Heavenstone 01 - The Heavenstone Secrets

from curious eyes. I had to go back to her bedroom and look in at the empty bed, praying to myself that this was all just a bad dream and I would soon wake up. No one had touched the bed. The blanket was still pulled back, her pillows showing where her head had been. I started to cry again and hurried back to my room. I cried in the bathroom. I cried when I got dressed for bed, and I sobbed into my pillow until I felt Cassie’s hand on my shoulder and turned to look up at her.
    “Now, don’t cry, Semantha. Don’t worry. I’ll always be here for you. We’re the Heavenstone sisters. We can overcome anything together. I want you to be strong over the next few days. I want you to help me with Daddy, be at his side to give him the strength he will need, okay?”
    I nodded.
    “Just try to get some sleep. Remember, the sun in the morning is the kiss of life,” she said, which was something Mother always said. Then she kissed my cheek, stroked my hair, and fixed my blanket. “I’m right across the hall,” she said, “as always.”
    I watched her leave and closed my eyes again. It bothered me a little for reasons I couldn’t quiteunderstand yet, but Cassie was as comforting as our mother had been able to be.
    In the morning, she was up ahead of me as usual and had done quite a bit before I ventured down. She had the table set and our breakfast prepared.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t get down early enough to help you, Cassie,” I told her.
    “That’s all right. You needed more sleep than I did. You went through a more trying time. I’m going up to see about Daddy. We must be sure he eats a good breakfast. He needs his strength. I know it will be hard for you, but try not to cry in front of him, okay?”
    “Yes.”
    I waited at the table, and when Daddy came down with Cassie, he looked as if he had aged years overnight. He wasn’t dressed as impeccably as he usually was, and his hair was not as neat. Surely, sleeping in the bed in which Mother had died was very difficult and very emotional for him. I was positive that he had not had a good night’s sleep and had probably woken up many times to convince himself that she wasn’t there and would never be again.
    On the other hand, Cassie was as buoyant and energetic as ever, urging Daddy and me to eat, clearing dishes, pouring coffee, and serving her special egg omelette. She spoke to Daddy as if he was her child and not vice versa. He nodded and gave her whatever smiles he could. Somehow, she got him to finish his breakfast, and then I helped her clear the table so we could get ready to go to the funeral parlor. Daddy suggested that he would go himself, butCassie insisted that we accompany him. She assured him that we would be fine and looked at me sharply to remind me how to behave.
    Uncle Perry met us at the funeral parlor. I was grateful for that, because he held my hand and stood by me the whole time. Even so, I think the one thing that saved me was the feeling that none of this was real. Even when I looked at the choices for a coffin, it seemed as if I was watching a movie about someone else. The only time I reacted to anything was when Daddy asked us if what he had chosen was appropriate. Cassie assured him it was, and I quickly nodded. After all of the arrangements were made, we headed back home. Amazingly, Cassie already had organized the caterers and staff to handle the mourners who would visit.
    Our days of mourning seemed to run into each other and become one very long, dreary, dark day. Although Cassie was polite to people, I could see she didn’t appreciate anyone’s sympathy or look grateful for anything except being left alone. She never tired or failed to be at Daddy’s side for one moment. The stream of mourners didn’t faze her one bit. On the other hand, their tears, words of encouragement, and dark faces draped in heavy gloom exhausted me. I slept on and off and fell asleep early each night.
    Mother’s funeral was attended by so many people that the church overflowed, and people had to stand outside and listen to the minister on a speaker. There were many dignitaries. The governor sent a representative, and both of our state’s senators did as well. A great many of the mourners followed thehearse to the cemetery, too. Daddy stood between Cassie and me as the minister said his final words and prayers. I cried but held on to Daddy, who simply stared at the coffin. Cassie, on the other hand, seemed strong enough to be holding him up. Uncle