Spirits of the Season

by Phoebe Rivers

  Franklin’s thin lips turned up into a smile. “Not now. It’s not the right day. I must wait until the twenty-second.”

  “That’s tomorrow.” I thought ahead. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. My dad will be away. Well, maybe . . . I don’t actually know what’s going to happen with that.” I bit my lip, thinking. It would be better if my dad wasn’t at the house. He didn’t believe in spirits and visions. I couldn’t imagine what he would do if Lady Azura started dancing with someone he couldn’t see.

  I made up my mind. I wouldn’t stop Dad from going off with Janelle, even though I’d promised. I’d just have to find a way to deal with Dina and the video.

  “You have to come tomorrow,” I told Franklin. “My dad will be in Philadelphia, so you and Lady Azura can be alone. You can spend the day together like you used to.” I glanced up at the street sign. “Meet me here tomorrow at eleven in this exact spot, and I’ll show you the way.”

  Chapter 10

  His bag was packed, waiting at the top of the stairs, but Dad sat on the sofa in our second-floor family room, pretending to read a magazine.

  Why wasn’t he leaving?

  I watched him flip the pages. Glance at an article, then at his watch. Glance at a picture, then at his watch.

  I sat at the large table that used to be in our old kitchen and clicked through photos on my camera, looking for ones to run with the story on the library and another story about the new trophy case.

  I glanced at the screen, then at Dad. Screen and then at the clock. Ten thirty a.m.

  Neither of us spoke. No one moved.

  Dad lifted his cell phone and texted.

  He groaned when he saw the answer and texted some more.

  I looked at the clock again. 10:35 a.m. In twenty-five minutes, I had to meet Franklin. Dad should’ve been gone by now.

  “What time’s the wedding?” I asked.

  “Two.” He rubbed his fingers alongside his temples. I knew that move. He was stressed. “We may not go, though. Dina’s not feeling well.”

  Of course she’s not, I thought. “What’s wrong with her?”

  “Janelle says she has stomach pains.”

  “You could go to the wedding by yourself,” I suggested.

  “I don’t know. I’d feel bad leaving Janelle here.” He shook his head. “She got a new dress and everything.”

  “I’m sure it’s real pretty.” Probably pink, I thought.

  “I guess I could stay around and replace some of the rotting floorboards. Have you heard how they creak?”

  “You don’t want to do that.” I couldn’t have him hanging out all day. “Wouldn’t your friend want you to go to his wedding? I mean, didn’t you promise?”

  “I did.” Dad started texting Janelle again. “Maybe I can convince Janelle that Chloe can take care of Dina. She seems very responsible, don’t you think?”

  Now my phone buzzed. Dina.

  WHATS HAPPENING? MOM WAS GOING 2 STAY BUT YOUR DAD KEEPS PUSHING. STOP HIM!!!

  “Chloe’s only sixteen,” I said halfheartedly.

  “Dina could come over here,” he suggested.

  Oh no, she can’t! I thought. “It’s probably not a good day. Lady Azura’s going to be sad today.”

  “Really?” He put down his phone. “Why?”

  “Did you know that she was engaged and her fiancé died in World War II? Today would’ve been her wedding day. Well, her first wedding day.” I explained about Franklin and what had happened. Of course, I left out that he came back every year and that his spirit was waiting for me in town.

  “She really loved him a lot,” I told Dad.

  “She loved Richard, too.”

  “You know about Richard?” I was surprised. Dad and Lady Azura’s only conversations seemed to be about house repairs and what to buy at the market.

  “Um, she told me about him. They traveled a lot together. All over South America and to Australia.” He paused. “She said it was his idea that she open a fortune-telling business. As I take it, they were both a bit offbeat.” He chuckled.

  “But he wasn’t her first love,” I reminded him. “You told me how special a first true love is.”

  “I did. It is.” Dad patted the cushion, and I curled up beside him. “There are many kinds of love, kiddo. First loves come only once. Some of us are lucky enough to have our first love with us our entire lives. Others—like Lady Azura and me—lose that love, but that doesn’t mean we lose the ability to love.” He reached for my hand. “There are other loves, different loves for different times in our life. People need love.”

