The Lost Girl Read online

  I dragged the napkin over my mouth and chin, pushed the dining room chair back, and hurried to the door.

  The bell chimed again.

  I pulled open the door and gasped. “Lizzy? What are you doing here?”

  13.

  Standing in the open doorway, I shivered from the sudden cold. I glimpsed a pale half moon in the night sky between curtains of clouds. Large snowflakes fell all around, caught in the yellow light from our porch light. Nearly a foot of snow already on the ground.

  Lizzy wore the same floppy wool cap I’d seen in school. She had a short down parka, open in front to reveal a dark sweater pulled over her jeans. I saw her footprints in the snow, coming up the front of our yard. She wore sneakers, not boots.

  “Michael, you won’t believe this. But I’m lost again.” She had something of a guilty smile on her face. Was it guilty, or was it playful, teasing? Her eyes were pleading with me. Pleading with me to do what?

  I took a step onto the porch. “Lizzy…” A gust of wind blew droplets of wet snow into my face. “How did you know where I live?”

  She shrugged in reply, that strange playful smile, almost devilish, frozen on her face.

  “Is it Pepper? Why doesn’t she come in?” Mom called from the dining room.

  I stepped back and pushed the door open wider. “Come in. You look frozen.”

  Lizzy stopped on the WELCOME mat and stamped her shoes. Then she followed me into the house. “Brrrrrrr.” She shook herself like a dog shakes when it’s wet. “I’ve got to get some boots. My sneakers are soaked through.”

  The shoulders of her jacket were covered with snow, and she had a big wet patch on her back. The coat didn’t appear to be waterproof. She tugged off the cap and fiddled with her black hair, pulling the sides down over her cheeks.

  “Y-you’re lost again?” I stammered.

  She nodded. “I made a wrong turn. I—”

  Mom appeared in the front hall. Her eyes went wide when she saw it wasn’t Pepper. “Oh. Hello.”

  “Mom, this is Lizzy,” I said.

  Mom nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

  “She’s new in Shadyside, and she’s always getting lost,” I said.

  Lizzy shivered. “Sorry. I’m frozen. My teeth are chattering.”

  “Let’s take off that wet jacket,” Mom said. She stepped up and helped Lizzy out of it. “Come into the dining room and let’s warm you up.”

  Lizzy hesitated. “Are you sure? I don’t want to interrupt your dinner. I just lost my way and—”

  “Come in. Come in,” Mom said. She handed the jacket to me. “Go hang it in the back closet. It’ll dry faster.”

  By the time I returned from hanging up the coat, Lizzy had already met my dad, and she had taken the place beside mine at the table. She flashed me a smile. “Your mom is so terrific. I told her I haven’t eaten and—”

  Mom appeared carrying a dinner plate and silverware. “I have plenty of linguini left over. And help yourself, Lizzy, to string beans.” Mom brought in the big pasta bowl and began piling linguini on Lizzy’s plate.

  “Your family just moved here?” Dad asked, taking the last sip of his glass of red wine.

  Lizzy nodded. “Last week.”

  “Where did you live before?” Dad asked.

  “You probably never heard of it,” Lizzy said. “It’s a very small town. Mary’s Landing?”

  Dad shook his head. “Never heard of it.”

  Lizzy turned to her food. She began stuffing huge forkfuls of linguini into her mouth. Her chin and cheeks were soon smeared, but she didn’t stop to wipe them with her napkin. She kept eating, chewing and sucking the strands of noodles down with loud gulps, as if she hadn’t eaten in weeks.

  Mom and dad glanced at each other, then pretended not to notice.

  Mindy barked at her and stuck her snout in Lizzy’s lap. Mindy likes attention from newcomers. But Lizzy was too busy eating to pet the dog.

  “Where is your house? Near here?” Mom asked.

  Lizzy nodded, swallowing hard. “It’s on Heather Court,” she said. “I thought this was Heather. But with all the snow…”

  “This is Weaver,” Dad told her. “Weaver runs right into Heather. If you’d gone one more block…”

  “I’m totally embarrassed,” Lizzy said. She squeezed my hand. “Michael must think I’m an idiot. Every time he sees me, I’m lost.” She returned to the linguini, shoveling it into her mouth without taking a breath.

