Shadow Keeper (27 page)

“They seem pretty clear to me. Something happened to your husband and he wants me to look after the two of you.”

“Perhaps, but would you have any objections to talking with one? I’ve already arranged a meeting with a medium for next weekend.”

I leaned back in the chair while considering her offer. “Isn’t next weekend Halloween?”

“Sunday is.” She made a little humming noise while tapping her fingers against her chin. “What would be more fitting than to commune with the spirit world on All Hallows Eve?”

Chapter Thirty–Three

The last football game of the season kept the fans on the edge of the bleachers until the very last play. Our team played hard and scored four touchdowns, but in the last seconds, the opposing team kicked a field goal. They whipped us by one point.

In the locker room, the coach gave us a pep talk for a great season with only two losses. He admired our hard work and dedication, but his words flew over my head. The school dance was already underway and Lisa was waiting for me.

I stripped off my sweaty uniform and jumped into a hot shower. My body ached from the beating I’d received on the field. I wanted to stay under the hard spray of water and let the jets pound away the soreness, but I cut it short and hurried to get dressed.

Carson slammed the locker door shut. “Move it, X–man. We’ve got women waiting for us.”

“I’m right behind you.” I finished lacing my shoes and caught up with him. “How’s it going with you and Sherry?”

“Nothing’s been said, but we’re exclusive, so I’m going to leave it at that for now.”

The crowd of kids at the entrance to the gym parted when we approached.

“Good game,” someone said.

“Too bad you lost,” another quipped.

When we got inside, I spotted Lisa getting a soda from the refreshment table. I nudged Carson with my elbow. “I found my woman. You’re on your own.” I tried to sneak up and surprise her, but she spotted me.

She rushed to me and threw her arms around my neck. “Oh, Brendon. How do you feel? I hated seeing those guys slam you down on the ground.”

I twirled her around before setting her on the floor. “It’s called tackling and I’m fine.”

Her fingertips brushed over my cheek. “What’s this red spot?” The muscles in her jaw tightened. “Did someone punch you?”

“Calm down. Bruises are part of the game.” I pulled her against my body. “But it’s nice to know you care.”

“I do.” Her arms tightened around me, but then pushed against my chest. “Oops. Here comes my mom.”

I released her and turned around. “Hey, Monica. Did you enjoy the game?”

“Yes, I was very impressed. The team played exceptionally well for such a small school and you did a remarkable job of catching the ball.”

“Thanks. Now if you don’t mind, I just asked Lisa to dance.” I pulled her deep into the crowd before turning her to me. I needed to have her back in my arms. “You did want to dance, right?”

“Of course.” Her hands slipped around my neck. “I’ve been waiting all night.”

“Me too.” My hands rested on her hips as I guided her across the floor to the rhythm of a slow song. “It’s the only time I can hold you without your mother flipping out.”

“I don’t know that it matters. I can see her from here and it looks like she’s flipping anyway.”

The music ended and another song blared over the speaker system. Lisa’s hands slipped from my neck as she moved to the rhythm of the faster beat. My body heat rose at the sight of her hips swaying beneath her short, tight skirt.

Her forehead wrinkled. “Don’t you fast dance?”

“Yeah, but I’d rather watch you.”

“Come on, dance with me.”

“Okay, but don’t make fun. I dance like I play football.”

“I loved the way you moved on the field, so I’m sure I’ll love the way you dance.”

I synchronized my body to the rhythm she’d set and my hips moved in time with hers. She turned a half circle. I moved close behind her. My hands rubbed down her hips and over her outer thighs. She continued with the circle, swaying her hips, until she faced me. “We better keep a lookout for my mom.”

I forced my gaze from her and glanced around. My head jerked. I blinked my eyes. “I don’t believe it. Your mom is dancing with Carson.”

She spun around. “Where?”

I pointed to them while cracking up with laughter. “She’s got some of your moves. Did you teach her that?”

“Yes,” she said between giggles. “But I never thought she’d dance like that in public.”

The song ended and we headed to the refreshment table. Monica beat us there. She glugged down half a bottle of water before noticing Lisa and me. “Good god, that boy is such a pest. He wouldn’t leave me alone until I promised to dance with him.”

“Oh, Mom. Carson isn’t that bad. Besides, you looked like you were having a good time.”

She swiped one hand across her forehead. “I probably made an awful fool of myself out there.”

“You didn’t look that awful.” A jab to my ribs from Lisa’s elbow made me amend my comment. “Actually, you looked pretty good.”

“Thank you, but from now on, I’ll stick with the slow dances.”

Lisa’s sharp elbow got me again. She nodded in the direction of her mom.

Oh, crap. She wanted me to dance with her mother. “This is a slow song. How about it, Monica?” I made an exaggerated bow. “Would you grant me the pleasure of a dance?”

“I don’t suppose it would be any worse than dancing with Carson.” She took a couple steps into the dance area and held up one hand. “And when did you start calling me by my first name?”

I took her hand and put my other in the middle of her back while keeping an appropriate distance between us. “Do you want me to be more formal?”

“It’s expected that children call their elders by their last name.”

“I can do that, if that’s what you want, but I won’t be a child much longer. I’m having a birthday next month.”

“Oh, really? Then you can be tried as an adult?”

My eyes rolled upward. “I used to think you didn’t have a sense of humor, but sometimes you can be hysterical.”

“You think going to jail is funny?”

“No. The funny part is you believe the threat of jail is the only thing keeping me in line. But to set the record straight, I’ll only be seventeen on my birthday.”

“Oh.” Her lips twitched. “Then what does keep you on the straight and narrow?”

