The Spirit Keeper Read online

  As I was wheeling the garbage to the end of the driveway, longing for the days of Saturday-morning cartoons and eating Fruit Loops in front of the TV, I spotted Adrian’s dad across the street. He had a bunch of broken-down cardboard boxes tucked under both arms, and it looked like he was struggling to get them down to the curb. They kept slipping and falling to the ground, and he was getting all mad and doing a lot of muttering under his breath. I was going to turn around and leave without saying anything, but then he looked up and saw me.

  “Need any help?” I called out, not knowing what else to say. He didn’t look any friendlier today than he had yesterday. And unlike Adrian, he had this whole sinister vibe-thing going on.

  The corners of his mouth turned down, and he dropped the boxes at the curb and glowered at me with unflinching, black eyes. Then he said, “I don’t need your help,” with a nasty sneer, before turning around and walking away.

  “Um. Okay,” I said once he disappeared inside. “Weird.”

  I stood there for a few minutes, trying to figure out what I’d done for him to act that way to me. But then I shoved the incident to the back of my mind when I heard Meg yelling for me that business was picking up and I’d better get to work. I groaned. Meg was in a rare mood this morning, seeming as sleep-deprived as I, and we’d been butting heads since breakfast.

  Back at the greenhouse, David was ringing up a sale and making polite conversation with a balding man and his very pregnant wife. Their two young children were running from one end of the middle aisle to the other, being all loud and giggly and hyperactive. Normally I wouldn’t have minded—I was the neighborhood babysitter, known for my patience and willingness to actually play with kids instead of parking them in front of the TV. But the shrieking was hurting my ears and giving me a headache. I stared at them, hoping they’d get the hint and take it down a few notches, but they wouldn’t stop. Then I stared at their parents, mentally begging them to please do something about those kids, but they were totally oblivious.

  David met my eyes while he was talking to Mr. and Mrs. Clueless about soil erosion, and nodded in the direction of the work table. I took that to mean that I was supposed to stop standing there with my arms crossed over my chest and actually do something. So I took the tray of seedlings, slid them to the other end of the table as far away from everyone as possible, and just sat there.

  I yawned and stretched, in no rush to get going. Usually I could psych myself up for work, envisioning my savings account ballooning and the cute little red Volkswagen Golf I hoped to buy one of these years. Of course, thinking about Volkswagens got me to thinking about Adrian’s blue Beetle, which got me to thinking about Adrian himself. I really hoped he would stop by later like he said he would. Maybe I’d ask him what was wrong with his dad. Or maybe not.

  When David finally wrapped things up with the customers, he came over to where I was and made some remark about how the seedlings wouldn’t repot themselves.

  I groaned. “Can’t I work the register today, or maybe weed? I’d much rather weed.”

  “Sorry, but Meg knows how grumpy you get when you’re tired. She’d rather you didn’t have much interaction with the customers today. Besides, I got up early this morning and did the weeding myself.”

  “Well aren’t you the overachiever?” I said snippily, stifling another yawn.

  Transplanting was one of my least favorite jobs. I didn’t have the green thumb that Meg did, and I usually managed to kill a few of the young plants in the process. That was just good money down the drain, as far as I was concerned, but Meg was bound and determined to teach me the true art of gardening, even if it killed her profits. I just wanted a nap.

  “Careful of the roots,” David said from behind, as I coaxed the delicate plants from their pots. I could practically feel him breathing down my neck, and his hovering set me even more on edge. I ignored his comment.

  “So, we never got to finish what we were talking about last night,” I said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You never told me what you and Meg were whispering about all secret-like. You know, right before dinner?”

  “Oh,” he said. “I said it was nothing, so stop asking.”

  I put the trowel down and swiveled on the stool to look at David, but he’d already turned away from me. He was going to make this as difficult as possible.

  “I’m not a moron, David. I can tell when something’s going on, so you might as well come clean.”

