Twisted Roots (DeBeers 3)

We went up to her and Daddy's bedroom, which was nearly twice the size of Mommy and Miguel's. It had an entirely separate living room area and a large, long vanity table and mirror for Danielle. Her closet was as big as my bedroom. It had a wall mirror, a dressing table, and a television set sa she could watch her soap operas or whatever while she considered what she would wear.

Her jewelry chest had more than a dozen drawers. She rifled through the third drawer until she found the earrings she wanted me to wear. I couldn't imagine how she remembered what she did and didn't have. There was so much.

"So," she said and gave them to me.

I put them an, and then she turned me to the mirror. "voila! I was right, no?"

"They're very pretty. Danielle."

"Good, They are yours," she said.

"But--"

"No but. They look wonderful on you. I insist." she said. smiling. "Do you know in some places, when it's your birthday, you give your guests gifts. The best gift is one that fits you, and these beautiful earrings fit you perfectly. They belong on you. Hannah," she insisted, turning me so I would look at myself again.

It felt so good to have someone focus fully on me and see me for a change. Maybe I should move in with Daddy until little Claude was a year or so old. I thought. The idea actually didn't seem so outrageous.

"So" Danielle said as we headed back to the dining room. "Tell me news. You have a beau. maybe?"

"Maybe." I said, smiling, and she laughed conspiratorially, as if she were my friend and not my stepmother.

Daddy was already in the dining room waiting.

"Where were you two?" he asked.

"I had to give Hannah these earrings," Danielle explained. Daddy nodded and looked at his watch.

"Where are those idiots? They can't even be on time for their own birthday dinner."

He started to rise when we heard a door slam and laughter in the hallway, but it was coming from the rear of the house and not the stairway. Daddy's eyebrows lifted with curiosity, and we all turned to the doorway.

Adrian and Cade appeared. They were both in bathing suits, towels around their necks, both their sleek, muscular bodies gleaming. Why did the two of them have to be so perfect? I moaned to myself.

"What the hell... why aren't you guys dressed?" Daddy demanded.

"We just saw what time it was." Cade said nonchalantly. I always though he had a shrewder, more conniving glint in his blue eyes. Usually, his gaze lingered on someone a bit longer than Adrian's. I could almost feel him plotting some prank or mean thing,

"This is the way you treat your birthday dinner!" Daddy shouted, Adrian glanced at me and looked dawn, at least pretending some shame. Cade, on the other hand, held his defiant gaze.

"We'll be ready in a few minutes. Dad. Don't worry," he said confidently.

"You're supposed to be here now!" Daddy shot back. You have a guest."

"It's only Hannah!" Cade cried.

Daddy took a threatening step toward them.

"All right. We'll be right down." Cade assured him and nudged Adrian.

They started away. As Daddy turned back to the table, his face red with fury, we heard Cade's laugh and then a challenge to beat Adrian up the stairs.

Danielle looked at Daddy.

"Sometimes," he muttered, "I think God punishes us through our children."

He collapsed in his chair and stared dawn the long table, glittering with beautiful dinnerware and crystal glasses.

"Not Hannah," Danielle said, smiling and trying to resurrect the happy moments we had just shared.