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“Absolutely. I’ll e-mail you my arrangements so you’ll know exactly when to expect me. I can’t wait to see you and meet your father.”
As soon as I hung up, I went into a little nervous frenzy. There was so much to do to prepare for Ethan’s arrival. Which bedroom would he use? What sorts of things should we do? What could I show him? Wait until he sees my car, I thought. Of course, I would let him do the driving.
So excited now that I thought I would burst, I gathered my things and hurried back to the house to talk to Mrs. Dobson. When she heard Ethan was coming and I described who he was, she was very excited for me.
“He sounds very nice.” She thought a moment. “I’d say the guest bedroom down from yours would be the best one for him. It has the nicest view of the rear of the estate. Doris and I have to get in there, though. We haven’t worked on that one for a few weeks, not that there’s anything but some dust here and there, I’m sure. We’ll get right on it, Miss Semantha. And I suppose you would want to plan on a dinner, too.”
“A dinner? Yes, a dinner. Can you make some Italian dish? Ethan loves Italian food.”
“My employer who had a house in Mayfair in London used to rave about my lobster Alfredo. I got the recipe from the chef at his favorite Italian restaurant. He said I did a better job of it, and he wasn’t the sort who handed out compliments freely. That’s about all the boasting I’ll do,” she added.
“Sounds perfect.”
“But maybe you want to check with your father and Mrs. Bennet first.”
“Daddy loves lobster. I’m sure it will be fine. When they’re not around, I’m the one to make those decisions,” I said, thinking of what Lucille had told me. This was what she wanted, my taking charge in the house so she would be able to devote her attention and time to the business, wasn’t it? Besides, I felt good taking charge, especially when it involved Ethan.
“Okay. I’ll have to go to the market, so if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure,” I said.
“We’ll have something special for dessert, too,” Mrs. Dobson said.
“Thank you.”
“I must say, Miss Semantha, this is the first time since you returned from school that I can see some color in that pretty face of yours. I think this young man means a lot more to you than you let on,” she teased.
Now I felt myself blush.
“You just go on and be as excited as you want,” she added.
“I’ve got to start planning what I’ll wear tomorrow!” I cried, and hurried out with her laughter echoing behind me. I charged up the stairs, feeling as if I had returned to age twelve, when everything that happened in our mansion had been exciting for me. Until Cassie got to me, that is. Then she would do or say something to bring me back to earth.
“Try not to be so flippant and shallow,” she would say. “We’re the Heaven-stone sisters.”
She had a way of sending my most joyful and exciting moments into retreat. Even Mother would criticize her for it whenever she heard her on my case.
“Let her be young,” she would say.
“Young is one thing; stupid is another,” Cassie would retort. She was never intimidated, either by our mother or by our teachers. Only Daddy could clip her wings or staple her tongue. His approval or disapproval were the only adult reactions that mattered to her.
Well, I was determined that she wasn’t going to intimidate me now. I would ignore her if she appeared, and I would shut my ears to her if she spoke. She must have known, because she didn’t so much as whisper the rest of the day. Right before dinner, I found Ethan’s e-mail on my computer. He was leaving early enough to get to the Heaven-stone house by three in the afternoon. I was eager to tell everyone at dinner, including Mrs. Dobson, who assured me that everything was ready in the guest room.
Daddy seemed amused by my excitement and happy for me. I saw how he and Lucille exchanged conspiratorial glances and didn’t understand until Daddy announced that at Lucille’s suggestion, he’d arranged for me to take Ethan on a tour of our store in Lexington the day after tomorrow.
“You two can drive out yourselves. I’ve already told Perry about it,” he said, “and he’s eager to show him his department. Lucille suggested we take the two of you to Wally’s for dinner when you visit the store.”
“That all sounds wonderful, Daddy. Thank you.”
“I wish I could take credit for thinking of it, but it was Lucille’s entire idea.”
“Thank you, Lucille.”
“Not at all, dear. I’m happy things worked out for you. It is so devastating to have a romantic disappointment when you’re as young as you are.”
“Are you telling us you had some?” Daddy teased.
“Let’s just say I caused a few,” she replied, and they laughed.
