Twisted (20 page)

L
exie waited until they were carrying the pumpkins out to the lobby and no one was near enough to overhear their conversation. “You really blew it this time, Jen. Why didn't you tell Tommy that you weren't dating Tim?”

“I guess I should have, but I didn't want to embarrass Tim.”

“Are you sure that's the only reason?” Lexie started to grin.

“Of course it is. Tim looked worried about what I was going to say, and everyone else was listening.”

“Right. And you were more concerned about how Tim would feel than you were about giving Tommy the wrong impression. Doesn't that tell you something?”

Jennifer shrugged. “Not really. What do you think it tells me?”

“I think you like Tim much better than you like Tommy.”

“You're crazy!” Jennifer scowled at her friend. “I told you before. I think I'm in love with Tommy.”

But Lexie just laughed as she headed back to the kitchen for another load of pumpkins. “Think again, Jen. And this time, try to be honest with yourself.”

 

All during dinner, Jennifer thought about what Lexie had said. Was it true? Did she like Tim more than Tommy? She certainly liked wearing Tim's letter jacket. Just knowing that it belonged to him made her feel toasty warm inside. But wouldn't she feel even better if she were wearing Tommy's jacket?

“You're really quiet tonight, Jen.” Tim passed her the platter of sandwiches that the home economics class had made. “Are you worried about the séance?”

Jennifer passed the platter of sandwiches to Susie, who was sitting next to her, and then she leaned closer to Tim. “I'm not worried about the séance anymore. I'm just wondering if Zada's really going to drive all the way up the mountain in the rain.”

“Maybe she won't have to drive.”

Tim grinned, a sure sign that he was about to crack a joke, and Jennifer decided to beat him to the punch line. “You mean she might come on her broomstick?”

“Maybe.” Tim was still grinning. “But modern witches don't use broomsticks anymore. Now they prefer to ride on—”

“Dust busters!” Jennifer finished the joke for him and they both cracked up.

“Okay, gang!” Pete stood up and clapped his hands for silence. “It's five-thirty and dress rehearsal's at seven. I've posted a schedule on the bulletin board by the registration counter. Make sure you know what time you're performing. Check your props, put on your costumes and makeup, and we'll meet down here in the lobby at six-thirty.”

There was a flurry of activity as they hurried to put away the food and clear the table. Then everyone headed for the stairs to get ready for their rehearsal.

Jennifer felt the first flutters of excitement as she climbed up the staircase with Tim. “I checked the schedule and we're on last.”

“I know. I asked Pete to do it that way. I wanted to give everyone else time to take off their makeup and get into regular clothes for the séance.”

“That makes sense.” They were almost at her door. She slipped out of Tim's letter jacket and held it out to him with a smile. “I guess I'd better give this back. Thanks, Tim. It's a great jacket. I really liked wearing it.”

But Tim didn't take the jacket. He just grinned and stepped back. “If you like it, keep it. It looks really good on you.”

Jennifer stared after him as he turned and walked down the hall. He wanted her to keep the jacket! But why? And for how long? She almost called him back to ask him, but she didn't. She just hugged the jacket close to her chest and carried it into her room.

 

He stared at the schedule and frowned. Tim and Jennifer were doing their séance last. That meant he'd have to worry about it through all the other performances.

The séance itself was no problem. There was no way the spirits of the dead could contact the living. He was quite sure about that. But the purpose for the séance was another matter. Were Jennifer and Tim suspicious about Kelly's death? Was the séance a trick to trap him into saying something he'd regret later?

Of course, he'd be very careful about what he said, but he couldn't sit there silently. If he didn't say anything at all, everyone would wonder why. He had to walk a fine line between reacting as one of the characters in the séance skit should and not revealing anything that might lead to further questions. So far, he'd managed that beautifully. Kelly hadn't told anyone their terrible secret and he'd silenced her forever before it could surface. But now Kelly's spirit was supposed to speak to them. And there was always the possibility that some smart person would start to put two and two together.

He paced the floor in his small room and wished he could think of some way to stop the séance. But he'd thought it all out and that just didn't seem possible. If he objected, there would be even more questions—perhaps the very ones that might lead to his downfall. If he'd only handled things differently back when it had all started!

The rain was pounding against the windowpane so hard it hurt his head. It had been raining then, too. It had rained all day, clearing for only a few hours in the early evening and then starting again, soaking them both.

