Peyton wasn't sure she believed that. Something told her that the girl was probably just as fast a swimmer as she was when it came right down to it.
"Are you sure she was even alive?" Erica hummed some spooky music.
"That's so not funny!"
"Sorry," Erica said unconvincingly. "So maybe the girl was already dead and you just literally bumped into her in the water."
Peyton conceded that the girl certainly seemed lifeless...but dead? No way.
"It wasn't like that, Erica. I was grabbed and pulled down against my will," Peyton said. "And the girl definitely lifted her arm and pointed her finger at me. Not exactly what you'd expect from a corpse."
"Maybe it was some kind of reflex action," Erica suggested. "It doesn't mean she was alive--at that time."
"Hey, whose side are you on anyway?" Peyton's nostrils flared, starting to feel that Erica wasn't listening to her.
"Yours, of course. I was just pointing out a possibility that you could've missed."
"Well, alive or dead, the mysterious girl was nowhere to be found by the diver and it made me look crazy."
"So she's an enigma then?"
"Yeah and one I could do without."
"That might be difficult since, like it or not, you're caught up in the middle of whatever's going on."
Peyton hated to admit Erica was right. She could run, but couldn't hide from the mystery surrounding the missing girl.
"But at least I can avoid going in the bay again no matter what," Peyton said. "If she's still out there, I'm not about to give her a chance to come after me again."
Erica groaned. "Sounds to me like that bay is haunted." She hummed the spooky music again.
Peyton worried that it might only touch the surface of the strange things were going on within Shadow Bay.
"I don't know what to believe," she said. "Right now, I'm just going to pretend the whole thing never happened."
As if she could.
* * *
Caitlyn waited till Peyton left the room before appearing. She'd listened as Peyton talked to her friend. Caitlyn wished she could have friends again, but it wasn't possible except for maybe Peyton herself.
It was through Peyton that she had gotten her strength. Caitlyn had used it to go into the water, hoping that Peyton would understand and not be afraid of her. After all, she was not the one who wanted to hurt Peyton and her family.
Instead, Caitlyn had scared Peyton half to death and she'd swum away so fast like a shark was after her.
I need you to help me, Peyton. We can help each other. And we will.
It would just take time, Caitlyn thought, knowing that time was in precious short supply for them all.
* * *
Peyton awakened the next morning to some pounding that seemed to be coming from the roof. She grunted and climbed out of bed as more sleep would have been hard to come by.
After dressing, Peyton went downstairs. Vance had already gone to work and her mother was in a downstairs office, designing a website or something.
"What's all that noise out there?" she asked.
"Morning, honey," Melody said over her shoulder. "Luke found some loose tiles on the roof that he's replacing. Sorry if he woke you."
"I wasn't asleep," Peyton lied.
Melody swiveled around in her desk chair. "Are you feeling okay after yesterday?"
Peyton shrugged. "Guess I'd feel better if they found the girl."
"We all would."
"I know what I saw, Mom, even if I can't explain how she disappeared."
"I believe you saw something out there, Peyton," she sympathized. "Maybe it was a local girl just playing a prank on the new kid in town. Or maybe you got confused when you were pulled under by debris or seaweed."
Peyton rolled her eyes resentfully. The image of that impassive face staring at her under the water still gave her chills. The girl was definitely not to be confused with some seaweed or debris.
"What's to eat?" she said, changing the subject.
"There are some hash browns in the oven and sausage on the stove."
Peyton sneered. "Sorry I asked. I think I'll spare my arteries and just have cereal."
Her mother smiled tenderly. "Whatever you want is fine, as long as you eat something to start your day."
"I will," she promised.
When Peyton went outside half an hour later, Luke was still working on the roof. He stopped when he saw her, as if she were somehow intruding on his territory.
"Mornin', Peyton."
"Hi, Luke."
"I hope your Mother isn't going crazy in there with the noise?"
What about me? "Mom's so busy working on her computer, I don't think she even noticed," Peyton tried to say with a straight face.
Luke wiped sweat from his brow and smiled. It reminded Peyton of Bryant's smile, giving her the courage to ask about him.
"Is Bryant around?"
"He took the dog for a walk."
"Well, I'd better let you get back to it," she said.
"Thanks," he muttered.
Peyton sauntered away. She took a short cut across freshly mowed grass to the cottage behind their house. It looked like it had been recently renovated. There were two cars parked in the drive. She wondered which one belonged to Bryant, guessing it was the Honda Civic.
Peyton could envision him taking her on a date in it. But first they had to get past the getting to know one another stage.
She was about to take another step in that direction.
* * *
Peyton crossed the lawn till she reached the street. She hoped Bryant didn't think she was a stalker or anything. She wasn't used to going after guys, but since he was her only friend right now in Shadow Bay who just happened to be really hot, she had no choice.
Peyton spotted Bryant and Hugh not far from their house. They were moving slowly and she could easily catch up to them.
"Hey, you two," she called out a few steps behind them.
Bryant turned around and yanked the leash to make the dog stop. "Hey, Peyton. How's it going?"
"Good." Feeling a little awkward, she knelt down to pet his companion. "Hi, Hugh."
