the family: the expulsions, the run-ins with the police, the shoplifting. After all the money and time that Peter had personally spent trying to help him, all the therapists and vacations and hundred-dollar-an-hour piano lessons, Robert still thought of the situation as one big joke.
Well, the joke was on him this time. Peter Templeton had had enough.
Bounding up the stairs two at a time in the direction of Robbie's bedroom, Peter ran into the housekeeper, Mrs. Carter. She was standing on the landing. She looked apologetic.
"I'm afraid Master Robert's not here, sir. We haven't seen him since he left for school this morning. Is something wrong?"
Peter scowled. "Damn right something's wrong. He's gone and gotten himself kicked out of St. Bede's. I doubt there's a school left in the state of New York that would take him now. Frankly, I can't say I blame them."
"Oh dear."
Mrs. Carter wrung her hands despairingly. She adored Robbie, but he did seem to be getting himself into an awful lot of scrapes lately.
"Robbie? Is that you?"
Lexi had heard the front door slam and came running out of the nursery in her nightgown, eager to see her brother. As always, Peter's heart lifted at the sight of her.
She looked more like her mother every day. She had Alex's eyes and lips and hair. Alex's smile, half coy, half knowing, top lip slightly curled. She even walked like her mother. But in temperament she was quite different. Where Alex had been gentle and soft, Lexi was fiery and energetic. Mrs. Carter affectionately referred to her as "our little piranha." Even Peter, with his chronically rose-tinted paternal vision, could see that Lexi was not perhaps the model of a decorous young lady. Spirited was the word he used. Less partial observers tended toward spoiled. Willful was another favorite. Totally out of control was not unheard of.
"There's my princess." Peter kissed the top of Lexi's head. She smelled of warm cookies and talcum powder. He felt his anger melting away. "What are you doing out of bed so late?"
Lexi frowned, then pouted, her deep gray eyes welling with tears.
"Robbie!" she wailed. "I want Robbie! Where's Robbie? Where is he?"
Peter felt the bitterness choking him. First Alex, now Lexi. Robert had sucked away their love like a vampire, leaving Peter with nothing. Only with immense effort did he keep the emotion out of his voice.
"Robbie's not here right now, sweetie. Would you like Daddy to tuck you in? I could read that story you like. The one about Squirrel Nutkin?"
"NO!" It was a yell. "NOT Daddy! Rooooobbiiiieee!"
Mrs. Carter ushered Lexi back into her bedroom. Poor Mr. Templeton. He looked like he'd just had acid thrown in his face. He had to learn not to take things so much to heart. Mrs. Carter had four kids of her own. Like every mother, she knew that children could be spiteful and thoughtless, especially at Lexi's age. You couldn't take it personally.
Once Lexi was settled back in bed, Mrs. Carter came downstairs. She found her boss in the study.
"Is she asleep?"
Peter's voice sounded odd. Deadened and dull. Mrs. Carter noticed the tumbler of whiskey in his hand and the open bottle on the desk. The hairs on her arms began to tingle with foreboding.
"Yes, sir. Sound asleep."
Peter took a big slug of his drink. When he looked up, his eyes were glassy.
"Good. Thank you. You can go."
Suddenly Mrs. Carter didn't feel right about leaving Lexi alone in the house with her father. What if Mr. Templeton passed out cold, and something happened to the girl? She'd never forgive herself.
"It's all right, sir. I can stay for a while. At least until Master Robert gets home safely."
Mr. Carter - Mike - would be at home expecting his dinner. He was bound to make a fuss, but it couldn't be helped.
"I can fix you some supper if you like. There's leftover beef in the pantry. I could whip you up some Stroganoff."
"No. Thank you."
Peter drained his glass and immediately poured himself another.
"Go home, Mrs. Carter. I'll see you in the morning."
The words were polite, but the tone was liquid steel. The housekeeper hesitated.
She thought about Lexi and poor Master Robert. Should she leave them here, alone, with their drunken father? Probably not. But if she forced the issue and demanded to stay, she might lose her position. Where would that leave her own kids? With Mike out of work, her salary was all they had.
She reached a decision.
"Very good, sir. As long as you're