Chapter 1
Damon Germain stood on the front lawn of his grandfather’s very old house. It was a huge building right on the edge of Ravens Pass. He’d been there many times before, but today was different. Today Grandpa wouldn’t be there.
Standing next to Damon on the lawn were his mother; her friend, Martha Kane; and Martha’s son, Jaden. The four of them lived in Lakeville, but they were all in Ravens Pass for the weekend just to pack up the house and prepare it to be put on the market.
Damon hardly knew Jaden, despite the fact that they were in the same grade at school. The only thing he did know about him was that Jaden had a reputation as a troublemaker. Jaden was only there because his mother didn’t like the idea of leaving Jaden home alone. All the same, the Germains were glad to have some help packing and cleaning.
Martha shook her head. “It’s such a shame,” she said. “This house has been in your family since it was built almost a century ago!”
“I know,” Damon’s mother said. “But my dad just can’t afford to keep the place anymore.”
The four of them walked to the front porch. As they stepped inside the house, they saw that the place was a complete mess.
Jaden put a hand over his mouth and nose. “Wow, it kind of —” he started to say.
“Stinks,” Damon’s mother said. “I know.” She sighed sadly. Then she nodded. “This is probably for the best. Dad will be happier and healthier at the home.”
Martha put her hands on her hips and smiled. “We should break into teams,” she said. “The moms will start in the basement.”
“Great idea,” Damon’s mother said. “Damon and Jaden, you two head up to the attic and start packing up some of Grandpa’s old junk. He’s got a lot of it up there.”
“Okay,” Damon said. “Come on, Jaden. Let’s get some boxes and get started.”
Jaden grunted. “Whatever,” he said.
The attic was practically a full third floor. It had a sloped ceiling that was very high in the middle but came right down to the floor on both sides. Along the walls were boxes and trunks, old furniture and lamps, and countless stacks of books. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust.
“I don’t think anybody’s been up here in years,” Damon said quietly.
“Gee, you think?” Jaden said. He ran a finger along the top of a desk. It left a trail in the dust. “This place is a dump.”
“Right,” Damon said, his smile drooping to a frown. “And we have to pack it all up.”
“Great,” Jaden said. He plopped down on a small antique couch. A spring creaked and a cloud of dust puffed up around him. He coughed and jumped off the couch.
“This is stupid,” Jaden said. “Packing everything in here will take the whole weekend!”
Damon nodded. “If not longer,” he said.
Jaden shook his head. “Not gonna happen,” he said. “I’ve got better things to do.”
Damon rolled his eyes. He unfolded one of the cardboard boxes so it was ready to be loaded up with stuff. “Then you’d better work fast,” he said. “Because your mom said she wasn’t leaving until everything’s finished.”
Jaden sighed. “I don’t see why I’m even here,” he said. “He’s not my grandpa.”
“Then don’t help,” Damon said, irritated. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Oh, relax,” Jaden said. “I’ll help.”
“Good,” Damon said. “Start over there.”
Jaden walked over to an old trunk under a tiny window. He popped open the trunk. “What’s in here?” he asked.
Damon ignored him and started packing various items into the box he’d opened. “We need newspaper or something,” he muttered, looking at the vase he held in his hands. “This stuff is fragile.”
“Weird,” Jaden said. He pulled out a black-and-white photo and held it out toward Damon. “This kid looks just like you.”
“Jaden,” Damon said, ”we’re supposed to be packing — not unpacking! Just leave the trunk alone. It’ll go into the truck as-is.”
Jaden rolled his eyes. He held the photo closer to Damon’s face. “Just look at this kid,” he said. “He could be your twin!”
Damon scowled. He snatched the photo from Jaden and looked at it quickly. It was his grandpa. Next to him was a boy about the same age, but Damon didn’t recognize him.
Damon handed the picture back to Jaden. “It’s my grandpa,” he said. “Looks like he was my age then. I don’t recognize the other boy.”
“Not your grandpa’s brother?” Jaden asked.
Damon shook his head. “He didn’t have one,” he said. Damon got up and went back to the box he’d been packing. “Let’s just get this over with,” he said.
“I wonder who he is,” Jaden said.
Damon shrugged. “If you’re so curious,” he said, “just keep the photo for now and ask my grandpa about it during lunch.”
“Good idea,” Jaden said. He shoved the photo into the back pocket of his jeans.