Sadie looked up at Jude with fear in her eyes, and then with a trembling voice, she whispered softly, “I’m her mother.”
10
Suddenly, Jude let out a loud guffaw. “Oh, man, that’s a good one! Her mother. You won’t get very far with that one, Sadie. I already know that her mother died in childbirth. Nice try, though.”
“Her mother didn’t die, Jude. I’m right here.”
The smile on Jude’s face fell immediately.
“You’re serious?” Jude whispered as he looked at Sadie’s made-up face, her whorish clothes, and herbright red hair. “You expect me and everyone else to believe that you’re the mother of that goddess? Why, she’s not even from this earth! She’s untouchable! Pure! A Boston belle! She eats and drinks tea with her little finger stickin’ out! She’s educated, well-bred. She’s not forward. She’s reserved,even bashful, for God’s sake. Sadie, she protects herself with a chastity belt! I just don’t believe it! It ain’t possible!”