Spirits of the Season by Phoebe Rivers

Author:Phoebe Rivers [Rivers, Phoebe]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781442452244
Publisher: Simon Spotlight
Published: 2012-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

The ugly sweater with Mrs. Claus’s smiling face was starting to look pretty good to me. At least, pretty warm, after I passed the Salty Crab’s window display for the eighth time the next afternoon.

I zipped my parka up under my chin and pulled my wool hat over my ears. I’d been walking up and down Beach Drive for almost two hours, pretending to shop for presents.

I was really searching for Franklin.

I hoped he would be out here. Somewhere. It sure seemed as if every other spirit lurked about. Three older men in long overcoats on the corner of Dune Lane sang a harmonized “Silent Night” every time I passed. I was the only one who heard their ghostly song.

I looped around and started up the other side of the street. I dodged women with strollers and giggling groups of high school girls. The sidewalk was crowded with people out shopping the Friday before Christmas. I stared openly at each one and then slid my gaze sideways to the spirit that often hovered nearby. An old woman. An old man. A toddler, hurrying to catch up.

No Franklin.

I wished I knew a better way to find him.

He’d been here the first time I saw him, I reminded myself.

I thought about my talk with Lady Azura. Did Franklin have something to do with why she wanted Dad to move out? Or why I’d had that vision of her at a funeral? I couldn’t figure out how they were all connected. Maybe if she wasn’t so sad about Franklin, she’d tell me.

My phone buzzed. It was from a number I didn’t recognize.

I ducked alongside the Seasons Sports window to read the text.

R WE ON 4 TOMORROW NITE? GOT 2 STOP THEIR TRIP!

I’d been avoiding Dina all week at school. Now she’d found me.

R U THERE???? NEED 2 PLAN NOW!!!!!

I continued down the street, reading Dina’s texts. They kept coming, each more insistent than the next.

Finally I couldn’t take it. Ignoring her wasn’t working. I circled back and entered the Salty Crab. The small store was warm and smelled of candy canes.

“Sara! Have you come to shop? Where’s Lily?” Aunt Delores called from behind the counter. She was wrapping a box with shiny gold paper.

“I’m by myself,” I explained. “I need a present for Lily.”

“Delightful!” Delores looked ready for Santa’s workshop. She wore a red furry cap with a jingle bell on top, and her round cheeks were rosy. “Let me fishing wrapping these, and I’ll be right there.”

I scooted over to the table where the ugly pom-pom hat still lay. Figured. No one would ever buy it. At least, I hoped not. I could just imagine my dad thinking it was fun and surprising me with it. Luckily, this was not his kind of store. If they sold it in the hardware store, I’d be a goner.

Another text buzzed in. Dina.

IS THIS REALLY A GOOD IDEA? I texted back.

YES!!!!! U PROMISED. Her fingers must’ve been hovering over the phone, she texted back so fast.

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