  “What about you?”

  “Me too.” He took a deep breath, considering. “Janelle and I need more time together for me to know what comes next, but it would be nice to find love again.”

  Now my stomach hurt. I could ruin this chance for him.

  If I said I didn’t feel well either, that would be it. With two sick kids, they’d cancel the trip. Dina would get what she wanted. At least for this weekend.

  And my dad would be lonely.

  And I would feel guilty.

  If I could separate Janelle from her daughter, she wasn’t all that bad. I wished I could separate them. Keep Dina away.

  I twisted the silver cord of my necklace around my finger, then raised the crystals to inspect them. Next to the opal, the aquamarine crystal glowed in the morning light. The aquamarine was supposed to give me courage.

  Did I have the courage to go up against Dina?

  I hoped so.

  “You should convince Janelle to go with you,” I said. “Really, I mean it. Dina was fine at school yesterday. I think she’s probably just being dramatic because she wants her mom to stay home and take her Christmas shopping or something like that. I’m sure she’ll be okay.” I chewed my lip, then said, “And if she is really sick, she can come over here and rest if she wants to.”

  “You’re the best, kiddo.” Dad gave me a hug. His cheek was stubble free and smooth. He’d shaved for Janelle, even though he hated to shave on the weekends.

  He took his phone and wandered down the hall to his bedroom to call Janelle.

  I checked the clock again. 10:50.

  I wondered if I could tell Dad I needed to go into town for something. What? More presents? I’d already used that excuse yesterday. I wandered to the window. Yesterday’s snow had turned to slush. The bay water in the distance looked flat and gray.

  How long would Franklin wait? I wondered.

  I fiddled with my phone. I couldn’t call someone who wasn’t living. He didn’t even know what a cell phone was, I realized. I looked around the room—at the flat-screen TV, Dad’s laptop, my iPod. He wouldn’t know any of these things. He didn’t even know where to find the house.

  Everything changed, I realized. Except love.

  Franklin still loved Lady Azura.

  The way the old man in the store loved his wife.

  The way I hoped my mom somewhere loved my dad.

  “I’m off!” Dad announced as he came back into the room. He looked much happier. “Janelle and I are dropping Dina and Chloe at their aunt’s house. She should be fine. Janelle says the stomachache comes and goes.”

  “That’s great, Dad.” It made me happy to see him so happy.

  “I wrote down the phone number of where I’m staying, and you have my cell. Lady Azura should be up and about soon.” He glanced at the clock. 11:10. “Well. Almost noon.” We usually didn’t see her before noon on the weekends. She said she needed time to “put on her face,” which meant all the makeup and creams she wore.

  I decided to ask. “Is everything okay with you and Lady Azura?”

  “Us? Oh, we’re fine. Just a little disagreement. We’re working on solving it.” He was trying way too hard to sound casual.

  “What’s it about?”

  “Nothing to worry about. We made a deal when we moved in, and she was looking for a way out.”

  “A way out?”

  “No worries, Sara, I�
��m figuring through things, finding a way to move forward.”

  There was that word again. Move.

  He pointed to the clock. “Janelle’s waiting.”

  I didn’t want to let him run out on this conversation. Dad was a master avoider. But Franklin was waiting too. At least, I hoped so.

  “Will you tell me about it when you come home?”

  “We’ll talk. I promise.” He took hold of his bag. “Listen, do me a favor. Lay off the questions with Lady Azura when I’m gone, okay?”

  “Questions about what?” I asked. “Neither of you will say what’s going on.”

  Dad smiled and gave me a kiss on my cheek.

  My phone buzzed even before he reached the bottom stair.

  U MESSED IT ALL UP!!! R U NUTS?

  I tucked it back into my jeans pocket. I didn’t want to reply. Maybe I was nuts. I could only imagine how miserable Dina was going to make my life at school.

  But with the holidays, I was off from school until after New Year’s. For all I knew, Dad would tell me we were moving by then. Moving forward. Moving away.

  Was it the same thing?

