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“They’re back,” I said. “I’d better hurry.”
“I should sneak back to my room,” he said, and started for the door, but before he got to it, there was a knock, and without my saying anything, Lucille opened it and stepped in, stopping instantly when she saw Ethan. I held my breath, but instead of looking shocked, she smiled.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything. I just wanted to let you know we were back and see where you were in your preparations for dinner. Your father had to make an important phone call. Naturally.”
Ethan turned to me like someone sinking in quicksand hoping to be rescued.
“This is Ethan Hunter, Lucille. We were just getting ready ourselves.”
“Yes,” she said. “I assumed that’s who you were. I’m very happy to meet you,” she said, extending her hand to Ethan. I hadn’t realized until then that whenever Lucille held her hand out to someone, she turned her palm down as if she expected him or her to kiss her ring. Ethan gently and quickly shook her hand.
“Me, too. I mean, happy to meet you. I’m sorry for my dumbfounded look. I guess I’m still quite taken with the Heaven-stone estate. It’s all so . . .”
“Overwhelming?” she offered, shifting her eyes toward me wrapped in my towel.
“Yes, exactly.”
“Don’t feel embarrassed. I can’t imagine anyone who comes here for the first time being anything but overwhelmed. Did you have a good trip?”
“Terrific. Everything was on time.” He turned to me. “I’ll just return to my room and wait for you, Semantha,” he said, fumbling for a smooth exit.
“Don’t be silly,” Lucille said, reaching out to seize his left arm. “Go right down to Mr. Heaven-stone’s office and introduce yourself to Semantha’s father. He should be finished with his phone call by now. You men need time together without us flitting about you like moths drawn to candles,” she said, giving him one of her deepest, warmest smiles.
He looked to me for a reaction.
“Yes, that’s a good idea, Ethan. I need another ten minutes or so.”
“Okay,” Ethan said. “See you soon.” He paused at the door to nod at Lucille. She remained behind, watching him leave, and then turned to me.
“I didn’t mean to burst in on you two. I guess I have to wait to hear you say ‘enter.’ Sorry.”
“It’s all right, Lucille.”
“You didn’t tell me how handsome he was. And what a manly, firm demeanor. He handled what could have been an embarrassing situation very well. I’ve met enough so-called sophisticated young men these days to know he’s something special. I’m happy for you, Semantha. Congratulations on your conquest.”
Her unexpected burst of compliments stirred mixed feelings. Of course, I was happy to hear her instant approval, but even from the short time I had known Lucille, I sensed this was quite uncharacteristic. From what I had seen of the way she reacted to people, especially people she met for the first time, whether they were salesladies in department stores or waiters in restaurants, there was always a layer of cynicism for them to crack first before she would have a kind word or get off her pedestal. In her philosophy, people, no matter who they were, were to be suspected and doubted first. She had even muttered that she believed respect should be the final gift bestowed on any stranger. And there was never any doubt in my mind that she saw herself treating anyone with respect as a gift bestowed from high above to them.
“I’ve made no conquest, Lucille. We’re not engaged or anything. He’s just visiting for a few days.” I couldn’t help sounding a bit annoyed, even though I wasn’t sure why I should.
“Of course you’re not engaged, but one look at his face when he looks at you tells me you’ve made a conquest. Don’t be embarrassed. All I’m saying is that he makes a very good first impression. I think you’ve had enough experience to know it takes time and great caution before you invest in any relationship. At least, I hope you have.”
Where I got the nerve to say it I don’t know. Maybe it was Cassie’s touch, but I held my ground and replied, “You and my father haven’t been seeing each other all that long, have you, and you have invested in a long relationship.”
She smiled, but not coldly or coyly. It was more like a high school girl’s dreamy, soft smile.
“No, not terribly long, but when you reach our ages and have been through so many emotional battles and journeys, you develop a deeper wisdom. Just like an experienced diamond cutter can tell you almost instantly whether a diamond is worth a great deal or not, your father and I can peel away what’s necessary to see what is truly in our hearts, and we’ve both found gold. I hope you do as well.” She turned and went to the door. “I’ll see you downstairs, and over the next day or so, I hope to help you to see exactly what you’ve found. You seem a tad unsure. I only wish to help you build your own self-confidence, Semantha.”
My mixed feelings lingered, but now I was thinking that I might have misjudged her again and been unnecessarily harsh when she was only trying to be happy for me. Oh, why did everything have to be so complicated? For a moment, I actually wished I did have Cassie at my side. But then I quickly reminded myself that I had to be my own person now, sink or swim.
I hurried to get ready, afraid that Daddy would frighten or intimidate Ethan so much that he would cut his stay short, but when I started down the stairway, I could hear them both laughing. They were already having cocktails.
“Well, here’s our little princess now,” Daddy declared when I entered the living room.
He and Ethan were sitting across from each other. Ethan rose. Daddy looked at him with delighted surprise and nodded at me before rising himself.
“White wine, Semantha?”
“Yes, please, Daddy.”
