Read Online Last Dance by Linda Joy Singleton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Linda Joy Singleton
Tags: Fiction, Young Adult, teen, spring0410, singleton, The Seer Series, sabine, The Seer, Linda Joy Singleton, Don't Die Dragonfly
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life.
But Chloe is already dead , I thought, confused. It’s too late to save her.
Curiosity swept through me with a storm of question marks. Who was the dark blond stranger? What was behind the heart door? Why did Chloe keep appearing in October rains? Why had she summoned me?
But I reminded myself that I didn’t have time to chase a ghost. This whole trip was to help my grandmother. After I talked to Eleanor Baskers, I’d go home. Of course, I had the rest of the day free to do whatever I wanted … or maybe what Chloe wanted. The only thing I knew for sure was that if I did nothing, I’d find out nothing.
Thorn was crossing the street, and I waited for a break in traffic to join her.
“It’s starting to rain!” Thorn covered her head with her hands.
I lifted my chin, soft drops falling on my face. “Perfect weather for ghost watching.”
“If you say so.” Thorn shrugged. “Those obsessed Chloe fans will be thrilled. Bet they’ll be out in force tonight at the pavilion.”
“Yeah.” I gave her a solemn look. “And two more.”
“Who?” Her eyes widened. “You don’t mean?”
“Yes, I do. It’s crazy, but I have to see Chloe.” I clutched the shopping bag close to my chest. “Let’s go ghost hunting tonight.”
After dinner, Thorn played dominos with her aunt and uncle. They invited me to join them, but I wanted to call my grandmother. Despite the distractions from Chloe, I’d never stopped worrying about Nona. Only when I called her, the phone rang and rang and rang. Why wasn’t she answering the phone? Was she meeting a client? Having dinner with a friend? Or lying injured on the floor?
You’re just being paranoid, I told myself. Nona is fine. Besides, Dominic is there to help if she has any problems. So stop worrying already .
I set down the phone, then headed to the family room to join in the game of dominos. But when I peeked into the room, Thorn and her aunt and uncle were laughing so cozily, I was reluctant to intrude.
I used to play games like that with my sisters , I thought wistfully as I watched silently from the doorway. I remembered years ago when I’d taught my little sisters to play poker. Since Mom didn’t approve of gambling, we played outside in our tree house. We didn’t have money for betting, so we used M&M’s. Whoever won a hand ate their winnings. It was impossible to keep score, but no one cared. And we laughed in the same connected way Thorn was laughing now.
I swallowed a lump in my throat and turned away.
Back in the guestroom, I closed the door behind me and sank on the bed. I didn’t want to think about my messed-up family, so I picked up the book I’d bought earlier: the biography of Chloe Anne Marie Talbot.
Rain pounded lightly on the window as I slipped back in time. Seventeen years wasn’t long enough to fill many pages, so the book was padded with numerous pictures and newspaper articles—a picture of four-year-old Chloe posing prettily on a pony at a county fair, one of her strutting in a bathing suit as the newly-crowned Miss Pine Cone Princess, and dozens of her in school plays. She was also involved in numerous clubs and committees, as if she was determined to make an exclamation mark on the world.
By her sophomore year, there were subtle changes in the photos—a sly arch of dark blond brows and an invitation in her sultry smile. There were always guys hanging around her, as if mesmerized.
I skimmed through the chapter on her family. Chloe was an only child of older parents who gave her everything, yet governed her life with strict rules. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot never missed a Sunday at church and were active members of their community. I was startled to find out Mr. Talbot was a lawyer, like my own father.
The next chapters gave an overview of Pine Peaks in the fifties. There were many news clippings of prominent citizens, and lots of dull details about politics. But what I wanted to know—had to know—was what happened to Chloe.
So
But Chloe is already dead , I thought, confused. It’s too late to save her.
Curiosity swept through me with a storm of question marks. Who was the dark blond stranger? What was behind the heart door? Why did Chloe keep appearing in October rains? Why had she summoned me?
But I reminded myself that I didn’t have time to chase a ghost. This whole trip was to help my grandmother. After I talked to Eleanor Baskers, I’d go home. Of course, I had the rest of the day free to do whatever I wanted … or maybe what Chloe wanted. The only thing I knew for sure was that if I did nothing, I’d find out nothing.
Thorn was crossing the street, and I waited for a break in traffic to join her.
“It’s starting to rain!” Thorn covered her head with her hands.
I lifted my chin, soft drops falling on my face. “Perfect weather for ghost watching.”
“If you say so.” Thorn shrugged. “Those obsessed Chloe fans will be thrilled. Bet they’ll be out in force tonight at the pavilion.”
“Yeah.” I gave her a solemn look. “And two more.”
“Who?” Her eyes widened. “You don’t mean?”
“Yes, I do. It’s crazy, but I have to see Chloe.” I clutched the shopping bag close to my chest. “Let’s go ghost hunting tonight.”
After dinner, Thorn played dominos with her aunt and uncle. They invited me to join them, but I wanted to call my grandmother. Despite the distractions from Chloe, I’d never stopped worrying about Nona. Only when I called her, the phone rang and rang and rang. Why wasn’t she answering the phone? Was she meeting a client? Having dinner with a friend? Or lying injured on the floor?
You’re just being paranoid, I told myself. Nona is fine. Besides, Dominic is there to help if she has any problems. So stop worrying already .
I set down the phone, then headed to the family room to join in the game of dominos. But when I peeked into the room, Thorn and her aunt and uncle were laughing so cozily, I was reluctant to intrude.
I used to play games like that with my sisters , I thought wistfully as I watched silently from the doorway. I remembered years ago when I’d taught my little sisters to play poker. Since Mom didn’t approve of gambling, we played outside in our tree house. We didn’t have money for betting, so we used M&M’s. Whoever won a hand ate their winnings. It was impossible to keep score, but no one cared. And we laughed in the same connected way Thorn was laughing now.
I swallowed a lump in my throat and turned away.
Back in the guestroom, I closed the door behind me and sank on the bed. I didn’t want to think about my messed-up family, so I picked up the book I’d bought earlier: the biography of Chloe Anne Marie Talbot.
Rain pounded lightly on the window as I slipped back in time. Seventeen years wasn’t long enough to fill many pages, so the book was padded with numerous pictures and newspaper articles—a picture of four-year-old Chloe posing prettily on a pony at a county fair, one of her strutting in a bathing suit as the newly-crowned Miss Pine Cone Princess, and dozens of her in school plays. She was also involved in numerous clubs and committees, as if she was determined to make an exclamation mark on the world.
By her sophomore year, there were subtle changes in the photos—a sly arch of dark blond brows and an invitation in her sultry smile. There were always guys hanging around her, as if mesmerized.
I skimmed through the chapter on her family. Chloe was an only child of older parents who gave her everything, yet governed her life with strict rules. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot never missed a Sunday at church and were active members of their community. I was startled to find out Mr. Talbot was a lawyer, like my own father.
The next chapters gave an overview of Pine Peaks in the fifties. There were many news clippings of prominent citizens, and lots of dull details about politics. But what I wanted to know—had to know—was what happened to Chloe.
So
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