Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

I brought it with me to school to show my friends,

especially the ones who had looked skeptical when I

had told them about the two older boys who said I

could pass for a high school girl.

Most of Raymond's letter was about his work at

school, but he did say how much he had enjoyed

spending time with me, and at the end, he signed it,

"Fondly, Raymond."

Toward the end of the first week, Daddy called

to tell me about his plans for his next voyage. There

was a lot of noise around him in his office, and even

though it was a short talk, we were interrupted several

times. He said he would try to write or call as soon as

he reached the Canary Islands. Oh, how I missed him

and how I tried not to hate Momma for driving him

out of my life.

A few nights later, Momma came into my room

to announce that we were going to go to Farthinggale

Manor for Thanksgiving dinner.

"It's going to be the most magnificent

Thanksgiving dinner we ever had. Many of Tony's

wealthy friends will be there and he's even invited

Patrick and Clarissa Darrow, the publishers of my

illustrations, and of course, Elizabeth Deveroe, the

decorator, and her husband, so there will be people we

already know. Isn't that nice?"

"But we've always had Thanksgiving here,

Momma." It hadn't occurred to me until just this

moment that Daddy wouldn't be home and with us for