The dog licked her face. Normally she would have found it gross, but Peyton figured she was earning brownie points with his owner.
"Looks like you've got a friend for life," chuckled Bryant. "Hugh doesn't kiss up to just anyone."
"I've always been good with animals." Peyton played with the dog a moment longer, then stood, meeting Bryant's steady gaze. "So where are you headed?"
"Thought I'd take him to the park to run around."
"Mind if I tag along?" She didn't want to seem desperate, but enjoyed the company. His, in particular.
"What do you think, Hugh? Should she or shouldn't she?" The dog barked his approval. Bryant grinned. "Looks like you've got his permission--and mine."
"Cool." Peyton smiled. "Your dad's fixing the roof at our house."
"Yeah, I know. That's what caretaker's do--a little bit of everything and a lot of nothing."
Peyton detected resentment in his tone. "Has he been doing that type of work for long?"
"Only since we moved here. He used to be a contractor. But after my parents split up, he quit that job and seems content to just get by."
"Maybe your dad needs time to figure out what he wants to do," she suggested. "Or get over the divorce."
"Yeah maybe." Bryant shrugged. "Or maybe he wants to feel sorry for himself for the rest of his life."
Peyton twisted her lips. "I guess I'm kind of speaking from experience. My life has been totally out of whack ever since my dad died. I've moved on, but part of me just can't let go. Your dad's probably going through sort of the same thing. Can you understand that?"
Bryant nodded. "When you put it that way." He paused. "Do you think that might have something to do with what happened at the bay?"
Peyton looked at him wide-eyed. "Does everyone know about that?"
He smiled crooke
dly. "Sorry, this is a small town. Word travels fast. People love to gossip."
"I never said I saw my father in the water," she said defensively. Good thing, because that would've been way too scary.
"I know. But maybe the thing with your dad and not being able to let go made you have some kind of illusion in the form of a girl."
Peyton sneered. "Thanks for the psychoanalysis."
He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. Just a thought, like yours about what my dad might be dealing with."
Peyton thought it was clever how he used her own words so effectively against her. Maybe she should drop the subject. The worst thing would be for Bryant to think she had gone off the deep end.
"Whatever you heard, Bry, there was a real girl in that water--as close to me as you are now--and it wasn't some weird manifestation of my dad coming back to life."
Bryant met her eyes. "So who do you think it was?"
"My mom thinks it might've been a local girl playing a trick on me because I'm new in town."
"That's some trick, Peyton."
"Yeah, sure." She sighed. "I can describe the girl I saw. Maybe you know her..."
"Maybe I do."
Peyton concentrated on the girl, as if back in the bay face to face with her. Though unnerving, she made herself focus on the details.
Bryant listened intently as Peyton recounted what the girl looked like.
"Hmmm...Can't say she rings a bell."
"Figures." Peyton fluttered her lashes disappointedly.
"Hey, that doesn't mean I don't believe you," he said quickly. "It's just that I don't know that many girls in the neighborhood. I could ask around..."
"Would you?" Peyton looked up hopefully. "Maybe she's missing...and still down there."
Bryant frowned. "This girl really freaked you out, didn't she?"
"You would've been freaked, too, if you'd seen her!"
"You're probably right if she looked anything like you described." He tugged the leash to keep Hugh from trying to break free. "Maybe together we can get to the bottom of this."
Peyton sighed, wondering if Bryant really believed her. If so, he might be the only one, making him even more special.
On the way back home, Peyton gained the courage to ask what had been on her mind, aside from her own trials and tribulations.
"So, do you have a girlfriend, Bry?" Please say no.
"Nope." Bryant brushed against her. "I was seeing a girl for a little while, but it didn't work out." He paused. "She met a guy who had what I didn't, I guess."
Peyton couldn't imagine this other guy being more of a catch than Bryant. Not in her book anyway.
"What about you?" he asked. "Did you leave someone special behind in San Diego?"
"Only my best friend, Erica," she said. "Most of the guys in San Diego are into surfing, partying, and hanging out with each other."
"Their loss," Bryant said. "You don't need guys like that."
Peyton blushed. "You're right, I don't." Especially when she was with a guy who made her forget all others.
CHAPTER SIX
As Peyton entered the house, she heard laughter coming from the living room. She looked in and saw her mother and Luke seated on the sofa. They were drinking coffee like old pals.
They both looked up on cue and stopped talking as if they'd been conspiring.
Peyton's mother smiled sweetly. "Honey, you're back."
"Yeah."
Frowning, Luke stood. "Guess I'd better get going."
Melody got to her feet. "Thanks so much, Luke, for taking care of the roof."
"No problem. That's what you pay me for."
Peyton watched the two and, for some reason, felt uncomfortable with Luke being in the house without Vance's presence. It was as though her mother had a secret tryst or something with Luke. Of course, that made no sense since they weren't exactly hiding from anyone right here in the living room.
Peyton chided herself for thinking like a jealous daughter with no rationale, especially since she wasn't even comfortable with Vance as her stepfather.
But the man was her mother's husband, like it or not. And Luke was just the caretaker.
