"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, but with the speed of a reflexive action, took my arm away from Echo.

"That phone call I mentioned? It was Mrs.

Monahan looking for her son. She was worried he had come back here. He had promised her he was finished tutoring Echo and he wouldn't have anything more to do with this situation. Of course, I told her he wasn't here and then, like most mothers, she went into this frenzied defense of her son, calling me a liar for telling her the story about you two.

"I wouldn't let her get away with calling me a liar, especially after what we saw with our own eyes.

right. Skeeter?"

"Exactly," he said, more interested in the television program he was watching.

"I laid into her and then you know what she told me? I think you do," she said before I could offer any response. She laughed. "You're quite a little s.e.xual tramp, aren't you? But it runs in the family, huh? A gay sister? Her lover and you having lesbian s.e.x? You're a walking tabloid magazine. I don't think my mother knows the gritty little details, does she? I couldn't imagine her tolerating you around here, especially around Echo, if she did. She'd say something like lie down with dogs and you get up with fleas.'

Tears seeped into my eyes. I pressed my lips together to hold back the ache and the sobs that were rising like bubbles to the surface. I didn't know what to say, how to respond. Tyler's betrayal of my intimate secret in order to calm his mother's concerns left me with few options for defense.

"Naturally. I was very surprised. We both were, right. Skeeter?"

"Shocked," he said, nodding, but turning back to the television set.

"And then I thought, so that's why she's always in Echo's room and why she had Echo sleep with her!"

"That's not true!" I cried.

She shrugged. "Hey. I don't knock anyone's s.e.xual preferences. I would have to admit that I experimented with same partner s.e.x on occasion or partic.i.p.ated in a... what do they call it, Skeeter?"

"What? Oh, menage a trois."

"Right. menage a tra la la or whatever.

However." she said, losing her self-satisfied grin, "when it comes to some tramp coming here and seducing my innocent, deaf daughter-"

"That's all a lie," I cried.

"Maybe. But I'm sure I could get that Tyler to testify that you told him those things and with Skeeter and I adding what we saw here. I think the police or whoever would believe us or find it interesting enough to investigate, don't you? Would Echo there deny being in your bed?"

For a moment it felt as if all the air had been sucked out of my body and I couldn't breathe in any new air. My face was hot with the blood that had rushed up through my neck. I looked at Echo, whose eyes were full of questions and confusion.

"Don't worry," Rhona said, "I'm not going to do it unless I absolutely have to do it. It would probably devastate poor little Echo there to be dragged into a police station and asked all sorts of questions about her body, your body, stuff like that."

"You're disgusting." I said.

"Me? I don't go around telling boys I just met how I slept with my sister's girlfriend,"

"I didn't say that!"

"You said enough. I doubt that Tyler would have made it all up, don't you. Skeeter?"

"No," he said, half listening, "I mean yes," he added, unsure of what she wanted. She glared at him and then turned back to me.

"Do you deny that you have a gay sister? Will she deny it if she is asked by the police?"

Words choked in my throat like cars on a highway smashing into each other.

"You get the point. I think we understand each other a little better. Now, let's get back to what I said at the beginning. I'll let you stay here a while longer, but you have got to help me with my mother. I want you to convince her to sin over the money that belongs to me anyway. We had the paperwork prepared for us and all she has to do is sin a power of attorney doc.u.ment. You can convince her that once that's done, we'll be on our merry way, right.

Skeeter?"

"Sure," he said. "We'll make like a tree and leaf."

"In the meantime, tell that cleaning girl to go home, She's annoying. I don't like the way she looks at me and she's in my face too much. She acts like she owns the place and has the nerve to complain about the mess she had to clean up in here. Tell her my mother told you to send her home. Do it!" she screamed. I couldn't help but wince and even jump back. "Then get dinner started. We saw steaks in the freezer. Both of us like them medium. Don't overcook them. And Trevor is not invited. You tell him not to come to dinner here. Go on. Do what I say," she ordered.

"Mrs. Westington isn't going to believe you," I offered, finally responding with some defense.

"Oh. really? You actually want me to go to the hospital and put on a scene about my daughter being s.e.xually a.s.saulted by some transient girl my mother stupidly took in to live with us? Because I will do it and you know I will," she said firmly, her eyes fixed on me with such evil and hate. I didn't doubt her for a moment. "How will her doctor like that? Who the h.e.l.l do you think people will blame for my mother's bad health and maybe death? Me? Her daughter just trying to protect her own poor, deaf child? Or you, a runaway with no home, no school, nothing but a history of disgusting behavior?"

