"Oh you're always in his thoughts," I said. "He often says, 'That's something Holly put in your head,'

or 'Holly would have a lot to say about that.' "

"Really?" She smiled. "I like it here. I've been thinking about leaving New York."

"And Billy?"

"I'm thinking about giving him the shop. He'd never leave New York."

"Where will you live?" I asked.

"We'll see," she said flashing a smile at me.

"I'm about to discover if I can read my own future,"

she added. "I've got some strong indications." She beamed and looked back at the house.

"I'd better get home," I said, uncertain if I should question her more. "We all have a big day tomorrow and thanks to Kenneth, I have to play my fiddle."

"That's wonderful. Yes, it will be a big day."

She took my hand and we ran over the sand dune in our bare feet, laughing, the stars glittering above us, the ocean smooth and gentle and full of promises. It was good to be happy again, to be full of hope.

The next day, people showed up nearly a half hour early to be the first to get into the gallery.

Grandma Olivia put on one of her finest dresses, and wore her string of pearls, her diamond bracelets and gold rings. When she appeared in the foyer, she did indeed look like a queen. Judge Childs came by for us, and in his dark blue suit he looked as handsome as I had ever seen him.

"I tried to get Grant and Lillian to come," he said referring to his other children, "but they were both too busy with their own lives. It's a sad thing when families grow apart," he declared, which was something Grandma Olivia seconded heartedly.

"Once you lose the ties that bind, you drift in the wind," she said. She looked at me after most of her deep pronouncements these days, making sure I took note.

Cary, Aunt Sara and May, all dressed up, were waiting outside the gallery when we drove into the adjoining parking lot. Cary looked very handsome in his suit and tie and May, growing like summer corn, was already over five feet one. Even Aunt Sara had put on something bright and cheery and had dabbed on some makeup and lipstick.

"They're just about to open the doors," Cary said as I got out of the Judge's vehicle. "Those people over there are reporters," he added, nodding toward a small crowd gathered on the sidewalk.

"Ken here yet?" the Judge asked.

"No sir. Haven't seen him."

"Be just like him not to show up," Grandma Olivia muttered under her breath. "Well, Sara, how are you?"

"I'm fair to middling, Olivia. It seems like only yesterday," she said, her pale lips trembling.

"Well it's not only yesterday and we've all got to get on with our lives. This is a very happy, wonderful occasion for the Judge. You shouldn't be here if you're not up to it," she said sharply.

Sara forced a smile.

"Oh, I'm fine. And May's very excited about it,"

she said, nodding at Grandma Olivia's granddaughter, whom she had yet to acknowledge.

"Tell her hello," she ordered and flashed a smile at May who smiled back and signed. Grandma Olivia didn't wait to find out what she said. She stepped forward with the Judge at her side. The gallery doors were opened and the people began to stream in, most greeting Grandma Olivia and the Judge before allowing them to pass through the crowd. Cary, Aunt Sara, May and I followed.

Neptune's Daughter stood in the center of the room, covered with a sheet. The gallery owner, Laurence Baker, was a tall, lean man wearing a somber expression. The way he moved, gliding across the room, and his soft-spoken manner reminded me of an undertaker. His assistants, a man about twenty-four or -five and a woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties greeted people as well. There was some champagne already poured on long tables and some cold hors d'oeuvres alongside them. People went right for the free refreshments and wandered about the gallery looking at the other works of art while waiting for the unveiling.

"Good afternoon, Judge Childs, good afternoon," Laurence Baker said. "And Mrs. Logan.

Thank you all for coming."

"Why wouldn't we come?" she snapped back at him. "Oh, I just meant . . . it's nice to see you," he said and slipped over to another couple.

The gallery was soon full and Kenneth had not yet arrived. I was beginning to get butterflies in my stomach, thinking he might have decided not to appear. What would we do? How would the Judge handle it, and with the big party all set, the food, the music? I looked at Cary.

"When you saw him last, did he say anything about not coming here?" I asked him.

"He didn't say he wasn't, but he did tell me he wasn't happy about all the fuss."

"You don't think . . . was he drinking today?"

"No. Holly was there with him and they were just spending most of the day walking on the beach and talking. Well," he said with a tight smile, "maybe not just talking."

