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there to greet them. “Your aunt has been relieved of her guardianship responsibilities, ” Crandall told him. “Please don’t delude yourself into the mistaken belief that you can continue to run wild in the streets. The new housekeeper has been instructed to keep me apprised of your every move. ” With a stoic shrug, the sullen twelve-year-old conveyed that he couldn’t have cared less. Besides, he’d always disliked his Aunt Emmaline, who found caring for her nephew to be a bothersome, albeit lucrative, lifestyle interruption. Devon doubted the new woman would be an improvement. It didn’t matter one way or the other. Devon didn’t care about anything anymore. He was dead inside. The moment Devon stepped into the house, he was swept up in a pair of strong, loving arms. “Gott im Himmel! What a handsome boy you are!” Startled, he dropped the small suitcase he’d been carrying , pushed frantically away and stumbled backward, gaping at the brick of a woman whose bright blue eyes reflected sudden bewilderment. “Forgive me. I forget my place. ” Tossing the fat ecru braid back over her shoulder, the woman managed an awkward curtsy and respectfully bowed her head as Crandall entered the foyer. “This is Gunda Meineke, ” he told Devon brusquely. ” Make no mistake, she is quite capable of making you tow the line. Isn’t that right, Gunda? “
    “Ja, mein Herr”
    “Good. Thank you, Gunda. You are dismissed. ” “Jawohl. ” As she turned away from Crandall, her solemn expression broke into a sunshine grin. Her sly wink was for Devon’s eyes only and conveyed more deftly than words that the two of them were going to get along just fine. After Gunda left, a cold silence settled over the room. Devon picked up his suitcase, eyeing the stairs and longing for the solitude of his bedroom.
    “Can I go now? “
    “No. ” Crandall clasped his hands behind his back and stared sternly over his son’s head. “There are some things we, uh, need to discuss. ” ‘ Devon’s heart sank. He ducked his head and studied his sneakers. “I realize that the past weeks have been difficult for you, ” Crandall said. “I wish things had turned out differently, of course, but there’s nothing to be done about that now. Hopefully, you have learned something from this unfortunate experience. ” He absently glanced at his watch, a habitual gesture that never failed to make Devon feel as though he were keeping his father from something that was really important. Like making money. “Unfortunately, we’ll have to continue this discussion in a couple of weeks.
    My plane leaves in two hours. “
    Devon’s head snapped up. “Where are you going? “
    Annoyed by the sharp question, Crandall spoke with exaggerated civility.
    “Back to Europe, of course. Since this trip was arranged without proper notice, I wasn’t able to clear my calendar. There are some things that must be attended to before I can schedule another visit. ” A cold pit of fury opened up in Devon’s skinny chest. “Don’t bother!” he shouted as hot tears filled his eyes. “I didn’t ask you to come back in the first place! I don’t need you! I don’t need anybody!” Dropping the suitcase, he spun around and stumbled up the stairs. Crandall hadn’t followed. It had been eight months before the Monroe men had seen each other again. Twenty years later Devon stood in his father’s hospital room watching the past collide with the present. It was ironic that although their roles had now been reversed, the same hurtful words concealed the same pain and fear of rejection Back then, Devon had needed his father and needed him desperately, just as Crandall now needed his son. This time, the cry for help would not go unanswered. Glancing over his shoulder, Devon saw the older man staring out the window with a feigned stoicism so like his own that it took his breath away. He swallowed hard, then ambled casually across the room, dropped his jacket on the