Melody (Logan 1)

some homework with her," I added.

Aunt Sara smiled. "That's nice of you, dear. I'm

sure May appreciates it."

She signed to her and May signed back,

expressing her enthusiasm. I went upstairs with her

and worked with her on her reading and speaking

exercises. At a quarter to eight, though, I had to leave.

I explained that she would probably be asleep when I

returned, so I kissed her goodnight.

Cary had gone up to the attic. I heard him

moving about while I worked with May, but now he

was quiet, still. I found a blue cardigan sweater to

wear over Laura's yellow dress. It was a little over

sixty degrees outside, but the sky was clear with a

three-quarter moon that put a bone-white glow over

the sand.

"Don't be too late, dear," Aunt Sara called from

the living room when I headed for the front door. "I won't," I promised. My heart was pounding,

both from the excitement and from guilt. I hated lying

to her, but there was no doubt in my mind what her

and Uncle Jacob's reactions would have been if they

had known I was planning to meet a boy on the beach. They have no right to restrict me, I told myself. This family, especially, has no right to tell me what I should and shouldn't do. Never before did I feel as much on my own, as much in control of my own destiny. Mommy had deserted me, lied to me, ignored my feelings and my needs. She knowingly left me with people who looked down on us. She had left me to fend for myself. And that's just what I would do, I

told myself.

All my life I had believed in being honest. I

believed in the ultimate goodness of people, only to

find out that my own parents had deceived me. Who

did I have but myself? I thought. Driven by my rage

as much as I was drawn by Adam Jackson's magical

eyes, I bounced quickly down the steps and walked

away from the house. I looked back once. I thought a