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Aunt Sara and Uncle Jacob had bought me two gifts. One was a gold dress watch and the other was a pretty white cotton sundress with pastel embroidery trim. The hem was at least five inches above the knee. I was quite surprised, but Aunt Sara explained she had asked the shop owner for something fashionable and then had convinced Uncle Jacob it was proper and nice and something Laura would have loved.

Cary whispered that he had my gift on the sailboat.

"Taking you sailing today is my first gift," he explained. After breakfast, that was exactly where we went. He made it all look easy, and in minutes we were riding the waves, both of us screaming at the spray and laughing at the fish we saw jumping out of the water. When we settled into a calm for a few moments, he handed me a small, gift-wrapped box. I opened it to find an I.D. bracelet. On each side of the inscription, Melody, was a musical note.

"Look on the back," he said and I turned it over.

May there always be wind in your sails. Love, Cary

"This is beautiful, Cary. Thank you," I said and leaned over to give him a kiss on his cheek, but just as I did, he turned his head and my kiss fell on his lips. He smiled.

"Happy birthday, Melody," he said.

I sat back, stunned. I put on my I.D. bracelet and we continued our wonderful sail.

As we walked up from the beach later in the afternoon, I saw Cary squint and then I heard him say, "I'll be damned."

I gazed toward the house.

"What?"

"Kenneth Childs's jeep is in our driveway," he said. We glanced at each other and quickened our pace. When we reached the house, we hurried inside to find Kenneth sitting in the living room with Uncle Jacob and Aunt Sara.

"Well now, how was the sailing?" Uncle Jacob asked quickly.

"It was good, Dad," Cary said. We both looked at Kenneth, who sat with his legs crossed. He wore a light brown safari jacket and khaki pants with sneakers, no socks. "Well, you two know Kenneth Childs, apparently. You've visited him, I discover."

"Aye," Cary said. He nodded at Kenneth, who was concentrating on me. My heart was thumping. "Hello," I said.

"I didn't know today was your birthday," he said. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you."

"Kenneth has come with a proposal. Seems you told him you weren't doing much this summer, Melody."

"I had plans, but they have changed."

Kenneth didn't smile. Instead, his eyes darkened.

"I've decided I need an assistant," he said, "to help with the slave work, do odd jobs around the house and the studio, take Ulysses for walks," he added with a smile. "Naturally, I would like someone who has an appreciation for art and understands a little about my needs."

"Oh," I sa

id. I glanced at Uncle Jacob, who looked very satisfied with himself.

"It's a trip to get out to my place, I know. But I get up early every morning to do my shopping. Beat the tourists," he added looking at Uncle Jacob, who nodded. "I could swing by and pick you up. Of course, I would see to it that you were brought home."

"Well?" Uncle Jacob said.

"I guess. . ." I looked at Cary, who looked even more amazed than I felt. "Sure," I said. "I'd like that."

"Okay. Jacob and I have settled on a salary we both feel is fair," Kenneth said.

"I think you should discuss that with me," I blurted. Uncle Jacob lost his self-satisfied expression and Kenneth smiled.

"Absolutely. I was thinking of a hundred a week. And food of course," he said. "Is that fair?"

"Yes, it is," I said not really knowing if it was or not, but happy I had taken control of my life.