Read Online The Secret of Strange Waters (The Light Keeper Series Book 2) by Kelly Hall - Free Book Online Page A

tell him.” His eyes met hers directly. “I’m sorry, but I love her, Cate.”
    Mom sighed. She considered him as if he were an insect. “First thing in the morning, before school, y ou will call him then.” She put her hand on her stomach and ran to the bathroom.
    * * *
    When I woke up the next morning, I could hear Mom and Talon talking at the kitchen table. “I promise,” he said.
    “You better mean it.” Mom’s voice echoed down the hall.
    By the time I got out of bed, brushed my teeth, and got to them, Talon was on the phone with Tom. “I know, I do, yes,” he said into the phone. I wish I had heard the question, but I could guess. “It’s not like that, Dad, I swear. Nothing’s going to go wrong. I promise.” Mom and I listened as he defended, defined, and declared us. “Yes, she’s right here.” Mom held out her hand and took the phone.
    “I know. I’m shocked. I thought they were getting along, but this is ridiculous. Well, I agree. Yes, I think it will be fine. If we tell them they can’t see each other you know they’ll just do it anyway. Well, if you suspected you could have clued me in!” She raised her voice. “Well, they aren’t really related! I know. I think he really means it. Yes, her too. Okay, here she is.”
    I was taken by surprise when Mom passed the phone off to me. “H—hello,” I stuttered.
    “Lily, do you really want this? He’s not pressuring you into anything?” Tom sounded exhausted. I felt bad that he had more important things to worry about than drama happening at home.
    “Yes I do, very much, and no, he hasn’t. He’s been very respectful .” I hoped he remembered our conversation days before.
    “Well, I meant what I said the other day, I’m glad he has you. Take care of each other, and look after your mom. She said she wasn’t feeling well.”
    “I will,” I promised, and then he asked for Mom again. As she talked, Talon smiled at me and took my hand.
    “What did he say to you?” I asked.
    “I can’t repeat some of it,” he said. “But bottom line is, if I screw this up, I gotta go live with my mom.”
    I pulled him to me and buried my face in his chest. He kissed my head. Mom threw down the phone and ran for the bathroom. Once again I wasn’t sure it wasn’t in reaction to us. I ran after her, and Talon explained to Tom what had happened.

Chapter Six
    AFTER SCHOOL, MOM WAS still in bed. She was certain it was a stomach bug, so she told us to stay away. We spent the evening in Talon’s room and he played guitar. He’s been playing since he was eight years old, and he’s very talented. He tried to teach me at the end of the summer, but I couldn’t keep my fingers straight. Frustrated, I quit after two attempts. I preferred listening, anyway.
    He got a new acoustic from his mom, and since I told him I liked the sound of it better than his electric, that’s all he played for me. I loved those times; it was so relaxing. I could watch him play forever. I loved the way he moved and held his expressions as he played. There was such emotion in the sounds. I felt totally at peace.
    Later, before dark, I walked next door to visit with Granny. I noticed Hunter digging in Mr. Hill’s yard as I walked in. Granny was in her apron, standing at the stove. She was preparing to can tomato sauce.
    “What’s Hunter doing out there?” I looked out the front window in the living room.
    She turned from stirring her sauce to face me. “He’s out there digging, determined to find that gold.”
    Hunter had been searching off and on for the gold he’d seen at Mr. Hill’s house before he died. Mr. Hill found out we’d been nosing around, so he hid it. We figured it was old coins, nothing valuable, but Hunter thought otherwise. Now that I knew about Granny’s flowerbed fortune, I believed it, too.
    Granny motioned in his direction with her spoon. “He’s all keyed up over Holly. He wants to buy her something,” she said.
    “Why doesn’t he use the gold