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“And not a career with the Heaven-stone Corporation?”
“Only if it includes you.” My skeptical expression annoyed him. He let go of my hands. “Don’t you think I could get a good job elsewhere on my own? There are plenty of retail businesses looking for young, up-and-coming executives, and I have great recommendations from my college teachers and did graduate with honors, Semantha. I’m not in any sort of desperate state. I was still considering returning to college and getting my MBA, too. I have options.”
“I know. I’m sorry I said that.”
“It’s okay.” He smiled again. “You’re kind of lost in all this, but I’m here now. We’re going to have a helluva good time.” He got up to complete his unpacking.
Afterward, we went out to look at the work being done in preparation for the wedding. Lucille saw us but marched off with her assistant and the wedding planner, rattling off orders. I saw how impressed Ethan was with everything.
“This is something,” he said. “It’s one thing to hear about it but another to see it. They probably didn’t plan much more at Gettysburg.” When I didn’t react with any enthusiasm, he added, “Hey, we’re going to have a good time at this wedding, too. We’ll treat it as a party just for us.”
“You mean, as though it were our wedding?”
“Why not?”
I liked that.
“But for now,” he continued, “how about we go out to dinner ourselves tonight, or did you want to spend it at home with your father? I know they’re heading right out on their honeymoon and—”
“Are you kidding? He and Lucille don’t even know I’m at the table.”
“Then let’s just get out of here, take a ride, and stop somewhere for a quiet dinner,” he said. “I’ll go up to shower and change.”
It was like a transfusion. I felt my happiness and enthusiasm come surging back through my veins and into my heart. We laughed and charged into the house, rushing up the stairway like two people afraid they were going to miss an airplane flight.
He’s back, I thought. He’s really back because of me. He didn’t deserve my skepticism and sour face. I felt terrible for having been so negative and immature. He never really got angry about it, either. He was as patient and understanding as my uncle Perry. I was determined to make it up to him, to be more cheerful and more fun.
I was so anxious and excited I was ready before he was and went down to tell Mrs. Dobson we wouldn’t be there for dinner. I heard Lucille in the hallway by my father’s office and impishly went down to tell her, too. She might soon be the queen, I thought, but I was still the princess. However, I was disappointed in her reaction. I assumed she would want us there to listen attentively to her report to Daddy at dinner. We, especially Ethan, would be her command audience, but I was prepared to say no firmly.
“That’s very nice,” she said, smiling. “You two should be alone to catch up and make plans. Besides, you’ll both be bored with the endless details of this wedding. Enjoy.” She dismissed me with a wave and turned back to her assistant. I felt like a blow-up doll losing air and hurried away.
Ethan was just coming down the stairs.
“I told Mrs. Dobson not to set out places for us at dinner,” I said. “And then I told Lucille we’re leaving.”
“What for? She’s not your dorm mother,” Ethan joked. “From now on, I’m the only one you have to check in with, understand? And you’d bette
r, too.”
“Right, tough guy.”
He laughed, and we headed out to my car. Just as we reached the gate, we saw Daddy driving in. He stopped and rolled down his window.
“Hey, welcome back, Ethan.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Where you guys going?”
“Just for a ride and some dinner.”
“Smart. I’d like to jump in with you. The place is a madhouse.”
“We’d love to have you,” Ethan said. “Want to come along?”
“You trying to get me assassinated?” Daddy quipped. “You look very nice, Semantha,” he said. “Have a good time.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
