The Invited(96)

Olive blinked at her aunt, who stood in front of the stove, flipping pancakes on Mama’s big cast-iron griddle. She had on Mama’s pink apron.

“I thought we could have a nice breakfast, then I could give you a ride to school.”

“Where’s Dad?”

“He had to go into work early. They’re starting a big repaving job.”

Olive helped herself to coffee.

“Your dad said you had a rough night,” Riley said.

Olive shrugged. “A couple bad dreams, that’s all. Did Dad call you? Is that why you’re here? ’Cause I’m fine, really.”

“He’s worried about you, Ollie.”

“I just had a nightmare—it’s fine. Everyone has nightmares sometimes, don’t they?”

“What about?”

Olive looked down into her milky coffee. “I don’t remember.”

Riley put pancakes on a plate and set them on the table. Olive sat down and reached for the maple syrup. She wasn’t really hungry, but she dove in with a smile. “These are delicious!” she said.

Riley sat in the chair across from her. She watched her carefully, frowning. “The truth is, I’m concerned about you, too.” A lump formed in Olive’s throat, making it hard to swallow.

    “But everything’s good,” Olive said, between bites of pancake. “I mean, it’s just the very beginning of the school year, but things are going okay. I actually like my classes so far.”

“Your friend Mike came to see me,” Riley said.

“What?” Olive set her fork down, her hands clenched into fists. How could he? She would kill him for this.

“Now hang on,” Riley said. “Don’t get all mad at him. He did the right thing. He’s worried about you, Olive.”

“Mike’s always worried about something. He exaggerates and panics and gets all freaked out at the slightest little thing!” Olive said.

“He told me you found your mother’s necklace in the bog over the summer.”

Shit! Shit, shit, shit. Should have known that chickenshit traitor would tell.

She hesitated, wondering what the chances were of Riley believing her if she lied.

“Is that true, Olive?”

“Yeah, I found it in the bog. That silver necklace she was wearing all the time before she left.”

Riley nodded. “I know the one you mean.”

“Mama called it her I see all necklace.”

Riley smiled, but it was a sad smile. “Yeah, she did. I remember.”

“The chain was broken,” Olive said.

They were both silent for a moment.

“Where’s the necklace now?” Riley asked.

Olive felt it there, resting against her chest, tucked safely underneath her T-shirt and hoodie. She thought of pulling it out and showing it to Riley, but she was embarrassed. She worried Riley would think it was silly, a little pathetic even, to be wearing her mother’s necklace.

“I hid it. Someplace safe.”

Riley looked at her and Olive had this idea then that her aunt had X-ray eyes, could see just where the necklace was. It seemed to give a warm pulse against her skin, a pulse that her aunt might be able to somehow detect. But that was impossible.

“Mike also says you went to see Dicky Barns because you heard your mom might have been going to his spirit circles?”

“Yeah, I went to the hotel and it was way creepy. I heard Mama might have gone there, but Dicky said she never came to any of his séances or whatever they are. That the only time he ever saw her was at the store when Mama was working.”

    Riley looked at Olive across the table. “You believe him?”

Olive thought about what she’d heard Dicky say on the phone, her plans to go back there on Sunday. She couldn’t tell Riley. No way would Riley let her go.

“Yeah, I believe him,” Olive said, shrugging. “And being in there, talking to Dicky, I’ve gotta say I can’t imagine Mama ever being part of that place. She and Daddy always made fun of Dicky. I think she was looking for the treasure, and trying to find out about Hattie, but no way was she going to Dicky Barns and his ghost club for clues.”

Riley nodded. “Yeah, I agree. Your mom doesn’t think much of Dicky. I can’t really imagine her going there either.”

Olive picked up her fork and went back to her pancakes.

“Have you shown the necklace to anyone else?” Riley asked.

“No.”

“So your dad doesn’t know you found it?”

“Uh-uh,” Olive said around a mouthful of pancakes. She swallowed, had a glug of coffee. “Mike thought I should show him—Mike also thought maybe I should take it to the police. Like it might be a clue or something. But like I said, he tends to get all panicky and overexaggerate stuff.”

Riley was quiet a minute.

“Do you think I should bring it to the police?” Olive asked, setting her fork down again. “Just to see what they think? I mean, it’s not like my dad ever filed a missing person’s report or anything like that.”

“I think…” Riley paused a second. “I think that we should wait. See what we can figure out on our own first. Bringing the police in, having them asking questions, bringing up all the boyfriend stuff—think what that would do to your dad.”