The Spirit Keeper (29 page)

In reflex, I threw my arm over my face and nestled deep into my pillow, trying for just a few more minutes of sleep. But then my eyes sprang open as I swam up out of the depths of sleep and finally remembered what today was.

I had a date.
With my boyfriend.

The uncertainty of my future was written in the margins of my life. I was aware that each passing moment brought me that much closer to the unavoidable hour when I would have to stand before the Katori tribe. But for now, I wanted nothing more than to enjoy this day, and all the days that stretched from now until then.

I got out of bed and practically skipped to the kitchen, feeling happier and healthier than I’d been in a long time. I foraged the cupboards for a bowl and a box of cereal, and then ate breakfast leaning against the counter while I contemplated the afternoon ahead. A movement from outside caught my attention and I looked up to see David waving from the other side of the window. I raised my spoon and waved back.

“It’s about time you got up,” David said, the pane of glass that separated us muffling his voice.

Frowning, I looked at the clock and was shocked to see how late it was. It was nearly eleven already. Even though Meg had given me the day off, I’d planned to get up early to help out with some of the garden chores. I felt guilty about how many days of work they’d missed on my account. But now Adrian, Shyla, and Priscilla would be arriving in a little more than an hour. I had no time to waste.

I raised the bowl to my lips and drained the remaining milk in a hurry, then washed my dishes and put them in the drainer to dry. Then I headed to the bathroom for a quick shower.

Pulling on a pair of denim shorts and tank-top over my swimsuit, I made my way to the kitchen again to get my sneakers, which weren’t there. I immediately remembered exactly where they were.

At the creek. 

“Crud,” I said. 

I trudged back to my room to paw through my small collection of shoes, looking for the black, spongy flip-flops that had been relegated to the back corner. They’d seemed like a good idea when I bought them, but their plastic straps chaffed the insides of my big toes and gave me nasty blisters whenever I wore them. I’d look dumb wearing my winter boots, though, and I couldn’t very well wear my dress flats. And there was no way Meg would let me out of her sight barefoot, especially not after what happened the last time.

“Are you keeping an eye on the time?” Meg called from the kitchen.

I glanced at the clock. Thirty more minutes and they’d be here. I had just enough time to throw together the picnic. But when I went to the kitchen, I saw that Meg had already done it for me.

“I thought you could use a little help,” she said.

“Seriously,
thank you
.”

Meg smiled. “There’s turkey and cheese, and a container of fruit salad. Oh, and lemon seltzer to drink.”

“Any chance you could magically whip up a dessert?” I asked hopefully.

“I don’t know about that,” she laughed, “but I do have some cookies in the cupboard.”

I was just about to launch myself at Meg and give her the world’s biggest hug when a knock at the front door stopped me in my tracks, my heart nearly seizing in my chest. Priscilla was practically family and usually came in without knocking, so that could only mean one thing: Adrian and Shyla had arrived early. I hadn’t realized how excited, and nervous, I was to see him again.

“Well don’t just stand there,” Meg said. “Let them in.” She gave me an unceremonious shove in the back, propelling me toward the door.

Once I’d come to my senses, it took all the restraint I had not to bolt for the door and yank it from its hinges. I felt a definite pull toward Adrian, like I was a moon in his orbit, or he in mine. Nothing else mattered but being together. A warm, flushed feeling filled my belly, and I bit the inside of my bottom lip to contain the nervous giggle threatening to escape.

I extended a hand and gripped the knob, taking a deep breath to steady the tide of anxious energy causing my stomach to churn and swirl. I couldn’t understand why I was so nervous all of a sudden. Maybe it was because our relationship had changed in such a definite way. He’d confessed his love for me, and I’d done the same. We’d finally crossed that line we’d been tip-toeing closer to ever since we met.

“G-good day,” I stammered, once I’d finally managed to open the door.
Good day?
So much for sounding smooth and nonchalant.

Adrian bowed formally at the waist. “And a good day to you, too.”

Shyla jabbed him in the side with her elbow, and he grinned back at her. “Sorry we’re early,” she said. “My brother drives like a complete maniac. How he managed to soup-up that ancient car of his is a mystery.”

“It’s called talent,” he said. He turned to me then. “I was only speeding because I couldn’t wait to see you again.”

Shyla snorted, but there was a definite teasing to her voice. “Don’t make me regret coming today. I’m not sure I can stand listening to all this gooey love-talk all afternoon.”

“Gran’s coming over in a little while. You can always hang out with the old people and, you know,
not
be the third wheel,” Adrian said pointedly.

“I was only joking,” Shyla said. “You two are actually pretty cute together.” She reached up to pinch Adrian on the cheek, but he swatted her hand away.

“Careful,” he warned. “You might be two minutes older, but I’m bigger.”

“You think I’m scared of you?
Please.
”

I watched their back-and-forth banter with amusement until they finally exhausted themselves and turned to me. I realized they were waiting for me to say something, or at least move out of the way and invite them inside.

“Oh, um.” I stepped out onto the front step and pulled the front door shut behind me. “I hope you don’t mind, but I invited Priscilla to come, too. She just got back from vacation last night.”

