Then reality set in for Caitlyn. Any such future was in peril as long as she was trapped by tragedy and forces far stronger than her.
The girl turned around and saw her mother standing there. She had a soft smile on her face and reached out to Caitlyn. Taking her mother's hand, she smiled back, remembering when their smiles came often before darkness encompassed their household for all time.
Both smiles vanished abruptly when Caitlyn's father appeared. He peered at them with eyes that were hollow and foreboding. When her father approached, they backed up, but had nowhere to go. He glanced back at the bed, eyeing Peyton sleeping.
Looking at Caitlyn and her mother again, an evil grin played on his lips and he reached out for them. Caitlyn tried to resist, but knew it was a lost cause. He was too strong for them to fight--at least by themselves.
The three spirits held hands as they vanished.
CHAPTER NINE
Two days later, Peyton got up the nerve to go to the cottage to visit Bryant. She hadn't seen him lately and hoped he wasn't avoiding her. She might be making a complete idiot out of herself, but she missed him and decided he was worth the risk.
Peyton noticed that the Civic was missing from the driveway as she rang the doorbell.
Luke came to the door. He looked at her as if she had surely come to the wrong place.
"Peyton...?" His brow furrowed. "Something wrong at the house?"
Seeing Luke brought back the memory of him flirting with her mother. Or was it the other way around? In light of her suddenly domineering and seemingly possessive stepfather, Peyton began to seriously wonder if her mother had married the wrong man the second time around. Of course, her mother hadn't known Luke at the time. Also, if they had tied the knot, it would have made Bryant Peyton's stepbrother. The thought was less than appealing, all things considered.
"No, there's nothing wrong," Peyton said with a slight smile. At least nothing that you can fix. But maybe you can help in another way. "I was just wondering if Bry--Bryant was around."
She wasn't sure if Luke looked more relieved or concerned, but he responded, "Bryant's at work."
Peyton had suspected as much when she didn't see his car, but was still disappointed to hear it.
"Okay, guess I'll see him some other time."
"I'll be sure to tell him you stopped by."
"Thanks." Peyton tried to think of something else to say, but nothing came to mind. "See you around."
"Bye, Peyton."
She walked away, hearing the door close behind her. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Maybe Luke didn't want her to get too serious with his son.
Peyton decided she was overanalyzing things as usual. Why would Luke care if she and Bryant started seeing each other? That had nothing to do with Luke liking her mother. Or vice versa. Not in so many words.
* * *
Peyton brushed her teeth after lunch and thought about watching TV or reading a book. Anything to avoid another scene with her mother. It seemed as if they were less and less on the same page these days and Peyton was still trying to figure out why.
If only dad hadn't died, then life would be back to normal, if there was such a thing.
Peyton rinsed out her mouth and gazed into the mirror. She suddenly gasped as an image appeared behind her reflection. It was the girl in the bay and her dream!
Peyton froze. There was a stoic look on the girl's face, but fear in her eyes. She reached out to Peyton, causing her to practically jump out of her shoes. She swiveled around, heart beating wildly, expecting to come face to face with the strange girl.
Instead, Peyton's mother was standing there.
"You look absolutely terrified," Melody said. "What is it, honey?"
She found herself fumbling with words. "In the mirror...there was...uh...didn't you see her?"
Melody cocked a brow. "See who? You're not making much sense."
Peyton turned back to the mirror, expecting to see the girl. But all she saw was her mother's puzzled reflection.
Where did she go? Was she ever really there?
Peyton wondered if she should confide in her mother. I saw her in the mirror. I know I did. Or at least I thought I did.
Why was this happening? Am I cracking up?
"Peyton..." Her mother looked on with concern.
Peyton doubted it was smart to tell her mother everything, including her continuing dreams.
"It's nothing, really," she said. "Guess you just scared me, that's all."
"I'm sorry. We've all been a bit jumpy lately. I guess it comes with living in an old Victorian."
"Yeah, I guess." Peyton had a feeling there was a lot more to this than an old house.
"I came to see if you wanted to go shopping," her mother said.
"Shopping?"
"Yes, I thought we could make it a mother and daughter outing--just like we used to. I'm sure you could use some new clothes. I know I can."
Peyton warmed up to the idea, agreeing that her wardrobe could use some sprucing up. Even if her mother had acted out of character lately, she could never stay upset for very long. Especially with Peyton's stepfather threatening to come between them and her father no longer there for protection.
Peyton also hoped that going shopping would take her mind off the girl who, for lack of a better description, was haunting her.
* * *
Melody drove to Shadow Bay's biggest shopping center. Though she'd had her driver's license for six months now, Peyton hadn't driven much. Not her choice. Her parents had promised to buy a car when she turned seventeen. And she wondered if her suddenly weird stepfather would renege on that.
After having lunch at a deli, they went to the huge department store across the street. Peyton had a couple of skirts in hand, along with pair of jeans, when she saw Bryant working on a display.
"Hi, Bry."
He faced her. "Peyton. What are you doing here?"
She laughed, holding up the clothes. "Isn't it obvious?"
Bryant chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so. Did you come by yourself?"