I felt my body soften in defeat.

"She won't listen to me. You're wasting time having me ask her to sign those papers." I said weakly. After what Mrs. Westington had told me she had done with her lawyer already, it was pointless to go up there and try to convince her of anything. I thought. but I couldn't tell Rhona about that.

"Maybe, maybe not. She seems to have taken to you and in the condition she is in right now, there's a good chance she'll listen. Look," she continued, softening her tone. "you'll have prevented all sorts of horrible. unpleasantness if you get her to do it. Think of it that way. Think of how you're protecting everyone. You'll be a regular heroine, won't she.

Skeeter?'"

He looked at me and smiled. You know." he said. "girls who like ,girls more than boys always intrigued me. Is it because you're afraid of men or is the s.e.x somehow better?"

Rhona smiled, Echo was signing now, asking me why we were standing there and what were all these words, some of which she had caught by reading lips. Why were her mother and I arguing so much? I had to get her away, to protect her, to ironically do what Rhona said, look after her.

"It's a fair question, April," Rhona said.

"You've been with both now. Which do you prefer?"

"You're both disgusting," I said.

They laughed and their laughter confused poor Echo even more.

"Get going," Rhona said. "You have a lot to do."

I turned Echo away and led her to the stairway.

She was full of questions for me, but I told her to go up and change to help me prepare dinner. I said I would tell her more later. She did it, but she didn't like it. Meanwhile. I went to Lourdes, who was working in the kitchen, and told her I had just come from visiting Mrs. Westington in the hospital and she wanted me to tell her to leave. She didn't believe me and insisted she finish up in the kitchen. I explained that Mrs.

Westington's daughter was in charge now and she wanted me to do the cleaning. I saw how it hurt Lourdes's feelings, but reluctantly she finally obeyed and left, mumbling in Spanish.

I took out the steaks and got potatoes out of the pantry, some canned vegetables, and then began to prepare a salad with what was left in the refrigerator. I kept looking through the window toward Trevor's vineyard and winery, antic.i.p.ating his arrival. How was I going to tell him what was happening? I wondered. If I didn't say it right, he would get enraged and come at Rhona and Skeeter. Then she might just do what she threatened and I would have made everything ten times as bad.

All I've done is brought hardship and horror to this house and family. I thought. Maybe it wasn't my loving dead souls who delivered me here after all.

Maybe it was something darker, something very evil.

My anger and rage toward Tyler was greater than ever. Because of what he had told his mother. I was now in this predicament. All of us were ensnared.

Echo. Trevor, Mrs. Westington, and me. Trust no one but yourself from now on. I thought, if there would be a now on. Right now, disaster loomed over this house like a gigantic bruised cloud threatening to drop a cold, hard rain.

Echo came down and I immediately got her busy peeling potatoes and then setting the table. which I told her would be set only for four. Of course, she wanted to know why not five, but instead of answering. I said. "Just do it." I hated being so hard.

but I had no explanations I could give her and I was tired of searching high and low for acceptable lies.

Silence. I thought, was finally a better choice after all when it came to her.

Soon after I heard Trevor's truck pull into the driveway and park by the winery. He got out and carried some boxes into the building. I rehea.r.s.ed my story and prayed that I could be convincing enough to keep him from getting too upset and causing trouble. I took a deep breath. told Echo I would be right back, and then walked out, pausing near the living room.

"How's our dinner coming?" Rhona asked.

"It's coming," I said.

"Good. After dinner you can return to the hospital to see my mother. I'll give you the papers for her to sign. You'll leave Echo here," she added. "I don't like her going back and forth to a hospital. Kids can catch something. right. Skeeter?"

He laughed. "Yeah, like a s.e.xually transmitted disease."

They both laughed. I bit down hard on my lower lip and went out to speak with Trevor.

"They giving you trouble?" he asked the moment I appeared in the winery doorway.

"No, but I think they're getting very bored here," I replied.

"Very likely."

"It's probably best to just avoid confrontations.

I don't think they'll hang around much longer."

He nodded.

"I mean, if they make more trouble or we get into fights with them. Mrs, Westington will just get so upset and that won't help her get better."

