Online Read Free Novel
  • Home
  • Romance & Love
  • Fantasy
  • Science Fiction
  • Mystery & Detective
  • Thrillers & Crime
  • Actions & Adventure
  • History & Fiction
  • Horror
  • Western
  • Humor

    Girl in the Shadows

    Page 30
    Prev Next


      "How does it do that?" Tyler asked me after I had Echo ask a question. She asked if the casserole she had heated up for us was delicious. It went into a straight line. She clapped her hands and then asked if she would have any nightmares tonight and it went m' to a circle.

      I shrugged. "Uncle Palaver couldn't explain it either. He said it was like an old-fashioned divining rod. Maybe it's our subconscious thoughts that influence it." I smiled. "And then again, maybe not."

      Tyler nodded. He gazed at Destiny, who had her arms raised as she shook her head, and he laughed.

      "I guess it wasn't all bad for you on the road with your uncle." "No, but as Mrs. Westington says, you can't stay on the road forever and run from yourself, put your head in the sand."

      We saw Echo yawn.

      "Time to go to sleep," I told her. I nodded at Destiny, whose eyes closed.

      Echo asked Tyler if he was returning in the

      morning and while he glanced at me, he told her he

      would see her at the hospital because he was going to

      visit her grandmother. too. That pleased her. She

      asked me if I was going to sleep now as well and I

      told her I would be coming up soon. I wanted to put

      away my magic show. She looked at Tyler and then at

      me and nodded. After she left. Tyler helped me take

      the tricks and illusions out to the motor home. "Destiny stays in the house with us," I said. We then went upstairs to check on Echo and

      found her asleep, embracing Mr. Panda.

      "I see you have a dream catcher, too." he said.

      "Not taking any chances. huh?"

      "Not anymore."

      He smiled. All that had happened appeared to

      have freed him inside so that he wasn't as guarded

      about his feelings and as afraid of trusting them. We went downstairs again. I saw how he was

      hesitating.

      "You don't have to hang around any longer.

      Tyler. We'll be allright."

      "If you don't mind. I'd like to," he replied. "It

      helps me to feel better."

      "Okay," I said. surprised.

      We sat on the sofa in the living room and talked

      about his new plans and mine. I tried to keep awake.

      but after a while, my eyelids just shut down and I felt

      myself leaning more and more against him. He rose

      and fixed a pillow under my head and then he sat

      across from me in Mrs. Westington's chair. When I

      opened my eyes with the morning light streaking

      through the window, he was still there, asleep himself. I sat up and he opened his eyes.

      "Hey," he said, looking about. "What time is

      it?" He checked his watch. "Wow. I guess I was more

      tired than I thought, too."

      "I've got to get Echo going. I'll get her some

      breakfast and then we'll drive over to the hospital." "Right. I'll meet you there," he said. He rose

      and stretched. Then he smiled. "Great show last

      night."

      "Thanks."

      "See you soon." He hurried out.

      I wondered what he would be telling his mother

      when he got home or if that even mattered anymore. Echo and I showered and dressed. I made some

      coffee. I was unable to eat very much. My stomach

      felt as if it were full of baby snakes. Echo had some

      juice and a little cereal. I thought she was suspicious

      about my moving her along quickly and getting us out

      so early, but she didn't ask anything about it. We got

      into my car and started away. I couldn't stop my

      nerves from twanging. Although getting a pacemaker

      was usually not a terribly dangerous procedure, it was

      for Mrs. Westington at her age and under her

      circumstances. As she would be the first to tell me. I

      knew enough to be dangerous. Mostly. I knew the

      doctors were afraid of her having a much more severe

      stroke.

      Tyler was already in the parking lot waiting for

      us when I drove in. He got out of his car quickly to

      greet us. Echo was happy to see him, but very

      surprised as well. She kept looking at me for more of

      an explanation. I knew we could hold back the truth

      only a few more minutes because once we were inside

      and she saw we weren't going to her grandmother's

      room, she would know something more was happening. I was glad I had Tyler with me to help

      explain it all with his expert signing.

      At the reception desk, we found out where to go

      to wait. When we reached the lounge. Tyler and I

      finally told Echo exactly what was going on. She sat

      there absorbing it all and looking very frightened and

      small. I held her hand and tried to reassure her. By

      doing that I was reassuring myself. A little after eight

      o'clock, Doctor Battie appeared. I held my breath until

      I saw him smile. As he spoke. Tyler signed to Echo. "It went well," the doctor said. "That woman's

      got spunk. Give her a few hours and then we'll have

      you visit. I'll let her know you were here and were

      updated."

      Joyous and feeling as if a ton of trouble had

      been lifted from our shoulders. I declared I was finally

      hungry. Tyler confessed to not having had much

      breakfast either so we headed down to the hospital

      cafeteria. Echo had a better appetite as well. The three

      of us sat at a table and watched hospital staff, other

      visitors, and doctors going in and out.

