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"I'd rather like to continue to feel I'm part of a family rather than just another guest," he countered, in magical words.

"That's very nice of you. Dave. Noble, take the baby into the living room. Well be in as soon as we finish here."

Relieved. I quic

kly did what she asked. Baby Celeste occupied herself with her doll and teacup set. but I noticed she kept looking to the doorway in anticipation of Mr. Fletcher and Mama. We could hear them laughing in the kitchen.

Afterward, they came into the living room and Mr. Fletcher sat on the settee to listen to Mama play. To his surprise and mine. Baby Celeste crawled up beside him and leaned against him. He looked at me, smiled, then put his arm around her.

"Hello there." he said, and she looked up at him, her eyes twinkling. "What a special child she is. Sarah. No wonder you didn't hesitate to take her into your home. I'd take her in myself in a heartbeat."

"I'm sure you would." Mama said, throwing me a conspiratorial glance. It made my heart freeze. Surely he would soon realize who Baby Celeste really was Mama always said blood was thicker than water.

She began playing some of her Mozart sonatas, and then she played "La Vie en Rose." I watched Mr. Fletcher's face soften, and his eyes fill with love and appreciation. I had expected it and seen hints of it, but somehow, being in the same room with the two of them and feeling the heat in the air between them. I was truly amazed at how palpable the emotions between them were. The past seemed to have been completely erased. forgotten. Mama truly could do whatever she wanted, but more important perhaps, she could get other people to do what she wanted,

When Baby Celeste fell asleep to the music. Mama asked me to take her up and put her to bed. I lifted her in my arms, and when I leaned over to do so, my eyes met Mr. Fletcher's. He looked at me with new interest, his gaze seeming to reach down into my heart, reaching inside me. I had to move away quickly. fearful he would see all the deception and fear in my eyes.

After I put Baby Celeste asleep, I started down the stairway, and midway I heard their conversation.

"Noble looks like such a sensitive, gentle young man," he told Mama, "That's rare these days. The teenage boys I see all look unwashed, lazy, actually bored with life, and certainly not gentle enough to care for a little girl."

"Yes, he's a wonderful son," Mama said. "A very unselfish young man."

"But doesn't he get lonely here though. Sarah? A boy that age should be out among his peers, even though I don't approve of the way teenagers conduct themselves these days. A boy this age still needs to socialize, don't you think? He should be thinking more about girls. too. I don't mean to poke my nose in where it doesn't belong. I'm just impressed with him and want what's best for him, for both of you."

"You're not poking your nose into any forbidden places. Dave. Yes. Noble should get out more. I suppose it's my fault. I don't encourage it enough, but he's been introverted ever since we lost Celeste."

"Yes, I know how devastating that must have been. The police never found any clues?" "Nothing. It was like a ghost had taken her."

"How horrible for you, for you both."

"Yes. You have to remember Noble lost his father at a young age. too. They were so close. I can see him to this day standing on that front porch for hours waiting for my husband's truck to appear, and when it did, the joy in his face was electric. Those eyes lit up like stars. He absolutely idolized his father, and to see him die when he appeared so strong... well, it shook Noble up something terrible."

"I understand."

"The combination of those losses was very, very traumatic, Dave. The only time he started to emerge was when he met your son. I was tempted then to permit him to attend public school. He was making such an improvement. I wanted it to continue."

That was a lie. Why was she telling him such a thing?

"I know. I wish I had encouraged their friendship more. I see that now," Mr. Fletcher said. "I was a fool to listen to all the gossip about you."

Its understandable. You were new in the community and you had just been through a bad marriage. Here you were with two teenagers. Why shouldn't you be extra-cautious?

"Anyway," Mama continued. the tragic death of your son, his one real friend, was another devastating blow. I had my hands full just to get him to go out and tend to his chores, much less return to the stream to fish or walk through the forest. He went through a period when he did believe the nasty gossip about us. We only could bring harm and catastrophe to anyone with whom we had contact. It turned him into a real introvert, made him afraid of getting too close to anyone. I did the best I could, the best I could."

I heard her sigh deeply.

"I know he belongs in some sort of professional therapy, but for now I'd like to keep trying to help him myself. There's enough of a stigma on him just being my child, much less to add all the connotations that are acquired when a person goes into therapy, and don't think it would be kept secret. Not in this community of busybodies."

"I understand. Maybe, if you permit. I can get him out and about, take him fishing perhaps, go on hikes."

"I'd like that, but we have to move slowly."

"Yes, of course. You're a terrific woman. Sarah. I haven't met anyone with as much understanding, tolerance of people, and sympathy for them as you have. You have such a contentment about you, such a spiritual balance."

"I am who I am."

"Well. I for one am glad you are who you are."