"Uh-huh," he said, scrutinizing me with eyes that went over my face like a fine-tooth comb. "They ask you to come over here and tell me to stay away?"

I looked up.

"It's all right," he said. "I know they just making things miserable for you and Echo over there.

I'll stay out of their faces until they go or unless you need me. All you gotta do is holler my way.

understand?"

"Yes."

"The truth is she's blood and I ain't and the courts and law will side with her against me and you anyway. We just got to do what's best for Echo and Mrs. Westington right now.

Sometimes going around a fire is better than confronting it head on. It'll burn itself out and those two will surely burn themselves out eventually."

"I know you're right. Trevor,"

"I'm here if you need me," he emphasized.

"Okay. Thanks," I said, and returned to the house, grateful for Trevor's understanding.

Skeeter and Rhona had gone upstairs. I looked in on Echo, who had put on her grandmother's ap.r.o.n and was preparing the salad. Stepping into her a grandmother's shoes made her feel closer to her. I imagined, I complimented her on her work and told her I was going upstairs to wash and change for dinner. When I got to the top of the stairway, I went to what had been my room, not thinking or remembering what Rhona had said she had done.

I opened the door and confronted them both naked, making love on the bed. Rhona's legs wrapped around Skeeter's waist, The bed was shaking and rocking with his thrusts. The sight was so surprising and shocking, I didn't move or speak. Rhona looked around Skeeter's arm and smiled at me. He saw she was looking my way and turned his head.

"This is how normal people do it," she said.

"Come on in and watch if you want," Skeeter said, not pausing for a moment.

I gasped, backed out, and closed the door. My heart was pounding. They were both laughing loudly.

I turned and ran to the guest room, where my things had been tossed over the bed and the floor. I shut the door behind me quickly and caught my breath.

They're like two animals. I thought, and yet I couldn't deny to myself that I had been intrigued and fascinated by the sight. Did that make me as bad as they were? I shook myself as would a dog shaking off water, trying to get rid of my mixed feelings and disgust. Then I picked up my things, hung up my clothing, and put my other clothes in drawers. I gathered all the tricks and the posters that they had scattered about and put them together in a corner.

After that. I went to the bathroom in the hallway, locked the door behind me, and took a quick shower.

Echo was sitting at the kitchen table when I went down, still feeling dizzy and stunned by what I had seen. I did my best to hide my nervousness from her and put up the steaks. I sauteed some onions and mushrooms to go with them. The aroma traveled through the house and up the stairs. Soon. I heard their voices and laughter as they descended.

"s.e.x stimulates the appet.i.te,'" Skeeter said, poking his head into the kitchen. "I hope you made enough."

"If she didn't, we'll eat her portion," Rhona told him. They went into the dining room and sat like two people who believed everyone else existed to serve and honor them. I started Echo on bringing in the water, bread and b.u.t.ter, and the salads. Not realizing all that was happening around her, she was simply trying to impress her mother with her work and looked desperately for a compliment. None came. Just as before. Rhona and Skeeter behaved as if they were the only ones there or we were invisible. Echo's signs went unnoticed except by me.

"Couldn't you at least tell her she did a good job on the salad?" I asked.

"Sure," Skeeter said. He turned to Echo, pointed to the salad, smiled, and circled his mouth.

She looked at me to explain and I properly signed what he meant. She was really looking for Rhona's reaction. but Rhona was busy eating, her head down. How could someone carry a child in her body and ignore her existence like this? I wondered.

"Don't overcook those steaks!" she warned me when she noticed I was staring at her.

I hurried back into the kitchen. I had forgotten them and they were no longer medium. I put them on a serving dish nevertheless and brought them into the dining room. As soon as I placed the dish on the table.

Skeeter stabbed a steak with his fork and put it on his plate. Rhona served herself slowly. He cut his and smiled. "Very tasty." he said.

She cut hers and grimaced. "Overcooked!" she cried, and flipped the steak at me. I shifted my body to avoid it and it went sailing into the doorway and slid over the floor. "Make another one and stand there watching it cook this time," she ordered.

"Hey. I would have eaten that." Skeeter said.

"Take hers if you're still hungry. She doesn't have time to eat and she doesn't need anything. She can live off her fat for a week." Rhona said.

I looked at Echo. Her mouth was open and she was in a state of shock and fear. She was actually trembling.