Chapter 34

I smile and stick my tongue out at Grandma, to which she just throws her head back in a laugh before turning to leave Violet and me alone in the room.

Violet helps me to sit up in bed as Grandpa comes in carrying a steaming bowl of vegetable gumbo that I realize now is the same delicious smell that has been haunting my dreams. I raise my hand to my lips to sign “yum” as Grandpa hands the tray off to Violet who gets it set up on the bed.

“Thank you,” I say to Violet. And I don't even try to dissuade her as she takes the spoon in her hand and brings some gumbo to her lips to blow across before moving it to my mouth. I let her do it two more times before my pride gets the best of me and I gently touch my fingers to her hand. She gets the message and I tuck into the rest with the spoon under my own power.

It is while I'm enjoying that delicious gumbo that Violet begins her confession by signing “I'm sorry.”