  David stayed silent, refusing to say a word. He kept his back to me, conveniently filling his bucket full of potting soil. But I could see the tension in his shoulders. It was obvious there was something going on that he didn’t want to talk about. However, I wasn’t about to give up.

  “I would really appreciate someone cluing me in,” I said. “I’m not a baby, in case you haven’t noticed. I don’t need to be coddled, or for you and Meg to tiptoe around me. Seriously, whatever it is, you can tell me.”

  I waited for what seemed like an eternity, but David still wouldn’t answer. “Is it the business?” I prodded. “Are we having money troubles?”

  He only shrugged and continued to fill his bucket, even though I could see it was in danger of overflowing. He was going to crack soon. I could feel it. All I had to do was be patient and wait.

  “We should never . . .” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. Then he cleared his throat and said a little more loudly that he regretted they hadn’t said anything sooner, that they didn’t know what to say now, and that he wished my mother were still alive so she could talk to me.

  “She should be the one having this conversation with you,” he finished.

  And then I understood. All that talk about Adrian last night must’ve made my aunt and uncle nervous about the fact that I was growing up. I was so obviously not a little girl anymore and had the bra and tampons to prove it.

  I cleared my throat, my face burning. I tried desperately to keep from smiling. “If this is about sex, save it.”

  David wheeled around, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. “What?”

  “We covered all of that stuff in the fourth grade,” I said. “Everything else I just kind of figured out on my own.”

  David’s face flushed a deep red, and then he burst out laughing. It was totally not the reaction I had been expecting. “It’s not about sex, Sarah. Trust me, I wish it were that simple. It’s a little more life-altering than that.”

  All I could do was stare at him. What could be more life-altering than doing the deed for the first time? Even so, I was really relieved that whatever was going on had nothing to do with the ins and outs of human reproduction. Meg had never had “the talk” with me, for one reason or another, and it wasn’t something I was too broken-up about. Meg had kind of missed the boat on that one, but it’s not like I was some naive little kid. I read books and watched enough TV to know how it all worked.

  Another wave of customers swarmed in and David left to deal with them, looking more than a little relieved, I thought. I went back to transplanting, but I kept a close eye on my uncle. When the greenhouse emptied again, he waved a hand at me and told me to get lost. He’d mind the place by himself.

  “Are you deliberately trying to get rid of me?”

  David smirked. “Go before Meg comes back and sticks you with a to-do list that’s a mile long.”

  That was all the motivation I needed. I told him “adios” and took off running, heading for the foot path that would take me to the woods and my private sanctuary.

  I pulled my shirt over my head, congratulating myself that I’d had the foresight to wear my bikini under my clothes, and flung it over my shoulder. It was going to be another hot day, and tendrils of hair were already clinging to my face and neck like a sticky spider’s web.

  It wasn’t until I had reached the edge of the woods that I remembered the girl from the day before. I slowed to a stop, wondering how smart it was to come here on my own. What if she showed up a
gain? What if she wasn’t a harmless girl at all but some maniac who went around hacking people into small pieces and burying them in the woods?

  No, I was just being silly. There was nobody lurking in the woods, least of all a girl who seemed more phantom than real.

  At the creek, I nudged off my shoes and shimmied out of my shorts, leaving my clothes in a pile at the water’s edge. Then I waded in a few feet and scooped the water over my arms and chest, acclimating to the cool temperature. My skin was covered in goosebumps and my teeth were chattering, but it felt good. I waded a bit deeper.

  “How’s the water?”

  I yelped in surprise and stumbled forward, jamming my right knee against a rock jutting out of the water. “Shoot!” I said, scrambling to my feet. The pain that radiated through my entire leg was nothing compared to the embarrassment at being caught completely by surprise.

  By Adrian.

  I turned around, tugging inconspicuously at my suit to make sure everything was still in place. “What are you doing here?”

  Adrian smiled and gave me the once-over, his eyebrows jutting up in what I hoped was approval. “Sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.” Though by his smile I didn’t think he was too sorry.

