Heavenstone 02 - Secret Whispers

you would want to plan on a dinner, too.”
    “A dinner? Yes, a dinner. Can you make some Italian dish? Ethan loves Italian food.”
    “My employer who had a house in Mayfair in London used to rave about my lobster Alfredo. I got the recipe from the chef at his favorite Italian restaurant. He said I did a better job of it, and he wasn’t the sort who handed out compliments freely. That’s about all the boasting I’ll do,” she added.
    “Sounds perfect.”
    “But maybe you want to check with your father and Mrs. Bennet first.”
    “Daddy loves lobster. I’m sure it will be fine. When they’re not around, I’m the one to make thosedecisions,” I said, thinking of what Lucille had told me. This was what she wanted, my taking charge in the house so she would be able to devote her attention and time to the business, wasn’t it? Besides, I felt good taking charge, especially when it involved Ethan.
    “Okay. I’ll have to go to the market, so if you’re sure.”
    “I’m sure,” I said.
    “We’ll have something special for dessert, too,” Mrs. Dobson said.
    “Thank you.”
    “I must say, Miss Semantha, this is the first time since you returned from school that I can see some color in that pretty face of yours. I think this young man means a lot more to you than you let on,” she teased.
    Now I felt myself blush.
    “You just go on and be as excited as you want,” she added.
    “I’ve got to start planning what I’ll wear tomorrow!” I cried, and hurried out with her laughter echoing behind me. I charged up the stairs, feeling as if I had returned to age twelve, when everything that happened in our mansion had been exciting for me. Until Cassie got to me, that is. Then she would do or say something to bring me back to earth.
    “Try not to be so flippant and shallow,” she would say. “We’re the Heaven-stone sisters.”
    She had a way of sending my most joyful and exciting moments into retreat. Even Mother would criticize her for it whenever she heard her on my case.
    “Let her be young,” she would say.
    “Young is one thing; stupid is another,” Cassie would retort. She was never intimidated, either by our mother or by our teachers. Only Daddy could clip her wings or staple her tongue. His approval or disapproval were the only adult reactions that mattered to her.
    Well, I was determined that she wasn’t going to intimidate me now. I would ignore her if she appeared, and I would shut my ears to her if she spoke. She must have known, because she didn’t so much as whisper the rest of the day. Right before dinner, I found Ethan’s e-mail on my computer. He was leaving early enough to get to the Heaven-stone house by three in the afternoon. I was eager to tell everyone at dinner, including Mrs. Dobson, who assured me that everything was ready in the guest room.
    Daddy seemed amused by my excitement and happy for me. I saw how he and Lucille exchanged conspiratorial glances and didn’t understand until Daddy announced that at Lucille’s suggestion, he’d arranged for me to take Ethan on a tour of our store in Lexington the day after tomorrow.
    “You two can drive out yourselves. I’ve already told Perry about it,” he said, “and he’s eager to show him his department. Lucille suggested we take the two of you to Wally’s for dinner when you visit the store.”
    “That all sounds wonderful, Daddy. Thank you.”
    “I wish I could take credit for thinking of it, but it was Lucille’s entire idea.”
    “Thank you, Lucille.”
    “Not at all, dear. I’m happy things worked outfor you. It is so devastating to have a romantic disappointment when you’re as young as you are.”
    “Are you telling us you had some?” Daddy teased.
    “Let’s just say I caused a few,” she replied, and they laughed.
    There was so much inside me resisting it, but I couldn’t help but feel happy for them, for the way they looked at each other, held hands, spoke softly and laughed, and just simply looked at each other. Had it been like this with Mother? I felt terribly guilty even wondering.
    That night, I went to sleep expecting to dream of Ethan, of his eyes, his smile, his wonderful kiss, imagining us behaving just like Daddy and Lucille. I hadn’t had a single Cassie-like thought since I had heard from Ethan. She was so sure that was over, that he was unworthy of a Heaven-stone. Perhaps I was acting a bit too smug, too overconfident now, and it was annoying to her, but after I had gone to bed