  “Do you need to call your parents or anything?” Dad asked, watching her eat. “Will they be worried?”

  She motioned no with her free hand. “Not a problem.”

  Dad turned to me. “I forgot to tell you, I had some cancellations for tomorrow afternoon. The Arctic Cats are rented, but I have some Yamaha Vipers for you and your friends to take out.”

  “Sweet!” I cried. “Thanks, Dad. That’s awesome. The snow will be perfect. The guys are going to be so psyched.”

  Lizzy lowered her fork. Her plate was empty except for a small puddle of sauce. She pulled a short strand of linguini off her cheek. “Snowmobiles?”

  “Dad owns the Snowmobile Ranch in North Hills,” I told her. “A bunch of us are going to go riding along the River Road tomorrow.”

  “Oh, wow.” She finally wiped her mouth with the napkin. Then she squeezed my hand again. “I’ve never been on a snowmobile. Can I come, too?”

  I hesitated. “Well…”

  “Is that a yes?” Lizzy cried.

  “I guess,” I said. “Okay.”

  “Thank you!” she cried. She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.

  And that’s when I looked up and saw Pepper watching from the dining room doorway.

  14.

  Lizzy pulled her face away from mine.

  I saw Pepper’s eyes narrow for just a second. The hood of her long down parka was still over her head. She scowled at me, then quickly made her expression a blank. “Michael? I thought we were going to study…”

  Mom jumped to her feet. “Hi, Pepper,” she said. “We didn’t hear the bell.”

  “I didn’t ring it,” Pepper replied, eyes on me. “The front door was open and—”

  “Open?” Dad uttered his surprise. “I thought it was getting cold in here.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Lizzy said, shaking her head. “I must have left it open when I came in. I wasn’t thinking straight and—and … I’m not having a good night.” She rested her head on my shoulder.

  That got a reaction from Pepper. I saw her eyes go wide for a brief second and caught the scowl again.

  “Take off your coat, Pepper,” Mom said. “By the way, I like that color on you. Is it violet?”

  “I think it’s a little darker than violet,” Pepper told her. “Does it look okay with my hair? It isn’t too much?”

  “Not at all. I like it.” Mom glanced at Lizzy, then turned back to Pepper. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m being rude. Do you know Lizzy?”

  Pepper kept her eyes locked on me. “No. No, I don’t.”

  “Hi,” Lizzy said, giving her a little wave. “Nice to meet you.”

  I climbed to my feet. “Pepper, the front closet is a mess. Let me help you hang up your coat.” I took her by the elbow and led her back to the front hall. “I know this looks weird…” I whispered.

  Pepper lowered her hood and head-butted me in the chest. “You told me you didn’t know her,” she said in an angry whisper. “Didn’t you!”

  “Well, yes, but—”

  “You said you didn’t know her. And now here she is having dinner with you, sitting next to you, and kissing you—”

  “She just showed up out of the blue,” I whispered, my eyes on the dining room doorway. “I didn’t invite her.”

  “Michael, since when did you become a liar? She just showed up and sat down to dinner with your family?”

  “Yes,” I insisted. “No way am I lying, Pepper. Really. I—”

  I stopped as Lizzy came into the room, her jacket fo
lded over her arm. Mom must have given it to her. “I’m going now,” she said. “I’m so sorry I just burst in like that.” She laughed. “One of these days, you’ll see me, and I won’t be lost.”

  “Shadyside can be confusing,” Pepper said. She pointed to the front window. “The snow finally stopped, so it’s easier to see where you’re going.”

  Lizzy fixed the cap over her hair. “Nice to meet you, Pepper.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Pepper echoed without enthusiasm.

  Lizzy brushed past me. “See you tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” Pepper raised her eyes to me.

  “Where should I meet you?” Lizzy asked.

  “Why don’t you meet us at my dad’s store,” I said. “It’s on the River Road. You really can’t miss it.” I laughed. “Even you can’t miss it. It’s nearly a block long.”

  Pepper couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. “You’re coming with us tomorrow afternoon?”

  Lizzy nodded. She gave Pepper a strange smile. “Michael invited me.”