  I splashed my way through the water, determined to make it back to the bank without making a total fool of myself by falling over. I grabbed my shorts, suddenly very self-conscious.

  “It’s okay,” I said, pulling them on. “Usually no one comes here except for Priscilla and me. I was surprised, that’s all. How’d you know where I was?”

  Adrian kicked off his shoes and pulled his shirt over his head. I tried not to stare. And I really tried not to freak out and start hyperventilating when he grabbed my hand and pulled me knee-high into the water with him.

  “My shorts!” I screamed out of nervousness. My shorts were the least of my concerns, though.

  “Holy . . . that’s cold!” Adrian gasped and let go of my hand. Then he turned on me, his dark eyes glinting in the sunlight. A mischievous grin spread across his face.

  I backed away out of instinct. I knew that look. It’s the same look that David got on his face whenever he was about to do something really irritating. “Whatever you’re thinking of doing, don’t. I’m warning you,” I said.

  Adrian laughed at my warning and splashed a handful of water in my direction, though not enough to drench me. Keeping my eyes on him, I continued to back away.

  “Are you going to tell me how you knew I was here?” I said, hoping to distract him.

  Adrian lunged, but I easily dodged his outstretched hand. We both laughed. He continued to advance on me, and I splashed at him to get him to back off. He lunged again and missed a second time.

  “Tell me, or else.” I sent a cascade of water in his direction, completely soaking his chest.

  Adrian stopped then and shrugged, still smiling. “I was on one of the trails and saw you run past. I followed you.”

  I waded to the fallen tree bridging the two banks of the creek and hoisted myself up, bringing my legs to my chest and resting my chin on my knees. “I guess my secret place isn’t so secret anymore, huh?”

  “I can keep a secret,” Adrian said, showing off his dimples.

  I buried my face in my knees so he wouldn’t see me smiling. But when I finally looked up again, I saw that he was staring back at me, a serious expression on his face now. It made the butterflies in my stomach beat their wings against my insides much faster than before.

  “What?” I said, even more self-conscious now.

  He looked down and shook his head. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

  I lowered my legs into the water. “Geez. Not you, too. Just say what’s on your mind.”

  He shook his head again, still not meeting my gaze. “Sorry. It’s just that . . . you don’t seem . . . what I mean is . . .”

  I held up a hand to stop whatever it was he was trying to spit out. “I get it. You’re comparing me to the picture in your head that Katie so artistically painted for you.” I smiled and decided to be brave and go for it, even though I was so nervous I thought I was going to puke.

  “I don’t seem like such a loser, is that it?” I said. I really hoped that’s what he’d been trying to say, otherwise I was about to make an enormous idiot of myself.

  He stared at me for a minute before a huge smile broke out across his face. “I don’t think you’re a loser at all.”

  “Good,” I said, relieved to have that out of the way. “So, how do you like Hilltop so far?”

  He shrugged. “I like it. I’m, uh, I’m glad we came.”

  “You know you can sit with Priscilla and me at lunch if you want to. You don’t have to sit by yourself. Or with Katie.”

  In fact, I didn’t want him anywhere near that girl. Ever again.

  Adrian smiled. “That would be great. Thanks.” Then he looked over his shoulder at the woods beyond. “Well, I should go. I didn’t tell my dad I was leaving. I had to get away for a little while, though. He’s sort of driving me crazy.”

  I made my way back to the bank with Adrian and watched as he slid his wet feet into his sneakers. Then he slung his shirt over his muscled shoulder. I had the urge to reach out and touch it but kept my hands clasped firmly behind my back.

  “I’m glad you followed me,” I said, like the total moron that I was.

  Adrian laughed. “Me, too. Maybe I’ll see you later?”

  “Maybe.”

  He gave me a small wave before turning and jogging off down the path. My entire face was burning, and I wasn’t surprised to feel that my knees were shaking. I couldn’t stop grinning as I made my way home, thinking of him the entire way.

