For a moment the two girls sat in stunned silence. There had been no aura of menace about the ghost. Yet what they had seen was terrifying. Part of what made it so frightening was the sense of having been at the edge of a great mystery, the feeling that they had been allowed a tiny peek at an awesome secret.
“Should we go get Mom and Dad?” whispered Carrie at last.
“I’m not sure,” said Lisa. It was strange: She knew that if she had been alone when the ghost arrived, her scream would have woken the dead—any that weren’t already up and wandering. But having someone else with you—even someone younger, like Carrie—made something like this much easier to deal with. As to rousing their parents—well, her father was far too practical and scientific for this kind of… “nonsense.” She smiled. She could practically hear him saying the word.
Their mother might believe them. But even if she did, what could she do about it? It wasn’t as if you could go to the store and get a can of spray-on ghost repellent. The only thing she could try to do would be to convince their father to take them home. But he wasn’t apt to do that on the basis of a ghost story. And it was equally likely that he might suspect the whole tale was just a pretense to try to put an early end to the trip.
“I think we should keep this to ourselves,” said Lisa at last.
“Sacred sister pact?” asked Carrie.
Lisa nodded. “Our personal secret, until our dying day, because it’s the most awesome thing that’s ever happened to either of us.”
Carrie held out her hand in the private gesture they had created the year before, and they shook on it. Then they huddled together and stayed awake long into the night, talking in hushed voices as they waited to see if the ghost would reappear.
But she did not show herself again, and eventually both girls drifted into a deep sleep.
When Lisa yawned and stirred the next morning, she had the feeling that something was different. It took her a moment to realize what had changed. The sun was shining!
She couldn’t believe it. After five days of constant rain, she had begun to feel that it was natural that the first thing you would hear when you woke was rain pattering against the windows, drumming on the roof, and pouring from the eaves. But this morning there were actually a few birds singing in the yard. All at once everything seemed a little more bearable… even the strange events of the previous night.
She slipped from beneath the covers and went to poke her head out the window. The sun was bright on the tangled, overgrown garden. Even the sight of the ruined summerhouse with its collapsed roof and broken walls couldn’t darken her mood—though she hated it when beautiful old things were allowed to get run-down like that.
She glanced up. The sky was gloriously clear, not a cloud in sight. She pulled her head back inside then turned and hurried down the hall to take her shower. She planned to be out on the beach early. If nothing else, she would like to have a tan to show for her summer exile.
She wondered what Dennis was doing. Sleeping, probably. Morning was not his favorite time of the day.
When Lisa returned to the room after her shower, Carrie was sitting up in bed, looking nervous. “There you are,” she said, breathing a sigh of relief. “I was beginning to get worried.”
“For heaven’s sake,” said Lisa, toweling her hair. “How far away did you think I could get in—” She stopped. The haunted look in her sister’s eyes made her stomach turn. “I’m sorry, Carrie. I shouldn’t have left you alone!”
“It’s all right,” Carrie replied quickly. “Really. It’s just that last night was… “
“Weird,” said Lisa, finishing the sentence. “Absolutely. I was thinking about it all through my shower. So what do you think? I know we swore as sacred sisters but maybe we should tell Mom and Dad what happened anyway… “
“Are you kidding? They’d call in a whole army of shrinks.”
Lisa grimaced. “That was what I decided, too. And I’m in no mood to be analyzed.” She glanced at the window. It was weird how a bright sunny day made it hard to hold on to the reality of last night’s strangeness. Turning back to Carrie, she said, “How do you feel? Are you all right?”
“Sure. It was just a little welcoming party, right? Or maybe it was that pizza we had for dinner. Can two people have the same nightmare?”
Lisa smiled. “No, but they can both have the same breakfast. Come on, let’s go get something to eat.”
Their mother was standing in the kitchen when they came downstairs. “Good morning, girls! Did you sleep well?”
“I didn’t,” Carrie said. “Didn’t you hear Lisa snoring?”
Lisa didn’t know whether to smile or frown. Carrie was certainly acting like her old self. Maybe she hadn’t been too scared after all. Turning to her mother, she said, “I’m going to the beach today. Okay?”
“Of course,” said Mrs. Burton. “It’s about time you had a chance to get some sunshine.”
“I’ll come, too!” said Carrie quickly. Lisa sighed. She really didn’t want her sister along. But it wasn’t a good day to leave her alone.
Though they got to the beach by ten o’clock it was already crowded. Looks like everyone wants to welcome back the sunshine, thought Lisa as she scanned the broad stretch of sand for a vacant spot.
“Over there!” said Carrie.
“Good eyes, twerp.” They made their way to the spot and spread out their blanket. Lisa slipped out of her shirt. As she rummaged in her beach bag for the tanning lotion Carrie examined her critically, then said, “You’re not in bad shape for your age.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, let’s just say that if that guy comes along again today, you shouldn’t have any trouble attracting his attention. Of course, that bathing suit doesn’t hurt. Did I tell you how mad Daddy was when he saw it? I heard him complaining to Mom the week you got it.”