  That wasn’t exactly true. Lizzy had invited herself. But before I had a chance to say anything, Lizzy was out the door.

  A blast of cold air invaded the room. Pepper’s stare was even colder. I pushed the front door closed.

  “Lighten up,” I said. “She’s new in town and she doesn’t know anybody. What’s the harm in being nice to her?”

  Pepper nodded and took my arm. “You’re right. You’re totally right. What’s the harm? Just because she’s drop-dead gorgeous…”

  My mouth dropped open. “Excuse me? You think she’s so gorgeous?”

  Pepper gave me a shove. “Seriously, Michael. Don’t pretend you didn’t notice.” She hoisted up her backpack, and we started toward my room to study. But I stopped at the front window. The streetlamp at the bottom of the driveway lit up the sidewalk. “Hey, look,” I said.

  Pepper leaned close to the window and followed my gaze.

  “It’s Lizzy,” I said. “She’s going in the wrong direction. She’s not heading toward Heather Court. She’s walking the wrong way.”

  15.

  Saturday started out beautiful. The sky was an amazing blue. Not a cloud to be seen. The sun floated low in the sky and made the snow sparkle like gold. The air felt cold and fresh and made my whole face tingle. One of those perfect winter days where the whole world is quiet, as if under a blanket, and nothing can go wrong.

  We started out at Diego’s house an hour or so after lunch. Diego’s parents were away, and they don’t care if he drinks beer, anyway. So we sprawled on the floor in his den and played Madden Football on his PlayStation and had a few cans of Miller Lite. Just to warm up and get the whole snowmobile party off to a good start.

  Kathryn told a story about running into Miss Curdy at the gym and how totally embarrassing it was to be working out with your English teacher there. Kathryn is Diego’s girlfriend. She is about half Diego’s size. Seriously. Her head comes up to his chest.

  She has white-blonde hair cut very short, blonde eyebrows, and huge pale blue eyes, and the greatest laugh, from deep in her throat. She is a riot. She can tell a stupid story about running into a teacher at the gym and have us all rolling on the floor.

  Diego jumped to his feet and did a victory dance, pumping his fists above his head. His team had just scored a touchdown. Gabe smashed an empty beer can on his forehead. Just because he’s Gabe and he doesn’t want anyone to think he’s too mature.

  “When are we going?” Pepper demanded, standing up to pass a large bag of popcorn to Diego. Pepper, impatient as always. “Are we waiting for the snow to melt?”

  “Anyone want another beer?” Gabe had his priorities and Pepper had hers.

  I glanced out the window. The wind was blowing the snow around in Diego’s backyard. It was still very powdery. I emptied my beer can and tossed it into the trash can in the corner. “Okay, let’s roll.”

  It was a short ride to my dad’s Snowmobile Ranch. There were a few slick spots on the streets, but they’d mostly been plowed. I drove carefully, keeping both hands tightly on the wheel and watching my speed. I didn’t want to be stopped by any cops. They’d smell the beer on my breath, and that could be trouble.

  Pepper sat beside me. I was driving my mom’s Corolla, and Diego took up half the back seat. Kathryn had to scrunch her head down and sit on his lap, which he didn’t mind at all. Gabe was squeezed beside Diego. “I … I can’t breathe.…” he choked out. We didn’t pay any attention to him.

  I pulled into the store’s gravel parking lot. Sure enough, Lizzy was there waiting for us at the back of the building. She waved a red-gloved hand as I parked by the back entrance.

  I turned to see Pepper’s reaction. “Don’t worry. I’m going to be nice to her,” Pepper said. “You were right, Michael. She’s new and she doesn’t have any friends and … there’s something kind of sad about her.”

  I nodded, happy and a little relieved to hear Pepper’s decision. She can be jealous and impatient and fiery-tempered—but she’s also a sweetheart when she wants to be.

  I climbed out of the car and pulled the back door open. “Diego, do I have to get the Jaws of Life to pull you out of there?”

  He laughed. I took Kathryn’s arm and tugged her out first. Diego rolled out with a loud groan. Gabe was already standing on the other side of the car, taking deep breaths.

  Lizzy came trotting over. She had a red wool ski cap to match her red wool gloves. She wore a blue down parka and furry brown Ugg boots that looked brand-new.

