Heavenstone 01 - The Heavenstone Secrets

crowd.”
    “I’m happy for you, Teddy,” Mother said.
    “It’s for us, not just for me, Arianna. Don’t worry. I’m videotaping all of the festivities, and I’ll be able to play it for you tomorrow night.”
    “Maybe she can go,” Uncle Perry suggested.
    Cassie stepped forward instantly.
    “It would be too tiring, and she’s not ready to listen to people offering their condolences. They’ll drown her in an ocean of pity. Daddy and I and you, too, will be too occupied to care properly for her.”
    “What about Sam?” Uncle Perry nodded toward me.
    “My sister isn’t equipped for such a responsibility yet.”
    “What?” Uncle Perry smiled incredulously. “Not equipped? Why not, for Heavenstone’s sake?”
    “She’s barely able to look after herself,” Cassiemuttered, glaring at me. “Other teenagers will distract her attention, and she won’t know how to keep people from badgering Mother.”
    “Other teenagers? You’re a teenager,” Uncle Perry pointed out.
    “Hardly,” she replied.
    “Huh?”
    “Please, don’t argue,” Mother said with surprising energy. “Cassie’s right. Just the thought of walking down the stairs tires me out right now.”
    “I’d gladly carry you all the way,” Uncle Perry said.
    “I know you would, Perry. Thank you, but I’d rather Teddy not have to worry about me. I don’t want any of you to be worrying about me tomorrow. All of you, go and enjoy.”
    “Semantha is staying with you,” Cassie said.
    “Oh, no!” Mother cried. “I don’t want her to miss it on account of me. You go, too, Semantha. I’ll be fine.”
    “I could call someone,” Daddy said. “Just to be around if you need someone.”
    “I’ll be fine,” Mother insisted. “Please, Teddy. Don’t make me feel like any more of a burden on you all than I am.”
    “You’re not a burden, Arianna.”
    “That’s what I told her,” Uncle Perry said.
    Cassie made a show of looking at her watch. “Mother is due to take a pill now, and I’d like her to rest before I bring up her dinner. She has to eat more. I’ve made those cupcakes you made for Daddy a while back, Mother. I’ll be bringing you one.”

    “Are you staying for dinner, Uncle Perry?” I asked, hoping he would say yes.
    “I’m afraid I have to get back. I still have some work on the displays and some arrangements to complete for tomorrow, but thank you for asking, Sam.” He glanced pointedly at Cassie, but she looked disinterested and unashamed that she hadn’t asked him to dinner.
    “I’ll sit with her a while and make sure she’s resting,” Daddy said, moving toward Mother.
    Uncle Perry returned to her side just held her hand for a moment and looked at her.
    “Please get better soon, Arianna. Everyone needs you back.”
    Mother didn’t speak, didn’t smile. She simply stared at him. He leaned over to kiss her cheek and whisper something, and then he started out.
    “I’ll walk you to your car, Uncle Perry.” I hurried after him.
    He charged at the stairway and didn’t speak to me until we were well out of earshot. He turned at the bottom of the stairs and looked up.
    “I don’t like it, Sam. I don’t want to alarm you, but Cassie is taking on too much responsibility here. Your father should have hired another nurse or had her readmitted. She is in a deep depression. She shouldn’t be this way so long after the miscarriage. As I understand it, she hasn’t left that room since she was brought home, not even to go out and get some fresh air, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, then, talk your father into getting someone else immediately, will you?”

    “Yes,” I said. “I’ll try.” He was saying what I felt and was afraid to say. It made my heart thump and my stomach swirl. We walked out, and he kissed me good-bye.
    When he opened the car door to get in, he paused and smiled. “I’m sure it will be all right, Sam. I don’t mean to get you overly alarmed. I’m just … not used to seeing her like that, and your sister … your sister makes me feel like an outsider. I don’t want to start any trouble between you, but when it comes to being nice and loving, you’re miles above her, and right now, your mother needs a lot of tender loving care.”
    He got in, started his engine, waved, and drove off. I watched him go, feeling as if I was coming apart where I stood. I wanted to run after him and shout,
Don’t go, Uncle Perry. You’re right. Stay here and convince Daddy. I can’t do it by