Madra got Glynis settled in the guestroom and told her that she would be back in a little while. She left Glynis to unpack and relax while she went to take care of the girls and get them ready for bed. After the girls were fed, bathed, read to, and tucked into their beds, Madra kissed their sleepy heads and went off to visit with her sister. She knocked on Glynis' door saying "Glynnie, it's me. May I come in?" "Come in." was Glynis' immediate reply. Madra entered the darkened room to find Glynis sitting in bed in the darkly lit room. "Hi Glynis, I hope that you are comfortable. I thought that we might talk a little now about what you alluded to in the car." she said. Glynis looked at her sadly and said, "Oh, Maddie, I'm so afraid.....I don't know where to begin. I'd absolutely DIE if you hated me after what I've done!" Madra's heart began to race a little as she thought about what could be so horrible that her sister would be afraid to tell her! "Glynnie, dear, what is so awful that you would be afraid to tell me?! You know you can tell me anything!" Madra said. "I don't know Maddie, I've made a horrible mistake, and I don't know how to fix it!" the younger girl began. "Ok, Glynnie, perhaps we can fix it together -- so why don't you just tell me, ok?" said Madra. With that Glynis looked at her, took a deep breath and began telling her story. Madra listened intently as her sister told her about how she had had an affair with her roommate's father. A married man, no less. And to make matters worse, he was very influential in French politics. Oh, what could she have been thinking, thought Madra. A married man, the father of her friend. Oh, God, she thought, this sounds like a familiar song -- one she had endured many times over as a young girl with her mother! She tried so hard to insulate Glynis from her mother. Her father had sent Glynis to school in France to get her away from her mother's indiscretions. And now this....

Glynis was openly crying now. She could hardly get the words out. Madra listened as if in a trance. She couldn't react....couldn't show her beloved sister how distraught she was over this. Glynis was trying to explain her actions, and Madra could hear her voice pleading..... "I just wanted to be happy" she said. "You and Max are so happy and I wanted to be happy like that. Max is older and no one seems to have a problem with that" she said. Madra was shocked back into reality at that point. "Glynis, yes it's true that Max is older than I am, but he's not old enough to be my father!" she cried. "Furthermore, Max was not a married man. We were both free to be together!". "Oh I knew you wouldn't understand," Glynis sobbed. "I just wanted to be loved -- that's all! And now..... now....." her voice broke off. Madra could see the pain on her sister's face and her heart broke a little. "Oh, Glynnie, we'll work something out. No one has to know. You can stay with me and Max for a while and then decide what you want to do. Please don't cry." she said. "But there's more......." Glynnis began. "I...I...I think I'm pregnant!" Madra looked at her little sister incredulously..."Pregnant? Are you sure?" she said. "And, does this man know? What are his intentions?" Glynis began sobbing again, "Oh, Maddie, he knows, but he wants nothing to do with me or the baby! He said that if I tell anyone, he'll say I'm a liar! He said if his wife or daughter were to find out, he would find a way to make my life a living hell! Oh, Maddie, what am I to do? What will become of me?!" Madra felt as if she was going to be ill, but she loved her sister. She put her arm around her sister and said, "Don't fret Glynnie, we'll take care of you. Please don't cry. Max and I will help you. I love you, Glynnie." Glynis seemed to calm down a little, gave Madra a little smile and said, "you won't tell anyone, will you? At least not just yet..." "Don't worry, Glynnie, no one will know until you're ready." said Madra. With that she kissed her sister on the forehead, told her to get some rest and that everything would be ok.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the two sisters, Brianne had just come home from an evening out with friends. She tried to sneak quietly up the stairs so no one would hear her come in. When she reached the guestroom door, she heard voices. She could see that the door was slightly ajar, and curiousity got the best of her and she quietly listed to the conversation. Well, well, she thought, perfect little "Glynnie". Got herself in trouble did she?! Ha, and all the time Max made me feel like a criminal when he caught me with Craig. I can't wait to see how he's going to handle this one! And, little miss perfect...with her boarding school education in France, her great clothes, and everything a girl could possibly want. What a stupid girl she turned out to be! Letting some old guy take advantage of her like that and then dumping her like yesterday's trash! And now, she has a little "present" in the works as a constant reminder. Interesting.....then she head Madra approaching the door. She quickly tip-toed her way to her room, snuck in and closed the door. Brianne couldn't wait to call Craig and tell him the news. He'd get a good laugh out of that one, she thought. Hymmm....perhaps I should keep this little secret for a while until I can figure out how to best make it work to my advantage. I've been so afraid that Max would send me back home or make me stop seeing Craig. Neither of those options will work for me, she thought. I just can't go back to that little shack my parents call home, and Craig...well, Craig, he's just too good a catch. It took me a while to find someone like him -- from a good home with old money, easy on the eyes, and totally smitten with me. Nope, I'm not going anywhere.