  I put the awful thought out of my mind. I had to get to Franklin.

  I waited until I saw Dad’s car drive up the street, then hurried downstairs. I grabbed my navy parka from the brass rack near the door and searched the pockets for gloves.

  “Where are you off to? It’s frigid out today.”

  I stared at Lady Azura. She still wore her white silk robe. Her mahogany-dyed hair was covered by an emerald-green scarf wrapped up like a turban. She looked pale, tired, and wrinkled. No makeup, no perfume, stray gray hairs poking out around her temples.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, alarmed at the puffiness of her eyes. She’d been crying again.

  “Yes.” She reached for the large opal on the chain around her neck and cupped her palm over it. “It’s just one of those days.”

  “I was just going into town quickly to get, um”—I searched for an excuse—“the present I bought for Lily. The Salty Crab was wrapping it. I can bring something back from the bakery. That’ll give you time to get dressed,” I offered.

  “Oh, I’m not going to get dressed today.”

  “You’re not?” I’d never seen her not get dressed.

  “Today is a wrap-myself-in-blankets-and-watch-movies day. You can go to town later. Let’s watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn is divine in it.”

  “But I need to get Lily’s present.”

  She waved her hand and grunted. “Delores isn’t going anywhere. She’ll have it tomorrow.”

  I shifted my weight from foot to foot. Lady Azura wanted to watch movies with me. She looked frail and vulnerable, and I knew I should keep her company.

  But I knew why she’d been crying. Today was the day. December 22. I could fix everything. I had the power to bring Franklin back to her.

  “I promised I’d be there today. Now.” I slipped on my jacket and gloves. “I’ll go really quick and then come back for the movie. And I’ll bring back a surprise for you.”

  “Chewy candy. Nothing chocolate.”

  “Sure.” She thought the surprise was candy for the movie. She had no idea. “Are you sure you don’t want to put something else on? You always talk about that Audrey actress’s style. Why don’t you dress up like her?”

  “I’ll admire it on screen. I don’t have it in me today. Not today.” She turned back toward her bedroom.

  I raced through the slushy streets of Stellamar. I had to hurry. I had to find Franklin. I’d never seen Lady Azura so defeated, so heartbroken. She was the one who stayed strong when I was scared. She was the one who fixed what went wrong.

  It was my turn now.

  Icy water seeped into my sneakers, soaking my socks, as I rounded the road leading onto Beach Drive. A cold rain began to fall. I skidded down the street, dodging the umbrellas now opening. Strands of my hair, plastered with rain, stuck to my cheeks.

  It was after 11:40 when I reached the side street. I stopped at the doorway, searching. He wasn’t there.

  The street was empty. No people—dead or alive. Rain drummed against a metal garbage can by the curb. I waited, my heart thumping along with the beat of the drops.

  I waited and waited.

  He didn’t appear.

  Was I too late, or had he decided not to show?

  I had wanted so much to bring him and Lady Azura back together. Now I’d failed.

  “Franklin!” I shouted into the storm. “Franklin!”

  Chapter 11

  A woman walking a shaggy dog in a yellow rain slicker stopped at the corner, as I screamed Franklin’s name over and over. I turned my back to her and debated what to do next.

  Search the streets for him? Pick up Lily’s present and lots of candy and go home?

  Rain dripped into my eyes, and the gloves’ wet wool stuck to my fingers. “Franklin!” I cried for the last time.

  “Over here.”

  I whirled around and whooped. He was there, shimmering in the doorway. I didn’t ask where he’d been. He could’ve been anywhere. I was so happy to see him.

  He stood, completely dry in his uniform, while the rain poured down.

  “Is she waiting for me?” His low voice wavered, unsure.

  I thought of Lady Azura in her bathrobe with her puffy eyes. “Yes.” I hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed when he saw her. “Actually, she doesn’t know. It’s a surprise. You’re the perfect Christmas present.”

  He liked that and followed me through the wet streets. I made him detour to the Salty Crab. I quickly picked up Lily’s present and, on a whim, used some of the money Dad had given me to buy one of those Stellamar snow globes.