  When I’d gotten as far as the greenhouse, David flagged me down. I raised my hand to wave and then stopped in my tracks when I saw the look on his face.

  “We got busted,” he said. “Meg wants to talk to you. Now.”

  I closed my eyes and let out a very long sigh, adding a mental oh crap.

  Chapter 5

  I pressed my face against the pane of glass in the back door and peered in, looking for any signs of my aunt. But the coast was clear, as far as I could tell, and so I inched the door open and crept quietly inside.

  Despite Meg wanting to talk to me, I really wasn’t in the mood to listen to one of her long-winded lectures about responsible behavior. And anyway, David was the one who had told me I could ditch work in the first place. If anyone should have to face the consequences, it was him.

  I shucked off my muddy sneakers and tip-toed across the linoleum floor, stopping only when I came to the entrance to the hallway. I looked left in the direction of Meg’s room, but everything was quiet down that way. Figuring she must be outside in the front garden, I breathed a sigh of relief and took a right, padding at ease down the hallway toward my room.

  “Geez, Meg!” I place a hand on my chest to still my suddenly racing heart. “Don’t scare me like that!”

  She sat perched on the edge of my bed, eyebrows raised in expectation, and I wondered how long she’d been sitting there exactly like that while waiting for me.

  “We need to talk,” she said. She patted the empty space next to her, inviting me to sit down. I didn’t move.

  “If this is about me skipping out on work, David said I could. So if you’re going to be mad at anyone, be mad at him.”

  Meg patted the bed again, more insistently this time. “I’m not mad. Well, I’m not mad at you. You’d think by the time a man reaches the age of twenty-five, he’d be able to follow a few simple directions.”

  She waved a hand and let her voice trail off, surprising me by not saying anything more about the subject. But I knew by the faraway look in Meg’s eyes and firmly set lips that whatever was on her mind had little, if anything, to do with David. Something else was bothering her. The air between us felt different somehow, charged with a sort of electric tension, and whatever was going on was starting to make me feel very uneasy.


  I had yet to sit down, and Meg finally got up and went to the window. She parted the sheer yellow curtains and lifted the wood sash as high as it would go. A sultry breeze wafted in, rustling the papers tacked to the bulletin board on the opposite wall and tickling the fine hairs on my arms.

  “It’s stuffy in here,” she said, wiping a hand across her damp forehead.

  I took a deep breath in through my nose to fortify my waning patience. It was obvious that Meg was stalling, and yet it was not really like her. “Didn’t you say there’s something we need to talk about?” I reminded her.

  “Yes,” Meg said, seemingly distracted by something she saw outside. She said nothing more.

  I gritted my teeth and took another deep breath. If I wasn’t in trouble, and Meg wasn’t here to talk to me about boys and sex, then what? Was it drugs? A lot of kids at my school experimented with different ways to get high, but I had no plans or desire to get caught up in any of that mess. I was an A student; not an idiot.

  Usually Meg was quick to deny that anything was wrong, even when I knew something really was, just to keep me from worrying. But she turned to face me then, an odd expression on her face. She held the fabric of her shorts clenched tightly in each hand, and her mouth opened and closed repeatedly. She seemed torn, like she desperately needed to say something but didn’t know how, or even where, to begin. My stomach somersaulted.

  “Your mother was a very . . . impressionable young girl,” she finally said. “And certain people took advantage of that.”

  Of all the things I thought Meg might want to talk to me about, my dead mother wasn’t one of them. We rarely discussed her at all, in fact. It wasn’t because we were heartless or uncaring or didn’t want to remember her; it was because the memory of losing both her and my grandparents was still too raw, even after six years. Dredging up the past wasn’t something any of us did willingly.

  Meg massaged tiny circles in her temples, as though warding off the beginning of a headache. “Maybe it was wrong for us to keep this from you for so long, especially after Mama and Papa and Melody died, but all we really wanted was to forget and live in peace. All we wanted was a fresh start. All we wanted was to protect you.”