Read Giving Up the Ghost Online
Authors: Phoebe Rivers
Giving Up the Ghost (12 page)
Lily's eyes grew wide with sudden realization. She leaped forward and wrapped
her mother in a massive hug. “Happy Mother's Day to you!” she sang to the tune of “Happy
Birthday.” Lily loved holidays. She made a big deal out of even Groundhog Day and Arbor
Day. Lily sang her song all the way through, and Cammie joined in.
I stood awkwardly by the table. Mrs. Randazzo wasn't my mother. I stayed
silent and watched. I'd forgotten it was Mother's Day. It wasn't a holiday I ever
circled on the calendar.
Lily gently guided her mom back into her chair. “Dad has it under
control.”
“So he says.” She glanced dubiously at the batter dotting her husband's wavy
black hair, then at the dishes stacked precariously in the sink. She fingered the sticky
table where earlier the boys had dripped syrup. “Maybe I'll justâ”
“Just relax,” Mr. Randazzo ordered. “I've got this. It's Mother's Day. Lily
and Sara, entertain her. Distract her. Anything. Please.”
“Are you working on the fund-raiser?” Lily slid into the chair next to her
mother and purposely blocked the view of Mr. Randazzo's backhanded pancake flip.
“I'm making a chart of all the donations.” Mrs. Randazzo and Lily shared the
same thick dark hair, olive skin, and high cheekbones. I often thought Lily looked like
a mini version of her mom. Everyone says I look like my mom too, with our blond hair and
light-blue eyes. Lily's mom turned to me as if noticing I was there for the first time.
“Cammie, scoot down and make room for Sara.”
“I should just go.” I took a tentative step backward. I didn't want to leave,
but it was Mother's Day, after all. I didn't belong here. “It's a family holiday
and . . .”
“Oh, get over here, silly.” Mrs. Randazzo patted the place next to her. “You
are so a part of this family, Sara. Believe me, I need some more girl power to balance
out the boy egos in this house.”
“Ego? What ego?” Mr. Randazzo called. “I am only the best pancake maker in all
of the Jersey shore.”
“You are needed here, Sara. Badly,” Lily's mom said, smiling widely at me.
If I couldn't be with my own mom this morning, Lily's mom was definitely next
best. I squeezed a chair between her and Cammie. “Hey, Camsters. I like that you're
coloring the tree purple. Trees should definitely be purple.”
Cammie handed me a darker shade of violet from her enormous box of crayons,
and I shaded in a pine tree. Cammie's full cheeks and broad forehead resembled her
dad's, but she had the same magnetic sparkle in her eyes that made everyone at school
hover about Lily, like moths attracted to light.
“Ohhh, is the shoe lady coming again?” Lily asked. She raised her voice to be
heard over her dad's off-key singing. “Born to run . . . baby, we were
born to run . . .” He was forever singing Springsteen songs.
“She is.” Mrs. Randazzo tapped the screen. “She promised to bring twice as
many as she did last year.”
“Coming where?” I asked.
“Wow, that's right, you don't know about Bargain on the Boardwalk!” Lily
exclaimed.
“Bargain on the Boardwalk is a fund-raiser for the local schools that happens
every year. It's next weekend, in fact,” Mrs. Randazzo explained. “It's a big Stellamar
traditionâkind of the unofficial kickoff to summer for the locals before the tourists
descend.”
“It's the most amazing flea market, but not with junky stuff,” Lily added.
“Well, okay, there is some junky stuff that's donated, but there's also lots of really
cool crafts and accessory vendors and people selling jewelry. Last year, this lady who
works for some shoe company in New York brought all these amazing shoes. You know those
cute aqua sandals I have with the chunky heels that make me almost tall? I got those for
only fifteen dollars. Fifteen! Don't they look like they cost a lot more?”
“They do,” I agreed, as Lily's dad set down a mountain of pancakes dripping
with butter. I attempted a sincere smile as Mr. Randazzo sang, “Hungry
heart . . . ,” but I was the only one. His Springsteen soundtrack had
become background noise to his family.
“We have ten different jewelry vendors this year. This one guy, a new vendor
this year, weaves together the thinnest silver wire into stunning necklaces. I know he's
going to be a big hit.” Mrs. Randazzo squinted at her list. “We need more stuff to be
donated, though. We make the most money on the high-end rummage sale items. I do hope we
get enoughâ”
“Don't worry about it today,” Mr. Randazzo scolded. He plopped into a chair
and sipped a mug of coffee, the mess by the stove and the promise of using a sponge
temporarily forgotten. “Your mother needs to be stopped before she completely heads up
Bargain on the Boardwalk again.” She started to protest, and he gently cut her off.
“It's a lot of work, honey. You can't do it all by yourself!”
“I'm going to help,” Lily said, already finishing her second pancake.
“Me too,” I offered. “What should I do?”
“See what you have to donate in your house. We'll take anything as long as
it's clean and working,” Mrs. Randazzo said.
“Sure.” That sounded easy. “Hey, I bet Lady Azura has some really great stuff
to donate.”
“Seriously! Can you even imagine what she has? It's like opening some
old-fashioned movie star's closet.” Lily loved Lady Azura's style.
“Lady Azura does have classy clothes,” Lily's mom said. “But for some reason,
she's never given anything to the sale before.”
“Really?” I was surprised. Lady Azura was quirky and more than a little odd,
but she was one of the most generous people I'd ever met. Was there a reason she had
never donated any of her things before?
About the Author
Phoebe Rivers
had a brush with the paranormal when she was thirteen
years old, and ever since then she has been fascinated by people who see spirits and can
communicate with them. In addition to her intrigue with all things paranormal, Phoebe
also loves cats, French cuisine, and writing stories. She has written dozens of books
for children of all ages and is thrilled to now be exploring Sara's paranormal
world.
SIMON SPOTLIGHT
Simon & Schuster, New York
Jacket illustration by Erin McGuire
© 2013 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Jacket design by Laura Roode
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
SIMON SPOTLIGHT
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Copyright © 2013 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
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Text by Sarah Albee
ISBN 978-1-4424-6617-3 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4424-6616-6 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4424-6618-0 (eBook)
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2012938943