Secrets of Selkie Bay by Shelley Moore Thomas

Author:Shelley Moore Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780374367503
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Into the Sea

I DIDN’T SLEEP MUCH THAT NIGHT. It didn’t help that Da called to make sure we were being watched over by Maura and I had to lie to him that she was in the bathroom, so I felt kind of awful about it. It was a quick call, and his voice was strained. We both remembered the sugar jar and what was said. And what wasn’t said. So when I tried to close my eyes, every little sound made me jump. When the house finally lit up with the day’s sun, I might have slept for a few minutes.

I knew I would be yawning all day, but I didn’t care.

Today was a day for adventuring and finding lost things.

* * *

“Cordie, come on!” Ione had run ahead and was standing a block away, impatient hands resting on her hips. Neevy was still asleep in the carriage. We’d raced out of the house early to get to the dock before anyone noticed. Sure, there were workers already there, down at the bad end, but the strip was nearly deserted. I shook my head at Ione, turned the pram, and went down a side street to the small outdoor market that opened early in the morning during the summer. Different folks set up their tables on different days, depending on what they had to sell. By August, so many booths would be packed into the little street, it would be hard to walk. But on this quiet morning, early risers such as the Sullivan sisters were bound to stand out if they weren’t careful. Slowly, trying hard not to draw too much attention, I wheeled ahead.

Ione ran into me, nearly knocking me over. “Cordie, what are you doing?”

“I am getting us something to eat,” I said. “And keep your voice down. I don’t want nosy Mr. Doyle to know what we are up to.”

Ione was usually hungry, so she seemed satisfied with my answer. I hated using Mum’s money from the jar, the money that should have gone to the rent, but if we found a treasure, we’d have more than enough.

Ione spied some fruit-filled pies that looked like heaven. We bought two and quickly ate them before Neevy woke. I felt a little bad, but she wouldn’t have liked the tartness of the berries, and besides, in a minute I would find something that was more suitable for a baby.

I just needed to think.

Ione worked her way over to a man selling fried chips from a van. “No, Ione,” I said. “We have to be smart about this. We can’t spend all the money right now.”

I surveyed the market. What wouldn’t spoil quickly? Ione was surveying, too, no doubt looking for the tastiest snack or the cake with the most frosting.

I chose some apples and some slightly green bananas.

“Those aren’t ripe yet,” Ione said.

“I know.”

There was a loaf of really hard bread, like Da said they have in France. It looked sturdy enough.

There was some goat cheese coated in wax that caught my eye.

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