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"Thank you."

"Thank you. Noble," Mr. Fletcher added, and they went back into the house. "Betsy," Baby Celeste said, looking after her as she walked down the driveway.

"Yes," I said. "Betsy!'

I took Baby Celeste's hand and led her down and we walked about the farm. I returned to the garden with her and gave her a small hand spade. She watched and imitated me as I planted and prepared the soil. I felt the hairs suddenly stand up on the back of my neck and turned slowly toward the forest. I saw nothing for a moment, and then I saw him standing there, leaning against a tree with that smug arrogance written in his smile, just the way it had been when he'd Est come around to speak to me.

Baby Celeste was looking in his direction. too. Was it because she saw me staring at the trees or was it because she saw him?

"What is it. Celeste? What do you see?"

She looked up at me and smiled. Then she returned to her digging.

When I looked back. Elliot was gone. Would he haunt me forever and ever now? I wondered.

I heard Mama calling to us from the house.

"Come on. Celeste, we have to go in now," I said, and brushed off her dress and her hands. Then I carried her back,

"We've decided on a date," Mama told me as soon as we entered the house. "Two weeks from this Saturday."

"That soon? How will you get out invitations and get everything arranged so quickly?" I followed, not wanting to sound negative about it.

"We have a very short guest list. Dave has no relatives he cares to invite, and we certainly don't have anyone who needs an invitation," she said.

I looked at Mr. Fletcher. Did he understand Mama to mean that there would be relatives here, but in spirit, or simply no relatives we cared to invite?

"I have a few friends from the store," Mr. Fletcher explained.

"The ceremony will be simple and we'll have tables set up outside here," Mama continued.

"I'd like it if you would be my best man," Mr. Fletcher said. I started to shake my head.

"Of course he will, won't you. Noble?"

"I don't know how to be a best man," I said, which I knew immediately was a dumb thing to say. They both laughed.

"It's not too difficult in this case," Mr. Fletcher said. smiling. "I'll give you the wedding ring to hold, and when the time comes in the ceremony, you'll give it to me to put on your mother's finger."

"We'd both like it very much if you would do that. Noble," Mama said. "Okay," I said.

"Well, I'd better get over to the house and see what new crisis Betsy has created for

me," Mr. Fletcher said, "She'll be better behaved tomorrow night. I promise. See you later.

Noble. Bye, Celeste." He kissed her on the forehead. She smiled at him and he shook his head.

"What a personality this child has. I wish those cousins of yours were alive to tell me the secret. I could have used it with my children." He kissed Mama on the cheek and went to his car.

We watched him drive off.

"I know you're worried," Mama said as soon as I looked at her. "But don't be. Betsy won't be a problem for us. She won't be any problem at all." She took Baby Celeste from my arms and went into the house.

I wasn't sure why she had such confidence. but I had my first hint the next evening when Mr. Fletcher and Betsy came to dinner. I didn't know what he had said to her or threatened her with, but she was dressed nicely this time. She was wearing a bra, too, and a loose, light green blouse with a matching skirt and a pair of what looked to be brand-new shoes. Her hair was neatly brushed. She wore some lipstick, but nothing else. She was relatively sullen at the start, but she didn't make any sarcastic or nasty remarks. At what was obviously Mr. Fletcher's urging, she even offered to help serve our meal, but Mama told her she could be a guest tonight.

"After were all living under one roof. well work out our responsibilities," Mama tol

d her.