Adrian shrugged his shoulders. “Fine by me. I hope you didn’t think this afternoon was a date. I’m going to ask your aunt and uncle if I can take you out tomorrow night.” He showed his dimples, causing my body to tingle in a very startlingly good way.

The sun was full of energizing powers, boosting my already good mood into the stratosphere. I didn’t intend to waste another minute of the day confined indoors. I’d been stuck inside too much lately, and my body craved the heat and fresh air. I suggested we wait in the front garden for Priscilla, and so Adrian spread his towel on a grassy spot and patted it for me to sit next to him. Shyla began walking around and looking at all the flowers, purposely ignoring us and giving us our space.

A few minutes later, David materialized from around the corner of the house wheeling a potted bush down the driveway toward the sidewalk. “I promised the Fultons I’d deliver this today,” he yelled. “I’ll be back in a little while.”

I stretched flat on my back with my folded hands cradling my head, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. I remembered the dream I had of Adrian and me lying in the poppy field, watching the clouds float by, and I became intensely aware of his presence next to me. But how could I
not
be aware of him? Every cell in my body was screaming out for me to touch him, and yet I wanted to cherish this beginning time with him and not rush a single moment. After all, we conceivably had the rest of our lives to get to know each other better.

“It’s hot,” I commented, if only to distract myself.

Little beads of sweat had formed along my hairline and were now trickling down the side of my face. I ran the back of my hand across my brow to wipe away the moisture and then pulled open the neck of my tank-top to blow a stream of cool air down my front. 

“The water will feel good today,” I added.

I shielded my eyes with my hand and looked over at Adrian, surprised to see him studying me with a languid smile on his face and eyes drooping at half-mast. I sat up suddenly, feeling awkward and near-drunk with the heady feeling of being admired. Was I ever going to get used to what he could do to me with just one look? A part of me really hoped not.

“So, how’d it go with your dad yesterday?” I said. I didn’t tell him about seeing Victor, or how he’d totally unnerved me with just one look.

Adrian blinked and his dreamy, trance-like gaze cleared at once. He shook his head and began picking at the blades of grass between his feet. “Okay, I guess. He basically stood aside and watched me go. He didn’t even try to stop me.”

Really?” I said. I was sort of surprised by this. Victor had always seemed to have a tight rein on Adrian. “I don’t know about you,” I added, “but that went over a lot easier than I thought it would. I was worried he wouldn’t let you go without a fight.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t like it, but whatever. I’m legally an adult. He doesn’t have any say over me.”

“I doubt he thinks us being together is a good thing,” I said.

He looked at me then. “Don’t worry, Sarah. I told you I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you.”

Despite his assurances, my stomach twisted. And given the way he was plucking a bare patch in the grass, I knew he was worried, too. I put my hand on his.

“I know you and your dad have your issues to work out,” I said. “I don’t want to come between you. I don’t want you and Shyla to have to choose between me and him, or me and the tribe.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve already chosen.”

I whirled around, not realizing that Shyla had sneaked up on us from behind.

“I made my choice a long time ago,” she said.

“And I made my choice the moment I first met you,” Adrian said.

I looked at my hands, embarrassed. “I just don’t want either of you to get in trouble because of me.”

Adrian scoffed. “And who would we get in trouble with?”

I wasn’t sure if his question was purely rhetorical or if he really expected an answer. Either way, I didn’t give him one. I didn’t know what to say.

David lumbered back up the driveway then, his load made a little lighter by having dropped off the bush. He ditched the wheelbarrow and, breathing heavily, sauntered over to where we were still waiting for Priscilla.

“What do you think about this heat?” He pulled a blue kerchief from his back pocket and mopped his sweaty, ruddy face. His shirt was already soaked through and clinging to his chest. I stifled a grin, thinking Priscilla would flip if she saw him.

“If Priscilla doesn’t get here soon,” I said, fanning my face with my hand, “I’m going to pass out.”

David motioned to the woods beyond the house, still breathing heavily. “You all go on ahead. I’ll send Priscilla after you once she gets here.”

“Fine by me,” I said.

Before I could get to my feet, Adrian had already stood up and was reaching out a hand to me. I accepted, all the while aware of David’s reluctant grin and ever-watchful gaze. Since Adrian had played a major part in saving my life and proving his worth to David and Meg, they could now afford to be decent. It was nice not having to sneak behind their backs anymore.

David walked away, calling out for us to have fun and stay out of trouble.

I grabbed Adrian’s towel and shook out the loose grass before tossing it over my shoulder. He took my hand then, and we made our way around the corner of the house to the back yard. In no time, we were on the trail.  

But halfway to the creek, I suddenly remembered that I’d forgotten the lunch Meg had packed for us. I stopped short, pulling Adrian to a halt beside me, and slapped the palm of my free hand against my forehead.

“I’m such a moron,” I said. “I left our lunch back at the house. I’ll run back and get it. I won’t be gone long.”

“Do you want us to go with you?” Shyla said.