Lisa looked down and assessed herself. The red bathing suit was a little skimpy, she supposed. But no more so than those that the other girls were wearing. Of course, she knew her father’s answer to that particular point: “And if most girls were eating toad sandwiches, would you want one, too?”
“Stop being so hormonal and put some lotion on my back,” she said to Carrie. “I want to get a start on my tan.”
“All right, all right. Just give me a minute, will you?”
As Carrie began to arrange her things on her towel, Lisa stretched out on her back and closed her eyes. The sun against her skin was warm and soothing, the sound of the waves a few yards away gentle, rhythmic, and wonderfully relaxing. Lisa thought she might go back to sleep and catch up on some of the rest she had lost the night before.
“Okay,” said Carrie, “give me the bottle.”
Lisa opened her eyes, then smiled. For Carrie, going too the beach was a major expedition. After spreading her towel neatly across the sand, she had pinned it down at the corners with carefully selected items from her beach bag. At the top was her Walkman. Next to the Walkman was a pile of comic books. And next to them were the teen fan magazines that Carrie loved. Running down the side of the towel was a revolting array of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Fritos. Kneeling in the middle of all this was Carrie, wearing a bright yellow two-piece bathing suit, which did nothing for her. She had sunglasses perched on her snub of a nose.
“If you want me to do your back you’ll have to roll over,” she said.
Lisa lay on her stomach and luxuriated in the feel of the sun on her shoulders. “Yow!” she cried when the cold lotion hit her skin. But it warmed up quickly, and felt good.
“Uh-oh,” said Carrie. “Don’t look now. But there he is!”
“Who?”
“The hunk!”
“Carrie, shut up,” said Lisa, lifting her head to see who Carrie was talking about.
It was the boy she had spotted the week before. Lisa blushed. He was walking toward them!
“Carrie! Did you do something to attract his attention?” She had a horrified thought. “Did you wink at him?”
“I’m not that stupid,” whispered Carrie. “Chill out. Maybe you just got lucky.”
The boy stopped in front of them. “Lisa?” he asked.
She scrambled to her feet, suddenly feeling uncovered. She wished she had picked a bathing suit that wasn’t quite so tiny after all! Nervously she ran her fingers through her curly, dark brown hair.
“Your mother told me I’d find you here,” said the boy.
Lisa gave him a puzzled look. “I’ve heard a lot of lines before, but… “
He laughed, and Lisa found herself smiling, too. His laugh was deep and rich, not at all forced. It was the kind of laugh she always found attractive in a guy.
That fit. Everything else about him was attractive, too. His thick hair, long and parted in the middle, had been bleached by the sun to the color of light straw. He had impish blue eyes and a full mouth. He was lean, yet his faded cotton shirt had to stretch across his broad shoulders.
“Actually, I did stop to talk to you about a pickup,” he said. “But you’re the one who has to do it. Your mother wants you to get these things on your way home.” He pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. “She sent this to pay for them,” he added, handing her a twenty dollar bill.
“Why did she send this with you?” asked Lisa, trying to get her bearings.
“My dad and I are doing some work at the place you rented. The owners sent us. When we got there this morning, we realized we needed some more tools. Dad sent me back to get them, and your mother asked if I would be going by the beach on the way. I lied and told her yes.”
“That was pretty forward of you,” said Lisa. But the smile on her face made it clear she was delighted he had taken the liberty.
“It seemed like a good way to get to meet you,” he said. “My name is Brian. Brian Holme. I’m one of the local yokels.”
“And I’m one of the invaders,” said Lisa. “This is my sister, Carrie.”
“Hi,” said Carrie. “I think I’ll go get an ice cream cone.”
Lisa didn’t know whether to thank her sister or strangle her. It was nice of her to get out of the way, but did she have to be so obvious?
“It’s nice to meet you,” said Brian to Carrie. “Maybe we can talk again some time.”
Carrie laughed and ran down the beach.
“Cute kid,” said Brian.
“She’s okay most of the time.” Lisa sat back down on her towel. “So what are you doing at the house?”
“We’re working on some of the windows. The wood’s rotting around them. As a matter of fact, I have to get going. Dad’s going to wonder where I am. See you later!”
With that he was gone. Lisa frowned. Had she said something wrong?
She stretched out in the sunshine and scowled at the rolling water of the Atlantic. Maybe Carrie had scared him off. Well, it’s no big deal, she told herself. He’s only a boy. She sighed. If only he wasn’t so darn cute!
It was shortly after two when Lisa and Carrie arrived back at the house with the groceries their mother had requested. Lisa was delighted to see Brian standing on a ladder that was leaning against the west wall.
“Hi!” he called when he spotted her. “How was the beach?”
“Super! How are the windows?”
He made a face. “They’re a real pane!”
Lisa groaned.
“Sill and all,” he continued, “this is a high-glass job.”
“Stop!” she cried. “I think I’m going to be sick. do you always make such rotten puns?”
“Only when I’m standing where no one can get at me.” He paused. “Are you going to be around for a while?” he asked, his voice suddenly serious.
“I think so. Why?”
“I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes before I go. Okay?”
“Sure!”