I wish. "No, with my mother. She's around somewhere looking for the perfect dishwasher friendly dinnerware."
"If you look hard enough, you could probably find anything in here."
"I bet." Peyton tilted her head. "I looked for you today."
"Really?"
"Luke said you were at work."
"Yeah, I have to put a few dollars in my pocket," Bryant said.
"I think it's great that you found this job. I'll probably be working here myself next summer." Peyton wished she was working there this summer so she could spend more time with him away from home.
"Do you want to get together and do something?" Bryant asked, moving closer.
Peyton took a breath. "Like what?"
"Oh, I was thinking maybe we could have a picnic--just the two of us."
"You mean like a date?"
He grinned. "Yeah, you could say that."
Peyton's heart skipped a beat. He must have read her mind.
"That would be great." She prayed that her mother or stepfather wouldn't try to ruin things for her.
"Cool. How about this Sunday--at two?"
"I'm sure there won't be any problem with that."
He looked pleased. "I'll bring the cheese, crackers, and whatever else you want, if that's okay?"
It was definitely all right with Peyton. She enjoyed being considered special enough by a guy that he would actually prepare a picnic basket just for her.
"Of course," she told him. "But I'm pretty good with picnic baskets, too."
"I'll remember that for the next time."
So he was already planning a second picnic. Peyton was overjoyed at the prospect.
"There you are..."
Peyton turned to see her mother pushing a cart filled with items, including colorful dishware.
Melody spotted Bryant.
"Hello, Mrs. McIntyre," he said politely.
She didn't hide her s
urprise. "Bryant...Peyton didn't tell me you worked here."
"I didn't know--well, not exactly," Peyton defended herself, realizing Bryant had never identified the store where he worked.
There was a moment of awkwardness before Bryant said, "Well, I'd better get back to it". He smiled at Peyton. "Those are some good choices you made with your clothes."
"Thanks." She blushed.
"See you," he said. "You, too, Mrs. McIntyre."
Melody nodded. "Goodbye, Bryant."
On the way home, Peyton told her mother about the picnic, afraid of what she might say, given her limited dating experience, being new in town, and the fact that Bryant was Luke's son.
Melody's eyes lit with approval. "That's great, honey, and sweet. Bryant seems like a nice young man. Just like his father."
"But what if Vance objects?"
"You let me worry about him," she assured her with a pat on the hand.
Peyton relaxed on that note, turning her thoughts to Bryant, while trying not to think about the ghostly girl who seemed to be occupying her life for no good reason.
CHAPTER TEN
Peyton was up bright and early Sunday morning to get ready for her big date with Bryant. With any luck, they would be able to leave as soon as he came over without her mother or stepfather embarrassing her by interrogating him--or worse.
By one o'clock, Peyton wanted to call or text Erica for some last minute advice. Mindful of Vance's presence, she chose not to risk him catching her in the act and maybe taking away her phone for good. The next best thing was her computer, which she rarely seemed to use these days and he had apparently forgotten in his attempt to control her life.
Peyton closed her door. She went online and logged onto Skype. She was happy to see that Erica was already on, so she requested a video chat.
Erica accepted and her face suddenly appeared on the screen. "Hi there. Nice to see your stepdad hasn't taken your computer away, too."
"Not yet, knock on wood." Peyton could only hope he didn't get any ideas about that. "So what are you up to?"
"Just talking to a cute guy named Tyler I met online."
"Cool."
"So what's happening with you?" Erica asked.
"I'm about to go on a picnic with Bry," Peyton said excitedly.
"Sounds like things are beginning to heat up with you two," Erica said.
Peyton considered it only lukewarm between them at the moment, but was happy that they seemed to be getting closer.
"I'll let you know just how hot later," she promised.
"Any more sightings of the girl goblin from the bay?" Erica wondered.
Peyton thought back to her latest brush with the girl. "Well, sort of..."
"What does that mean?"
"I saw her in my bathroom mirror," Peyton confessed.
Erica's eyes grew wide. "Really?"
"I think so. Only when I turned away, my mother was standing there so...I'm not sure what to make of that."
"Sounds really spooky," Erica told her.
"Or crazy," Peyton said, beginning to seriously wonder if she was starting to lose it where this ghost girl was concerned.
"You're not crazy, Peyton," Erica assured her. "Whatever's causing you to see this girl and other strange people, I'm sure it's not in your head. Not by itself anyway. There's something so not right going on in that house."
"Yeah, I think so, too," Peyton said uneasily.
"Maybe the ghost girl, or whatever she is, will do you a favor and disappear from your life once and for all."
"That's what I keep telling myself." Peyton envisioned the girl's image in the mirror. "Hope she's listening! Anyhow, gotta go. Bry will be here in less than an hour and I don't want to keep him waiting."
Erica frowned. "Why not? Guys never seem to have a problem keeping us waiting."
Peyton chuckled. "Bry's different."
"If you say so. Maybe Tyler will be, too. See ya."
"Bye," Peyton said and closed out. She turned her thoughts to Bryant and tried not think about the girl who seemed to be haunting her from time to time.
* * *
When Peyton went downstairs at the sound of the bell, Vance had beaten her to the door, much to her chagrin.
