Connecting (Lily Dale #3)(52)

“This painting,” he says solemnly, “is worthless. Unfortunately for Betty Owens, the certificates concealed behind it were not.”

Calla sinks onto the couch, sickened as she stares at the closeup on the artwork.

The painting depicts a large, gothic-looking house on a cliff overlooking the sea. It has a square center turret with an octagonal stained-glass window, and a widow’s walk above.

The camera shifts to show a snapshot of the man Calla knows as Owen Henry, wearing a Hawaiian shirt with palm trees and standing in front of an aquamarine sea.

“Police now seek this man, Henry Owens, for questioning in connection to the theft,” the reporter says. “Owens disappeared several days ago and is believed to have left the area. Viewers who may have information on his whereabouts are asked to call—”

“We’re in luck.” Odelia breezes into the room, carrying cookies. “I found a whole bag of Chips Ahoy in the cupboard.”

“Gammy . . . I have to tell you something.”

Odelia peers at her, sitting there on the couch. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Calla nods miserably. “I’m so sorry. I was only trying to help. . .”

Her grandmother puts the bag of cookies on the table and sits next to her, putting her hands on Calla’s shoulders. “What is it? Tell me.”

She does. The whole story.

And she braces herself for her grandmother’s fury.

But shockingly, it doesn’t come.

Odelia shakes her head a lot, and sighs heavily, but she doesn’t yell or criticize or condemn or say I told you so or do any of the things Calla figures she has every right to do.

“You meant well, Calla. And you’ll learn,” she says heavily.

“Just like I did. You’ll learn when to get involved, and when to keep things to yourself.”

“But now this poor old woman has lost all that money because of me. I thought he loved her and he was trying to reach her, and when I kept seeing her face, I thought she was a spirit . . . how could I be so stupid?”

“You’re not stupid! You’re just new at this.” Odelia hugs her. “And you have a big heart. I know you want to help people. And you can. You can do a lot of good in this world using your gift.”

“I can do a lot of bad, too. Maybe I shouldn’t be trying to do anything at all with it. Maybe I should just forget I even have it.”

As if that’s even possible, she thinks, glancing at the sad-eyed little ghost girl in the corner of the room.

“You can learn to ignore it,” Odelia tells her. “Some people do. But is that really what you want?”

“I don’t know what I want. It’s so depressing. I just feel awful right now, about that woman . . .”

About a lot of things.

None of which would ever have happened if she hadn’t been thrust into this strange new world in Lily Dale.

Odelia ruffles Calla’s hair. “You know what I think?”

“What?”

“That you should get a good night’s sleep. Things will look brighter in the morning. They always do.”





SIXTEEN

Monday, October 1

12:39 p.m.

Odelia is right about a lot of things, but she was wrong about this, big-time.

Things don’t always look brighter in the morning.

On this particular morning, things couldn’t have looked worse, and the afternoon isn’t looking much better.

The day started with Evangeline going out of her way to avoid Calla. So she walked to school alone, trailing a good twenty yards behind Evangeline, also walking alone.

It seemed silly not to catch up to her and try to make amends, but it was really up to Evangeline to make the first move. Calla senses that her friend’s pain is still too raw. And anyway, it’s not as if Calla is willing to promise Evangeline she’ll stay away from Jacy from now on. Not when they’ve finally gotten together.

When she got to school, Blue was there, on crutches. People were practically lining up to carry his books as he hobbled from class to class. He made a point of singling out Calla after first period to ask her how the homecoming dance was.

“It was okay,” she said with a shrug, hoping he hadn’t heard that she and Jacy didn’t actually make it to the dance.

Luckily, he didn’t press her for details, just asked if she wants to go to a movie next weekend.

“Thanks, but I can’t . . . I’m going to Florida on Friday.”

“Oh. Well, then, how about sooner. Tonight?”

“I have to babysit until late.” Paula and Martin are going out to dinner. That means extra cash for her, and God knows she can use it.

“Okay . . . I have something going on tomorrow night, but how about Wednesday?”

“It’s a school night.” And her heart wasn’t in it anymore. Now that she had been kissed by Jacy at last . . .

Why couldn’t Blue, with his reportedly extraordinary perception, sense that she was no longer interested in him?

He definitely didn’t, because he flashed those big Blue eyes and tilted his head at her and said, “We won’t stay out late. Come on, Calla. I’ve been going stir crazy around the house. I could use some fun.”

Frankly, so could she.

She found herself accepting the date, though mostly out of guilt.