relationships with other people. Been living like a
hermit too many years, but sometimes, what's true and
right is as clear as the liquid gold."
I agreed with him and thanked him for his
concern. Afterward. I again worked with Echo on
signing. She had endless energy when it came to her
need and desire to communicate. I was happy that she
was distracted and involved so much in our work that
she didn't ask me any more questions about Destiny,
boyfriends, or sex. She appeared to have forgotten my
promise to write it out and I didn't remind her. I didn't want to hear any more about her love for Tyler or
what she perceived as his love for her.
Mrs. Westington was sitting in her chair and
knitting while we worked anyway. She looked very
pleased with how well Echo and I were getting along.
Was this a good time to bring up her need to be in a
real school environment? I was gathering the courage
to do so when the phone rang.
"Now, it better not be one of those people
trying to sell me something," she complained, and
went to the phone in the kitchen. A little more than
ten minutes later, she returned, her face ashen, but her
lips trembling red with anger. I wondered if it had
been Tyler telling her how his mother wanted him to
stop tutoring Echo. She gazed at Echo, who was busy
correcting the way I held my arm and fingers for the
word day.
"Something wrong. Mrs. Westington?" I asked. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and
pulling back her shoulders. "That," she said. "was my
daughter. After all these years, my daughter." "Rhona? How is she?" I asked.