Home Song A Cape Light Novel

Chapter OneThe house was dark, deserted looking, except for a small square of light in an upstairs window. Her mother's bedroom. So she's taken to her bed. Pulling out all the stops tonight, isn't she? Emily Warwick unlocked the door, then clicked on the lights in the foyer. Her mother kept the house so dark, it was a wonder she didn't fall and break a hip. "Emily, is that you?" Lillian called from upstairs. "Yes, Mother. Who else would it be?" Emily climbed the stairs to the second floor and headed for the master bedroom. "No reason to be snide," Lillian scolded. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be." Emily entered the room, then paused at the foot of her mother's bed. The scene was just as she'd pictured it: her mother propped up on pillows, wearing her satin-trimmed bed jacket and a dismal expression. Despite her height and large frame, Lillian looked small and frail. The mahogany four-poster was actually too large for the room, as was most of her mother's furniture. The pieces, taken from Lilac Hall when their family was forced to leave, were better suited to grander surroundings. As was her mother, Emily reflected. "Did you bring the pills?" "Right here." Emily showed her the white bag from the pharmacy. "But the doctor said to take them only if you definitely had a migraine. The medication is very strong." Lillian shifted against the pillows. "Of course it's a migraine. I ought to know after all these years." Emily studied her. Maybe this wasn't an act after all, a convenient emergency designed to make Emily miss her sister's engagement party. Maybe the strain of opposing Jessica's choice in a husband was finally getting to her. "You're all dressed up tonight. Am I keeping you from something?" Lillian said. "You know where I'm going." Emily glanced at her watch as she sat on the edge of the bed. "And I'm nearly an hour late already. Jessica must be wondering what happened to me." "Oh, yes. The happy couple is celebrating their engagement." Lillian drew out the last word on a sour note. "I'd almost forgotten." "Yes, I'm sure you did." Emily cast her a doubtful look. "Your sister is throwing her life away, you know. All she's achieved so far, all she could achieve. She could marry anyone. But no, she picks out some muscle-bound, empty-headed laborer-" "That's enough," Emily cut in. "You don't even know Sam Morgan. He's a good man." "Good for someone else's daughter. Not mine! Not after what I went through to raise both of you. To give you every opportunity to rise above the rest of the world's mediocrity." Lillian's voice trembled on a sharp, high note, and her cheeks grew flushed. "Calm down, Mother. I already know how you feel about it-" "Don't you tell me to calm down. I know you played a part in this love match, Emily. I know you encouraged your sister to marry him, so don't deny it." Yes, she had encouraged Jessica, sometimes feeling as if she were in a mortal battle for her sister's soul-or for Jessica's future happiness, at the very least. Bitter experience had taught Emily the cost of giving in to their mother's imperious will. She knew she couldn't change the past, but she hoped and prayed that Jessica wouldn't make the same mistake she had, giving up the one thing that mattered to her most in the world. "Why would I deny it?" Emily replied, unfazed. "Jessica and Sam love each other and belong together." "Please, spare me. You sound like the back cover of a novel." Lillian looked disgusted. Emily bit back a retort. What was the point of arguing? There was no winning this round. Besides, she reminded herself, the Lord asks us to have patience, even when it isn't easy.Especially when it isn't."Let's just drop it, Mother. This conversation isn't going anywhere." "You know I'm right. You just won't admit it," Lillian challenged her, unwilling to back down. "Do you think it was easyKinkade, Thomas is the author of 'Home Song A Cape Light Novel' with ISBN 9780425186244 and ISBN 0425186245.