“Wow,” he says, which is so un-Leo-like.
“Come on in,” I say, checking out his more-formal-than-usual look. He’s wearing a long-sleeved white button-down shirt and a black tie instead of a vest. I like the look, and wonder if he’ll hold my hand. I mean, he has to for dancing…right?
Trevor arrives too, and Becca grabs him by the hand and introduces him to Gran Nola and Buggy. While they’re busy, I sit beside Leo on the couch. There’s an awkward silence.
“Um…Becca gave Buggy to Gran Nola,” I tell him.
“Can she do that?”
“The sheriff said it was okay.”
“That’s great.” Leo pulls a pen from his pocket and twists it in his hands but doesn’t say anything else.
“My parents have been house hunting, and Mom says they’ve found one they like,” I say, trying to make things normal between us.
He nods with more pen twisting. That’s when I notice what pen he’s holding—the poly-truth pen.
“Can I ask you something?” I ask like I’m a spy questioning a suspect.
“Sure.” His truthful reply flashes green on the pen.
“When you asked me to the dance, was it because you just wanted to go to the dance or because you wanted to go to the dance with me?”
His eyes widen like a scared deer caught in bright beams.
“Um…I just thought a dance could be fun.” A red flash.
I raise my brows. “So it’s not a date?”
“Um…no.” Another red flash.
This is kind of fun. I can’t resist asking, “When the dance is over, will you want to kiss me good night?”
“Of course not.” He blushes brighter than the flashing red pen.
“Good to know,” I say, smiling.
From the living room, I hear a shout, “Chauffeur’s here!”
I reach out for Leo’s hand, and he hesitates, then grasps mine. Very much like a date, except that I sit up front with Dad, and Leo is in the back with Becca and Trevor. Minutes later, we’re on the way to the dance.
While we ride, I notice that my father seems unusually excited, like he’s bursting with news. It doesn’t take much urging before he spills.
“Your mother wanted to wait till the papers were signed to tell you, but I can’t hold it in any longer.” He turns to face me while at a red light.
“What?” I strain forward in my seat belt.
“Our offer on a new house was accepted!” he exclaims with a huge grin. “We’re buying a home!”
“A new house!” I bounce in my seat. “When can we move in? Do I get my own room? Does it have a big yard?”
“Whoa, Kelsey.” He chuckles. “It’s vacant, so we should be able to move in as soon as the papers are signed. You’ll have more than your own room. Each of you kids can have a suite of your own. It’s amazing! Three stories on five acres and right by the river!”
Something about this sounds familiar.
“Did it used to be a bed-and-breakfast inn?” I ask uneasily.
When he nods, I’m stunned.
“We’re moving into the Down the Rabbit Hole B and B?” My hands fly to my face. “It’s a huge, amazing house, but how could Mom want to live there? I mean, she was locked in that bomb shelter.”
“It was her idea. She and I have always dreamed of running a bed-and-breakfast where I can be a chef in my own house.” He pauses. “But there is one thing that’s unusual—the house comes with an inheritance.”
“What kind of inheritance?” I ask.
Dad shrugs. “We’ll find out when we get the keys to the house.”
“So it’s a mystery?” I ask excitedly.
“I guess you could say that.” Dad chuckles.
I grin and glance into the backseat where Leo and Becca are grinning too.
Another mystery for the CCSC!
I can’t wait!
About the Author
At age eleven, Linda Joy Singleton and her best friend, Lori, created their own Curious Cat Spy Club. They even rescued three abandoned kittens. Linda was always writing as a kid—usually about animals and mysteries. She saved many of her stories and loves to share them with kids when she speaks at schools. She’s now the author of over thirty-five books for kids and teens, including YALSA-honored the Seer series and the Dead Girl trilogy. Her first picture book, Snow Dog, Sand Dog, was published by Albert Whitman & Company in 2014. She lives with her husband, David, in the northern California foothills on twenty-eight acres surrounded by a menagerie of animals—horses, peacocks, dogs, and (of course) cats. For photos, contests, and more check out www.LindaJoySingleton.com.
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