Heavenstone 01 - The Heavenstone Secrets

it. The worst thing for you right now is pity, and that’s what our parents would feel for you, especially Mother. She would make you feel even worse doing that. Don’t act any differently from the way you’ve been. If you think you are going to be sad, walk away and come see me, okay?”
    “Okay, Cassie.”
    “I just knew something like this would happen. I could tell what sort of boy he was just by looking at his older brother. What they say about the apple not falling far from the tree is correct.”

    “His father was very nice, Cassie.”
    “You haven’t met his mother, and you don’t know their family background. They’re common people, Semantha. We’re the Heavenstones. Don’t ever forget it, even for a moment. You won’t be able to forget it. It’s in you, and it’s stronger than anything else in you.
    “The Heavenstones,” she muttered, and drove on. I was beginning to hear myself chanting the same thing.
    Because Daddy was so excited about his new store in Lexington, when we arrived at the house, it wasn’t difficult for me to hide my social and emotional disappointment. He was so excited that he broke his rule about not talking about business at dinner. Mother had prepared a delicious stuffed pork roast and her special mashed sweet potatoes, but she looked tired to me and even a little pale. She put on the best face she could because of Daddy’s enthusiastic description of everything.
    “There’s a very good chance that the governor himself will be at our opening gala,” he revealed, “and at least one of our United States senators, not to mention a herd of other important local politicians, businessmen, and just about all the television and radio media available.
    “Your uncle Perry has come up with what I must say is a brilliant public-relations idea, as well,” he added, looking at Cassie and me.
    “He has?” Cassie asked. “What?”
    “Customers in all of our other stores are filling out coupons. We’re having a drawing the night of the gala opening, a lottery, and the winner gets to spendone thousand dollars in any of our stores. It will bring in tons of publicity,” he said.
    Cassie returned to eating without any comment. I was happy for Uncle Perry, and Mother said she thought it was brilliant. When Daddy asked Cassie to think up some additional good ideas to make the gala as exciting as possible, she brightened again and told him she would make a list and bring it to him in his office later.
    I could see that despite her efforts to hide her fatigue, Mother was too tired to help with the cleanup or do anything more. I pleaded with her to go up to bed, and she finally relented and did just that. Cassie surprised me by chastising me for persuading Mother to rest.
    “Don’t you know that when you tell someone she looks sick and tired, she’ll feel sick and tired? Daddy spoils her too much as it is, especially now, when he has all this important business to do.”
    “But—”
    “Never mind, Semantha. I’ll take care of it. Go do your homework. I’ll do all this.”
    “I can help you. I can—”
    “Just go up to your room and do your homework,” she said. “I know you’ve had a very trying day, and you hid it well from Daddy. Go on,” she repeated, and turned her back on me.
    I watched her for a moment and left. As I was walking toward the stairway, however, I heard Daddy ask her why she was doing everything herself.
    “Oh, Mother was too tired, Daddy, and Semantha has a load of homework. It’s all right.”

    “You’re an angel, Cassie, an angel,” he said.
    I didn’t have that much homework, and I was so disturbed by what had happened at school that I probably wouldn’t be able to concentrate. I could have helped her finish. I wanted to run back and tell that to Daddy, but I also imagined how angry Cassie would be if I contradicted her, so I continued up the stairs. I went to see how Mother was doing. She was already in bed. I had been right to send her up.
    “Mother, are you feeling ill?”
    “Just a bout of nausea suddenly. I was a little dizzy, too, but it’s passing. I’ll be fine,” she said. “Don’t worry, honey.”
    She smiled at me, and I went to her and hugged her. She stroked my hair and smiled.
    “When are you going to another party? Doesn’t the school have parties, too? I bet there’s something for the holidays coming up.”
    She was right. There was always a holiday party before the break for Christmas vacation, but I had no