Miracle Season by Beth Hautala

Author:Beth Hautala [Hautala, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2022-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

25

NOT ALONE

Just after breakfast the next morning, a knock at the front door had Persephone racing to answer. To her surprise, Malachi Rathmason stood on the front step, a look of alarm on his face.

“Hey, Malachi,” she said, opening the door. “What’s up?”

“I need to talk to you,” he said urgently.

“Who is it?” Mom called, stepping into the hall before Malachi could say anything else. He shoved his hands in his pockets, and Persephone had the sudden desire to grab his hand—to keep him from hiding.

“Malachi,” said Persephone. “My friend from school.” She gestured to the boy on the step.

“Oh—I thought I heard you say hello to Mya,” her mother said. “Hello, Malachi. What are you up to today?”

Persephone was wondering the same thing.

“I just—uh—needed Persephone’s advice about—um—a letter I’m working on,” Malachi said, struggling to find the words. He flushed. “Is it okay if she hangs out for a little while?”

Persephone’s mother raised an eyebrow.

“It’s a summer project,” Persephone said quickly. “For school. An optional summer project.” She didn’t look at Malachi. “I told Mal I’d help him, if he wanted.” The lie slid out and she tried not to squirm under her mom’s gaze. She wasn’t sure why she felt the sudden need to cover for Malachi, but they were getting pretty good at keeping each other’s secrets, and that felt like something worth protecting. Her mother nodded, and Malachi grinned.

“Great! Thanks! We’re just going over to my house for a little bit.” He thumbed in that general direction and then glanced at Persephone. “You ready?”

“Ready.” She nodded. “I’ll be back soon.” Persephone offered her mother a smile, but she couldn’t decide if it was suspicion or something else that filled her mom’s eyes as she waved them off.

Malachi waited until they reached the end of the driveway and Persephone’s mother had gone back inside before he explained.

“I just came from the hardware store,” he began, his voice low. “I was getting more paint for a project I’m working on. Mrs. Perry was standing behind the counter, going on and on about how she’d just heard the most amazing news. She was saying Coulter was going to be on television—” Persephone gasped and halted on the sidewalk.

“I know! That’s what I thought too, because you were pretty clear about it being a big secret the other day in Mrs. McCullacutty’s garden.”

“It is a big secret!” Persephone whispered. She stared at him, the question snaking its way around her heart. “Did you tell someone?” Mal recoiled and shook his head, hurt by her question.

“No! I’d never tell anyone when you asked me not to!”

“Okay, okay! Sorry!” But Persephone hadn’t told anyone else. “What am I going to do?” This was not good. How did Mrs. Perry find out? And does she know something I don’t? Had Coulter been picked?

“Okay, hang on— Let’s not freak out yet.” Malachi pulled his hands out of his pockets and met Persephone’s gaze, determination squaring his shoulders. “You haven’t heard one way or the other yet, right, about Coulter being accepted?”

Persephone shook her head.

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