~ * * * ~

Meanwhile....Gene was having another fitting for her bridal gown with Tyler, the woman Madra recommended to make her wedding gown. She loved the designs that Tyler had come up with. She seemed to know exactly what Gene was looking for! She had loved everything Tyler had designed for her, but one dress in particular struck her. Tyler told her that it was her favorite one, too! Tyler arrived just on time carrying a huge box. "Before, I cut the fabric for your dress," Tyler began, "I want to make sure that the sloper is absolutely perfect for you. I want this dress to fit you like a dream." Gene was very excited. "Ok," she said, "what do you want me to do?" "Leave your slip and your shoes on, and let's try this on." said Tyler. Gene slipped into the dress that Tyler had made from their first fitting. She couldn't wait to see it done up in the fabric they had chosen. Tyler was working on the back closure, and she said, "Gene, I hate to ask, but have you gained weight since our last visit? This dress is quite snug on you." Gene looked perplexed and said, "I hadn't noticed, Tyler. Actually, I have been so anxious with the wedding so close, I've hardly been able to eat anything. And anything I do eat, I have a hard time keeping. I think it must be my nerves or something." Tyler thought to herself -- yes, nerves or something...perhaps I'd better leave a little more room in this dress -- just in case.

~ * * * ~

	Max arrived home quite late after a very long day with the arcitects and promoters for his new project. He headed up the stairway to their bedroom. He didn't want to waken Madra if she was asleep. He peered in and saw his beautiful Madra sitting in a chair in the darkened room, apparently lost in thought. He entered the room, sat on the arm of her chair and said, "Honey, are you alright?" She hadn't even heard him come in let alone enter the room. She seemed startled but gave him a weak smile. He could see that she had been crying. "Madra, what's wrong? Are the girls ok?" he said. "The girls are fine, dear," she said, I didn't mean to worry you. It's Glynis...." het voice trailed off. "Did her plane land alright? Is she ok?" he said. "It's nothing like that, Max" she began, "it's...it's" and she began to openly cry. "It's ok, darling," he said, "whatever it is, we'll handle it together. Just start from the beginning." She told him the story she had heard earlier from her sister. Max's was horrified. He remembered the stories Madra had told him about her mother's antics, and now, this seemed like history repeating itself. He didn't know whether to be sad for Glynis or angry that she had been so stupid. On the other hand, she was young and impressionable, he should be angry with the man in question. Glynis was old enough to be of consenting age, but certainly inexperienced and naive.
"That son-of-a......." his voice trailed off. "I'll make him face his responsibilties!" "No, Max!" Madra cried. "You can't -- he said he would ruin my sister's life and I believe it! Something like this could ruin her. Please, Max, please...." "But Madra," he began, "why should he get away with it. That child is his responsibility! That child deserves a name!" "But Max, what good is a name if it comes at such a heavy price? Everyone would know that the child was not wanted, and so would the child. Then what would become of that poor little baby?" she said. Max was speechless and practically shaking with rage. He didn't quite know how to react. Madra took that as a sign that he was angry and burried her head on his shoulder, sobbing. "Max, Max, I'm so sorry....I'm so sorry that my family brings you so much grief," she began. "You are such a good man, and all I have done is brought you shame and grief from my family. I love you so much, but I can't stand hurting you any longer. I'm so sorry.... I'll understand if you want me to leave....."
	With that, Max scooped up his wife in his arms and carried her to their bed. "You, my darling, are going nowhere!" he said. "It took me half a lifetime to find you, and I cannot lose you now! Don't you know how much I love you?!" "Oh, Max, I love you, too, darling," Madra began, "I could never leave you!" "Good, because I need you. Don't worry, we'll work this out. Everything will be alright. You'll see, darling...." he began. "Oh, Max, you're so good to me, and so strong and loving -- what would I ever do without you?" "That is something you will never have to worry about, my darling." he said.

To Be Continued.....