right?"

"Yes. I thought I would just take an equivalency test. but I think I'd like to enroll and have at least part of a year's worth of real school."

"Good." She looked at her watch and then she dug into her athletic bag. "Here's all the information you need about contacting me. You'll drive up as soon as you can. I'll see about the school and get that started for you. Can you head up there right away?"

"Yes," I said.

"We don't have much. I guess, just each other now."

"We have a lot more than many people have.

I've learned that," I said, and she smiled.

"You're very grown up. April. I can feel it.

You've grown up quickly, mainly because you had to.

I hope you haven't missed anything important on the way."

"We all do. Brenda, but I'll make up for it."

She pulled her head back. "Who's given you all this wisdom?"

"A little old lady who dips into her well of experience and gives me a cup of this and that."

She laughed. "Sounds like I should meet her."

"I hope you will someday."

She rose. "I got to make the plane.'

"Right."

Off to my left, I caught a woman signing to a little girl. Brenda saw where I was looking.

"What is she telling her?"

"She's telling her not to be afraid. She's promising she'll always be right beside her. It's probably going to be her first plane trip."

"You understood all that?"

"Bits and pieces, enough to figure it out."

"Maybe you found yourself a career." Brenda said with a look of admiration.

I shrugged. "Maybe. What I did learn was people with good hearing don't always listen to each other as much as people without any hearing at all do."

She tilted her head, "Yeah," she said. "I want to meet this old lady."

"I'll arrange it," I called after her. "But you better not call her an old lady."

She turned and laughed and in that moment. I saw my father and my mother standing beside her, the same smile on their faces. and I remembered what Mrs. Westington first told me about how your loved ones who have gone could still be watching over you: "They do their best to watch over us and lead us to happiness."

Why can't it be true? I thought.

Epilogue.

I had mixed feelings about still being there to accompany Echo to her school. I could feel the way she was torn, looking back at us and then looking at the school and all it promised to be for her. She hugged and held on to me as if she believed she would never see me again. I promised I would be back. I explained that for one thing. I had to be back for the upcoming trials.

Tyler came out of the building and escorted her in and helped her are settled. It obviously made a huge difference. After he got her settled in, he and I walked back to the parking lot while Mrs. Westington remained with Echo to help her unpack her things.

"She'll be fine here," he said.

"I know, It's just hard for Mrs. Westington. It's like bringing your child to her first day of school."

"Well, it is her first day, really. So, you're headed up to Seattle then?"

"Yes. My sister's getting me enrolled in the school there. Thanks for helping me with the equivalency preparation. I'm sure it will come in handy when I'm actually in cla.s.ses."

"I expect it will. You'll be a good student." he said, slipping into his cool, evaluative manner. He realized it immediately and smiled. "Drop me a line when you can and let me know how you're doing."

"I will and you write back. too."

"Absolutely. I'll keep my eye on Mrs.

Westington as well," he said when we reached the parking lot. Trevor was waiting in the car and Mrs.

Westington hadn't come out yet.

"That'll be nice."

He thought a moment and then turned to me.

"Look, April, I'm really sorry about-"

"Don't," I said. "Let's pretend none of it happened, okay? I'll be back and I'll be different and you'll be different and we'll see what that means for us then."

He smiled. "Right. Say good-bye to Destiny for me, will you?"

"You know I will," I said, and he laughed. He started to turn back to the building, stopped, and took my hand again to draw me closer and kiss me.

"Bye," he whispered, and walked back to the building. I watched until he went inside. Then I went to the car. Trevor had seen it all, but he said nothing.

Moments later. Mrs. Westington appeared and he got out to open the door for her. She bawled him out for that.

"I don't need a chauffeur," she snapped. "You're not driving Miss Daisy."

He shook his head and got back behind the wheel. On the way home afterward. Mrs. Westington was terribly silent. Trevor and I talked continuously so there'd be no long moments of silence.

When we reached the house, she wobbled a bit more than usual when she stepped out of the car this time. "Starting to feel my age," she remarked. "Guess I'll have to ease up on that gas pedal."

"What did you tell me once? You think bad things and bad things will happen. Don't go giving advice you won't follow yourself." I lectured, and she laughed.

"Look what I turned loose on the world.

Trevor," she said, looking back at him.

"Yes, Ma'am. You did good."

She nodded and then looked off in the direction of the school. "I hope she's not frightened tonight,"

she said.

"I gave her Mr. Panda. She'll have him beside her," I said.

She raised her eyebrows as if she was getting ready to make fun of the idea and then she just nodded. "Most likely that'll help," she agreed, and we went into the house.

I had to get my things together. Brenda had called to let me know everything was set up at the new house and to give me clear directions. I didn't have all that much. Trevor put same of the cartons with Uncle Palaver's things in them in the trunk and back-seat beside Destiny.

"You're going to get same looks driving around with that doll in your car," he said. On the other hand, you've got to get real close to see it's just a doll."

"It's when you get real close that you realize it isn't just a doll," I told him, and he looked at me and smiled.

"I'm not going there." he said. "My great-grandma had a magic doll, something akin to voodoo.

I never mention it to Mrs. Westington. She makes fun of my superst.i.tions and such as it is. I'm putting a case of the wine in your car. too. Maybe your sister and her friends will like it,"

"I bet they will, Thank you. Trevor."

I looked back at the house. Saving good-bye to Mrs. Westington was going to be difficult, even with the promise to return soon. She was keeping herself busy in the kitchen, pretending that nothing different had occurred or would.

"I made some sandwiches for you." she said when I appeared in the kitchen doorway. "No need to stop and eat that ratty road food they serve in some of those run-down places truckers go to."

"Thank you," I said, taking the bag.

"You sure you got everything?"

"Whatever I forgot, I'll get when I come back."

"Right," she said.

"You know I have to come back."

"Of course you do,"

"You're not going to get sick on me while I'm away or anything, are you?"

"Now who you asking that?" she said indignantly. "I have plenty to keep me busy and healthy here. Who has time to get sick? I can't depend on that man or that maid to keep this place up to snuff."

"Good," I said. "I want to thank you-"

"Stop before you start," she said sharply.

"Strangers go through all that thank you for this and thank you for that business. We're beyond it. Just go do what you have to do and make yourself successful.

That's the way to thank me. girl."

"Okay. Can I kiss you good-bye?"

"No. Just kiss me and get yourself on the road and you drive extra carefully, too."

"Yes. ma'am," I said. I hugged her. She felt so fragile and small and yet, she felt like a world of love.

I didn't want to let go of her anymore than Echo wanted to let go of me. But I did. And I smiled and didn't cry.

"That maid of mine is late again." she muttered, turning away quickly. "Don't know why I keep her."

"Yes." I said, as if I had heard it a million times and would hear it a million more.

I walked out slowly. I didn't expect her to follow and wave to me from the porch. Trevor was at my car, washing off the windows.

"All right then," he said. "You take care, hear?"

"I will. And I'll be back for your harvest to help."

"Long as you remember to handle those grapes like liquid gold."

"I will. I promise. Take care of her," I said. I hugged him and he held on to me. too.

"Take care of her?" he said after I got in. "Fat chance. She'll be taking care of me until one or the other goes trotting off into the shadows."

"You keep those shadows back," I said.

"Yes, Ma'am."

He stepped away. I started the engine, glanced back at Destiny, who looked very thoughtful to me suddenly. And then I drove out, pausing at the end of the driveway to gaze back at the house.

She was in the front window, watching. Despite herself.