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We're all going to be fine, I told myself again, and went right to work.

Late in the afternoon. I heard a car pull up to the house and moments later a knocking on our front door. I had just finished putting all of Betsy's clothing in the turret room and was halfway down the stairs, Baby Celeste came to the living room doorway to see who it was, too.

"Noble," she said hopefully.

I shook my head, "No, Celeste. It's not Noble. Noble doesn't have to knock on the door to be let in."

I opened the door and saw Tad standing there. He was wearing a jeans jacket, no shirt beneath it, and a pair of tom jeans and sneakers without socks. His hair was unbrushed, the strands in revolt and trying to escape from his scalp in every direction.

"Is Betsy here?"

"Betsy? No. Betsy's gone."

"Gone? Where did she go ?"

"I don't know. She didn't say. She just packed her things and left."

He raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?" "My name is Celeste."

"Where's what's his name? Noble?"

"Noble isn't here now. He's fishing." "Fishing?"

Just then Panther let out one of his shrill screams.

"One moment please," I said, and went into the living room. He wanted Baby Celeste to give him her crayons, but she had wisely refused. He would have tried to eat them. I picked him up and out of the playpen, When I turned, I saw Tad had come into the house and was standing in the doorway.

"Well, she must have left some information for me. I'm Tad. Didn't she mention me?" I shook my head. "No, I'm sorry. She didn't mention you or leave anything for you." "Do you live here?"

"Of course, I live here," I said. smiling.

"Well, where were you the other day when I was here?"

I shrugged. "Maybe I was in the garden."

"The garden? You couldn't have been in the garden all the time."

"No, I'm not in the garden all the time, but I'm there often."

"What, were you just in it now?"

"Pardon me?"

He nodded at me and I looked down at my mud-stained dress.

"Oh," I said. smiling. "I've been doing a lot of cleaning today."

"Must have been a pretty dirty house." he remarked dryly. He turned and looked up the stairway. I could see he didn't believe me and wanted to shout for Betsy.

"Go on," I said.

"What?"

"Shout her name if you like. Call her."

He stared at me a moment, then turned and bellowed. "Betsy!"

Her name echoed, at least in my ears. He stood there waiting a moment, then turned back to us. Baby Celeste was staring at him so hard, he looked at her and then at me.