"Come on in, Bryant," her stepfather said in an imposing tone.
"Thanks," he said.
Bryant walked through the foyer with Vance closely behind.
Peyton ambled toward them. "Hey, Bry."
"Hi!" He grinned at Peyton.
"I'm all set if you are," she said quickly, not wanting to stay any longer than they had to.
"Don't be so eager to leave, Peyton," Vance said. "I'm sure Bryant can spare a few minutes with your mother and me. Isn't that right?" He looked at him narrow-eyed.
"Sure, why not?" Bryant said nervously.
Peyton sneered at her stepfather. She hoped Bryant wasn't grilled by him too much.
They went into the living room where Peyton's mother was already seated. Vance sat next to her. Peyton followed Bryant's lead and sat on the loveseat.
Vance peered at Bryant. "I hear you two are going on a picnic."
"Yeah," he responded matter-of-factly.
"I think it's a lovely idea," Melody offered. "Will you be going to that nice little park a few blocks away?"
"No, I thought we'd have our picnic by the bay."
She smiled. "That sounds even better."
Anywhere sounded good to Peyton, so long as it was away from that house, her parents, and the ghostly girl.
Vance leaned forward. "So, what's Luke up to this afternoon?"
"Uh, he went to town to get some supplies," Bryant said.
"Well, when you see you see your father, tell him the grass seems a bit long and he should cut it as soon as he can."
Bryant pursed his lips. "Sure, I'll tell him."
Peyton was steamed at her stepfather's hostile attitude. Why is he treating Bry like his private messenger or like the caretaker's son instead of her date and possibly her future boyfriend.
Peyton looked to her mother for support and got nothing in return but a blank stare.
She glared at Vance. "If that's all, can we go now?"
"Yes, you can go." He paused, eyeing Bryant. "One more thing. Peyton's sixteen and nowhere near as worldly as she sometimes thinks she is. You understand what I'm saying?"
Bryant flinched. "Yeah, I think I do."
"Good. Don't keep her out too long--"
"I won't," he promised, maintaining a calm voice.
Peyton felt like dying on the spot over Vance's thinly veiled warning about her sexual innocence. It was not something she wanted to advertise to a guy. He would find out soon enough without her stepfather throwing it in his face.
Peyton would much rather it had been her real father grilling Bryant, instead of someone who seemed more interested in power tripping than looking out for her best interests.
* * *
"Is your stepdad always like that?" Bryant asked when they were outside. "For a minute there, I thought he was going to chaperone us on the picnic just to watch over me."
"Yeah, I know." Peyton colored. "I just don't know what's gotten into him. Ever since we moved to Shadow Bay, Vance has been overprotective and bossy."
"Maybe mind-altering spirits in the house are turning him into the stepdad from hell," joked Bryant.
Peyton frowned. "That's not funny."
"Sorry. Didn't mean to--"
"It's all right," she cut in, feeling silly. How was he supposed to know what she'd been going through in that house with those awful dreams?
Bryant grinned. "All set for a picnic?"
Peyton smiled back. "Am I ever."
"Good." He took her hand and Peyton felt like Cinderella must have when the prince touched her for the first time. It was something Peyton would never forget.
"So what's in the basket?" Peyton asked.
"Oh, nothing too special. Aside from crackers and cheese, we've got turkey sandwiches, a
couple of apples, and some bottled waters and fruit drinks."
"Wow, you really do come prepared! Sounds great."
"Better wait till you taste the food before you say that," he warned.
"Good point," she agreed, smiling.
They stopped just short of the bay on a patch of green grass. Peyton tensed ever so slightly as, in spite of her best efforts, she couldn't totally dismiss the fact that this wasn't far from where she had run from the bay after seeing the ghostly girl in the water.
Bryant took a blanket from the basket and laid it out for them to sit on. He then set down paper towels as placemats, followed by the food and drinks.
Soon they were eating.
After biting into the sandwich, Peyton said, "Mmm, this is good."
"Glad you like it." Bryant put a cracker in his mouth.
"So did you make this yourself? Or buy it readymade from the store?"
He grabbed a bottled water, smiling. "The one thing my mom left me with was the ability to at least be able to put together sandwiches. She said you never know when you might need those skills. I think I needed them just for you."
Peyton giggled. "Bet you say that to all the girls."
"You'd lose that bet. I only say it to the prettiest new girls in town."
She blushed. "I see."
"And what do you see?"
"That you're wacky, but in a nice way."
Bryant laughed. "Well, I feel better knowing it's in a nice way at least."
Peyton laughed, too, amazed at how comfortable she felt with him.
"How often do you see your mom?" she decided to ask, knowing how difficult it was to be without one of her real parents with no choice in the matter.
"About once a month, I guess. And we talk every few days."
"Why did you decide to live with your father?"
He shrugged. "It just worked out that way. My mom started seeing someone else and dad stayed on his own. We sort of started over together."
"Do you have any regrets about moving to Shadow Bay?"
Bryant looked at her thoughtfully before breaking into a warm smile. "Not at this moment."
"Same here." This very moment.
"I'm glad you came with me this afternoon."
Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery Page 5