Lisa hummed happily to herself as she unpacked her curling iron. An honest-to-goodness date! Suddenly the summer seemed much more interesting. Even the old house didn’t bother her the way it had.
Carrie sat on the bed, watching her get ready to go. “Do you think you’ll be out late?” she asked in a worried voice.
“Not too late. Why?”
Before Carrie could answer, Lisa realized what was on her mind. “Oh, Carrie! I’m sorry!”
Carrie shrugged. “I’ll be all right,” she said in a martyred tone.
Lisa cursed herself and her sister and the stupid house. Everything seemed very complicated. For a moment she thought she would rather go back to being bored.
“Look, Mom and Dad won’t be here, either. But you can probably get Gramma to let you stay up late. Tell her there’s an old movie you want to watch. The two of you and Smoky can keep yourselves company. I doubt the ghost will appear again, anyway. I mean, we’ve been here for two weeks already. It’s not like this has been going on every night.”
“I know,” said Carrie. “Look, don’t worry about it.”
Lisa frowned. She knew that was exactly what she would be doing. All night.
“Well, don’t you look nice,” said her grandmother as Lisa came down the stairs. “That white dress is so… summery. It sets off your dark curls perfectly,”
Lisa smiled. Her grandmother would probably find something nice to say if she came downstairs in a burlap sack.
“Where are you going tonight?”
“To the movie over in Bridgeport.”
Dr. Miles raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “I thought it wasn’t any good.”
Lisa blushed. “Well, maybe I misjudged it. You never know!”
Her grandmother laughed. “Have a good time, dear.” She kissed her on the cheek. “I won’t wait up for you. And your parents probably won’t get home until after you do. Your mother has cabin fever, too. She’s going to make the most of her evening out.”
Lisa’s reply was cut short by a knock at the door.
“That must be Brian!” cried Carrie. “I’ll get it!”
Lisa sighed. Why did Carrie always have to be so eager?
Lisa sat glumly beside Brian as they drove back from the film.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Nothing!” she said, lying and flashing him a quick smile.
Which was part of the problem. Everything was fine; too fine. It had been a wonderful evening, and now Lisa didn’t want it to end, partly because she had the feeling he would never ask her out again. The beach was filled with summer girls, and Brian could have his choice. Most of them were more sophisticated than she was, prettier, more interesting.
Suddenly she felt very inadequate.
“Didn’t you like the movie?” he asked.
“It was wonderful!” she cried.
Brian looked at her and made a face. Lisa burst out laughing. The picture had been terrible, and they both knew it.
“You shouldn’t lie like that,” said Brian, smiling. “It damages your credibility.”
“My mother calls that a ‘little white.’ According to her little whites are ‘a necessary social evil.’”
“What is she?” asked Brian. “A preacher?”
Lisa smiled. “You might say that. Her sermons are all delivered in my bedroom, though. To an audience of one. Me.”
Brian laughed. “My mother’s a preacher, too. Her favorite topic is how I should settle down and stop dating so many girls.”
“So, you’re a real heartbreaker, huh?” She tired to sound casual, but it didn’t quite work. Her stomach was in knots.
Brian frowned. “I hope not. I just want to have a good time. Seeing one person all the time can get boring, don’t you think?”
Lisa frowned, certain he was telling her he didn’t want to go out again. And she was sure it was because he knew he could find more interesting people on the beach, any day, any time. She had paid attention to the competition when she was working on her tan. Most of the girls summering on the island were from wealthy families. A lot of them went to private schools and took lessons of some sort—everything from horseback riding to karate. She could see why Brian wouldn’t want to bother with her. She was boring, boring, boring! She wished desperately she could think of something to make herself more interesting.
“Do you believe in spirits?” she asked suddenly.
“What?”
“You know: ghosts, spooks, voices from beyond?”
Brian paused. When he answered, Lisa was surprised at how serious his voice sounded. “I’m not sure,” he said slowly. “I plan on becoming a scientist—marine biology. I know I should be very rational. But, yeah, I guess I sort of do. The idea of a spirit world has always fascinated me.”
Lisa felt a surge of elation. “Well, did you ever try something called automatic writing?”
Brian shook his head. “I’ve heard of it. But I never tried it. Why?”
“Oh, we were fooling around with it yesterday,” she said casually. “My grandmother was teaching us how to do it.”
“Did you have any luck?”
“Believe it or not, we did. I got a message from somewhere. And…” Her voice trailed off. She wasn’t sure how much she wanted to say about the table knocking or the other things that had happened.
“What did it say?” asked Brian, a note of intense interest in his voice.
“‘Welcome home.’”
“That’s weird. What do you suppose it meant?”
“I don’t know. I got scared, and we stopped the seance.”
“Do you want to try it again tonight?” asked Brian.
“Oh, no, I—” She stopped. His voice was so eager. He really was interested. “Sure,” she said. “Why not?”
They were just pulling into the driveway.
“It doesn’t bother you to do something like that in this house?” he asked.
Lisa looked at him curiously. “Why should it?”
“Well, the place has quite a reputation.”
Lisa felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. “What do you mean?”
Brian looked at her. “You didn’t know? You’re staying in the most haunted place on Sayers Island!”