Heavenstone 01 - The Heavenstone Secrets

me.
    Because of these thoughts, I had trouble sleeping. A string of disturbing visuals streamed under my closed eyelids: Cassie’s angry face at the sight of the locket in my hand; Daddy’s darkened sad eyes; him asleep in the chair, his face ashen; Mother’s glassy eyes focused on the ceiling, that empty pill bottle on its side; Uncle Perry’s worried look. Every vision was like a needle stuck in my heart. By the time I actually fell asleep, it was nearly morning and time to get up. I wouldn’t have woken if Cassie hadn’t slammed her bedroom door. That sound was followed by her clicking footsteps on the tiled hallway floor. I hurried to get up, dressed, and down to breakfast.
    I was surprised to see Cassie sitting by herself at the table. Dressed for work, she was sipping coffee and looked very deep in thought, so deep, in fact, that she didn’t realize I was there. I saw her reach out toward Daddy’s chair and place her hand on the table as if his was there as well.
    “Where’s Daddy?” I asked.
    She pulled her hand back and spun on me.“Why are you sneaking up on me like that?”

    “I’m not, Cassie. I was—”
    “Never mind. He’s having breakfast with the CEO of our public-relations firm. Neither of us is happy with their presentations lately.”
    “How come you didn’t go along, too?”
    She pinched the bridge of her nose and looked up at me.“I guess you don’t have the ability to realize just how quickly I’ve become important to your father. I have to cover at the office.”
    I felt the back of my neck stiffen. I was tired of hearing
your father.
    “Why do you say ‘your father’? He’s your father, too, Cassie.”
    She put her coffee cup down and rose, ignoring what I had said. “Make sure you have a good day with Mrs. Underwood. I’ve seen some of the results, and frankly, I could do just as well tutoring you. If there’s no improvement, significant improvement, I can’t see keeping her.”
    “But I thought I needed a licensed tutor.”
    “Whatever. We’ll deal with that when the time comes. Right now, we have far more serious concerns than your high-school achievements.”
    She started out and then paused, turning back.
    “Look. You’re no brain, Semantha. I could almost predict every moment of your future. You’ll get a high-school diploma and maybe attend some community college or something, but you’ll surely end up marrying and having a small herd of kids. Just keep up your good looks.”
    She walked out, leaving me standing there, unsure whether I should be angrier at her or at myselffor not being bright enough to shove those words down her throat. Whether she intended for it to happen or not, my anger turned into more determination to improve with Mrs. Underwood. By the end of the week, my tutor gave me a real compliment.
    “I see you do have more ability than you’ve demonstrated so far, Semantha. Keep your focus. I’m not only proud of you but flattered that I’m having so good an effect. Your sister will be happy to see these results.”
    Cassie made it a point to come home earlier on Fridays so she could have a quick review meeting with Mrs. Underwood. This Friday was no different. She always conducted the meeting in Daddy’s office with the door closed while I started on dinner. When I heard the office door open, I went to the kitchen entrance and peered into the hallway, anticipating both of them emerging with smiles on their faces. The dark, angry look on Mrs. Underwood’s face surprised me.
    “Mrs. Underwood?”
    She continued walking with her shoulders stiff and never turned around before she left the house. I looked back at the office. Cassie was still in there. I wiped my hands on a dish towel and hurried to see why Mrs. Underwood had left in such a huff. Cassie was still sitting behind Daddy’s desk. She had just closed the family checkbook, so I knew Mrs. Underwood had been paid.
    “Cassie?”
    She looked up.“What is it, Semantha? Something about dinner?”
    “No. Mrs. Underwood looked upset. She wouldn’teven speak to me. She barely looked at me before she left.”
    “Really? How unfortunate,” she said dryly. “Well, I’m not paying her to make her happy here. I’m paying her to get you up to speed so you won’t look foolish when you’re sent to a good private school. There’s nothing more embarrassing than to be told you will have to be in some remedial class. At a private school, especially, you would be treated like