Well, so much for work, Cairo thought, as she picked up Katherine's journal from where it sat on her desk. She was enthralled with the girl's plight, and was beginning to admire the strength that Katherine must have had.

Dear Diary,

It has been six months since I last wrote. We survived the winter. I am not sure how exactly, but it surely must have been because of the Grace of God. Without Him, I shudder to think how we would have survived. And now that the summer warmth returns, I fear that even more hardship shall befall this crippled estate.

I do not know what to do. I can wait for Andrew, while my estate, the only living thing that I have left to remind me of my parents and all that they worked for, disappears before my eyes, or I can marry another man. These are the only choices that are before me.

It seems that there was a debt against my family that I did not know of, and all these months that we've been working hard just to pay the taxes against the estate, the debt has been collecting interest. And that amount has almost doubled since them. Even if I sell Brickwoode for all that it is worth, I shall not have enough to pay the amount against my name.

Robert knows of my troubles, and has offered the only solution that we can see. I would have to marry him, so that the debt would pass on to him, and therefore he would pay it, which would hardly make a dent in the man's vast wealth. Robert has been a brother to me all my life, and I know that is why he is making this offer. But I cannot even think of accepting him, when there is still hope that Andrew may return.

But I must think. Every day that passes, the amount grows larger. Either I loose my parent's legacy, or I loose my only love.

Torn,

Katherine

Sighing, Cairo flipped to the next page. She could not image what she would do if she were in Katherine's position. It would be an impossible decision. She continued to read.

Dear Diary,

I feel as though I have turned to stone. I try so hard to feel nothing, for I want to be numb. But it is difficult, so very difficult. How could a life so full of happiness and joy suddenly turn into a horrid nightmare? I was so happy. I wanted nothing more from life. Now, I do not want to live.

I shall stop pacing the balcony at night, watching the road. No longer shall I think to myself that everything will be alright when Andrew returns. No longer…Andrew is dead. I will no longer wait for him.

Andrew is dead.

My Andrew is dead.

I am dead.

* * * *

"I just can't believe that you were so ready to accept her explanation for what happened. Those two spend a lot of time together. Why are you so willing to brush it off as nothing?" Meagan asked, hands on her hips.

"Don't you dare start this again, Meagan. I almost lost Cairo because I couldn't trust her," Nick protested, fed up with her interfering in his life.

"She would never leave you, Nick. You can trust me on that one," Meagan said, a hint of disgust audible in her voice.

"I wasn't talking about her leaving me. I practically ignored her, and she had a head injury. If it hadn't been for Brian, it could have been a lot worse, so back off," Nick said, frustrated.

"Brian to the rescue, how perfect," Meagan said mockingly.

"You are a guest in her house, and while you are, I ask that you respect her, and stop with these stupid accusations!" Nick yelled, storming out of the room.

"If it didn't bother then why are you getting so upset?" Meagan yelled after him. Laughing quietly to herself, she couldn't help but think about how interesting things were going to get, very soon.