"What's wrong, Patty?"

At the sound of her cousin's voice, Patty looked up from the book she'd been reading. Or rather, the book she'd been trying to read. She'd been trying for what felt like hours to finish the first chapter of King Lear, but the words on the pages simply blurred together. At the rate she was going, King Lear would be the book that ruined her high school career. The test was in two days but she was no closer to finishing the book (or understanding it) than she'd been on the day that Mrs. Stower introduced her class to it. She was doomed. And when she looked over at Cathy, she could see the worry on her cousin's face.

"Patty, are you sure you're all right? You look… distracted."

With a sigh, Patty sat up and re-positioned her body, tucking her legs underneath her. "I'm fine, Cathy, really. Don't I look fine?"

But Cathy was much too smart for her. She hadn't lived with Patty's family for very long, but Cathy knew when her cousin wasn't telling the truth. "No, actually you don't look fine. You're still thinking about Richard, aren't you?"

At the sound of her boyfriend's name, Patty was on her feet and she began to pace the small space of the bedroom in front of her bed, just as she'd done the night before. And then she paused and looked at her cousin. Sure enough, Cathy was still watching her, waiting for her to tell the truth.

"I can't help it, Cathy. Ever since Mr. Harrison came over and told us about what he had done-."

Cathy nodded sympathetically. "I know. And it was wrong of Richard's father to lie to him the way he did. But Patty, you can't blame yourself."

"But that's just the problem, Cathy. I do blame myself! I was so angry at Richard for even thinking about dropping out of school, for throwing away his dreams of becoming a doctor, of helping people in foreign countries that I practically threatened to dump him!"

"Actually Patty, you did dump him."

Patty gasped at the realization. "Oh no… You're right, Cathy! I did break up with him, didn't I? Oh, Richard must absolutely hate me!"

Cathy shook her head. "I'm sure he doesn't. You were only doing what you thought was right. He can't fault you for that."

"But it wasn't right, Cathy! If only I had known…"

"You had no way of knowing. None of us did. Even Uncle Martin, Aunt Natalie and Ross were fooled."

"Yeah, but now we know the truth. And I don't know what to do about it."

"Patty, don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault. And I'm sure that Richard will understand. Just talk to him."

"Even if I don't understand, Cathy? Besides, what would I possibly say?"

Cathy smiled and reached for Patty's hand. "You're smarter than you give yourself credit for, Patty. I know you'll think of something."

As Patty hugged her cousin (An impulse reaction if ever there was one) she sighed. "I certainly hope so, Cathy."