  When we reached the house, I stopped him on our porch. Franklin didn’t seem to notice the knitting lady. Maybe the dead couldn’t see one another?

  “Wait here,” I told him.

  I entered and peeled off my coat and gloves. Kicking my wet sneakers aside, I padded toward the clanking of dishes in the kitchen.

  “Oh, child, you are drenched.” Lady Azura stood by the stove with a coffee mug in her hand. “Go upstairs and put on something cozy.”

  She was still wearing her bathrobe. The overhead light of the kitchen illuminated the wrinkles she was so worried about Franklin seeing.

  I couldn’t tell her to put on makeup without ruining the surprise. I thought about Franklin.

  He loved her. He wanted to see her. I didn’t think he’d care what she looked like. Besides, if he were alive he’d have wrinkles too. Lots of them.

  “Sara, did you hear me? Don’t just stand there dripping.”

  “I have a surprise for you.”

  “Later. Go change. I’ll make hot chocolate.”

  “Now,” I insisted. I reached for her hand. “It’s a Christmas present, but you need to see it today.”

  I led her down the hall and flung open the door. Franklin reached out his hand to her.

  Lady Azura didn’t move. She didn’t speak. Her gaze drifted past him to the street and a silver car splashing through the puddles.

  Did she not see him?

  Could only I see Franklin?

  “I’ve found my way back.” Franklin’s voice was heavy with hope.

  Lady Azura stared silently into the distance.

  “Do you see him?” I whispered.

  She began to tremble, and her eyes grew wide. “It’s not my imagination then?”

  “I brought him here.”

  She fell into him, wrapping her arms around his translucent body, hugging him as tightly as if he was made of stone. “It’s you, it’s you,” she repeated.

  Then I heard her giggle. No longer an old woman. This was the giggle of an eighteen-year-old girl.

  Franklin hugged her back, murmuring in her ear. He clearly didn’t care how she looked. I had the feeling he saw her as he’d left her so many years ago.

  Lady Azura ushered him into the house, and they beamed at each ot
her. Her pale skin glowed with her happiness. I felt silly standing there. They had only today together. I was sure they didn’t want to spend it with me.

  “I’m going to change clothes,” I announced. “And then I’m going over to Lily’s.”

  “Are you sure?” Lady Azura suddenly seemed flustered. “Your dad thinks I’m watching you—”

  “Mrs. Randazzo’s expecting me. It’s all planned out,” I assured her.

  “You did this?” Her voice rose in amazement. “How did you find him? I haven’t taught you how yet—”

  “He found me,” I explained. “All I had to do was listen.” Then, with a quick hug good-bye, I left the room and left Lady Azura alone with Franklin.

  Lily’s house was Christmas Central.

  Pine garlands decorated the doorways, and Mrs. Randazzo’s collection of Santa figurines covered the tops of each table. Dozens of stockings in every fabric imaginable were clipped to clotheslines zigzagging across the family room. Lily’s brothers’ loud voices competed with the newest pop Christmas carol on the radio, and the aroma of sugar and butter wafted from the kitchen.

  Mrs. Randazzo put me to work sprinkling crystallized sugar over cutout cookies. Aunt Angela and Aunt Susan prepared the dough, and Lily, her little sister, Cammie, and two cousins used the cookie cutter and the rolling pins.

  “Did you hear that Fred’s getting Michelle that diamond necklace?”

  “Get out! The tacky one in the window at Jems and Jewels?”

  “That’s the one. Michelle doesn’t know. She was wanting the one with the blue stone. Fred brought his mother to pick it out.”

  “My Joey’s mother wouldn’t know a diamond from a Brillo pad.”

  “That’s why Joey got you another set of pots and pans!”

  “With a diamond finish, you know it!”

  The three women cracked up laughing. All afternoon, the aunts and cousins told stories, gossiped, and teased one another. I wasn’t truly part of the family, but I pretended I was. I laughed about Fred and Joey and took sides when they debated about which fish to serve on Christmas Eve.

  I’d never been surrounded by so many people related to one another. They were loud and crazy and fun.