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"Well, ain't that a shame," Archie muttered. Cary threw him an angry look that, were it a knife, would have cut off Archie's head.

"How was school today, May?" Aunt Sara asked her, signing as she spoke.

May proudly held up a paper with a bright gold star at the top.

"She got a hundred on the spelling test," Cary boasted.

"That's nice, dear," Aunt Sara said. She seemed a bit more uncomfortable with the hand movements than her son was. "Your father wants you to go right down to the dock, Cary," she said. He nodded. "You can visit with everyone at dinner."

Cary turned immediately and signed something to May. She nodded and then looked at me. He glanced at me once more before heading out back.

"Go up and change your clothes, dear," Aunt Sara signed to May. The young girl nodded and signed something back before hurrying off. "Cary takes such good care of her," Aunt Sara remarked with a sigh.

"I didn't know she was deaf," Mommy said softly. "I don't think Chester knew either."

"Yes, she was born deaf. Seems like that should have been enough of a burden for us, but then. . . there was Laura."

A heavy pall fell over the table.

Archie couldn't stand it. "Why don't we go into the town and see the sights before dinner, Haille?" Mommy nodded.

"Can we take May along?" I asked Aunt Sara.

"Oh, I don't think we should," Mommy said quickly. "We're still strangers to her."

"Your mother is right, dear. It's a little soon," Aunt Sara said. She got up and started to clear off the table.

"Let me help you, Aunt Sara," I said. She turned with surprise.

"Why, thank you, dear, but I can manage fine. Why don't you go and get your things and show you your room now."

"My room?"

Aunt Sara smiled and went into the kitchen. I turned to Mommy.

"My room? What's wrong with her, Mommy? Didn't you say we weren't staying overnight?"

"Let's go outside, Melody," Mommy said in a whisper.

I followed her and Archie out. He headed for the trunk of the car.

"Let me talk to her first, Richard," Mommy told him. He paused and shrugged. Then he dug a cigarette from his pocket and leaned against the car.

"What's going on, Mommy?"

"Nothing terrible," she replied quickly. "Isn't it pretty here? Look at the view of the ocean you get from the house, and it's not too far from the town, is it?"

"Mommy, what is happening?" I demanded.

"Now just listen carefully, Melody, and don't go into a tantrum." She glanced over at Archie. He looked at his watch. "Let's take a little walk by ourselves," Mommy suggested. She started away. I followed, but I was stretched like a tight wire inside, so taut I thought I might snap in two.

"It really wasn't right for the family to be separated for so long," Mommy began. "It wasn't right that you never met your cousins until now, and it certainly wasn't right for you never to have met your grandparents," she recited. It sounded like something she had memorized.

"So? I thought that was why you wanted us to come here first," I said.

"It was. It is. I mean, yes." She took a deep breath and pressed her lips together. Tears came to her eyes. "What's wrong, Mommy? What is it?"

"Oh Melody, you know that I love you, that I will always love you."