Deep Water--Shadows of Camelot Crossing, a Haunting in Stillwater Book 2 by Lisa Courtaway

Author:Lisa Courtaway
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781737422235
Publisher: Lisa Courtaway

Chapter Fourteen

2020

Birdie lay in bed, willing herself to sleep. She tried to quiet her mind by focusing on the sound of ocean waves mixed with a calming wind chime tune from an app on her phone. Just as she had managed to stop replaying the scene in the grocery store over and over in her mind and her eyes began to feel heavy, something hit her bedroom window. The light tap drew her out of her lulled state instantly. It sounded like a pebble hitting the glass. Another hit with a louder tap, confirming her suspicions. Wren had often employed this method of tossing pebbles against Birdie’s window when they were teens and Wren missed curfew or forgot her house keys.

Birdie hurried to her window and opened the blinds. Her sister stood in the bank of shrubs outside her window. Wren held the pink bundle in one arm and raised the other, pointing to the back of the house; then she turned and faded into the bushes.

On instinct, more than actual understanding, Birdie left her room and tiptoed the few steps to Iva’s bedroom. Behind the door she could hear whispering, and she threw the door open without knocking. Iva had one leg out the window. She froze as Birdie turned on the light.

“What are you doing?” Birdie uttered. She crossed the room and grabbed the girl’s arm.

“Hey,” was all Iva could reply before Birdie spied another figure in the yard.

Birdie yanked hard on Iva and drew her back into the room. Pushing the girl aside, she stuck her head out the window as the person waiting outside for Iva bolted. Iva’s backpack lay on the ground below.

Birdie spun the girl around. Outside, they heard the noise of a loud engine revving to life and tires screeching.

“Great! Now he’s gone. What are you doing here? Why aren’t you asleep?” Iva’s face was red with anger. Her resentment had life, like a wave of heat blasting Birdie in the face.

“What am I doing here? Who is he, and what are you doing?”

Iva dropped onto her bed. “I don’t even know him that well. He was just going to skip town and I decided to go with him.”

“Skip town? Go with him? What are you talking about?” Birdie felt like she was admonishing her sister as she had so many times, not her niece. The next words came out of her mouth without thought. “Do you want to end up like your mother?”

Iva looked up, tears streaming down her red face, “It’d be better than ending up like you!” she cried. “At least my mother lived her own life! You don’t even have a life; you had to steal hers! You’re not my mother and you never will be!”

The words hit Birdie like a punch, knocking the air out of her. She didn’t know how to respond but Iva gave her little chance. The girl ran to the bathroom and slammed the door. Birdie could hear her sobs. Marlow opened his bedroom door, rubbing his eyes as Birdie reached the bathroom door.

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