Heavenstone 02 - Secret Whispers

alongside me and was right behind me as I descended.
    I heard Daddy, Lucille, and Ethan laughing in the den. They all had drinks and turned to me as I entered.
    “Well, feeling a bit better, Semantha?” Daddy asked.
    “Yes, Daddy, thank you.”
    “Would you like an after-dinner drink? We’re all trying this port wine Senator Brice sent over yesterday.”
    “It’s terrific,” Ethan said.
    “Thank you. I would.”
    Lucille studied me closely as I approached the bar. She sensed something different. Ethan simply held his smile, frozen like a man halfway across on a tightrope.
    Daddy poured my drink.
    “Well, now, what should we drink to?” he asked, raising his glass.
    “The Heaven-stones,” I said. He smiled. Everyone sipped the port. “And my decisions,” I added.
    Ethan looked worried. He started to shake his head, afraid I was going to announce our moving out.
    “What decisions?” Lucille asked.
    “For one, I’d like to think more about the wedding. Maybe I spoke too quickly. I might want a bigger affair, so I don’t want to rush it just to meet an available date.”
    Both Lucille and Ethan looked speechless.
    Daddy smiled. “That’s very wise,” he said.
    “And second, after we’re married, we’ll be setting up our lives together, and we’d obviously want to stay at Heaven-stone.”
    I looked at Ethan, whose eyebrows rose. He smiled.
    “Of course you would,” Daddy said, now looking even happier. “I wouldn’t hear otherwise.”
    “So, I think I should lay claim to the west wing,” I continued. “We’ll need guest rooms for our guests occasionally, and those rooms, the powder room, and what could easily be an upstairs den for us should not be touched. I think there should only be very minor changes, especially in what was once Cassie’s room.”
    For a moment, you could hear a pin drop. Ethan looked as if he was holding his breath.
    “That’s a very sensible, wise thought,” Daddy said. He turned to Lucille. “Isn’t it?”
    Lucille looked as if she had a mouthful of sour milk. The smile that finally emerged was as cold as the smile on death’s face, I was sure. “Yes, that would be fine,” she said, as if she were the one who made the final decision. I certainly wasn’t going to thank her.
    “I didn’t think I’d like port,” I said, drinking some more. “It’s very good.”
    Daddy laughed. “I never knew a Heaven-stone who didn’t like it. My father had a glass of port every night before he went to bed.”
    Lucille put her glass on the bar and turned to Daddy. “Speaking of bed, I think I’ll go up now, Teddy.”
    “Right. I’m coming. We’re off to Louisville tomorrow. Big chamber of commerce luncheon event at which we’re special guests,” he explained. He stopped to kiss me good night and then hurried after Lucille.
    “Well, well, you’re certainly full of surprises,” Ethan said. “I know they were pleased with your decision about the wedding. Of course, I regret having to wait longer to make you Mrs. Hunter, but under the circumstances, it’s a good plan. And I’m happy you decided we should stay here.”
    “Lucille wasn’t exactly pleased about that.”
    “I don’t know. I think she was just tired. What got you to change your mind?”
    “My sister,” I said.
    “Your sister?” He held his smile. “I don’t understand.”
    “Cassie was always the sensible one. I just thought about what she would do.”
    “Sensible?” He shook his head. “I know your father said she was intelligent and always concerned about the family, but after what you said she did to you, I’m not sure I’d conclude she was sensible.”
    I didn’t reply. I turned my back on him and put my glass on the bar.
    “Well, none of that really matters now. I guess I’ll go up, too,” he said. “Lucille left a list a mile long for me to follow up on tomorrow while they’re away.” He came up to me and put his arms around my waist. Then he kissed me on the back of the neck. “Going up?”
    “Not yet,” I said, still not turning around. “Butdon’t worry about me. You go on. You need your rest if you want to keep up with her.”
    He laughed and let go of me. “She does have endless energy. Half the time, she forgets to eat lunch. Okay, but you get some rest, too. Emotional events wear you down.”
    I turned to him, and he kissed me good night.
    “Everything’s going to be great now. You’ll see,” he said. “I’m proud of you.”
    I watched him leave,