She was sitting oh the edge of the sofa when I came into the room, her head tilted a little as if she were listening. It was the way I always remembered my cousin. She always perched on chairs more than sat in them and when people talked, her nostrils flared a little, as if she were almost smelling the words. My mother pulled nervously at her dress as I slumped down in a chair.

"Ross?" Jessica asked softly.

"Yeah, Jess, it's me." There was something in the air. Something my mother felt uneasy about. It had to be something to do with going to the cabin, because I could see my blind cousin's hiking boots and a heavy sweater in a neat pile next to her feet.

"Jessica's going with you and Janey tomorrow," Mom said. "Your aunt and I decided it would do her good."

"Oh. Well, that's great."

The gold frames of her dark glasses glinted as she turned to look just past my face. It bothered a lot of people when she did that, but I'd gotten used to it long before.

"She's worked so hard with the children at school this past winter that we all agreed she should get away for a while." Mom looked hopefully at me, guessing that I wouldn't like the idea much.

Jessica folded and unfolded her pretty hands. "Are you sure you won't mind, Ross?" she asked. "I mean, if you don't want me along…"

"No. Really, it's all right." Actually, it wasn't worth a shit, but what could I say? I'd have to rethink my plans so I could still get away before my folks joined us all at the cabin. Jessica smiled prettily at me… or almost at me. Though there was no way really to be certain, I suddenly flashed on the idea that Jessica wasn't wearing a bra.