"You didn't spy on them, did you, Cary Logan?"

"No," he said indignantly. "I could just tell from the way they are acting that things are going well between them."

I was about to apologize when we heard the crowd raise the volume of its murmur and turned to see Kenneth and Holly drive up to the front of the gallery in her tie-dyed car. Kenneth had put on a sports jacket, but he wore an old pair of dungarees and a pair of moccasins without socks. His shirt was opened at the collar.

Holly wore one of her long dresses, sandals and beads that reached her waist. She had crystal earrings and a tiara made of crystals and other minerals.

"Artists," Grandma Olivia muttered.

Despite how Kenneth was dressed, he received an ovation when he entered the gallery. He smiled and nodded and escorted Holly to the foot of Neptune's Daughter.

"Well," Laurence Baker said stepping up beside Kenneth, "now that the artist is here, we can unveil his creation. As you all know, Mr. Childs has named his work Neptune's Daughter. In your program he describes his own work as a view of Neptune's daughter emerging from the sea, metamorphosing into a beautiful woman. The piece attempts to capture that metamorphosis at a climactic point. Without further ado, let's allow Mr. Childs to unveil Neptune's Daughter."

Kenneth stood there a moment, his eyes searching the crowd until -they settled on me. He looked impishly happy. Everyone held their breath as Kenneth jerked the cord to reveal Neptune's Daughter.

The sheet fell away from the statue and the audience released a single gasp, followed by loud applause.

Grandma Olivia's eyes widened as her mouth opened, stretching the skin over her cheekbones. Then she turned to me and we both gazed at each other for a long moment. She knew I had been Kenneth's model, but she didn't expect to see a bare-breasted young woman emerging from the water. She turned back to the statue.

"Well . . . well . . . well," Judge Childs muttered. "I told you this was his best work. What do you think of it, Olivia?"

"I think it's shocking," she declared. "I never expected to see such a realistically portrayed female."

She stepped forward and studied the face and then looked at the Judge.

"I know," I heard him say.

"I need some more champagne," Grandma Olivia declared and the Judge escorted her to the table. "What do you think of it, Aunt Sara?" I asked her.

"It looks like Haille," she whispered. "Just like her."

"Yes, it does."

"Jacob wouldn't have approved," she noted and nodded. "No, that he wouldn't."

"Dad didn't know anything about art," Cary said. Aunt Sara's face brightened.

"No," she said, "he didn't."

I laughed and signed back and forth with May, who was very excited and loved the statue. We listened to other people complimenting it and complimenting Kenneth, who appeared as uncomfortable with adulation as a man standing in shoes two sizes too small.

Cary and I were about to take May outside for some fresh air when Teddy Jackson, his wife Ann, his daughter, Michelle, and son, Adam, entered the gallery. A cold, electric chill shot through my spine. I hadn't seen the man who was my real father since I had returned, terrified of the moment when I would.

Michelle, who disliked me intensely, was actually my half-sister. I couldn't help but search her face and Adam's for any resemblances among us.

Fortunately, the Jacksons were quickly approached by the gallery owner and other members of the crowd.

"Let's go," I urged Cary and we slipped outside.

"It was getting hot in there. Mom's not coming to the party," Cary said. "She wants me to take her home first. I'll bring May and meet you up there later."

"Okay, sure," I replied, still stunned by the sight of Teddy Jackson.

"Are you going with Kenneth and Holly?"

"Yes," I said. "I'm sort of assigned to him to make sure he shows," I added and Cary laughed.

Less than an hour later, the invited guests began to leave the gallery to head up to Judge Childs's home.

Kenneth and Holly emerged like two people escaping a long school detention and came laughing and hurrying toward me.

"Let's get something to drink and quick,"

Kenneth cried. I took my fiddle out of the Judge's car and stepped into the jeep. We took off with Kenneth whooping up a storm. The wind played havoc with my hair, but my complaints went unheeded.

"You got me into this," Kenneth shouted. "Grin and bear it."

We were lucky. It was one of the nicest spring days, the wind warm and gentle, the sky almost turquoise with puffy dabs of clouds. When we arrived the trio was playing, valets were parking cars, balloons were bobbing in the wind. Kenneth and Holly headed straight for the outside bar. People converged around him, shaking his hand, patting him on the back. Holly and I helped ourselves to some of the hors d'oeuvres, and wandered about the grounds.