      "I'd like to work in a hospital someday." Echo

      told us. "and help people."

      "After you go to school, you can be anything

      you want." Tyler signed, and she smiled.

      "What is it really like for the hearing impaired

      as far as careers go?" I asked him.

      "Their opportunities have improved

      considerably. She's a ways off from making a career

      decision, but you'd be surprised at how much she can

      do. Maybe she will work in a medical lab someday, or

      even become a doctor."

      "A doctor?"

      "Who knows? She's bright enough to do most

      anything."

      Suddenly. Echo's eyes widened. I turned to look

      in the direction she was facing and saw Trevor

      coming toward us. He looked angry enough to tear the

      cafeteria into shreds. His eyes went to Tyler and then

      to me.

      "She's all right. We're all right," I said quickly. Trevor's shoulders relaxed. "Why didn't you

      have the police call me at my cousin's home?" he

      asked. "When I phoned the house and couldn't get

      anyone. I called a friend of mine in Healdsburg at the

      Mars Hotel. Seems the whole town's talking about

      what happened. When I heard the grisly details. I got

      an earlier flight out and just drove right to the

      hospital."

      He sat. "They both in jail then?" he asked me. "Yes, Trevor, Skeeter was wanted for a lot

      more and Rhona's in big trouble now."

      "I'm not surprised and not disappointed either,"

      he said.

      "Can I get you a cup of coffee. Trevor?" Tyler

      asked.

      Trevor glared at him a moment and then

      nodded. "Sure. Black, no sugar." he said. and Tyler

      leaped to his feet. "How's Mrs. Westington doing now

      then?"

      "She had a pacemaker put in this morning and

      the doctor says she's doing well, Trevor."

      "And the little one here?"

    &
    nbsp; "She's all right now. She's going to be fine. We

      all are. Trevor."

      "That's good. I'm sorry I wasn't here," he said,

      shaking his head. "I knew I shouldn't have left you

      with those two. You didn't tell me the whole truth

      about what was going on in that house. I bet. You

      didn't want me to stay and you knew I wouldn't leave

      if I knew everything,"

      "You were where you had to be."

      "I'm not so sure. You can give me the details

      later." he said. He jerked his shoulder toward Tyler. "I

      thought he was gone from the scene."

      "He's sorry he left us," I said. "He's taking a job

      at the school Echo will attend. too. It'll make it easier

      for her."

      "That so? What's his mama got to say about

      that?"

      "Not much it seems," I said. smiling.

      "Looks like a lot more than I knew went on

      right before my eyes," he said, smiling.

      "Mrs. Westington's going to be even happier

      when she sees you and knows you're back," I said to

      change the subject.

      "Oh, she'll find something to blame me for.

      Don't you worry about that," he said. and I laughed. Tyler brought him his coffee. "Sorry to hear

      about your mother. Trevor," he told him.

      Trevor looked up at him. "Thank you. April

      here told me about your new career plans."

      "Yes," he said.

      "Sounds good," Trevor said.

      Tyler nodded. "Maybe the jury's finally in on

      me." he told me, and we both laughed. Even Trevor

      thought that was funny and Echo laughed because she

      was wrapped in our good feelings.

      When sufficient time had gone by, we went to

      see Mrs. Westington. Normally, the ICU nurses wouldn't have let us all in at once. but I think they were just as afraid of hearing Mrs. Westington complain as they were of hearing their superiors complain. We gathered around her bed. She looked at

      our faces and nodded. Then she turned to Trevor. "How did you get back here so fast?" "Put my whole mind to it," he replied, and she

      smiled.

      "Don't you all stand there looking down at me

      like I'm hovering above my grave."

      "What are you telling us?' Trevor asked her.

      "That old man you saw through the window of your

      soul ain't looking in on you anymore?"

      "He'll come around when I tell him he can and

      not a minute before." she replied.

      "I bet he won't," Trevor said. laughing. "I just

      bet he won't."

      The doctors wanted Mrs. Westington in the

      hospital one more day. Of course she complained, but

      she gave up when she realized she was actually going

      to walk out of there. She promised and swore that she

      would behave and not do too much too quickly, but

      we all knew those promises were as good as the air

      they were written on, as she would say about other

      people's promises. After she came home. I tried staving on her, taking things out of her hands, moving to do things before she could, and constantly pleading with her to sit and rest. She bawled me out for being a

      Nervous Nelly.

      Trevor gave me as much help as he could with

      her, and so did Echo, who probably had the most

      influence. Tyler came over almost every night and we

      had some fine dinners and times together. The day

      after Mrs. Westington came home. Detective Temple

      came to see me again and to tell us that Rhona and

      Skeeter had been arraigned and a hearing before trial

      was being scheduled. Skeeter was also wanted in two

      other states and would be extradited to stand trial

      there as well.

      Despite her anger and disappointment, Mrs.

