Yours Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

Author:Heather Vogel Frederick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

CHAPTER 16

“Where’s Mom?” I cried, bounding downstairs to the kitchen. Mackenzie was right behind me.

“She must have gone out while I was feeding Bilbo,” said Lauren, coming through the back door.

I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and shot off a text to my mother: WHERE R U?

HEADING TO CAMPUS, she texted back a moment later. STOPPED BY BOOKSTORE TO SEE DAD.

STAY THERE! HAVE TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING!

NOT GOING ANYWHERE—CUSTOMERS COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK. COULD USE YOUR HELP.

“Come on, Mackenzie,” I said. “We’re going into town.”

Hearing this, Pippa detached herself from the TV in the family room. “But Mom thaid you have to walk uth to Belinda’th!”

I frowned at her. “Can’t you and Lauren go by yourselves?”

Lauren shot me a dirty look. “Of course.”

“But Mom thaid you’d do it,” Pippa whined, clinging to Mackenzie’s hand.

“I’d like to see Belinda’s anyway,” my cousin said. “You’ve told me so much about it.”

I sighed. “Fine.” And tucking the diary into my jacket pocket, I hustled everyone out the door.

Belinda’s house was at the very end of Maple Street. A sprawling Victorian with a wrap-around porch, it was nearly as big as my grandparents’ house. Belinda was outside, bundled in her favorite old army coat and sweeping the front path in time to a melody we couldn’t hear. Seeing us approach, she paused and leaned on her broom.

“Good morning, ladies!” she called, pulling out her earbuds. “You’re right on time.”

I glanced down at her feet. The fuzzy slippers she was wearing were improbably pink. Belinda didn’t seem like someone who’d wear pink. Maybe this was a new look for her, now that she had a “gentleman caller.”

Inside, we followed her down the hall to the kitchen, which smelled of something cinnamony baking in the oven. A trio of plates and mugs were set out on the counter, ready for a midmorning snack at Camp Belinda. Mackenzie drifted over to the wood stove. Half a dozen cardboard boxes were clustered around it in a semicircle. She peeked inside the closest one and squealed in delight.

“Kittens!”

“You were expecting maybe lizards?” I murmured, and she swatted my arm.

“You could take one home with you,” said Belinda, who never gave up. “That little gray one, maybe? I have an extra airline carrier. It fits right under the seat.”

Mackenzie gazing longingly at the contents of the nearest box.

“Feel free to pick one out—I mean up,” Belinda added, tossing my sisters and me a wink.

I had to get my cousin out of here, fast, or she’d be a goner. I grabbed her by the arm and steered her toward the door. “Sorry, but we can’t stay,” I told Belinda. “Mom says the bookstore is getting slammed, and she needs our help.”

“I could come along too,” Lauren offered.

I glared at her. I was still pretty angry about yesterday’s little spying episode. “No way. You need to stay here with Pippa.”

“But—”

“I need your help too, missy,” Belinda added hastily, noting Lauren’s mutinous expression. “And so do the kittens. Now

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