she was up against； unable to grasp how far they'd go even though she and her husband had done nothI。ng to them。 Woltz forced her off the road。 The Mercedes rolled into the canal。〃
Woltz had stopped； shifted the Cadillac into reverse； and backed up to where the Mercedes was swiftly sinking。 He and Anne had gotten out of the car to watch。 Chyna's mother had insisted that she watch too： e on； you little chicken。 You don't want to miss this； baby。 This is one to remember The passenger's side of the Mercedes was flat against the muddy bottom of the canal； and the driver's side was revealed to them as they stood on the embankment in the humid evening air。 They were being bitten by hordes of mosquitoes but were hardly aware of them； mesmerized by the sight below them； gazing through the driver…side windows of the submerged vehicle。
〃It was twilight；〃 Chyna told Laura； putting into words the images behind her closed eyes； 〃so the headlights were on； still on even after the Mercedes sank； and there were lights inside the car。 They had airconditioning； so all the windows were closed； and neither the windshield nor the driver…side window had shattered when the car rolled。 We could see inside； 'cause the windows were only a few inches under water。 There was no sign of the husband。 Maybe he was knocked unconscious when they rolled。 But the old woman 。。。 her face was at the window。 The car was flooded； but there was a big bubble of air against the inside of the glass； and she pressed her face into it so she could breathe。 We stood there looking down at her。 Woltz could have helped。 My mother could have helped。 But they just watched。 The old woman couldn't seem to get the window open； and the door must have been jammed； or maybe she was just too scared and too weak。〃
Chyna had tried to pull away； but her mother had held her； speaking urgently to her； the whispered words borne on a tide of breath sour with vodka and grapefruit juice。 We're different than other people； baby。 No rules apply to us。 You'll never understand what freedom really means ifyou don't watch this。 Chyna had closed her eyes； but she had still been able to hear the old woman screaming into the big air bubble inside the submerged car。 Muffled screaming。
〃Then gradually the screaming faded 。。。 finally stopped；〃 Chyna told Laura。 〃When I opened my eyes； twilight had gone and night had e。 There was still light in the Mercedes； and the woman's face was still pressed to the glass； but a breeze had risen； rippling the water in the canal； and her features were a blur。 I knew she was dead。 She and her husband。 I started to cry。 Woltz didn't like that。 He threatened to drag me into the canal； open a door on the Mercedes； and shove me inside with the dead people。 My mother made me drink some grapefruit juice with vodka。 I was only seven。 The rest of the way back to Key West； I lay on the backseat； dizzy from the vodka； half drunk and a little sick； still crying but quietly； so I wouldn't make Woltz angry； crying quietly until I fell asleep。〃
In Laura's Mustang； the only sounds were the soft rumble of the engine and the singing of the tires on the blacktop。
Chyna finally opened her eyes and came back from the memory of Florida； from the long…ago humid twilight to the Napa Valley； where most of the red light had gone out of the sky and darkness encroached on all sides。
The old man in the Buick was no longer in front of them。 They were not driving as fast as before； and evidently he had gotten far ahead of them。
Laura said softly； 〃Dear God。〃
Chyna was shaking uncontrollably。 She plucked a few Kleeney from the console box between the seats； blew her nose； and blotted her eyes。 Over the past two years； she had shared part of her childhood with Laura； but every new revelation…and there was much still to reveal…was as difficult as the one before it。 When she spoke of the past； she always burned with shame； as though she had been as guilty as her mother； as if every criminal act and spell of madness could be blamed on her； though she had been only a helpless child trapped in the insanity of others。
〃Will you ever see her again？〃 Laura asked。
Recollection had left Chyna half numb with horror。 〃I don't know。〃
〃Would you want to？〃
Chyna hesitated。 Her hands were curled into fists； the damp Kleenex wadded in the right one。 〃Maybe。〃
〃For God's sake why？〃
〃To ask her why。 To try to understand。 To settle some things。 But 。。。 maybe not。〃
〃Do you even know where she is？〃
〃No。 But it wouldn't surprise me if she was in jail。 Or dead。 You can't live like that and hope to grow old。〃
