The Heavenstone Secrets (Heavenstone 1)

“You will? Why wouldn’t Daddy?”

“I meant I’ll tell Daddy to speak with him.”

“He should come here to see her.”

“Maybe he will. Now, forget this for the moment, and let’s talk about tomorrow, Semantha. It’s very important that Mother believes you’re going. We just told her that again.”

“Daddy lied to her?”

“It’s not a lie when he’s just doing what’s necessary to help her relax, Semantha. Please don’t talk like a child right now. I need you to be grown-up.”

“I am grown-up. I’m not talking like a child. Don’t say that!”

“Okay, okay, don’t blow a gasket. Your daddy told a little white lie. Satisfied? Now, back to what I was saying. In the morning after breakfast, you get dressed as if you’re going. Put on something special. Maybe that blue skirt outfit with the light-blue V-neck sweater, the outfit I bought you for your last birthday. Tie your hair, back and put on some makeup. Look excited about going, too, understand? I’ll be with you when you go in to say good-bye.”

“I don’t like doing that, Cassie. It makes me feel so deceiving.”

She rolled her eyes. “Are you going to cooperate or not? I have to know now. If not, I’ll go up to Daddy and tell him to find a stranger to babysit. Well?”

“Yes, I’ll do it.”

“Good. Now, go up and say good night. I’ll finish here. Well? Go on,” she ordered when I didn’t move.

There was so much I wanted to say, but the words just wouldn’t com

e down to my tongue, and everything I could think of suggesting rang like the thoughts of someone selfish. I had no doubt that she would make me look that way in front of Daddy if I suggested any other solution, such as hiring another private-duty nurse just for the day. A private-duty nurse was a professional more than she was a stranger, but I hadn’t said anything at dinner, and I certainly couldn’t do it now.

I left the kitchen and went up to Mother’s room, but I paused in the doorway. Mother was lying back on her pillow, her eyes closed, and Daddy was holding her hand and resting his head gently against her. The moment was so personal and tender I couldn’t interrupt it. As quietly as I could, I backed out and walked down to my room. I sat thinking until Susie called me to talk about the gala, too. Her parents weren’t going, but she was going to join Bobbi and her parents. Again, I couldn’t get myself to say I wouldn’t be there. She rattled on and on about the accident and how lucky we were. She told me Noel was hoping to go home in a day or so and that Eddie had been to the hospital to visit him. She said he really felt sorry. I knew she was saying that to reinforce their demand that I not contradict anyone else’s story of how it all happened.

“He had to take a taxi. His father has taken away his driving privileges for a month even though it wasn’t his fault. Parents,” she said disgustedly. “They forget when they were our age.”

“Maybe they don’t and that’s why they do what they do,” I said.

“Huh? What’s that mean?”

“Figure it out, Susie. I’m tired. Thanks for the call,” I said, and hung up.

I ended up dozing off before returning to Mother’s room and then decided it was too late. I’d see her in the morning. Cassie must have risen at the crack of dawn, because by the time I awoke, she was already dressed to leave and had brought Mother her breakfast. I had to admit that Cassie looked prettier than ever. She had taken time with her hair and her makeup and wore one of her nicest dresses. In her high heels, she looked years older to me. She came charging into my room to wake me and be sure I chose the clothes she had suggested and did everything to make it appear that I was going.

“Hurry up and dress. We have a lot to do today,” she told me. I was jealous of her excitement.

When I went down to breakfast, I was surprised to learn that Daddy already had left hours ago. I had wanted to wish him luck.

“I didn’t know he was going so early. I would have set my alarm clock,” I whined.

“You can call him later,” Cassie suggested, “but don’t be upset if you can’t get to him quickly. He’ll be inundated with people requesting this and that, and he does have to make special preparations for the governor. Let’s both go up to get Mother’s tray and say our good-byes now. If you have trouble keeping to our story, just look at me, and I’ll help you. Okay, Semantha?”

“Okay,” I said. My voice cracked. I was that close to tears.

“Get hold of yourself,” Cassie ordered, her eyelids narrowing. “Don’t screw up this day for Daddy.”

I took a deep breath, nodded, and followed her up the stairs. The first thing that struck me was that Mother had not eaten much of her breakfast, and she had not eaten much of her dinner the night before. She was lying there, looking up at the ceiling.

“Mother,” Cassie said sharply, “we’re getting ready to leave for the gala.”

She barely turned her head, but then, when she saw me, she smiled and looked more awake. “You look lovely, Semantha. You both do,” she said. “I’m very proud of the two of you.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Cassie said.