be up and about soon. I don't need people walking in
here and seeing me laid out on some sofa like a sick
child," he declared. "Who came up with that idea?" I
heard him shout.
"It was my-idea," Cary said. "Sorry."
"Just keep your mind on your work. That's
enough for now," Uncle Jacob told him.
Aunt Sara became flustered because Uncle
Jacob lost his temper. I felt so bad because Cary was
upset with himself. I told him it was my fault. "It's not your fault," he snapped at me. "I
thought it was a good idea and it is."
He climbed upstairs to his work room because
he was just as embarrassed by his father's reprimands
as he was angry. I entertained May, playing Chinese
checkers until she couldn't keep her eyes open. I kept
looking for Cary to come down to the living room, but
he didn't leave his attic retreat until after I had gone to
bed myself.
So much for Uncle Jacob's first night home
from the hospital, I thought. In any other house, it would be a night of joy, but in this one, it was a night
of tension.
During the night I heard Aunt Sara leave the
bedroom and go downstairs to fetch something for
him, and before morning, I heard her do it again. At
breakfast, the fatigue was still planted well in her
eyes. She got herself up early enough to give Cary his
breakfast before he went down to the dock, and then
she began bringing things up to Uncle Jacob. I tried to
help, but she said it would be better for now if she did
it herself.