      Westington suffered some quiet moments of regret

      and sorrow about Rhona. She talked about the

      mistakes she might have made bringing her up and

      declared that she bore some responsibility for her

      whether or not she liked to admit it. In the end she

      decided to pay for an attorney, not to get Rhona off

      scot-free as much as to provide for her having some

      hope somewhere down the line,

      "It's throwing good money after bad." she told

      me. "but I can't help it. You'll discover that you do many things you don't want to do because of your

      parental obligations sometimes. April."

      Who said I would ever be a parent? I thought.

      She saw the doubt in my face.

      "Don't count yourself out of anything, girl.

      You're too young to come to any of those kinds of

      conclusions," she advised.

      Maybe she was right. I decided.

      When Mrs. Westington was strong enough, we

      all went to the school Echo would attend to meet with

      the headmaster and some of her prospective teachers.

      We were shown the dormitories as well. I watched

      Mrs. Westington's face the whole time. I could see the

      battle going on in her mind. She was impressed with

      the facilities, the achievements of the students and

      their interaction, but she also saw her granddaughter

      drifting away from her. The ties that had bound them

      together were snapping loose. She was wise enough to

      recognize that some of those ties kept Echo far too

      constricted and trapped her in a little girl's world

      when she should be expanding, growing, maturing,

      and becoming independent.

      "Funny." she said as Trevor drove us home that

      day. "but I think I'll have had more success bringing

      up a girl with a hearing disability than one who was

      healthy in every way."

      "Not every way," Trevor said, scowling back at

      her. "She inherited some rot from some ancestor. Of

      course, not on your side of the family." he added, and

      she smacked him playfully on the shoulder. Echo and

      I watched it from the rear and both laughed. "Stick to our grapes," she told him.

      "Our grapes? Now they're our grapes?" "They always were. I just humored you so

      you'd do a good job."

      "Well, I'll be... you hear that. April? Is this

      woman the mother of all deception or what?" "Oh, go eat your hat," she told him.

      The following day we returned to the mall to

      buy Echo some more new clothes. It was Mrs.

      Westington's idea after she saw what the other

      teenagers at the school were wearing.

      "I guess if they all want to go on looking

      foolish and clownish with those baggy pants and cut

      up blouses and pants, there's nothing I can do about

      it," she decided. "I just hope she doesn't go and get

      rings put through her nose."

      The purchases delighted Echo. I couldn't

      remember seeing her happier and neither could Mrs.

      Westington. Echo and I carried everything up to her room and I helped her organize her things for her

      move to the school in what was now two more days. Her preparations reminded me of my own first

      days at school: the anticipation, the nervousness, and

      the hope.

      Late that same afternoon. I received a phone

      call from the lawyer who had been taking care of

      Uncle Palaver's estate. He told me it was now possible

      to put the motor home up for sale and he had arranged

      for someone to come by in the morning and drive it


      over to the auctioneer. He wanted me to be sure I had

      taken everything out of it that I wanted.

      I had known this news would be coming

      anytime, but actually hearing it put a chill in my heart.

      I told Mrs. Westington and she saw it all in my face. "You've got to let go now, April," she said.

      "You've got to cut the past away. I know what I'm

      talking about. I've done it many times and I'm doing it

      now. Sometimes it's painful and sometimes it's not,

      but it has to be. We move on.'

      "I know," I said. "I guess I'd better go through

      the motor home and get what I don't want thrown out

      or taken by someone."

      "You want me to help you?"

      "Oh, no. I'll be just fine," I said. Of course, we

      both knew that was a boldface lie.

      When I entered the motor home. I simply stood

      there looking at everything at first, not knowing where

      to start. I went through all of Uncle Palaver's drawers,

      putting things in small bags and cartons. I discovered

      old pictures of him and my mother, even pictures he

      had saved of Brenda and me when we were much

      younger. There was one picture of him and Daddy

      that brought tears to my eyes. They both looked so

      young back then, so young and full of hope and

      energy. If only there was a way to bring pictures back

      to life, to return to those happier times.

      I found another cache of money hidden in a pair

      of Uncle Palaver's socks, And then. I found a shoe

      box with clippings and pictures of the real Destiny.

      There was a great deal of illusion in this motor home.

      I thought. after I had gathered all the tricks and

      paraphernalia that were part of Uncle Palaver's act,

      but there were many fine memories of real and

      happier times stored here as well. What I would do

      with all this,. I did not know, but I spent hours going

      through everything, separating what was obviously no

      longer important from what was.

      Trevor stopped in to help me carry it all out. He

      found a place for me to store it in his winery until I had decided what I would do with it all. Mrs. Westington told me to put the linens, towels, dishes, and silverware, as well as any insignificant household items in cartons that Trevor would bring to the Salvation Army. Echo decided to help me do all that. We worked until dinnertime and afterward, we loaded everything into Trevor's truck. He would take it away

     


    Prev Next
Online Read Free Novel Copyright 2016 - 2025