“So, this is Semantha,” he said, before Cassie could introduce us.
“This is Semantha,” Cassie replied.
“Your sister has told me all about you, Semantha. I used to think she was so arrogant, that she thought she was above everyone and wasn’t interested in anyone else, but she’s put you on a pretty high pedestal. She never stops talking about you.”
I looked at Cassie. Never would I have imagined her bragging about me. What could she brag about? I wasn’t Miss Popularity when I was at the public school, and my grades, as I had constantly been reminded, were average at best. I had no real musical talent and had struggled with the piano lessons when I’d had them and the dance lessons as well. I didn’t think I looked especially beautiful. Now, I could cook and bake almost as well as Cassie. I kept the house as clean as she could, but to make me the center of her conversation? It was quite a surprise to hear it.
“Never mind all that now, Porter,” she said. “Let’s just go.”
“I’d love to see the house.”
“Some other time. It’s not ready for visitors. Be sure you look after Daddy,” she told me.
Porter hesitated, still smiling at me. Then he winked and said, “Wish me luck, Sam.”
I almost lost my breath.“How did you know to call me Sam?”
“Cassie told me. How else?” he said. He winked again and turned as Cassie closed the door between us.
I stood there as if I expected it would open again and Porter would be there to say one more thing. It didn’t, and I soon turned away and returned to the kitchen. A little more than a half-hour later, Daddy came down to dinner.
“It all smells wonderful,” he said watching me make the final touches in the kitchen.
“Just go sit at the table, Daddy. I’ll take care of everything.”
“You don’t need any help?”
“No, I’m fine.”
I brought out our salads, poured him his water, and opened his bottle of red wine just the way Cassie always did, standing by his side and pouring a little in the glass for him to taste. He smiled at me and nodded. I poured the rest and took my seat.
“So, how’s it going with this home-tutoring business?” he asked immediately.
“Fine,” I said, and then wondered how Cassie would ever explain our letting Mrs. Underwood go if I told Daddy it was fine. It all made me so nervous.
“I know I’ve been quite occupied with the business and other things, Semantha, and I haven’t paid proper attention to you. However, Cassie has been keeping me up-to-date. Your mother always told me how good Cassie was at details, and after having her with me these days, I can tell you that’s absolutely true. I have more confidence in her judgment about things than I do in some of my so-called trusted advisors of many years.
“But I’m proud of both you, Semantha, the way both of you have handled yourselves after this … this terrible family tragedy. I know most other girls your age would be emotional wreckage and into therapy for years and years, maybe their whole lives.”
“Cassie says that’s because we have Heavenstone blood in us.”
He smiled.“Maybe she’s right. You know most of the stories about our family’s past hardships and how well they were weathered.” He paused and leaned toward me, smiling.“Don’t tell her I said so, but Cassie should have been born to royalty somewhere where royalty still matters. She’s a true aristocrat.”
He sat back and thought a moment.
“Maybe she’s just what the doctor ordered right now. Later, we’ll calm her down a bit.” He smiled again.
After I brought in the rack of lamb, he poured me some wine.
“You’re old enough for it, at least at home, and I don’t like drinking wine alone.”
I wasn’t crazy about the wine. Cassie enjoyed it with him and had even drunk it with him and Mother. I sipped it slowly. Before we were finished, he had emptied the bottle himself. I saw how often he glanced at Mother’s empty chair, and I thought to myself that maybe Cassie was right to sit in it and take his attention away from Mother. Without her blocking out that great emptiness, filling that hole in his heart that she had described, he grew despondent again no matter what I said or did at the table. He ate everything but told me he didn’t want any dessert.
“Can I help you clean up?” he asked.
That was all Cassie had to hear, I thought, me having Daddy clean up.
“Oh, no, Daddy. It’s easy. You should just go relax.”