“Whatever. We’ll deal with that when the time comes. Right now, we have far more serious concerns than your high-school achievements.”
She started out and then paused, turning back.
“Look. You’re no brain, Semantha. I could almost predict every moment of your future. You’ll get a high-school diploma and maybe attend some community college or something, but you’ll surely end up marrying and having a small herd of kids. Just keep up your good looks.”
She walked out, leaving me standing there, unsure whether I should be angrier at her or at myself for not being bright enough to shove those words down her throat. Whether she intended for it to happen or not, my anger turned into more determination to improve with Mrs. Underwood. By the end of the week, my tutor gave me a real compliment.
“I see you do have more ability than you’ve demonstrated so far, Semantha. Keep your focus. I’m not only proud of you but flattered that I’m having so good an effect. Your sister will be happy to see these results.”
Cassie made it a point to come home earlier on Fridays so she could have a quick review meeting with Mrs. Underwood. This Friday was no different. She always conducted the meeting in Daddy’s office with the door closed while I started on dinner. When I heard the office door open, I went to the kitchen entrance and peered into the hallway, anticipating both of them emerging with smiles on their faces. The dark, angry look on Mrs. Underwood’s face surprised me.
“Mrs. Underwood?”
She continued walking with her shoulders stiff and never turned around before she left the house. I looked back at the office. Cassie was still in there. I wiped my hands on a dish towel and hurried to see why Mrs. Underwood had left in such a huff. Cassie was still sitting behind Daddy’s desk. She had just closed the family checkbook, so I knew Mrs. Underwood had been paid.
“Cassie?”
She looked up.“What is it, Semantha? Something about dinner?”
“No. Mrs. Underwood looked upset. She wouldn’t even speak to me. She barely looked at me before she left.”
“Really? How unfortunate,” she said dryly. “Well, I’m not paying her to make her happy here. I’m paying her to get you up to speed so you won’t look foolish when you’re sent to a good private school. There’s nothing more embarrassing than to be told you will have to be in some remedial class. At a private school, especially, you would be treated like something inferior, and you’d be even more unhappy than you are at the public school.”
“Didn’t she show you my work?”
“Of course she did. Why do you think I’m home this early? Why do you think I leave your father every Friday this early when there is so much to do at the office?”
I waited to see if she was going to add something nice, but she went back to sorting through some papers.
“Cassie, Mrs. Underwood told me I was doing a lot better.”
“Yes, she told me the same thing. I looked at what she calls ‘a lot better.’ It’s on the upper end of the average scale, but far from what I would call ‘a lot better.’ I let her know it, too. In fact, I told her that if there wasn’t a real improvement soon, I’d have to let her go. Maybe that’s why she didn’t look so happy leaving. But we’re not going to throw away Heavenstone money. I want value for what I pay for, real value, not window dressing.”
I stood with a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Cassie’s words were hurtful, but even more hurtful to me was my disappointment. I had been looking forward to a compliment from her as well as Mrs. Underwood. Cassie’s opinion was very important to me, but that disappointment turned into anger, too.
“I’m trying, Cassie. I really am. I thought you would appreciate that.”
She looked up at the portrait of our grandfather, just the way Daddy often did, and then looked at me.“I do appreciate that, Semantha. That’s why I’m so upset. I don’t think she is doing well by you. I’m only looking out for you. I can’t believe you don’t see that. I can’t believe you have so little appreciation for my concern. That hurts me more than anything.”
She looked away again, as if she didn’t want me to see her eyes tear over.
“And with all we’ve been going through,” she added, almost under her breath.
My indignation wilted. Maybe I was misinterpreting her concern for me. After all, why else would she be so critical of Mrs. Underwood? She was the one who had raved about her and arranged for her to be here.
“I’m sorry, Cassie. I just thought you’d be happy about the progress I’ve made with Mrs. Underwood and—”
“Well, I’m not, and I don’t hesitate to tell people what I really think, Semantha. As you know, I never have.” She smiled. “Daddy says that’s because I was born under the sign Sagittarius. Same as Mother, by the way, only she was more reticent about speaking her mind, especially in public—whenever she was in public, that is. Anyway, don’t concern yourself about all this right now. Do the best you can, and we’ll see.”
She rose.
“I have to prepare myself for a date with Porter. He’s booked Le Jardin Francais, which, as you know, is an elegant restaurant. We were taken there last year.”
“I remember. I remember how much Mother liked it.”
“Of course, she would. I remember you weren’t too happy with anything on the menu.”
“I don’t like the thought of eating snails,” I said, and she laughed. It was the first time in a long time that something I said had amused her so much. “Well, I don’t! I keep seeing them crawling over the tiles outside. Ugh.”