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〃Who funds it？〃
〃It's all private。 We spend half our time trying to raise money。 We operate on a very lean budget。〃
〃How many counselors like you？〃
〃A dozen or so。 Some work a few afternoons a week； a few Saturdays。 I'm lucky。 I can afford to work here full…time。〃
〃How many hours a week？〃
〃I don't know。 Who keeps up with them？ I get here around ten and leave after dark。〃
〃And you do this for free？〃
〃Yeah。 You guys call it pro bono； I think。〃
〃It's different with lawyers。 We do volunteer work to justify ourselves and the money we make； our little contribution to society。 We still make plenty of money； you understand。 This is a little different。〃
〃It's rewarding。〃
〃How'd you find this place？〃
〃I don't know。 It was a long time ago。 I was a member of a social club； a hot…tea…drinkers club； and we'd meet once a month for a lovely lunch and discuss ways to raise a few pennies for the less fortunate。 One day a。nun spoke to us about Auburn House； and we adopted it as our beneficiary。 One thing led to another。〃
〃And you're not paid a dime？〃
〃Phelps has plenty of money； Adam。 In fact； I donate a lot of it to Auburn House。 We have an annual fundraiser now at the Peabody； black tie and champagne； and I make Phelps lean on his banker buddies to show up with their wives and fork over the money。 Raised over two hundred thousand last year。〃
〃Where does it go？〃
〃Some goes to overhead。 We have two fulltime staffers。 The building is cheap but it still costs。 The rest goes for baby supplies； medicine； and literature。 There's never enough。〃
〃So you sort of run the place？〃
〃No。 We pay an administrator。 I'm just a counselor。〃
Adam studied the poster behind her； the one with a bulky yellow condom snaking its way harmlessly across the wall。 He gathered from the latest surveys and studies that these little devices were not being used by teenagers； in spite of television campaigns and school slogans and MTV spots by responsible rock stars。 He could think of nothing worse than sitting in this cramped little room all day discussing diaper rashes with fifteen…year…old mothers。
〃I admire you for this；〃 he said； looking at the wall with the baby food poster。
Lee nodded but said nothing。 Her eyes were tired and she was ready to go。 〃Let's go eat；〃 she said。
〃Where？〃
〃I don't know。 Anywhere。〃
〃I saw Sam today。 Spent two hours with him。〃
Lee sunk in her seat； and slowly placed her feet on the desk。 As usual； she was wearing faded jeans and a button…down。
〃I'm his lawyer。〃
〃He signed the agreement？〃
〃Yes。 He prepared one himself； four pages。 We both signed it； and so now it's up to me。〃
〃Are you scared？〃
〃Terrified。 But I can handle it。 I talked to a reporter with the Memphis Press this afternoon。 They've heard the rumor that Sam Cayhall is my grandfather。〃
〃What did you tell him？〃
〃Couldn't really deny it； could I？ He wanted to ask all kinds of questions about the family； but I told him little。 I'm sure he'll dig around and find some more。〃
〃What about me？〃
〃I certainly didn't tell him about you； but he'll start digging。 I'm sorry。〃
〃Sorry about what？〃
〃Sorry that maybe they'll expose your true identity。 You'll be branded as the daughter of Sam Cayhall； murderer； racist； anti…Semite； terrorist； Klansman； the oldest man ever led to the gas chamber and gassed like an animal。 They'll run you out of town。〃
〃I've been through worse。〃
〃What？〃
〃Being the wife of Phelps Booth。〃
Adam laughed at this； and Lee managed a Iie。 A middle…aged lady walked to the open a door and told Lee she was leaving for the day。 Lee jumped to her feet and quickly introduced her handsome young nephew； Adam Hall； a lawyer from Chicago； who was visiting for a spell。 The lady was sufficiently impressed as she backed out of the office。 and disappeared down the hall。
〃You shouldn't have done that；〃 Adam said。
〃Why not？〃
〃Because my name will be in the paper tomorrow 。… Adam Hall； lawyer from Chicago； and grandson。〃
Lee's mouth dropped an inch before she caught it。 She then gave a shrug as if she didn't care； but Adam saw the fear in her eyes。 What a stupid mistake； she was telling herself。 〃Who cares？〃 she said as she picked up her purse and briefcase。 〃Let's go find a restaurant。〃
They went to a neighborhood bistro； an Italian family place with small tables and few lights in a converted bungalow。 They sat in a dark corner and ordered drinks； iced tea for her and mineral water for him。 When the waiter left； Lee leaned over the table and said； 〃Adam； there's something I need to tell you。〃
He nodded but said nothing。
〃I'm an alcoholic。〃
His eyes narrowed then froze。 They'd had drinks together the last two nights。
〃It's been about ten years； now；〃 she explained； still low over the table。 The nearest person was fifteen feet away。 〃There were a lot of reasons； okay； some of which you could probably guess。 I went through recovery； came out clean； and lasted about a year。 Then； rehab again。 I've been through treatment three times； the last was five years ago。 It's not easy。〃
〃But you had a drink last night。 Several drinks。〃
〃I know。 And the night before。 And today I emptied all the bottles and threw away the beer。 There's not a drop in the apartment。〃
〃That's fine with me。 I hope I'm not the reason。〃
〃No。 But I need your help； okay。 You'll be living with me for a couple of months； and we'll have some bad times。 Just help me。〃
〃Sure； Lee。 I wish you'd told me when I arrived。 I don't drink much。 I can take it or leave it。〃
〃Alcoholism is a strange animal。 Sometimes I can watch people drink and it doesn't bother me。 Then I'll see a beer mercial and break into a sweat。 I'll see an ad in a magazine for a wine I used to enjoy； and the craving is so intense I'll bee nauseated。 It's an awful struggle。〃
The drinks arrived and Adam was afraid to touch his mineral water。 He poured it over the ice and stirred it with a spoon。 〃Does it run in the family？〃 he asked； almost certain that it did。
〃I don't think so。 Sam would sneak around and drink a little when we were kids； but he kept it from us。 My mother's mother was an alcoholic； so my mother never touched the stuff。 I never saw it in the house。〃
〃How'd it happen to you？〃
〃Gradually。 When I left home I couldn't wait to give it a try because it was taboo when Eddie and I were growing up。 Then。 I met Phelps； and he es from a family of heavy social drinkers。 It became an escape； and then it became a crutch。〃
〃I'll do whatever I can。 I'm sorry。〃
〃Don't be sorry。 I've enjoyed having a drink with you； but it's time to quit； okay。 I've fallen off the wagon three times； and it all starts with the idea that I can have a drink or two and keep it under control。 I went a month one time sipping wine and limiting myself to a glass a day。 Then it was a glass and a half； then two； then three。 Then rehab。 I'm an alcoholic； and I'll never get over it。〃
Adam lifted his glass and touched it to hers。 〃Here's to the wagon。 We'll ride it together。〃 They gulped their soft drinks。
The waiter was a student with a quick idea of what they should eat。 He suggested the chef's baked ravioli because it was simply