bedroom. "You could have put on the lights," I said. "I thought you had to conserve the batteries." "Yes. I suppose."
I took the candle and made my way back and
found him lying on the bed, his hands behind his
head.
"Hey," he said. "Hey."
"I see Rhona's van isn't there. Did they leave for
good?"
"We don't kniow. They didn't call or return for
dinner. I took Echo for a ride earlier to the mall and
then to the fair in Healdsburg."
You were there today? We had some of our
product for sale at one of the booths."
"Yes, and while I was there I saw Rhona and Skeeter come out of a tavern. Two men looked like they were threatening him. Maybe because of that, they ran off. When I got back here. I found Mrs. Westington had prepared a big dinner as a sort of
celebration."
"Why? Celebrating what?"
"She was hoping that somehow Rhona would
change if she made her feel more at home. I guess.
She's very, very depressed now. She wants to talk to
you about getting Echo into the school and then she
wants to set things up with her attorney, trusts, stuff
like that. She's thinks the Grim Reaper has been
peering in her window."
"Well. I hope not, but she's wise to want to do
all that. I'll help with the school."
He sat up. "What does this mean? You're going
to leave?"
"Not until it's all arranged. I promised her." "Good," he said. "Well, in an ironic way. Rhona
did us all a favor. She convinced Mrs. Westington to
do the right things with Echo and I won't have to quit
tutoring to force her to do it. That will make my