Heavenstone 01 - The Heavenstone Secrets

she said. “An uncle and his favorite niece caught in a tender embrace. My mother is awake, Uncle Perry. I told her you were here. She had no reaction, but don’t mind that. It’s the medicine.”
    He looked at me with skepticism, then started out and stopped. “Why don’t you come up with me, Sam,” he said.
    “I’ll wait here for Daddy,” Cassie said, as if he had asked her and not me.
    I joined him, and we went upstairs. Mother was in a robe and sitting in the oversized chair in the bedroom. I made a mental note to work on her hair as soon as Uncle Perry left. Right now, it looked like a rat’s nest. She wore no makeup, and sitting in the afternoon sunshine pouring through the windows, she looked quite pale. When she saw Uncle Perry, she began to cry.

    “Arianna, please, don’t,” Uncle Perry said, rushing to her. He knelt beside her and took her hand in his. “You can’t blame yourself.”
    “I came home without my baby. Teddy’s male heir,” she said. “His Asa. I know how much he dreamed of him.”
    “He’s got heirs.”
    “The Heavenstone name, Perry. It’s so important to him.”
    “Not more important than you are to him, Arianna. Besides, I’ve always told him that this Heavenstone thing is over the top. We’re just people who happen to have a thriving big business. Everyone has a history. This isn’t some kind of royal dynasty, and Teddy isn’t Henry the Eighth.”
    If Cassie were there and heard him say that, she would pounce on him and scratch him from ear to ear, I thought. He glanced back at me as if he heard what I was thinking.
    Mother nodded slightly but without any enthusiasm. “I know it’s just my imagination,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper, “but sometimes … sometimes I hear a baby’s cry, and I think maybe he was born. You know what I mean?” she asked Uncle Perry, her face brightening with some hope.
    It was as if she really did expect him to say she was right. She had heard her baby. What did she think he would tell her? That all of this was just a bad dream, or she had suffered so much difficulty giving birth that she had lost her memory?
    “Now, now, Arianna, you’re only making yourself sicker with this sort of talk. You’ve got to gethold of yourself, get strong and well again. Please,” he begged, still holding her hand.
    Her face sank with disappointment, but she nodded. “I know. I know just how much of a burden I’ve become for everyone.”
    “No one says you’re a burden. That’s ridiculous. Everyone wants you to get well and is anxious to help you do so. C’mon. Let’s see that joie de vivre again. You’re my inspiration, Arianna. Just knowing you’re around spurs me on to try harder and do better and better things. You’ve always been my best cheerleader. I’d be lost without you.”
    Mother gave him a quick smile.
    “Now, that’s the sister-in-law I remember.”
    We turned toward the door when we heard Daddy’s voice from the stairway. He sounded very excited and happy. Cassie’s laughter followed, and moments later they both entered.
    “Arianna, you’re up and about. How wonderful,” Daddy said, hurrying to her.
    Uncle Perry stepped back so Daddy could kiss Mother. Then he took the newspaper out from under his arm and held up the pages that had pictures of our new store. Both pages were dedicated to the story. There was a good picture of Daddy and, next to him, a picture of the governor, who was definitely coming to tomorrow’s opening gala.
    “Cassie suggested we hire a band and set them up near the entrance,” he said. “I just hired them. And look at this, Arianna. Look at what else your daughter came up with.” He pulled out a key chain that had an angel attached. It read,
Heavenstone’s. Where angelsshop.
“We’re going to give one to each of the first five hundred customers.” He handed it to Mother.
    She smiled and looked at Cassie. “Very clever, Cassie,” she said.
    “Thank you, Mother.” Cassie glanced at Uncle Perry, but he said nothing.
    “We’re blowing up hundreds of balloons, and we’ve constructed a small stage area with seating for four hundred people,” Daddy continued. “I’m sure there will be another few hundred standing. We’ll have the mayor, the governor, and,” he said, digging into his pocket to come up with a letter to wave, “Senator Barry is flying in from Washington. With the suppliers, retail salesmen, and employees, we’re sure to have an overflow