“I assume we’re talking about Lisa.” I glanced at her face to see if she’d argue. “I like her and want to keep seeing her. I’m not going to do anything to mess that up.”

“You are respectful—at least to Lisa. I will give you credit for that.”

“Thanks, I guess.” I twirled her deeper into the crowd on the dance floor, hoping to throw her off balance. “As long as we’re on the subject, may I take Lisa out tomorrow night?”

“Sorry, but we have plans. And I’m not just saying that as a polite way of refusing. You may recall that I mentioned a séance.”

“Right, with a psychic medium.”

“Are you interested? He might help you understand those dreams you told me about.”

“It depends. Is he any good?”

“An old friend of mine knows of him. Claims the psychic is accredited through UC Berkley. He’s supposed to be very gifted.”

“Gifted?” A prickly sensation slithered up my spine.

“Yes, so if you’re interested, be at my house by six. The place we’re going to is in Marin County and the drive will take about an hour. We’ll stop at a restaurant along the way for dinner.” Her gaze raked over my shirt and jeans. “A nice restaurant, so please wear something appropriate.”

“Yes, Monica. I mean, Mrs. Stratton.”

“So, are you coming with us?”

A chance to spend an entire evening with Lisa no matter how bizarre the circumstances? “Sure. Sounds like fun.”

Chapter Thirty–Four

“A séance on Halloween, Mom?” Lisa scooted around in the front seat of the Lexus. “I think I’d rather be home passing out candy.”

“Today is only Saturday. Tomorrow is Halloween.” Monica turned into a driveway and stopped the car near a speaker device. “You can pass out candy then.”

“Can Brendon come over and help with the trick or treaters?”

Even from the back seat, I heard Monica let out a hard puff of air. “You see him every day at school, and now tonight. I would think you’d want a break from each other.”

“I don’t get tired of seeing him.” She glanced over her shoulder and flashed a big grin. “Maybe if you’d let me sit next to him once in a while, I might get tired quicker.”

Monica rolled down the window and pressed the speaker button to announce her arrival. While she waited for the wrought iron gate to open, she glanced around the interior of the car. “Just where do you want him to sit? There’s only room in the front for two. And if you sat in the back with him, I’d look like some sort of chauffer.”

Lisa’s giggles carried to the backseat. “I could get you one of those cute little chauffer hats.”

I laughed at her joke, but Monica didn’t, so I decided to be nice. “We got to sit next to each other in the restaurant.”

“Yes,” Lisa agreed. “But we were so busy eating that we barely had time to hold hands.”

“Oh, good god. I would certainly hope you two could restrain yourselves in public.”

I had to stifle my laughter. She had no idea the restraint I used. “In case I didn’t thank you, I appreciate you buying dinner. I’ve never had lobster tail before. Or a steak that big.”

“That was prime rib, and you thanked me already.” She drove the car around the circular drive and parked behind a black Mercedes. “After watching you play football last night, I thought you deserved a nice meal. I can see now why you eat so much. You need it so your body can recover from the punishment inflicted on you by the other team.”

“You’re probably right.” I arched my back, stretching the tight muscles.

“Of course if I had to feed you on a regular basis, I’d go broke.”

There it was—that jab that showed her disapproval of me on some level. “My mom says the same thing. That’s why she doesn’t serve steak and lobster every night.”

“Here we are.” Monica climbed from the car and straightened her dress.

After I crawled from the backseat, I shrugged the jacket on over my long sleeved shirt. To avoid Monica’s disapproval, I wore my Sunday best.

“Tonight should be fun,” she said. “This house is supposed to be haunted, you know.”

I glanced at the pink stucco house. Whatever a haunted house was supposed to look like, this didn’t fit my idea. The transparent picture of large red eyeballs staring down from the upstairs window might qualify, but the plastic tombstones littering the front lawn and the skeleton lying in a black plywood coffin made it look like any other house decorated for Halloween.

“Now remember, Brendon.” Monica intercepted me by the front fender. “Oscar is a very good friend, so please try to mind your manners.”

“Yes, Monica. You already told me he’s an old college buddy. And he’s very rich.”

“I never told you he had money.”

“You didn’t have to. I can see that by the size of this house and the neighborhood he lives in. I always heard rich people lived in Marin County. Now I believe it.”

“Then please try extra hard to be polite. And don’t call me Monica. Mrs. Stratton sounds more respectful.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I grabbed Lisa’s hand and squeezed it when she started to giggle. If she kept it up, I’d start laughing too.

Monica led the way up the walk and didn’t look back, so I slung my arm around Lisa’s shoulders and pulled her close. I pressed my lips next to her ear. “You look sexy in that skirt and sweater.”

She squirmed around to get her ear away from my mouth. “I told you I was going to wear lavender. That’s why I wanted you to wear the same colored tie.”

“It’s not the color. It’s those long legs of yours. They’re barely covered by that short skirt.”

“Shh.” She put her finger to my lips. “My mom might hear.”

“Monica, darling.” A man dressed as a pirate stood poised in the doorway, waiting for us to dodge the fake cobwebs on the porch.

“Oscar.” She threw her arms around him and they exchanged kisses on both cheeks. “I love your costume.”

“I was going for a Jack Sparrow look, but at my age, I’m afraid the only thing I’ll win is the Keith Richards’ lookalike award.”

“Nonsense, you look marvelous.” She flicked her fingers at the long curls hanging down to his shoulders. “With those dreadlocks and the beads hanging in your hair, you look exactly like Johnny Depp.”

“That’s what I love about you, Monica darling. You lie so sincerely.”

She kissed him on the cheek again before stepping back. “Oscar, you remember my daughter Lisa, don’t you?”