  “I’m so excited!” she gushed. “I’ve never been on a snowmobile before. How do you drive it, Michael? Is it kind of like a bike?”

  “Not much like a bike,” I said.

  “You don’t have to pedal it,” Diego added helpfully.

  “My dad will give you a complete tutorial,” I said.

  “It’s not very hard,” Gabe said. “Even Diego can drive one.”

  Diego gave Gabe a hard shove that sent him barreling into the side of the car. “You’re so not funny.”

  “Don’t play rough,” Gabe said. “I’ll tell my mommy.”

  Kathryn held her stomach. “I shouldn’t have had those two beers. I forgot I didn’t eat lunch.” She groaned.

  “You’ll forget about it when we’re blasting across River Ridge,” Diego said. “But if you feel sick, you can just lean to one side and vomit in the snow.”

  Kathryn took Diego’s arm. “You’re so sensitive.”

  Dad had everything ready to go. The Snow Cats were all rented out, as he had said. But the Yamahas were looking awesome. He showed Lizzy how to sit on one, where to put her feet, and how to work the few controls. “Don’t go too fast,” he told me. “Give her a chance to get the feel of it.”

  “No problem,” I said.

  Dad’s store is at the bottom of the River Road. It’s a great location. Wide paths start at the back of the store and cut along the side of the road, perfect for snowmobiling.

  The road follows the Conononka River, then climbs the hills up to River Ridge, the highest point in Shadyside. There are thick woods up there. No houses. It’s protected park land. You can stand on the highest cliff and look down on the curving river and the town far below.

  And what a rush to roar along the wide clearing up there with the river cliffs on one side and the dark woods on the other, kicking up high waves of snow, scooting and sliding and shooting through the snow banks, feeling like you’re lost in a cold, shimmering white world of your own.

  Ha. Very poetic, right? Well, I told you I want to study creative writing.

  We took off, the six of us. The path wasn’t wide enough to go side by side. Diego and Kathryn led the way. The two of them are pros. Gabe and Pepper came exploding right behind them, kicking up a snowstorm on all sides of them. I stayed in back, riding beside Lizzy. We took our time. Her steering was unsteady. She kept slowing down, then speeding up again.

  “Slide!” I shouted. “Give it some gas, the
n stop. Don’t be afraid to slide.”

  She nodded, but her dark eyes were wide, her face tight with concentration. The others were pulling ahead. They made the first turn, following the path as it climbed the hills.

  I knew it wouldn’t take her long to get control of the thing. I remembered my first try. I’d felt as if I was sitting on top of a wild animal, or maybe an untrained bucking bronco. The animal was roaring, in total control, and I was along for the ride, helpless … totally helpless.

  Lizzy had that same look of panic on her face. But after a few minutes, I could see the tension fade. She actually smiled as her ride smoothed out, and we sailed together over the powdery snow banks.

  Soon, we were high above the river. I glanced down and saw the shiny white ice stretched over the water. The river was nearly frozen from bank to bank.

  We were close to the top, almost to River Ridge. And the path opened into a wide, flat clearing. Pine trees lined the horizon to our left, the start of the miles of tangled woods.

  Diego and Kathryn spun their snowmobiles in a wide circle. They slid wildly, spinning, kicking up a wall of white powder. Gabe and Pepper joined the fun. They spun and slid as if they were riding on an icy pond.

  The thunder of our engines rang off the trees. We shouted and pumped our fists in the air and sent tsunamis of snow rolling high in the sky, and the waves of silvery flakes came down over all of us like a frozen shower.

  Lizzy hung back. I motioned to her to try spinning out. But maybe that was too much for the first time. She moved slowly in a wide circle, watching the rest of us go crazy.

  I came out of a fast spin and motioned to Lizzy to follow me. I straightened up, got control, and began racing toward the fresh snow along the tree line.

  What was that red bird soaring so low overhead? Was it a hawk?

  When I lowered my gaze, I caught Lizzy moving in a straight line toward me. Then I turned—and gasped as I saw someone come walking out of the trees.

  I squinted against the blowing snow until he came into focus. A guy about my age, maybe a little older, in a long black overcoat, a dark hood over his head with black hair spilling out, down to his shoulders.