Read Online Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay: A Young Adult Haunted House Mystery by R. Barri Flowers - Free Book Online

kissed him,
holding his cheeks with her hands. "Does that answer your
question?"
    "Sure does."
    "Thought so."
    They exchanged more kisses before getting
out of the water.
    "I guess we should probably head back now,"
Bryant said. "I've gotta feed Hugh."
    And I've got to go back to a house where my
mother and stepfather are becoming more and more like strangers to
me.
    Not to mention some other possible
inhabitants.
    Peyton hid her dissatisfaction. "I suppose
you're right. I've got a few unfinished chores, too."
    Bryant walked her to the porch. Peyton was
certain that their goodbyes would probably be interrupted. But,
thankfully, no one came out.
    "I had a great time," he said.
    "Yeah, so did I." If she could, Peyton would
have shouted it to the world.
    Bryant looked down at her face. "Maybe next
week we can check out a movie."
    "That sounds good." Peyton imagined that
going anywhere with him was something she was sure to enjoy.
    "Cool." He smiled and gave her a quick peck
on the lips. "Bye."
    "See you later, Bry."
    Peyton could still feel the tingle of
Bryant's mouth on hers long after she had gone inside. He was a
great kisser and so much more. The summer was taking on a new
meaning for Peyton in romantic ways she had not anticipated when
they moved to Shadow Bay.
    But even that wasn't enough to keep her from
feeling that something was very wrong in this household. And she
doubted it would go away easily.
    No more than the mysterious girl, who seemed
determined to keep Peyton guessing.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    Following a morning run the next day, Peyton
returned to the house. With Vance at work, she expected her mother
would be working in her office. But she wasn't there or in the
kitchen.
    Peyton wondered if maybe her mother wasn't
feeling well and had stayed in bed.
    But she wasn't in her room.
    Since her mother's car was outside, Peyton
knew she hadn't gone into town.
    So where could she be?
    Not that Peyton wanted to sound the alarm
bells or anything. Then again, maybe she should.
    Maybe that girl in the mirror had done
something bad to her mother.
    For an instant, Peyton considered the
possibility that her mother might have gone to see Luke, even if it
seemed somewhat out of character. But her mother hadn't exactly
been in character of late and she did seem to like Luke and vice
versa.
    "Mom...are you home?" Peyton called out.
    "Up here," Melody answered in a hollow
voice.
    "Where's here?"
    "The attic."
    Peyton ambled towards door that led to the
attic. She had gone up there once after they first moved in, but
found it too drab, cluttered, dusty, and plain old creepy to want
to go up again anytime soon.
    She spotted her mother practically buried
between boxes.
    "What are you doing in here?"
    "I thought I'd come up to see if I could
straighten out some of this mess." Melody sighed. "Instead, I found
a treasure trove."
    "Such as?"
    "Clothing that looks like it could still be
worn today." She stood up, holding something. "And pictures that
speak of the history of this house and its occupants. Like this
one--"
    Peyton saw the back of an antique wooden
frame. Her mother turned it around, revealing an old black and
white photograph of a family. Upon closer inspection, Peyton was
taken aback, putting a hand to her mouth.
    The man, woman, and girl in the
picture were the same ones in her dreams. Peyton was sure of it,
honing in on the girl in particular.
    So I wasn't losing my mind. Not exactly
anyway.
    "What is it, Peyton?"
    "I've seen them," she said.
    "Who?"
    Peyton pointed at the photograph.
    Her mother looked at it again and back to
Peyton. "Where?"
    She sighed, almost afraid to say. "In my
dreams..."
    Melody's brow creased. "That's not possible,
honey."
    "Yes, it is!" Peyton shook. "That girl...is
the one I saw in the bay...and--" She held up from revealing that
she'd also seen her in the mirror.
    Melody sat the picture down and touched
Peyton's cheek. "We agreed that whoever or whatever you saw in the
bay was either a