the money you spend on this shelter would be better spent on her."
"You can't know that. You've only seen her for five minutes when she wasn't her best."
"Kathryn, it's my business to sum up people in five minutes. I can do it with men from Scandinavia to the Orient. Your sister wears her colors like a red flag. It's obvious she's made a habit of bullying people into doing what she wants them to do. Unfortunately it seems you've knuckled under. You bought her that van outside, didn't you?"
"My aunt left all her money to me, but Elizabeth is the one with three kids."
"And she reminds you of it all the time."
"They're my nephews and niece."
"Did your nephews and niece thank you for the nice van?"
"I gave it to their mother, not them."
"Did your sister thank you for it? Did her husband?"
"This is none of your business, Ron. You don't know anything about my family. You don't understand the pressures my sister lives under."
"And I bet she reminds you of them, too, every time she comes to ask for money."
"All three kids have A.D.D."
"They probably just need discipline."
"They're hyperactive."
"Too much sugar and junk food."
"Her