He sat down on the corner of the bed, holding his aching head, and trying to think of something else. But memories of Kelly, images that he'd pushed from his consciousness, swirled in front of his mind. So beautiful, even with dripping hair and a wet dress plastered to her lovely body. So sweet. And so warm and loving. He could remember the way she'd smelled, a fresh scent that had reminded him of purple lilacs glistening with dew in the morning sun. And her smile. Those perfect teeth. Those generous lips that had clung to his. It hadn't mattered that she'd been out of her head on the allergy pills her doctor had prescribed, so dizzy and disoriented that she'd asked him to drive her home. The pills had made her giggle at everything, even the fact that neither one of them had a raincoat, and they'd been laughing as they'd dashed out to her car.

And then he was back, back to that wonderful, horrible night. It was the night that their fates had been sealed together forever.

 

They were in the cabin on Gull Lake. It was the closest place to get warm and he'd known that the family wasn't coming out this weekend. Kelly was wrapped in a blanket he'd taken from one of the beds. She was still shivering, sipping the cup of soup he'd heated for her.

“How's that?” He stepped back from the blaze he'd started in the fireplace and smiled at her. “Give it a couple of minutes, and it should be warm in here.”

Kelly smiled at him and leaned closer to the fire. “It's nice. I think I'm warming up already.”

“That's probably the hot soup.” He smiled as he sat down on the couch next to her.

“Probably. Thanks for bailing me out tonight. You're really sweet.”

He laughed. Kelly was bombed if she thought he was sweet. But she seemed very serious as she stared up at him.

“Why are you laughing? You
are
sweet!”

He was still laughing as she reached up to towel off her hair. But he stopped abruptly when the blanket slipped down to her waist.

There was no way that he could resist. She looked so beautiful in the firelight and she didn't seem to realize that the blanket had slipped. A guy would have to be made of stone to resist a beautiful, half-naked girl like Kelly. And no one would have to know.

Once he'd made up his mind, he moved quickly, pulling her close and kissing her warm, trembling lips. At first she resisted, trying to push him away. It was clear she hadn't really meant the invitation he was sure he'd seen in her eyes. She said something about the allergy pills and how dizzy she was. And then she told him that she just wanted to go home.

But it was too late to turn back. He'd been thinking about her all night and now she was here, alone with him. If she hadn't wanted this to happen, she wouldn't have asked him to drive her home.

He pulled off the blanket and pushed her down on the couch. Her body was beautiful in the firelight, and he could see tan lines from the bikini she'd worn at the lake. He reached out to trace them with his fingers and when she tried to stop him, he clamped his lips over hers and took possession of her mouth.

Any restraint he might have had disappeared in the fire of passion. This wasn't the time to think of consequences. That could come later, after he'd satisfied his blazing need. He paid no attention to her desperate struggles. She would be his tonight.

There was no one to hear her when she cried out. The cabin was set back from the main road and no one knew they were here. Beautiful Kelly, so warm and so loving. It was a night he'd remember for the rest of his life.

 

The phone rang once, bringing him back to the present with a jolt. It was a signal that they were ready to start the entertainment. He had to mask his feelings, go downstairs, and pretend to be part of the group.

There was time for only one more memory as he picked up his things and headed for the door. He hadn't lied to Kelly afterwards, when he'd held her in his arms and soothed away her tears. He'd told her that everything would work out for the best. And it had, now that she was dead.

 

The call came right as Tommy and Cheryl's skit was about to begin. They all heard the phone on the reservations desk ring, and a moment later Brian was calling for Pete over the loudspeakers.

“I'll be right back.” Pete looked a little disgruntled. “Just relax for a minute, and we'll pick up right where we left off.”

The phone call took a little longer than Pete had expected, and when he came back, he was frowning. “That was Miss Voelker. They're having a really bad storm in Foothill, and she called to see if we were all right.”

“But it's barely raining up here.” Cheryl pointed to the window where only a few drops were hitting the glass.

“We're almost twenty miles away.” Tommy slipped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a little hug. “It'll take a while for it to get to us . . . if it does. Did Miss Voelker say it was headed our way?”

Pete nodded. “That's what she told me. She called the National Weather Bureau right before she called us. They told her it's supposed to blow over by tomorrow afternoon, just in time for the buses to drive up here.”

“That's a relief!” Dale started to smile. “The kids would be really disappointed if we had to cancel our plans.”

Tommy and Cheryl were just taking their places when the phone on the desk rang a second time. A moment later, Brian's voice came over the loudspeaker again. “Lexie? Your brother's on line one.”

They all waited as Lexie hurried out to the registration desk to pick up the phone. She was gone for only a few moments, and when she came back she was frowning.

