in0 by Robert R. McCammon

Author:Robert R. McCammon
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-07-30T03:52:13.727948+00:00

SIXTEEN

DR. DRAGO'S HOUSE

Long before they reached the wall between the Drago property and the highway, Kay and Evan could see the reflection of lights in the night sky. The wrought-iron gate with the scroll D stood open, and Evan turned into the private drive that led through the woods to the house. Ahead, rainbow-colored lanterns were strung through the lower branches of the trees, sparkling like fireflies. And then, where the drive curved slightly, the house came into full view.

The size of it stunned them. They'd seen only the roof that first day on the road, and the view had been misleading: the stone-columned house reminded Evan of some kind of sprawling Greek or Roman fortress, with four two-storyed towers at each corner. he'd never seen anything as large before; his first thought was how much money had been put into it. A million dollars? Two million? More than that? Lights blazed like fires from a myriad windows, reflected again and again from the many cars parked along the drive. Kay felt the ants in her stomach start dancing the two-step. She wondered if it was right for her to have accepted the invitation. There were going to be important people here, influential people who dressed well and spoke the language of stocks and bonds, people of intelligence and ambition with a grip on the turnings of the world. She didn't think her hair looked right, though she'd combed it until it absolutely shone; she didn't think the new beige pantsuit she'd bought the day before at the Westbury Mall did anything for her complexion, though Evan had told her again and again how stunning it looked on her; she didn't think she would fit in with these people, and she was afraid of imagined disasters: perspiration spots beneath her arms, bad breath (the Lavoris bottle in the bathroom, three days old, was already half-empty), ill-chosen remarks in the effort to be charmingly witty.

Evan had told her to relax, that these people wouldn't be any different from them, but she refused to believe it. Evan had bought a new tie to go with his navy blue blazer, gray slacks, and light blue shirt. he'd searched all over Westbury Mall until he'd found one with small gray horses on a field of dark blue.

At the last minute Kay had thought they wouldn't be able to make the party because they hadn't found a suitable sitter for Laurie.

Kay had called Mrs. Demargeon to ask if she knew anyone, maybe a teenager who might like to earn ten dollars, but Mrs. Demargeon had insisted on sitting with Laurie herself, and nothing Kay could say would dissuade her. Go ahead and enjoy your party, Mrs.

Demargeon had said cheerily. Laurie and I will get along just fine.

And now Evan pulled the station wagon to a halt and cut the engine. "Okay," he said, and squeezed her hand reassuringly, "here we are."

There was a long walkway between immaculate hedges to the large, imposing front door. Evan put his arm around Kay, worked the gleaming brass knocker, waited.

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