He also happened to be the father of the guy Peyton was quickly falling for. Meaning she had to trust her mother like she did herself and not jump to the wrong conclusions.
* * *
That afternoon Peyton helped with household chores, her least favorite thing to do. Since they were still getting settled in, it had to be done.
During a break in the action, Peyton was surprised when her mother lit up a cigarette.
"Mom, what are you doing?" She stared in disbelief.
Melody sucked in nicotine and blew out a perfect ring of smoke. "Smoking a cigarette," she said, stating the obvious.
"Since when? You hate people who smoke and, as you put it, 'slowly kill themselves and those around them.'"
Melody shrugged. "Well, maybe I was exaggerating just a bit, Peyton. I see nothing wrong with an occasional smoke to calm one's nerves."
Peyton was taken aback. "But your nerves are always calm. Even when dad died, you never lost it. Not really. And I didn't see you light up then."
She took another puff. "I was putting on an act because I knew you needed me to be strong. I'm sorry if I've disappointed you, but I'm a grown woman and I like to smoke sometimes. I'll try not to when you're around."
"Try not to what?" Peyton heard the voice from across the room. She turned and saw Vance approaching. He eyed Melody. "You're smoking!"
"So sue me!" Melody took a deep drag, glared at him and then Peyton, and stormed out of the room.
Vance frowned. "What the hell was that about, Peyton?"
"I have no idea. Maybe you should ask her."
"She doesn't exactly seem in the mood to talk."
Peyton curled her lip. "Neither am I."
She ran to her room. What was happening around here? First a strange girl in the bay attacks me. Now my mother's suddenly a smoker who may have a crush on Bryant's dad. What's next?
Peyton could only wonder if the house had anything to do with it.
* * *
Caitlyn could plainly see as clear as the nose on her face that it was starting to happen all over again. She watched without being seen as things began to crumble for the family now living in their home. She felt sorry for Peyton, but happy for herself that Peyton had come to help her, even if unaware of it at the moment.
There were clear dangers, though, that threatened to get in the way. Her father would not like Caitlyn using Peyton to come to her rescue. He would be as angry as before and try to stop them any way he could.
She would have to summon up every ounce of courage and strength to fight him. Just as he would try to enforce his will upon her with the same vehemence Caitlyn's father showed towards her mother and the caretaker.
Should Caitlyn fail, they would all be doomed for eternity.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next day, Peyton was lying on her bed listening to music when her mother knocked on the door and opened it.
"There's someone here to see you," Melody told her without indicating who it was.
Peyton assumed it was Bryant. After all, she hadn't met anyone else yet. Her pulse raced with excitement.
"I'll be right there," she said.
She hopped up, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Maybe I should change clothes or put on some makeup. No, Bry seems to like me the way I am, just as I like him for being totally down to earth.
Peyton moved away from the mirror. Unbeknownst to her was the reflection of Caitlyn, mimicking as if she were Peyton, before disappearing.
* * *
When she got to the living room, Peyton was surprised to find that her visitor was a girl around her age. She was seated on the loveseat talking to Peyton's mother.
"Peyton, this is Lily Kramer. She's here visiting her grandmother for the summer."
"Hi." Peyton smiled, masking her disappointment that it wasn't Br
yant.
Lily stood. She was very nearly Peyton's height, with pale skin and blunt cut short red hair.
"Nana told me there was someone new on the block I should meet," she said with a Southern accent.
"That was nice of her," Melody said. "Peyton could certainly use a friend."
"You want to go outside?" Peyton's tone made it less of a question than an order. If they were going to be friends, she doubted it would happen with her mother watching over them like a mother hen.
"Sure." Lily grinned.
"Tell your grandmother she's welcome to visit anytime she likes," Melody said as the girls walked away.
"I will," Lily promised.
It was a muggy day and the bugs were out in force. Peyton wished she had put on insect repellant, even though she hated the stench, as the little creatures seemed to be attracted to her and not Lily.
They sat on the porch steps.
"Where do you live?" Peyton asked, after telling Lily about her recent move from San Diego.
"Atlanta," Lily said happily. "It's a great city with lots to offer."
"Never been there."
"And I've never been to San Diego, so I guess we're even."
Peyton agreed. "Do you visit your grandmother often?"
"Sure do. Every other summer since I was five. The other years, she visits us."
"Cool." Peyton thought briefly about her grandparents, whom she barely got to know, much less bond with.
Lily smoothed an arched eyebrow. "Nana's been living in the same house since she was a girl. After Gramps died five years ago, my mother tried to get her to move to Atlanta, but Nana refused. Said she was too set in her ways and didn't want to be a burden to anyone."
"I can understand her wanting to remain independent," Peyton said.
"Me, too. But sooner or later, I'm afraid she won't have a choice and she'll have to move."
"I guess that's true for all of us." The thought was depressing. Peyton couldn't imagine being confined to bed or being unable to care for herself.
"Let's go for a walk," Lily suggested.
"Okay."
Ten minutes later, Peyton asked, "So will you be here all summer?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Till early September."
"Good." Peyton decided that she liked this new girl. She wished Erica was here so the three of them could hang out and have fun.
Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery Page 3