Music in the Night (Logan 4)

his work at the hotel?" I asked.

"Well, I promised I'd help him stain the inn's

back deck on Thursday. I've got some time," Cary

said.

"You would?" I couldn't believe what I was

hearing. "I mean, you do? I mean--"

"It's no big deal, Laura. If he holds his own,

we'll finish in an hour," Cary said, with more than a

hint of challenge in his voice.

On Wednesday, as Cary had promised, we picked up May and went to the Sea Marina. I introduced May to Robert's mother and taught her some sign language to use while Cary and Robert went out back with Robert's father to look at the dock. Whatever Cary recommended pleased and impressed Robert's father, who had only high praise for Cary afterward. We all enjoyed some cold lemonade on the front porch, while Cary and Robert's father continued

their talk about the building repairs.

May loved Robert's mother, who gave her an

inexpensive watch, still in working order, she had

found in a dresser drawer in one of the rooms when

they had first taken over the property. It had Roman

numerals and a pearl-like casing with a thin, leather

strap. May was so exci

ted about it, she walked all the

way home with her wrist raised so she could admire it

better.

"Daddy's going to ask her about that," Cary

warned. "We can't tell May to lie."

To both of us, May was so precious and special,

the very thought of having her do something even

slightly sinful was upsetting. No one was purer in

spirit.

"Let her tell the truth, Cary. We haven't done

anything wrong. It's just being a good Christian to help other people. If Daddy says anything, we'll remind him of I Corinthians 13, 'And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth

me nothing.' "

Cary laughed.