Profession

Taking control

Immediately I sat down again; I had a headache so blinding that for a moment I thought I was having a stroke. But it turned out to be Hestia, a sweet little reminder that I was a guest in someone else's home.  And this had never been my home; it wasn't like I was returning to the nest and could claim to be even a part time resident.

"Honey?" Jon's tone was worried. I looked at him through watery eyes and tried to smile.

"Just a little reminder that the laws of hospitality apply to guests as well," I said weakly, and took a tissue my skirt pocket to wipe my eyes. Jon put his arm around me for support as I gathered my wits again now that Hestia apparently decided that I was going to behave. I leaned against him as I got my breathing under control again.

"Perhaps a better way to put it would be that I was hoping that a nice dinner together would help to heal our rifts," Daniel said tentatively. I was trying to get control over my stomach, which still felt upset at the big blast of pain and I didn't respond to him.

"Well, Daniel, I don't know why Lys would care enough to try," Jon said pleasantly. "Unpleasant surprises, plus she knows it's in your best interest to have it look in public like everything's ok in your family. Your company can spin it, but the fact remains that you're still walking all over your elder daughter. You have a pattern where you treat her better for short periods of time, but it never becomes a permanent habit." He broke off as I lurched for the trash can by the desk; that goddess-induced migraine had really messed me up. Fortunately, the trash can had a disposable liner and my stomach was empty, but it wasn't pleasant. Afterward, I knotted the liner and prepared to take it out to the trash, but Dari intercepted me in the hall.

"Are you ok, Lys?" he asked me quietly. "I know your parents are a little much for you to take, much less the other situation, but they've never made you puke before that I know of." He tugged the bin liner away.

"No, I just violated the laws of hospitality and got smacked down," I explained, and he shook his head.

"Go and wash up, I'll bring you something to settle your stomach." So I ducked into the half bath and splashed some water on me, cleaning off the smudged makeup as well before returning to the library. I wished my grandparents still lived here; I continued to associate it with happy warm feelings that kept putting me off my guard with the current occupants. I trudged back into the library for round two.

I had just sat down again when Dari came in with a glass of water and a capsule, a common over the counter remedy. I thanked him, swallowed it, and said, "I think I'd better go home now."

"You're not feeling well," Daniel said. "I'm sure Darius can bring you some broth, something soothing."

"I'm not likely to feel better under the circumstances," I murmured. Vomiting isn't really an appropriate behavior by a guest, I was sure, and I wanted to get out before I was punished for that too. "My husband can get me home quite capably and our butler can make something soothing, no offense, Dari." He gave me a small smile, and Jon solicitously helped me to my feet.

We walked swiftly to the door, the pod pulling up as it opened. Whew. Out of the house.

"This didn't work out as I'd hoped," Diana said, trailing after us.

"This kind of deceit is beneath you, Diana," Jon said, a furious whiplash in his voice.

"I was hoping to mediate a reconciliation between my daughters," she said. "And between my daughter, my husband, and myself."

"Not the way to do it," Jon said shortly, taking my bag and tucking me into the pod. "In fact, unless you start with a heartfelt apology and a sincere desire to change your behavior, I don't want you contacting Lys at all. She doesn't deserve this." He was cut off by the door closing, and I turned on the heating; I was chilled from the upset and my head was still pounding. I hate to throw up. Jon finished whatever he and Diana were discussing, and he got into the other side of the pod.