Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

I untied the bow and unwrapped the small box. Then I opened it to look upon a gold pendant in the shape of an ocean liner with a gold necklace. There were two tiny diamonds on the pendant, one atop each smokestack.

"Oh, look," I said holding it out. Momma shook her head and smiled.

"Beautiful."

"Me too. Show me, too," Troy cried. I knelt down and he gazed at it with short-lived interest.

"It won't float," he said.

"It's not supposed to float, Troy. You wear it around your neck, see," I said taking it out and holding it up.

"Look at the back of the charm," Tony said.

I turned it over and read, "The Princess Leigh."

"That is beautiful, Tony," Momma said, no longer sounding at all snappish. "1 wish her father would give her things like that instead of actual working ship models to take apart and study," she added.

"Daddies are always the last to see how grown up their daughters have become." I looked up quickly. He gazed at me with those intense blue eyes, and it made me feel older. The feeling made me blush and, my heart racing, I looked down just as quickly as I had looked up.

"Anyway, I hope you like it, Leigh," Tony said, almost in a whisper.

"Oh, I love it. Thank you. Thank you so much." I looked at Momma, who nodded, and I knew she wanted me to kiss him. Because I hardly knew him, I felt funny doing it even though he had just given me a very expensive gift. But Momma looked as if she expected it and I wanted to do everything right, if not for myself, then for her.

Tony anticipated the thank-you kiss. He leaned toward me and turned his cheek toward my lips. I kissed him quickly, but closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of his aftershave. He was really the first man, other than Daddy, who I had ever kissed. I couldn't stop my heart from pounding. It made me feel a little dizzy. I hoped he hadn't noticed.

"Thank you," I murmured.

"Here, let me help you put it on," Tony said and took it from my hands. My fingers were actually trembling. He opened the chain and put it around my neck. I felt his warm breath at the back of my neck as he studied the clasp. "These things are so tiny. There, I have it." He stepped back beside Momma and they looked at the charm on me. It fell just between my breasts.

Momma looked faraway and almost sad as if she had suddenly become a little jealous.

"Good." Tony clapped his hands. "Well then," he said, "let's go on and look at the stables so that when you do have that riding outfit, you can see what you can do."

When we arrived at the stables, Troy called out for Curly, who turned out to be a short, stout Scotchman who indeed had very curly red hair. I thought he was about fifty years old. Each of his chubby cheeks had two bright red spots, so bright they looked like he had put on clown makeup.

"YOU wanna take a gander at Sniffles, I imagine," he said leading the way.

Curly opened the stall door and I looked in at the black and white Shetland pony. She was so precious, I fell in love with her instantly. Troy offered her some hay and she took it gingerly and began to chew, her eyes on me.

"You can pet her if you'd like, Miss."

"I will. Thank you." I stroked the little horse, again thinking what a magical place Farthinggale Manor was with its beautiful grounds, its enormous pool and cabana with a stage, its maze and now its riding

stables. I began to understand why Momma was so taken with it. Perhaps she would try to get Daddy to move out of the city and buy an estate too, I thought.

"Will you come back tomorrow to ride her?" Troy asked. "Will you?"

"Maybe not tomorrow, Troy, but soon."

He looked disappointed again. Oh, how desperately he needed a mother, someone who could be soft and loving. Tony was probably a good brother to him, but he couldn't give him the comfort a mother could give him. I wished we could bring him home with us. I had always wanted a little brother.

It took Momma and Tony quite a while to join us at the stables. I had begun to wonder if we should start back to find them. When they did arrive, Tony announced it was time to see about lunch. Momma had decided she wanted to put in two hours of work on the murals, after we ate, so Tony offered to take me and Troy to the beach without her. Tony saw I was disappointed. I had wanted to watch Momma work.

"I'll show you all my special places on the beach," Tony promised. "I love the ocean." His expression changed, darkened. "It's full of magic and mystery and changes every day."

"My father loves it too," I said.

"I'm sure he does. But I'm glad I don't depend on it for my living," he added. "The ocean can be so finicky . . . just like a woman." I was surprised when Momma laughed at that. If Daddy had said it, I was sure she would have scowled or said nothing. But it seemed no matter what Tony Tatterton did or said, she thought it was wonderful. "Beautiful, all-powerful and untrustworthy," he continued, smiling a broad smile that didn't seem to reach his eyes. "But there's nothing lovelier. Except, of course, your mother," he added looking at Momma. I turned quickly to see her reaction, but instead of embarrassment, she wore a look of pride.