Look For Me By Moonlight by Mary Downing Hahn

Author:Mary Downing Hahn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

12

I spent the morning trying to sort out last night’s jumble of memories and dreams. I remembered Todd’s face at the window, Vincent’s hard, hurtful kisses, a fierce wind blowing us apart. Then a pale girl bending over me, taking my hand, leading me to the inn.

The more I thought about it all, the more confused I felt. I couldn’t sit still, couldn’t concentrate. I had to see Vincent, had to talk to him. My questions couldn’t wait till he came to my window hours from now.

He was just above, pacing the floor, apparently as restless as I. What if I sneaked upstairs to his room? Who’d see? Who’d know?

Cautiously I opened my door and listened. There was no sound from Dad’s den, but I knew he was hard at work on his novel. From the third floor, I heard the whir of Susan’s sewing machine. Todd was probably with her. They were all busy, they weren’t thinking about me.

Quickly, silently, I ran up the steps to the second floor. Before I raised my hand to knock, Vincent opened the door and drew me inside.

“Thank God, you’re safe,” he whispered. “I searched everywhere for you, but the snow blinded me, the wind drove me away, I couldn’t find you.”

I clung to him, weeping. “She came for me, she led me home.”

Vincent pulled back to stare at me. “What are you talking about? Who came for you?”

“The murdered girl,” I whispered, trembling in spite of myself. “She brought me to the inn. If she hadn’t, I would have died in the snow.”

His hands tightened on my shoulders. “You must have been dreaming, Cynda.”

“I saw her face, I heard her voice.”

“A dream,” Vincent repeated, “just a dream.” His voice was deep and comforting. He kissed me gently, stroked my hair, held me close. The steady beat of his heart soothed me, his words convinced me. “Forget last night. You’re safe now. That’s all that matters.”

I raised my face, hoping he’d kiss me again. On my lips or on my throat, I didn’t care where. Just so he kissed me. Just so he loved me.

“Not now, Cynda.” Vincent sighed and released me. “It’s too dangerous.”

I watched him sit down at his writing table. Even though it was the middle of the morning, his room was dark, the curtains tightly drawn. The only light came from the candle illuminating his books and papers.

“Let me stay a little longer,” I begged. “I won’t bother you. I promise.”

Vincent picked up his pen. “Suppose Susan or Jeff should find you here?”

“They’re busy they don’t care where I am or what I’m doing.” I reached across the table for his hand, but in my haste, I knocked the candle over. Its flame ignited a heap of papers. Fire leaped between us. Vincent cried out and stumbled backward, his face pale.

In desperation, I grabbed the first thing I saw, a carafe half-full of last night’s wine, and hurled it on the flames. When nothing remained but the smell of smoke, I whispered my apologies.

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