“My brother says there's a couple of big rock slides on the road. Both lanes are blocked and no one can get through. He just wanted to know if we were all right.”

Jennifer glanced at Tim. He looked just as worried as she felt. How about Zada? She'd promised to be here at six-thirty and it was almost eight. Was she caught in one of the rock slides?

“Does your brother think the buses can get through by tomorrow night?” Pete was frowning.

“He doesn't know, but he said to tell you to keep everyone here. The lodge is sandwiched in, right between two slide areas. It's the safest place we could be.”

“Okay,” Pete said. “We'll stay put.”

“He says the road's a mess, and the rocks are still shifting so there could be more rock slides. He was just saying good-bye when the phone went dead.”

“You mean we're cut off from everybody in Foothill?” Melanie began to look very nervous.

“That's right. And we're stuck here until they clear the road.”

Just then there was a blinding flash of lightning, followed by a clap of thunder so loud that everyone jumped. The lights flickered once, and then they came back on.

“That was close!” Susie shivered slightly. “Does anyone know if this place has lightning rods?”

Tim nodded. “It does, and Tommy and I made sure they're all connected. We did the roof last summer.”

“Do you think we should round up some flashlights and candles ?” Melanie still looked worried. “If the storm gets bad, the lights could go out.”

Dale shook his head. “Relax, Melanie. My uncle has the lodge on a backup generator system. It kicks in automatically if the power goes off.”

“At least we won't be stuck without electricity!” Melanie gave a sigh of relief. “It's going to be bad enough if we're stuck up here by ourselves on Halloween night.”

There was a crackle as Brian's voice came over the loudspeaker. “I think you're forgetting something, Melanie.”

“What's that?” Melanie looked curious.

“Even if the buses don't get through, this is a great place to spend Halloween. We've got decorations, and food and drinks and entertainment. And that sounds like the makings of a great Halloween party to me!”

T
hey'd decided that Brian was right, and they were all in a much better mood when they went on with their dress rehearsal. The skits were good, Pete was enthusiastic about their performances, and everyone started having a wonderful time. They were having so much fun that they didn't really notice that the storm outside was getting worse.

“Okay, gang.” Pete smiled at all of them. “The only thing left to rehearse is the séance, and everyone's taking part in that. Jennifer and Tim? You're on in fifteen minutes. Do you have any instructions for us?”

Jennifer had already told everyone what to bring for the séance skit. “The girls should get into their white dresses and the guys should change to dark clothes. We'll meet down here in fifteen minutes.”

“What about the lights?” Brian spoke up. “Do you want them on?”

Tim shook his head. “We don't need them. We're doing the séance right here in the lobby, and the firelight is a perfect background. I'll just throw another log on the fire and it'll be perfect.”

“The spirits don't like bright places,” Jennifer explained. “They're much more receptive if the lights are low, especially if they cast a yellow or orange glow.”

Melanie laughed. “Oh, sure. And if the lights are down low, we won't be able to see what you and Tim are doing in the shadows.”

“No, Melanie.” Jennifer shook her head. “That's not the reason. Tim and I will be part of the group, and we won't be doing anything except sitting here. I told you before. This is going to be an authentic séance with no tricks.”

“Whatever you say.” Melanie didn't look convinced as she headed for the stairs. But she stopped abruptly as she heard a banging noise at the front door. “I think somebody's out there. And it doesn't sound like a restless spirit.”

Everyone gathered around as Pete went to the door and opened it. The sight that greeted them made everyone gasp. It was a woman wearing a rain slicker, and she was drenched to the skin.

“Zada?” Tim rushed up to take the two bags that Zada was carrying. “I don't believe it! You got through the rock slide!”

“I got through, but my car didn't. It's about five miles down the road. I had to climb over the rocks and hike up here.”

“You'd better warm up by the fire.” Jennifer helped Zada out of her raincoat and hung it on a hook by the door. Then she handed her a blanket and led her over to a warm spot in front of the big rock fireplace. “What happened?”

“I got caught between two rock slides. That's where my car is. I'm just lucky I could climb over the second one to get up here. Am I in time for the séance?”

“We were about to start.”

“Good. Then my trip wasn't wasted. Just let me get into some dry clothes and I'll be ready. I brought some things for you to use.”

Jennifer realized that everyone was staring at Zada, and she turned around to introduce her. “This is Zada Tilitch. She owns the Cosmic Eye bookstore, and she's going to help us with the séance. I didn't mention it before, because I didn't think she'd be able to get here.”

