I wait. It's really quiet here. I like the quiet. No one can hurt you. Quiet is safe. Noise isn't. Noise is like the balls when people are just mean and drink. Quiet is like nap time. I don't nap much anymore. I'm not allowed to. I sit down on the floor. Mommy's in dad's study. I wonder what they're talking about. Maybe Cate or Win? I don't know. It's confusing. I guess that's what it means to be little. I think most things are still new to me. It's weird. I sigh. I'm tired. What time is it? Is it almost time for supper? I hope Cate and Win will come home. They're gone a lot and Weiss doesn't like to play. I'm lonely. I did pretty good during my extra lessons today. My piano playing has gotten better. I think it's because my fingers are getting longer. I miss less keys. The notes are prettier. Last night, mommy really liked the song I played. I wish my sisters had heard. Cate loves music. Win knows detail. Weiss can play too. I don't like this. No one is ever around.

"Jacques! Drop it already!"

Mommy sounds angry. Her voice is really loud through the door. She and dad fight a lot now. Win says they're going to get divorced. I don't want that. I need mommy. I want to be like dad.

"Get a grip, Willow. I hardly think this will amount to anything."

I'm confused. What could dad be thinking about? Is the company not making money? Are we going to be poor? That sounds scary.

"Are you even listening to me? You're always such a damn —"

I hear something crash. I cover my ears. I don't like the noise. Is mommy okay? I hear more footsteps. Is dad okay? Am I —

"You're a fucking asshole!" Mommy yells. It's been awhile. There was a lot of quiet. Quiet is good. This is bad. "And you're downright sick sometimes, Jacques! Like it's my fault that —"

"Lower your voice!" Dad snaps. "I'd rather not attract any attention, no matter what you may still be seeking."

"Attention? You think this is about attention? Where the hell did that come from in your sick head?"

I pull my legs into me. I don't like this. It's scary. I want mommy. I want to cry.

"If you set down a bottle of wine for two seconds, perhaps you would understand me."

"If you spent any real time as a parent, then maybe you would understand why I think you're sick. Cutting off Winter, giving Cate, Weiss, and Whitley the remains of her trust fund. I've never heard anything else so damn cruel from you."

I feel tears. I think I'm starting to cry. I swallow. I can't cry. Dad said boys shouldn't cry. Win and Weiss don't cry. I can't either. I don't want them to find me. Mommy would be upset. Dad would be angry. I think they're both angry now. I'm scared.

"It is not cruel," Dad says. He sounds calm. I need calm. "It's a simple business manoeuver and one we have been waiting on for awhile."

Mommy snorts. "One you've been waiting on, that is."

I hear a snap. It's loud. Did something fall again? Did something break?

"I'm not arguing this point with you, Willow. My decision is final. You are, as always, taking it the wrong way."

It's quiet again. Are mommy and dad all better? They're okay, right? They have to be okay. Weiss says dad doesn't love mommy but I think she's wrong. Win and Cate day it too but they're still wrong. Mommy and dad have to love each other. They're mommy and dad.

"I'm looking out for our daughter," Mommy says. "You just don't give a damn because she doesn't want to accept the future you've laid out for her."

"Oh, Willow…"

Dad laughs. That must be good. Happy people laugh.

"And here I was, the family butler, thinking you were the good child. Never did I expect to catch you eavesdropping."

I almost scream when I hear Klein. I don't scream though. I can't. Dad told me showing emotion isn't good. He said it's bad. He thinks it'll make me weak. I don't want to be weak. I want to be like him.

"I understand your curiosity, of course," Klein pulls me up off the ground. He's whispering. Does that mean we're playing a game now? "I hope it doesn't cause you any undue distress, however. Your parents have quite explosive tempers."

Cate too. She's yelled at people before. They deserved it. She's protected me and Weiss that way. Win thinks she's too mean sometimes. I don't think so. She's nice.

"Why do they fight so much?" I ask, rubbing my eyes. I'm feeling a little sleepy. It was hard to sleep last night.

"Because all married couples do," Klein sort of laughs. I don't know why. Is it funny? "In all seriousness, though, I suspect it has to do with the stress of the break in and your sisters. Not to point fingers, of course

I shudder. The break in. That was scary.

"I don't like it," I feel sad. Mommy's sad a lot too. "They have to love each other! They're mom and dad!"

Klein stares at me. I squirm. I don't like staring. It scares me. Win says staring is like hunting. She says people do it to know things. I'm not sure what that means. I don't get anything from staring except laughed at or pushed.

"Ah! There's my son!"

Mommy suddenly hugs and tickles me. I missed her. Where's dad? Is he working now she's not with him? Mommy has a bruised eye. I wonder what happened. Did she fall and hit her head?

"Madame Schnee," Klein bows. "I shall take my leave. I was merely accompanying young Whitley to the pantry for a small snack but I imagine you, per usual, would prefer to accompany him yourself."

Mommy nods. She's still hugging me. I like that she smells pretty.

"As always," Mommy laughs and picks me up. "Come now, Whitley, let's make sure you get a snack that won't spoil your dinner."

Mommy's the best. I want things to stay like this forever. When she's happy. When dad doesn't yell with her. When my sisters are home and want to play. I like that. Why don't we do that stuff anymore? And why does mommy have boo-boos so much? Is she okay? Dad says she is. She says she is.

I really hope they aren't lying like all of the mean people at the balls.