grandfather, I supposed, on the wall above and behind his desk chair. In this picture, he looked less severe, although he was dressed formally and was gazing thoughtfully, not even the slightest smile around his lips or eyes.
My father had a walnut writing desk, French cabinets, and ladder-back chairs. There were bookcases on both sides of the office, the floor of which was polished hardwood with a small, tightly knit beige oval rug under the desk and chair. In the far left corner there was a globe. Everything on the desk and in the room was neatly organized and seemingly dust free. It was as if the inhabitants of this house tiptoed about with gloved hands. All the furniture, the immaculate floors and walls, the fixtures and shelves, the antiques and statues made me feel like a bull in a china shop. I was afraid to move quickly, turn abruptly, and especially afraid to touch anything, but I entered the office to glance at the pictures on the desk.
In sterling silver frames, my father had pictures of Daphne and Gisselle. There was a picture of two people I assumed to be his parents, my grandparents. My grand-mother, Mrs. Dumas, looked like a small woman, pretty with diminutive features, but an overall sadness in her lips and eyes. Where, I wondered, was there a picture of my father's younger brother, Jean?
I left the office and found there was a separate study, a library with red leather sofas and high back chairs, gold leaf tables, and brass lamps. A curio case in the study was filled with valuable looking red, green, and purple hand blown goblets, and the walls, as were the walls in all the rooms, were covered with oil paintings. I went in and browsed through some of the books on the shelves.
'Here you are,' I heard my father say, and I turned to see him and Gisselle standing in the doorway. Gisselle was in a pink silk robe and the softest looking pink slippers. Her hair had been hastily brushed and looked it. Pale and sleepy eyed, she stood with her arms folded under her breasts. 'We were looking for you.'
'I was just exploring. I hope it's all right,' I said.
'Of course it's all right. This is your home. Go where you like. Well now, Gisselle understands what's happened and wants to greet you as if for the first time,' he said, and smiled. I looked at Gisselle who sighed and stepped forward.
'I'm sorry for the way I behaved,' she began. 'I didn't know the story. No one ever told me anything like this before,' she added, shifting her eyes toward our father, who looked sufficiently apologetic. 'Anyway, this changes things a lot. Now that I know you really are my sister and you've gone through a terrible time.'
'I'm glad,' I said. 'And you don't have to apologize for anything. I can understand why you'd be upset at me suddenly appearing on your doorstep.'
She seemed pleased, gashed a look at father and then turned back to me.
'I want to welcome you to our family. I'm looking forward to getting to know you,' she added. It had the resonance of something memorized, but I was happy to hear the words nevertheless. 'And don't worry about school. Daddy told me you were concerned, 'But you don't have to be. No one is going to give my sister a hard time,' she declared.
'Gisselle is the class bully,' our father said, and smiled.
'I'm not a bully, but I'm not going to let those namby-pambies push us around,' she swore. 'Anyway, you can come into my room later and talk. We should really get to know each other.'
'I'd like that.'
'Maybe you want to go along with Ruby and Daphne to shop for Ruby's new wardrobe,' our father suggested.
'I can't. Beau's coming over.' She flashed a smile at me. 'I mean, I'd call him and cancel, but he so looks forward to seeing me, and besides, by the time I get ready, you and Mother could be half finished. Come out to the pool as soon as you get back,' she said.
'I will.'
'Don't let Mother buy those horribly long skirts, the ones that go all the way down to your ankles. Everyone's wearing shorter skirts these days,' she advised, but I couldn't imagine telling Daphne what or what not to buy me. I was grateful for anything. I nodded, but Gisselle saw my hesitation.
'Don't worry about it,' Gisselle said. 'If you don't get things that are in style, let you borrow something for your first day at school.'
'That's very nice,' our father said. 'Thanks for being so understanding, honey.'
'You're welcome, Daddy,' she said, and kissed him on the cheek. He beamed and then rubbed his hands together.
'I have a set of twins!' he cried. 'Both grown and beautiful. What man could be luckier!'
I hoped he was right. Gisselle excused herself to go up and get dressed and I walked out to the front of the house with my father to wait for Daphne.
'I'm sure you and Gisselle will get along marvelously,' he said, 'but there's bound to be a few hills and valleys in any relationship, especially an instant sister relationship. If you have any real problems, come see me. Don't bother Daphne about it,' he said. 'She's been a wonderful mother for Gisselle, despite the unusual circumstances, and I'm sure she will be wonderful for you, too; but I feel I should bear most of the responsibilities. I'm sure you understand. You seem very mature, more mature than Gisselle,' he added,
What a strange predicament, I thought. Daphne wanted me to come to her and he wanted me to come to him, and each appeared to have good reason. Hopefully, I wouldn't have to trouble either.
I heard Daphne's footsteps on the stairway and gazed up. She wore a flowing black skirt, a white velvet blouse, low black heels and a string of real pearls. Her blue eyes glistened and her smile spread to show even white teeth. She carried herself so elegantly.
'There are few things I like to do better than shop,' she declared. She kissed my father on the cheek.
'Nothing makes me happier than seeing you and Gisselle happy, Daphne,' he told her. 'And now, I can add Ruby.'
'Go to work, darling. Earn money. I'm going to show your new daughter how to spend it,' she retorted.
