The Haunted - Jessica Verday [94]
Dad and Kame were standing nearby, discussing a baseball game, and I heard Dad say,
“So, Kame. That’s an unusual name. Family heritage?” Kame looked over at me before he answered. “Yes. I guess you could say it runs in the family.”
Dad shrugged and then clapped him on the shoulder. Suddenly, Sophie appeared next to me, and Kame was right behind her. It kind of surprised me how fast he got away from Dad.
“We’re so glad we had a chance to meet you, Abbey,” Sophie said, her voice melodic and beautiful. She didn’t try to shake my hand again, and I was extremely grateful for that. She did, however, keep her gaze directly on me. Kame did the same, and I felt a prickle of unease run up my spine. It was… weird and uncomfortable to have them both staring at me.
“Um, yeah,” I said finally, taking a small step back. “Nice to meet you, too. Good luck with your new real-estate branch and all that.”
Sophie’s gaze sharpened, and Kame smiled widely, revealing a surprisingly shiny and sharp-looking set of teeth. “Take care of yourself, Abbey,” he said. “Take very good care.” The Haunted
Chapter Twenty
THE MISSING PIECE
And besides, what chance was there of escaping ghost or goblin, if such it was, which could ride upon the wings of the wind?
—“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
One week later I was sitting in front of my new laptop, working on my business plan. Scribbling down sentences that would hopefully be a part of my mission statement, I let my mind wander. It kept going back to that strange dinner with the real estate agents. I tried to figure out why they seemed so familiar. Had I seen them at the bridge dedication ceremony?
My cell phone rang, and I reached for it, glad for the distraction. “Hello?”
“Abbey? Is this Abbey?”
I didn’t recognize the voice. “Yes, who’s—”
“It’s Aubra Stanton.”
You could have knocked me over with a feather. “Um, okay.” Or a stiff breeze.
“I got your number from your uncle’s office.”
“Okay.” Gee, I was being a real conversationalist here.
“Look, I need you to come cover the store for an hour.”
“But it’s Saturday night. I don’t work on Saturdays.” Aubra exhaled loudly. “I know that, okay? I just need you to come in because I have to go take care of something. Your uncle’s not here. He had to go get another part for the freezer.” My thumb moved back and forth over the volume button on the phone. “I’m not sure I can, Aubra. I’ll have to ask my Mom for a ride.” I felt lame for telling her that, but it was true.
“Please, Abbey?”
Something in her voice tugged at my heart strings. Pushover. “I’ll try.” She hung up without saying thank you or good-bye, and I sighed. So much for a little gratitude.
Mom dropped me off at Uncle Bob’s with fairly little talk along the way, and Aubra was waiting for me by the door.
“Finally!” she exclaimed, the instant I stepped inside. I just looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She ignored it and paced nervously in front of the door, stopping every now and then to peer out of it. I moved toward the counter and grabbed a wet washcloth to wipe up some spilled caramel sauce she’d obviously overlooked.
A minute later I heard the doorbells chime, and she was gone. Without saying good-bye.
Again.
Luckily, the shop stayed pretty quiet, and everyone was patient with me as I slowly worked the register. When there was only half an hour until the shop closed, I kept busy by refilling the toppings jars.
Aubra came back twenty-eight minutes later, not that I was counting or anything, and completely ignored me. Her eyes were red and splotchy, but I wasn’t going to give her the pity vote again.
“All right, see ya,” I said. “I’m leaving now.” She didn’t reply, so I headed outside to call Mom and tell her I was ready.
Mom was busy with something, though, and said she’d pick me up as soon as she could. I let out a breath as I hung up, not exactly loving my situation. I walked around the store and went to the alley out back.
It was nice at first, to just sit there and chill in a quiet spot. But then I started to realize how secluded