Heavenstone 01 - The Heavenstone Secrets

dinner.
    “It all smells wonderful,” he said watching me make the final touches in the kitchen.
    “Just go sit at the table, Daddy. I’ll take care of everything.”
    “You don’t need any help?”
    “No, I’m fine.”
    I brought out our salads, poured him his water, and opened his bottle of red wine just the way Cassie always did, standing by his side and pouring a little in the glass for him to taste. He smiled at me and nodded. I poured the rest and took my seat.
    “So, how’s it going with this home-tutoring business?” he asked immediately.
    “Fine,” I said, and then wondered how Cassie would ever explain our letting Mrs. Underwood go if I told Daddy it was fine. It all made me so nervous.
    “I know I’ve been quite occupied with the business and other things, Semantha, and I haven’t paidproper attention to you. However, Cassie has been keeping me up-to-date. Your mother always told me how good Cassie was at details, and after having her with me these days, I can tell you that’s absolutely true. I have more confidence in her judgment about things than I do in some of my so-called trusted advisors of many years.
    “But I’m proud of both you, Semantha, the way both of you have handled yourselves after this … this terrible family tragedy. I know most other girls your age would be emotional wreckage and into therapy for years and years, maybe their whole lives.”
    “Cassie says that’s because we have Heavenstone blood in us.”
    He smiled.“Maybe she’s right. You know most of the stories about our family’s past hardships and how well they were weathered.” He paused and leaned toward me, smiling.“Don’t tell her I said so, but Cassie should have been born to royalty somewhere where royalty still matters. She’s a true aristocrat.”
    He sat back and thought a moment.
    “Maybe she’s just what the doctor ordered right now. Later, we’ll calm her down a bit.” He smiled again.
    After I brought in the rack of lamb, he poured me some wine.
    “You’re old enough for it, at least at home, and I don’t like drinking wine alone.”
    I wasn’t crazy about the wine. Cassie enjoyed it with him and had even drunk it with him and Mother. I sipped it slowly. Before we were finished, he had emptied the bottle himself. I saw how oftenhe glanced at Mother’s empty chair, and I thought to myself that maybe Cassie was right to sit in it and take his attention away from Mother. Without her blocking out that great emptiness, filling that hole in his heart that she had described, he grew despondent again no matter what I said or did at the table. He ate everything but told me he didn’t want any dessert.
    “Can I help you clean up?” he asked.
    That was all Cassie had to hear, I thought, me having Daddy clean up.
    “Oh, no, Daddy. It’s easy. You should just go relax.”
    He nodded and withdrew to the living room. I heard him go to the liquor cabinet and pour himself an after-dinner drink. By the time I was finished with everything and had put everything away, he was slumped in his chair again. I spoke to him, but he didn’t respond. He had drunk himself into unconsciousness, which was now his way of dealing with those holes in his heart. I didn’t leave him, however. I sat and read and watched him moan in his sleep. Eventually, I dozed off myself and then woke when I felt Cassie nudge me.
    “What happened?” she demanded, nodding at Daddy, who was slumped even more.
    With my small fists, I ground out the sleep in my eyes and sat up quickly.
    “Nothing, Cassie. He enjoyed the dinner and then came in here while I was cleaning up. By the time I came in, he was already asleep. I stayed with him to—”

    “To do what? Fall asleep. You can go up to your bedroom. I’ll take care of him.”
    I stood. “I didn’t fall asleep right away, but he gave me some wine, and maybe it made me tired.”
    She shook her head.“I knew I shouldn’t have left him. It’s too soon.”
    “How was your date, Cassie?”
    “I’ll tell you about it later,” she said quickly. “Go get ready for bed.”
    I glanced at Daddy and then went up. I was tired and moved in slow motion. Finally, in my pajamas, I pulled back the blanket and crawled into bed. I heard a door close and then Cassie’s high heels clicking in the hallway. They grew louder as she drew closer. I could tell she had paused by my bedroom door. Maybe she would wait until tomorrow to tell me about her date with Porter. I was actually