"What a beautiful place," she remarked. I showed her some of the house as well. When we emerged, the Judge and Grandma Olivia had arrived and were well involved in conversations with the guests. I looked about but didn't see Cary or May anywhere. When I spotted the Jackson family again, I felt myself shrivel inside.

The caterers began serving the full meal. I wanted to wait for Cary, but he still hadn't arrived. I couldn't imagine what was keeping him. Finally, I joined Kenneth and Holly and, despite my nervous stomach, had a little to eat. After we'd finished, Teddy Jackson and his wife came to our table to congratulate Kenneth. He shifted his eyes to me, but I looked away. Behind him, Adam grinned, looking as arrogant, but as handsome as ever. Michelle, as usual, looked like she was bored out of her mind.

My eyes went to the tent entrance, hoping for sight of Cary, but he still hadn't arrived. I was about to go into the house and call him when the Judge stopped by and whispered something to Kenneth.

Then they both looked at me.

"It's time I was able to step out of the limelight," Kenneth said gleefully. I groaned. They wanted me to perform. An announcement was made to the crowd as I left to get on the small stage where I had earlier left my fiddle. Most of the people drifted out to hear me play. Kenneth and Holly stood toward the back, both smiling from ear to ear. My eyes fell on Teddy Jackson, who wore a soft smile that made my heart pound so hard, I feared I might faint in front of all these people. Finally, I found the strength to lift the bow and begin.

It was a song about a coal miner's wife who refused to accept the fact that he was dead in a mining accident and sat vigil at the mine entrance for days and nights, refusing to eat or drink anything. And then, one night, the miner emerged and there was a great celebration. Once or twice I thought my voice would break, but I kept my eyes closed and envisioned Papa George teaching me the song. When it ended, I received a wonderful ovation and there were shouts for another song. I played two more tunes and then stepped down. Grandma Olivia looked very pleased at the way some of the younger men were vying for my attention. Still, I didn't see Cary in the crowd, so I excused myself and hurried into the house to call him. He picked up after one ring.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm just out the door. Ma was crying so hard and was so sad I just couldn't leave her. She kept thinking about Dad. She finally fell asleep. Did you play yet?"

"Yes."

"Oh, damn."

"But I'll play again and again for you, Cary.

Just get here as soon as you can."

"On my way," he promised and I cradled the phone. I stood there thinking about poor Aunt Sara. I was so deep in thought I didn't hear Adam come up behind me until he whispered in my ear and dared to kiss the back of my neck. I nearly jumped out of my shoes.

"Easy," he said as if I were a horse he was trying to gentle. "I saw you go into the house and thought we could have a private conversation. You're really getting prettier and prettier, you know. I was hoping," he continued before I could speak, "that you might have realized how good we could be together.

I'm a big deal at my college fraternity already and they're are lots of sorority girls to date, but I can't get you out of my mind, Melody. How about giving us another chance?" he asked stepping toward me.

I backed away, shaking my head.

"Get away from me, Adam. I don't know where you get the nerve," I said. He smiled.

"I like that. I like a girl who doesn't give in easily."

"I'll never give into you. Just stay away."

"Now why don't you just try and give us a chance. We're both a little older and-"

"I told you to stay away from me. Stay away!" I screamed at him when he reached for me again. He stopped his hand in mid-air and grimaced.

"What the hell's the matter with you? Who do you think you are, the princess of Provincetown just because you can play the fiddle and sing? I'm not good enough for you now?"

"No, it's not a matter of who's good enough for whom."

"Then what? What?" he demanded. He looked angry enough to hit me.

"Ask your father," I shouted at him. It came out of my mouth before I could swallow it back. He shook his head with confusion.

"What?"

"Just ask him, ask him why you and I could never be," I cried, the tears pouring over my lids. I turned and ran out of the room, leaving him twisting and turning in a whirlpool of confusion.

At first I felt bad about what I had said, but then I felt good about it, actually relieved. It was as if I had passed the curse along, lifted the weight from my shoulders and placed it on the true sinner's.