Music in the Night (Logan 4)

"I thought we were clear on this matter, Laura. I thought you understood I didn't want you going up there, that it disturbed your grandmother."

"But why, Daddy? I don't understand how it disturbs anyone for me to go see a lonely old lady."

"It's family business," he said.

"So? I'm part of the family. Why can't I visit her?" "Belinda is the black sheep of the family. It's a matter of reputation, family honor," he said.

"Why is she the black sheep?"

"I don't have to go into details, Laura. She was not a good girl, a decent girl. She gave Grandma Olivia's father and mother a lot of grief and that behavior continued tong after they were gone, only then it fell on Grandma Olivia's shoulders. She's done right by her and that's that. It's embarrassing to me to have to learn my children disobeyed me. It says in the Bible, honor thy father and thy mother, Laura. It's a sin not to. Remember that," he warned.

"But--"

"There are no buts. I absolutely forbid you to go up there again, understand? Do you?" Daddy demanded.

The tears that came to my eyes blurred my vision. Daddy looked out of focus, but his anger was so great, his face so red, I couldn't look away.

"Yes, Daddy."

"I hope this is the end of it and I never get another phone call from your grandmother about it. She's very upset."

I shook my head.

"It also says 'For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you .'"

"Don't quote Scripture to me, Laura. I know Scripture and I know you should obey your father," Daddy said, his face so crimson now I thought his blood pressure must be sky-high.

"Okay, Daddy."

"Let it be," he said.

I nodded and looked down. I heard Cary slam his attic door shut. It sounded like a gunshot in the house. Daddy turned and descended the stairs, each of his steps sounding like a judge's gavel, pronouncing harder and harder sentences on all of us.

It was difficult to get back to my studying. It took all the concentration I could muster, but I was finally able to run through a few chapters and go over some quizzes before I got too tired to focus any longer. After I crawled into bed and put out the lights, I heard Cary come down the ladder. I got up quickly and went to the doorway. He was just turning to go to his room.

"Cary . ."

"What?" he snapped.

"I'm sorry about what happened with Daddy."

"I told you it would. I don't know why you had to go up there, why it was so important right now," he said. "Girl stuff," he added and started toward his room.

"Cary!" I called, but he continued walking away from me. He closed the door hard.

I never felt more like crawling under my blanket and disappearing.

I apologized again to Cary in the morning when we walked to school.

"Forget about it, Laura," he said. "You know Dad. He'll calm down and it will be all right again."

"I just don't understand it, Cary. If you met Aunt Belinda once, you would see what a sweet little old lady she is. She can't be a threat to anyone and I'm sure she doesn't even remember half the things she was accused of doing."

"It's not our business," Cary said.

"But why isn't it, Cary? We're members of this family. Why can't we ask questions and express our opinions, too? We're old enough now," I insisted.

"It's the way it is," he replied. Then he stopped walking and spun on me. "Somehow all this is because of you and Robert, isn't it? It has to do with your great love affair, right?"