They drove down out of the foothills into the valley。
Eventually Chyna said； 〃I can still see her standing in the steamy darkness on the banks of that canal； greasy with sweat； her hair hanging damp and all tangled； covered with mosquito bites； eyes bleary from vodka。 Laura； even then she was still the most beautiful woman you've ever seen。 She was always so beautiful； so perfect on the outside； like someone out of a dream； like an angel 。。。 but she was never half as beautiful as when she was excited； when there'd been violence。 I can see her standing there； only visible because of the greenish glow from the headlights of the Mercedes rising through the murky canal water； so ravishing in that green light； glorious； the most beautiful person you've ever seen； like a goddess from another world。〃
Gradually Chyna's trembling subsided。 The heat of shame faded from her face； but slowly。
She was immeasurably grateful for Laura's concern and support。 A friend。 Until Laura； Chyna had lived secretly with her past； unable to speak of it to anyone。 Now； having； unburdened herself of another hateful corrupting memory； she couldn't begin to put her gratitude into words。
〃It's okay；〃 Laura said； as if reading Chyna's mind。
They rode in silence。 They were late for dinner。
To Chyna； the Templeton house looked inviting at first glimpse： Victorian； gabled； roomy； with deep porches front and rear。 It stood a half mile off the county road； at the end of a gravel driveway； surrounded by one hundred twenty acres of vineyards。
For three generations； the Templetons had grown grapes； but they had never made wine。 They were under contract to one of the finest vintners in the valley； and because they owned fertile land with the highest…quality vines； they received an excellent price for their crop。
Sarah Templeton appeared on the front porch when she heard the Mustang in the driveway； and she came quickly down the steps to the stone walkway to greet Laura and Chyna。 She was a lovely； girlishly slim woman in her early or mid forties； with stylishly short blond hair； wearing tan jeans and a long…sleeved emerald…green blouse with green embroidery on the collar； simultaneously chic aq motherly。 When Sarah hugged Laura and kissed her and held her with such evident and fierce love； Chyna was struck by a pang of envy and by a shiver of misery at never having known a mother's love。
She was surprised again when Sarah turned to her； embraced her； kissed her on the cheek； and； still holding her close； said； 〃Laura tells me you're the sister she never had； so I want you to feel at home here； sweetheart。 When you're here with us； this is your place as much as ours。〃
Chyna stood stiffly at first； so unfamiliar with the rituals of family affection that she didn't know quite how to respond。 Then she returned the embrace awkwardly and murmured an inadequate thankyou。 Her throat was suddenly so tight that she was amazed to be able to speak at all。
Putting her arms around both Laura and Chyna； guiding them to the broad flight of porch steps； Sarah said； 〃We'll get your luggage later。 Dinner's ready now。 e along。 Laura's told me so much about you； Chyna。〃
〃Well； Mom；〃 said Laura； 〃I didn't tell you about Chyna being into voodoo。 I sort of hid that part。 She'll need to sacrifice a live chicken every night at midnight while she's staying with us。〃
〃We only grow grapes。 We don't have any chickens； dear；〃 Sarah said。 〃But after dinner we can drive to one of the farms in the area and buy a few。〃
Chyna laughed and looked at Laura as if to say； 〃Were it the Infamous Look？
Laura understood。 〃In your honor； Chyna； all wire coat hangers and equivalent devices have been put away。〃
〃Whatever are you talking about？〃 Sarah asked。 〃You know me； Mom…a babbling ditz。 Sometimes not even I know what I'm talking about。〃
Paul Templeton； Laura's father； was in the big kitchen； taking a potato…and…cheese casserole out of the oven。 He was a neat； pact man； five feet ten； with thick dark hair and a ruddy plexion。 He set the steaming dish aside； stripped off a pair of oven mitts； and greeted Laura as warmly as Sarah had done。 After being introduced to Chyna； he took one of her hands in both of his； which were rough and work worn； and with feigned solemnity he said； 〃We prayed you'd make the trip in one piece。 Does my little girl still handle that Mustang as if she thinks it's the Batmobile？〃
〃Hey； Dad；〃 Laura said； 〃I guess you've forgotten who taught me to drive。〃
〃I was instructing you in the basic techniques；〃 Paul said。 〃I didn't expect you to acquire my style。〃
Sarah said； 〃I refuse to