“Semantha has that glassy, far-off look. Don’t worry about the time difference,” he said. “You sleep until you’re back to yourself. Same for you, Ethan.”
“Oh, no, sir. I’m anxious to get back to work. I’ll be up and at it with you two tomorrow.”
“Well, I’d probably be the same way,” Daddy told him.
He couldn’t have made him happier. Any way Ethan could be like my father was obviously an accomplishment. Any daughter who loved her father as much as I did should be happy to see that in her husband, I thought, but something about it bothered me.
I sat thinking about it for a moment until I heard Cassie whisper, “Maybe he’s trying too hard. Maybe he’s stroking Daddy’s ego just to get what he wants. Maybe he’s a phony.”
I had a terrific urge to rage back at her but held myself in check, knowing full well what such an outburst at the table would do to the rest of them. I’ll deal with her later, I thought.
“I am tired,” I confessed, surrendering my knife and fork. “I’m even too tired to finish eating.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Daddy said.
“No, dear, go get your rest,” Lucille added. “I’m sure Ethan will follow shortly.”
“I will, only I’m with Dad here,” he said, calling my father ‘Dad’ for the first time. “I’m not leaving any of this rack of lamb.”
Daddy nodded and laughed.
I stood up so abruptly and ungracefully, swaying for a moment and having to put my hand on the table to stop the room from spinning, that everyone turned to me.
“You all right?” Daddy asked.
I took a deep breath. “Fine. Just tired. I’ll see you all . . . when I see you all,” I said.
I felt their silence behind me as I walked out of the dining room and to the stairs. Cassie was waiting for me at the foot.
“You’re losing it,” she said as I turned to go up.
“Losing what?”
“The battle,” she replied.
I hurried up ahead of her. Even though I did it, I knew that slamming the door in her face wouldn’t matter. She didn’t speak, however. She simply sat there watching me prepare for bed. She rose and walked over to the bed when I slipped under my blanket. I kept my eyes closed, but I could feel her staring down at me.
“I don’t want to hear any more about it right now,” I said. “And I want you to stay out of my dreams.” I opened my eyes and glared up at her.
“Your dreams are simply the truths you don’t want to face. You were always cowardly, Semantha.”
“I was not!” I cried. “You were the cowardly one. You did the cowardly deeds!”
I wanted to say more but suddenly realized that Ethan had quietly opened the door and was standing there gaping at me.
“Who are you talking to?” he asked.
“What?”
Cassie smiled.
“Oh, was I talking? I fell asleep so quickly. I must have been dreaming,” I said.
“And how,” he replied, closing the door. “Are you all right? You looked like you were going to faint at the table.”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just exhausted.”
“I’m just too hyper,” he said. “I’m going to change into something more comfortable and talk to your parents for a while longer.”