Morning-Noon-and-Night - By Sidney Sheldon Page 0,39

no legal proof of who you are."9l ... I suppose not. I didn't even think about 152 t. But there are things. I couldn't possibly know about unless I had heard them from my mother." examplet Marc said. She stopped to think. ' remember my mother used to talk about 4 greenhouse in the back. She loved plants and flowers, and she would spend hours there.' Woody spoke up. ' of that greenhouse were in a lot of magazines." else did your mother tell yo@!' Tyler asked. ', there were so many things! She loved to talk about all of you and the good times you used to have.' She thou t for a moment. ' was the day s - gh he took you on the swan boats when you were very young. One of you almost fell overboard. I don't remember which one.' Woody and Kendall looked over at Tyler. ' was the one,' he said. ' took you shopping at Filene's. One of you got lost, and everyone was in a panic.' Kendall said slowly, ' got lost that day."? What elset Tyler, asked. ' took you to the Union Oyster House and you tasted yo@r first oyster and got sick." remember that." They stared at each other, silent. She looked at Woody. ' and Mother went to the Charlestown Navy Yard to see the USS Constitution, and you wouldn't leave. She had to drag you away.' She turned to Kendall. ' in the Public 153 Garden one day, you picked some flowers and were almost arrested.' Kendall swallowed. ''s right! They were all listening to her intently now, fascinated. ' day, Mother took all of you to the Natural History museum, and you were terrified of the mastodon and sea serpent skeleton.' Kendall said slowly, ' of us slept that night.' Julia turned to Woody. ' Christmas, she took you skating. You fell down and broke a tooth. When you were seven years old, you fell out of a tree and had to have your leg stitched up. You had a scar.' Woody said reluctantly, ' still do.' , She turned to the others.

"One of you was bitten by a dog. I forgot which one. My mother rushed you to the emergency room at Massachusetts General.' Tyler nodded. ' had to have- shots against rabies.' Her words were coming out in a torrent now. ', when you were eight years old, you ran away. You were going to Hollywood to become an actor. Your father was furious with you. He made you go to your room without -dinner. Mother sneaked some food up to your room.' Woody nodded, silent. ' ... I don't know what else I can tell you. I ... She suddenly remembered something. ' have a photograph in my purse.' She opened her purse and took it out. She handed the picture to Kendall. 154 They all gathered around to look at it. It was a picture of the three of them when they were children, standing next to an attractive young woman in a governess's uniform.

"Mother gave me that.' Tyler asked, ' she leave you anything else?" She shook her head. '. I'm sorry. She didn't want anything around that reminded. her of Harry Stanford." you, of course,' Woody said.

She turned to him, defiantly. ' don't care whether you believe me or not. You don't understand ... I ... I was so hoping -' Slid, broke off.

Tyler spoke. ' my sister said, your sudden appearance is rather a shock for us. I mean ... someone appearing out of nowhere and claimingto be a member of the family ... you can see our problem. I think we need a littl e time to discuss this." course, I understand." are you staying?, ' the Tremont House." don't you go back there,? We'll have a car take you. And we'll be in touch shortly.' She nodded. ' right.' She looked at each of them for a moment, and then said softly, "No matter what you think - you're my family."'ll walk you to the door,' Kendall said. She smiled. ''s all right. I can find my own way. I feel as-if I know every inch of this house.' 155 They watched her turn and walk out of the room. Kendall said,'Welll It ... it looks as though we have a sister.' 11 don't believe it,' Woody retorted. ' seems to me ... ' Marc began. They were -all talking at once. Tyler raised a hand.