His name is Julian Janus Marquet, but I’m going to call him Jory.”Both Chris and Paul heard my thin whisper. I was so tired, so sleepy.“Why would you call him Jory?” asked Paul, but it wasn’t me who had the strength to answer. It was Chris who understood my reasoning.“If he had been blond, she would have named him Cory—but the J will stand for Julian, and the rest for Cory.”Our eyes met and I smiled. How wonderful to be understood, and never have to explain.

No. I wasn’t there. I was back in Gladstone, Pennsylvania, and I was twelve years old. Two state troopers were in the driveway, with a white car parked . . . and swiftly they were striding to interrupt a birthday party to tell us all that Daddy was dead. Killed in an accident on Greenfield Highway.“Chris! Chris!” I screamed, terrified he might have gone.“I’m here. I’m coming. I knew you’d need me.

To my lady Catherine,I give you gold with a diamond you can barely see,But the gem would be castle-sized if it expressed all I feel for thee.I give you gold because it endures, and love like the eternal sea.Only your brother, Christopher.

Boy!” she lashed out. “Move away from that window—this instant!”“My name is not ‘boy.’ My name is Christopher. You can address me by my given name, or don’t address me at all—but never call me ‘boy’ again!

Cathy—look at me! Don’t turn your head and pretend you don’t know what I’m doing, what I’m saying! Look and see the torment you’ve put me in! How can I find anyone else, when you’ve been bred into my bones—and are part of my flesh? Your blood runs fast when mine does! Your eyes burn when mine do—don’t deny it!

While I thought my vengeful thoughts and made my plans to ruin her life when I could, Chris was tenderly kissing me. I hadn’t even noticed. “Stop!” I cried when I felt his lips pressing down on mine. “Leave me alone! You don’t love me like I want to be loved, for what I am. You love me because my face is like hers! Sometimes I hate my face!”He looked terribly wounded as he backed toward the door. “I was only trying to comfort you,” he said in a broken voice. “Don’t turn it into something ugly.