Page 45

"Daddy hasn't stopped talking about all you do." she told me.

"And none of it is an exaggeration," Mr. Fletcher said, nodding at me.

Betsy raised her eves toward the ceiling "My father was always quicker at finding the good things in other people's children than he was in me or my brothel..."

"Betsy!"

"Forget it," she said with a shrug. "Let's continue the tour."

They looked in at the dining room and she complained that theirs was bigger and they at least had a nice big window.

"This is like having to eat in a railroad car," she muttered loud enough for all to hear. "Hardly," Mama said. "And I'm sure you'll have better meals than you've had lately." "I second that," Mr. Fletcher said. "I've had some of the best meals of my life here."

Betsy had no interest in looking at the kitchen, but they stopped there anyway before they headed up the stairs to the bedrooms. As they ascended, Betsy deliberately shook the balustrade, taking pleasure in how it rattled in places.

"Janitor boy," she called down to me, "you had better fix this efficiently or someone might just break it and fall, and we don't want any more accidents, now do we?"

I felt myself redden.

"Betsy," her father snapped, and she continued on, a laugh trailing behind her like a ribbon of disdain. When they all reached the second floor. I heard Baby Celeste call out. She had waken from her nap. It was as if a whip had been snapped right in front of my eyes. I hurried up the stairs, holding my breath. What would Betsy say the moment she set eyes on Baby Celeste? Would she see Elliot and therefore just assume as did the rest of the community that her father was actually Baby Celeste's father?

I reached the top just as Mama was carrying Baby Celeste out to introduce to Betsy. As always. Baby Celeste gave someone new a big, warm smile.

"Celeste," Mama said. "this is Betsy. She's going to come live with us and be your new big sister. Isn't that nice?"

"Betsy," Baby Celeste pronounced perfectly. Mr. Fletcher laughed.

Betsy simply stared at her, her expression unchanging. Then she turned to me and her eyes darkened for a moment. I was still holding my breath.

"Which room is mine?" Betsy asked Mama.

"You're right here. dear," Mama said, stepping to the right and opening the door.

I was surprised myself at how much Mama had done to the room. There were new white window curtains and the queen-size bed with the embossed rose on its headboard had a beautiful pink-and-white comforter and large, fluffy pillows. Unbeknownst to me was the placing of new dark pink carpet on the floor, part of what had been done while Baby Celeste and I were hiding in the turret room. I was actually somewhat jealous of the improvements. This room had a vanity table and a mirror as well. Mama had brought down standing lamps from the attic, and a large hickory-wood chest stood at the foot of the bed. I had always wanted that chest in my room. but Mama had told me it had once belonged to her grandmother and the scent of her body powders was still in it.

"It's not the sort of furniture for a young man," she had said.

"Beautiful room. Betsy," her father said. "Much nicer than the one you have now. isn't it?"

"No. Its smaller. and besides, I'll be sleeping right next to a baby's room.Ill hear her whine all the time."

"Baby Celeste doesn't whine," Mama said sharply.

"Why do you refer to her as Baby Celeste instead of just Celeste?" Betsy demanded instantly. Actually, she pounced.

"It's just a habit," Mama said, obviously stumbling on her answer.

Betsy didn't seem to care what the answer was.

"Wheres your room?" she asked me as if she thought I had a better arrangement. "Right there." I nodded at the opened doorway behind her and across the hall.

She glanced at it and shook her head. "'Where's that stairway go?" She nodded toward the short stairway that led up to the turret room. "That looks far enough away,"

"That goes to a storage room." Mama replied dryly. "And it's not a place to loiter in, much less use as a bedroom."

"Who would want to loiter anywhere around here?" Betsy shot back.

Mama looked to be counting to ten. Then she smiled again. "Noble, would you take the baby out for a while. She could use some air."