“It sounds like you had a close call, Zada.” Pete walked over to shake her hand. “You'll stay here, of course. If the buses with the kids can't get through, you can be our captive audience of one.”

“That sounds like fun. Is there somewhere I can change to dry clothes?”

“I'll take you upstairs,” Lexie offered. “There's plenty of rooms left. You can take a hot shower and dry your hair.”

Zada looked a little worried. “How about the séance? What time are you holding it?”

“Whenever you're ready.” Pete smiled at her. “We'll all take a break and have some hot chocolate. Just take your time and we'll wait for you.”

Zada handed Tim one of her bags. “I won't need more than a few minutes. Why don't you unpack this, Tim? I brought some lilac-scented candles. They were Kelly's favorite and they might help attract her spirit to us. She loved lilacs.”

“That's right!” Tommy looked surprised. “But how did you know?”

“I knew Kelly. She used to come into the store to visit me.”

“I didn't know that!” Jennifer was shocked. “Why didn't you tell us before?”

Zada shrugged. “I didn't think it was that important. I've known Kelly for over two years.”

“How did you meet her?” Tommy was curious.

“She waited on me at the appliance store, and she sold me the little refrigerator and microwave I have in the back of the shop. When she stopped by to see if everything was working properly, we started talking and we became good friends. Kelly came to see me at least twice a week.”

Tommy was fascinated. “So you know a lot about Kelly?”

“Of course I do.” Zada smiled. “Kelly was a lovely girl, but things weren't very good for her at home. She didn't feel that she could confide in her mother, so she used to come to me with her problems. She loved you very much, you know.”

Tommy swallowed hard. “I know. Did you . . . uh . . . did you happen to see Kelly the night she died?”

“No. But she did come into the store that afternoon. She was very disturbed about something. When I asked her what was wrong, she said she couldn't tell me until she'd talked to you. She promised to come in the next morning to tell me everything, but . . .”

Tommy nodded as Zada's voice trailed off. “But Kelly was dead by then. Do you have any idea what was wrong?”

“No, I don't. But Kelly had a secret she took to her grave, and that means her spirit is restless. I really believe that she'll take this opportunity to confide in us.”

“You mean you think the séance will really work?” Tommy looked doubtful.

“I certainly do. I have a very strong feeling that we'll be communing with Kelly's spirit tonight.”

There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment, and then Lexie took Zada's arm. “Come with me, Zada. The room next to mine's vacant.”

That was the cue for everyone to troop upstairs, leaving Jennifer and Tim alone in the lobby. They didn't say much as they carried in the round, wooden table they'd decided to use for the séance, and arranged twelve chairs around it. They put out the candles that Zada had brought and then stepped back to survey the setting.

Both of them were silent for a moment, and then Tim slipped his arm around Jennifer's shoulder. “What's the matter, Jen? You look really freaked.”

“I don't know. I just don't like this whole thing with Zada. She didn't tell us that she knew Kelly, and that makes me wonder if there's something else that she's holding back.”

“Like what?” Tim shrugged. “Relax, Jen. Maybe this is all a part of Zada's act. It's possible she didn't know Kelly at all.”

“But she was really convincing. And she knew that lilacs were Kelly's favorite flowers. I didn't tell her. Did you?”

“I don't think so, but it wasn't exactly a secret. It was even in the paper. Remember the article about Kelly's funeral? It mentioned that all her friends brought bouquets of lilacs to put on her grave because she loved them so much.”

“You're right! I forgot all about that article. Zada could have read it.”

“She probably did. And even if Zada did know Kelly, does it really matter?”

“I'm not sure. I guess not.”

Tim smiled at her and Jennifer smiled back, but she was still anxious. Something was going to happen tonight, something bad, maybe even dreadful. And since Jennifer didn't know what it was, there wasn't a thing she could do to prevent it.

 

When he got up to his room, he thought about Kelly and the day she'd confided in him. She'd been so frightened he'd just wanted to take her in his arms and tell her that everything would be all right. Of course, he hadn't. It was a time to be firm, to tell her what she had to do and make sure that she did it.

 

“Relax, Kelly.” He tried to sound casual, even though his heart was pounding hard. “You're right. It's a problem. But we can take care of it.”

“How?”

Her voice was shaking and he smiled at her. She was so worried, she was acting like a little child who needed reassurance. “It's simple. First, we have to find out if it's true. I'll drive you over to a doctor in Crestview and he'll give you a test. If it comes back positive, we'll talk alternatives.”

“I don't need to see a doctor. I already know it's true. And what do you mean by
alternatives
?”

