Heavenstone 01 - The Heavenstone Secrets

realized I was at the table, too.
    “No. Daddy and I will go up. You clean up here,” Cassie ordered. “I’ll bring down her tray, and you can stay with her,” she told him.
    It shocked me to see how she was giving all of us orders now and how Daddy just accepted it.
    “Cassie told me you insisted on staying here with your mother tomorrow, Semantha. Are you sure? Because I can get someone to stand by. I hate to see you miss the gala opening,” Daddy said.
    I did want to go very much. Many of my classmates would be there, and as I listened to them talk, it was sounding more and more exciting. Cassie could see I was seriously considering Daddy’s offer.

    “Semantha and I have discussed it thoroughly, Daddy,” she said, looking directly at me when she spoke. “We both agree that strangers don’t do well in this house, and Mother is too delicate at the moment to be deserted.”
    “Oh, it’s not really deserting her,” Daddy said.
    “No, I’ll stay, Daddy. Cassie’s right. I’ll watch the video with you and Mother later.”
    “Well, it would be nice to have both of my daughters at my side, but if you’re really sure …”
    Cassie glared at me, practically daring me to say I would go.
    “I’m sure, Daddy. There will be other events.”
    “That there will. You’re right there,” he said, “right as rain. Well, then, let’s go see how she’s doing, Cassie. I expect she loved that cupcake as much as I did.”
    I watched the two of them head upstairs. Cassie whispered something in his ear that made him laugh aloud, and then they started up the stairway. My nerves felt like broken guitar strings. I practically attacked the dishware and silverware, nearly breaking a cup. It slipped from my grip, but I caught it before it hit the floor. I was almost finished with the dishes when Cassie returned with Mother’s tray. I saw that she hadn’t eaten very much, and she hadn’t touched the cupcake. When I said something, Cassie told me the medicine hurt her appetite.
    “I’ll speak to Dr. Moffet about it on Monday,” she said.
    “You will? Why wouldn’t Daddy?”
    “I meant I’ll tell Daddy to speak with him.”

    “He should come here to see her.”
    “Maybe he will. Now, forget this for the moment, and let’s talk about tomorrow, Semantha. It’s very important that Mother believes you’re going. We just told her that again.”
    “Daddy lied to her?”
    “It’s not a lie when he’s just doing what’s necessary to help her relax, Semantha. Please don’t talk like a child right now. I need you to be grown-up.”
    “I am grown-up. I’m not talking like a child. Don’t say that!”
    “Okay, okay, don’t blow a gasket. Your daddy told a little white lie. Satisfied? Now, back to what I was saying. In the morning after breakfast, you get dressed as if you’re going. Put on something special. Maybe that blue skirt outfit with the light-blue V-neck sweater, the outfit I bought you for your last birthday. Tie your hair, back and put on some makeup. Look excited about going, too, understand? I’ll be with you when you go in to say good-bye.”
    “I don’t like doing that, Cassie. It makes me feel so deceiving.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Are you going to cooperate or not? I have to know now. If not, I’ll go up to Daddy and tell him to find a stranger to babysit. Well?”
    “Yes, I’ll do it.”
    “Good. Now, go up and say good night. I’ll finish here. Well? Go on,” she ordered when I didn’t move.
    There was so much I wanted to say, but the words just wouldn’t come down to my tongue, and everything I could think of suggesting rang like the thoughts of someone selfish. I had no doubt that shewould make me look that way in front of Daddy if I suggested any other solution, such as hiring another private-duty nurse just for the day. A private-duty nurse was a professional more than she was a stranger, but I hadn’t said anything at dinner, and I certainly couldn’t do it now.
    I left the kitchen and went up to Mother’s room, but I paused in the doorway. Mother was lying back on her pillow, her eyes closed, and Daddy was holding her hand and resting his head gently against her. The moment was so personal and tender I couldn’t interrupt it. As quietly as I could, I backed out and walked down to my room. I sat thinking until Susie called me to talk about the gala, too. Her parents weren’t going, but she was going to join Bobbi and her parents. Again, I couldn’t get myself