“You heard her before when we were talking about the gala. Mother’s not going to want you to stay with her tomorrow, but I still think you should. What you can do is let her think you’ve gone with us, but stay downstairs and go up to see how she’s doing hours later. If she asks you why you’re here, tell her you have a headache or something, anything.”
“Don’t worry, Cassie. I wasn’t going to leave her if Daddy didn’t get someone to stay here with her.”
“Good. He won’t,” she said with confidence.
“Is Daddy still upstairs with her?”
“No. He’s in his office.”
“But I thought he was going to stay with her to be sure she relaxed.”
“I told him I would do that and sent him to do what was needed. He has a great deal left to arrange, so don’t bother him. I’ll be back in a little while. Just finish that section and go up to get ready for dinner.”
I did what she wanted and then went up to my room. Bobbi called and told me how Noel was doing, but the real reason she called was to tell me that Eddie was nervous about my telling people the accident was his fault.
“The old guy should have been more careful,” she added before I could respond. “Don’t you agree?”
I thought about what Uncle Perry had said about the insurance company blaming Mr. Morgan no matter what. I decided there was no point in arguing or trying to get the others to see how careless Eddie had been—and with our lives, too!
“Yes,” I said.
“Good. Oh, good luck with your new store, too.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be there for the festivities. My parents are going, too,” she said. “See you tomorrow.”
I didn’t want to tell her I wouldn’t be there, so I said okay and hung up. Later, I went down to help Cassie with our dinner. Daddy was so occupied in his office that she had to go get him and insist that he come to eat. At the table, I felt like some outsider. He and Cassie discussed the details of the gala. Neither paid much attention to me. However, I had to admit to myself that I was impressed with how much Cassie knew about what had to be done. She could be the CEO of our company.
“Should I go up to get Mother’s tray?” I asked, finally interrupting.
They both looked at me as if they had just realized I was at the table, too.
“No. Daddy and I will go up. You clean up here,” Cassie ordered. “I’ll bring down her tray, and you can stay with her,” she told him.
It shocked me to see how she was giving all of us orders now and how Daddy just accepted it.
“Cassie told me you insisted on staying here with your mother tomorrow, Semantha. Are you sure? Because I can get someone to stand by. I hate to see you miss the gala opening,” Daddy said.
I did want to go very much. Many of my classmates would be there, and as I listened to them talk, it was sounding more and more exciting. Cassie could see I was seriously considering Daddy’s offer.
“Semantha and I have discussed it thoroughly, Daddy,” she said, looking directly at me when she spoke. “We both agree that strangers don’t do well in this house, and Mother is too delicate at the moment to be deserted.”
“Oh, it’s not really deserting her,” Daddy said.
“No, I’ll stay, Daddy. Cassie’s right. I’ll watch the video with you and Mother later.”
“Well, it would be nice to have both of my daughters at my side, but if you’re really sure …”
Cassie glared at me, practically daring me to say I would go.
“I’m sure, Daddy. There will be other events.”
“That there will. You’re right there,” he said, “right as rain. Well, then, let’s go see how she’s doing, Cassie. I expect she loved that cupcake as much as I did.”
I watched the two of them head upstairs. Cassie whispered something in his ear that made him laugh aloud, and then they started up the stairway. My nerves felt like broken guitar strings. I practically attacked the dishware and silverware, nearly breaking a cup. It slipped from my grip, but I caught it before it hit the floor. I was almost finished with the dishes when Cassie returned with Mother’s tray. I saw that she hadn’t eaten very much, and she hadn’t touched the cupcake. When I said something, Cassie told me the medicine hurt her appetite.
“I’ll speak to Dr. Moffet about it on Monday,” she said.