He winced slightly. It was clear that Kelly was going to be difficult. “The way I see it, you've got two choices. Either you have the baby or you don't. And if you choose to have it, you've got another choice to make. You can keep it. Or you can give it up for adoption.”

“It sounds so . . . so cold!”

Her lips trembled and he could tell that she was about to cry, so he put his arm around her shoulders. “Hey—it's not that bad. You know me. I'll go along with whatever you decide.”

“Okay.” She reached inside her purse for a tissue. “I know the smart thing to do, but I just don't think I can do it.”

“You mean not having the baby?” He used the phrase deliberately, avoiding the word
abortion
. It had all sorts of negative connotations and this was the time for tact and diplomacy.

“Yes. I mean . . . it's not exactly against my religion or anything like that, but . . . I'm just not sure.”

He nodded, the soul of understanding. “But wouldn't it be harder to have the baby and give it up? You'd have to leave town so people wouldn't know and you'd miss your senior year. That'd be hard to make up. And how about your college scholarship ? Are you willing to let that go?”

“No . . . I don't want to lose that.” Kelly sounded very uncertain. “I was thinking . . . maybe I could just stay here and keep on going to school. They wouldn't find out until Christmas. I could drop out then and have the baby.”

He put on a smile, even though he felt more like scowling. That was exactly what he'd been afraid of. “But everyone would know. Do you really want that, Kelly?”

“No.” Kelly shook her head. “That would be awful. But I'd get to keep the baby. And I'd only miss one semester.”

“That's true. It's your decision, Kelly. I'll marry you now, if that's what you want. It's my baby, too. But I really hate to see you make a terrible sacrifice like that.”

“Sacrifice? What do you mean?”

“You'd be just another statistic, a girl who got pregnant and dropped out. And don't forget that they'd let me stay in school. My parents would probably pay for a little apartment, but you'd be stuck there, staring at the walls and waiting for the baby to be born. You'd be all alone, Kelly.”

“But my friends would come to visit. It wouldn't be that bad.”

“They'd come . . . at first. But then they'd get busy with cheerleader practice, and basketball games, and rehearsing for the spring play. They'd be concentrating on homework, test scores, and plans for college while you'd be thinking about doing the laundry and cooking dinner. Your interests would be so different, you wouldn't have anything to say to your friends.”

Kelly looked a bit worried. “Well . . . maybe that's true. But I'd have the baby to think about.”

“That's just it, Kelly. The only thing you'd have would be the baby. The baby would become your whole life. You'd be wasting your intelligence, wasting your opportunity for a college scholarship, wasting all your chances for a better life. It wouldn't be good for the baby, either.”

“I know you're right. But . . .”

“It would be hard for me, too.” She was starting to cry again and he handed her his clean, white handkerchief. “I couldn't expect my parents to pick up the whole tab, so I'd have to work a couple of part-time jobs. My grades would slip, and I might even lose my scholarship.”

“But you'd still get to go to college, wouldn't you? I mean . . . your parents really want you to go.”

He nodded, a little tentatively. “I'm pretty sure that my parents would pay my tuition, but they wouldn't be happy about having to support all of us until I graduated.”

“I guess you're right.”

Kelly sounded very depressed and he reached out to give her a hug. It was time for a little kindness, along with the hard truths he was teaching her. “Maybe it'll all work out. One thing for sure . . . I know you'd make a really good mother.”

“Thanks.” Kelly gave him a small hint of a smile, but she didn't look happy. “Maybe I could take night classes. I know a girl who graduated from high school that way.”

“Maybe . . . if you weren't too busy with the baby. Let's say you managed to do it. What would happen then? It wouldn't be fair to ask my parents to pick up the bill for your college expenses.”

“I could work. I've always worked.”

“That's true. But how much could you earn? You'd have to put the baby in day care and that would be expensive.”

“I guess you're right.” Kelly sighed deeply. “There's no way I'll ever be able to go to college if I keep the baby.”

He didn't say anything. She was finally starting to talk sense.

“I don't want to make a decision right now, not until I can talk it over with someone I trust.”

“Who?” He tried to be casual, but his whole body tensed. Kelly couldn't tell anyone she was pregnant!

“Don't worry.” Kelly put her hand on his arm. “This won't get out. I promise.”

“How can you be sure of that?” He tried to sound reasonable, even though he was beginning to panic. Something like this was bound to get out. Who did she think she was kidding?

Kelly was silent for a long moment. “Maybe you're right. Give me a little time to think it over.”