“Thank you. So, that’s settled,” she concluded, even though Daddy had not actually said so. Then she looked at me. “Now, we have Semantha to consider. She isn’t doing spectacular work at school. She’s actually average or even a little below average in her grades. And that’s not because she’s not trying. It’s because she’s so unhappy.” She said it with a firmness that made my denying it impossible.
Daddy looked at me and nodded. “Your mother and I often discussed that. Even though she didn’t say anything, I knew she was just as concerned. Of course, I know you always helped her as much as you could.”
“Which is why I think we should do what I suggest for now, Dadd
y,” Cassie said.
“What is that, exactly?”
“I think Semantha should withdraw from public school, too. There are just too many obstacles for her there, too many unnecessary challenges now in light of what’s happened. I have found … I mean, I know of an excellent tutor for her home-schooling.”
“Home-schooling?”
“Just until the end of this school year. With our great family tragedies, it’s best we are all together, supporting each other for a while. After that, we can enroll her in a good private school where she will attend classes with other boys and girls who come from similar successful families, although few as successful and important as ours.”
Daddy looked at me for a reaction, but I kept myself stone-faced and said nothing. I was afraid I would say something that wouldn’t please or support Cassie, and the truth of it was, I was nervous about returning to school and seeing my classmates. I knew by now we were the big topic of all the gossip. Mother’s suicide would stain me indelibly. No one would look at me without thinking about it. They would make me feel freakish. Surely few, if any, would want to be my friends anymore, not that so many were knocking down my door. I could only guess how Kent would view me. Eddie, who was afraid I might undermine his fabricated explanation for the car accident that had injured Noel, would probably gloat at my isolation. Who’d listen to anything I said?
“And you know someone good enough for her?” Daddy asked Cassie.
“Yes, I do, Daddy. I learned about her through an acquaintance at school who told me how successful this woman, Mrs. Underwood, had been with her invalid cousin. Mrs. Underwood, a widow, is a retired high-school librarian with expertise in all subject matters. She has the proper certification. Her children live in New York, so she has the time to take on jobs like this, and she needs to supplement her meager teacher’s retirement pension.”
“I see. Apparently, you’ve done some research on it.” He shook his head. “I’m not surprised.” He turned to me. “Your sister is always a mile ahead of most of us, always prepared. That’s a good quality to have, in business especially.”
“Exactly why I’d like to be more of a part of your work, Daddy.”
“Yes. Well,” he said, pressing down on his knees to get himself standing. “I think you have it under control, Cassie. Why don’t you get the ball rolling? I’ll sign whatever papers need to be signed.”
“I’ll get on it right away,” she said. “Don’t you give it any more thought, Daddy. You have enough to think about.”
“Thank you, honey. Call me if you need anything.”
“No, Daddy, thank you,” Cassie said, going to him. “Thank you for being so perfect.”
Then she did something I rarely saw her do. Cassie embraced him and pressed her face against his chest. He looked at me, a little surprised, and slowly brought his hand up to stroke her hair. When she pulled back, he kissed her forehead. I didn’t move a muscle.
He smiled at me and started out
“Have a good day, Teddy,” Cassie called.
He turned, a bit surprised.
“I know Mother always said that to you,” she told him. “I know how much you would miss it.”
Daddy looked as if he would burst into tears for a moment, then swallowed hard, nodded, and quickly left. Cassie stood looking after him. She stared so long at the doorway I thought something was wrong, but she finally turned to me.
“Well, now, I have a lot to do today. I’m going to the school to see the principal and inform him of Daddy’s decisions and mine. Then I’ll go see Mrs. Underwood and make the arrangements for you. In the meantime you should start on the house. With all of those hypocrites traipsing through it during our period of mourning, we have a lot of cleaning to do. Every room, every floor, every window needs to be cleaned. The vacuum cleaner will probably be filled up. Throw out all these flowers, too.”
“The flowers? But they’re still quite alive.”
“They’re flowers for the dead, Semantha. Get rid of them. It makes the place smell like a funeral home. Just do a good job cleaning up. Don’t touch Daddy’s bedroom, however. I’ll do that myself.”
She started away, paused, and turned back to me.
“You know, Semantha, it wouldn’t be so terrible if once in a while, you thanked me for doing so much for you. I don’t desperately need thank-yous, but it wouldn’t be so terrible.”
“I’m sorry, Cassie. Everything is happening so fast. Thank you.”
“Yes,” she said. “When something terrible happens, it’s always best to take strong, quick, decisive action. You should make mental notes. I’m going to arrange for your tutor, but your real education comes from what you will learn here in this house.”