“Then do it,” she said. “I’ll have a check ready for you when you’re finished.”
“Okay,” he said, and went to get his tools and equipment.
Cassie finally turned to me to explain. “We’re locking this door and keeping it locked for a while. Only I will have a key.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because it’s a constant reminder of the foolish pregnancy, Semantha. When Mother comes home, she’ll be bound to go in there and cry and moan. I’m replacing the lock, and we won’t give her a key until she is stronger and over it.”
“Did Daddy tell you to do this?”
“He didn’t have to tell me. I knew it was the right thing to do. Believe me, he’ll be very pleased about it. Right now, neither he nor Mother should dwell on this nursery.”
I was amazed at how confident Cassie was about the things she decided and did. Why was she so sure Daddy wouldn’t be upset and would actually praise her for this?
“I was going to have it done later in the week, but since you presented me with this opportunity today, I thought, why not take advantage of it? You see, Semantha, you have to find something good and positive in everything that happens to you, even the bad things. That’s what we’re going to do now. While I’m with the locksmith, you start preparing the table for dinner. I’m going to give you more things to do. I have decided that your problem comes from the fact that we all do too much for you.”
“Why? That’s not true. I do my chores, help out, don’t I?”
“Like a little girl might, yes, but you need more and more responsibility. You’ve got to be seized by the heels and dragged into maturity. Eighty years ago, a Heavenstone your age would have been engaged, married soon after, and pregnant soon after that. Do yo
u think any of your little girlfriends could manage such responsibility now?”
“But they shouldn’t have to. We shouldn’t have to. It’s not eighty years ago. Things are different.”
“Never mind. I don’t know why I’m wasting my time talking about it. Put up some potatoes. I want to make Daddy’s favorite mashed. We’re having veal chops. You’ll find them in the refrigerator, and there’s a bowl in which I have prepared the sauce to marinate them. Daddy has to eat earlier tonight. He’s going to the hospital to meet with the therapist.”
“How do you know?”
“I spoke to him an hour ago.”
“Did you tell him about me, about what happened?”
“Of course.”
“What did he say? Is he very angry?”
“Yes, but thanks to me, not as much at you. Relax. I told you I would handle it. Don’t I always take care of you? Well?”
“Yes, Cassie.”
“So, why are you still standing here? Go down and get to work.”
“Okay,” I said, and hurried downstairs, passing the locksmith, who had started up.
Afterward, I was in the kitchen with Cassie when Daddy came home. He paused to look in at us. I had to look down.
“I am really surprised at all this, Semantha.”
“The letter is on your desk,” Cassie told him. He nodded and walked to his office. I felt my heart thumping. Cassie looked at me and shook her head.
“Don’t start wailing like a baby, Semantha. Wait here. Keep everything warm. We’ll call you,” she said, and went out to follow Daddy.
A little while later, she returned.
“Okay, go to his office. He wants to talk to you now. I’ll finish here. We’re eating in ten minutes, so don’t keep him.”
I hurried down the hallway. Daddy was standing by his bay windows with his back to the door, his hands clasped behind him. He turned slowly and shook his head.