Dae's Christmas Past Read Online Free Page A

before I go.”
    He meowed and jumped on the floor before pacing back and forth with his black tail swishing.
    “I know you don’t like having Mary Catherine’s cat here. It won’t be for long. You’ll just have to get along with him. I think he mostly goes out everywhere with her. I know. You’d like to do that too. But you’re not the scarf type that I can drape over my shoulders.”
    I smiled and stroked his shiny black fur. “I have to take a shower and get dressed. Life will be back to normal tomorrow. Maybe you can come with me to Missing Pieces. You like that.”
    He was still complaining when I went into the bathroom. I ignored him, getting into the shower and rubbing some flower-scented shampoo into my short brown hair. The hot summer sun had bleached it out more than normal this year since I’d been outside so much. My tan was darker than usual too. Kevin had reminded me several times about using sunblock.
    The hot water felt so good. I closed my eyes and let it pour down on me.
    I felt guilty about not helping Jake when I could see he was in such bad shape. He needed someone. I just wasn’t sure I was that person. I didn’t know how to overcome my fear of the artifacts. Mary Catherine said she thought it was healthy. I felt cowardly about it.
    Convincing myself to get out of the shower—I couldn’t hide here either—I swiped my hand across the steamy bathroom mirror. I practiced my big mayor’s smile that had become second nature to me. The smile looked as it always did, but didn’t reach my troubled blue eyes.
    What if Mary Catherine was right and bad things were about to happen to us? Storms and floods we’d weathered—what about a horse cult? I didn’t really even understand yet how something like that could be a threat.
    I’d made it through a pirate’s ghost, and a dead man trying to help me find his daughter. I’d been hoping for a slowdown in that kind of thing. I needed a nice, long vacation where only good things happened. It could be me and Kevin on a nice, calm beach together. No ghosts. No secrets. And definitely no possibly evil horse cults.
    I opened the closet door and went to find the outfit I’d set aside for my possible re-election party. It was breezy, blue and purple, mid-length. I had beautiful, though uncomfortable, shoes that went with it. They matched so perfectly I couldn’t leave them at the shop.
    My spirits began to pick up once I was dressed. I remembered all the exciting plans I had if I was elected mayor for another term. I was proud of my town and wanted to be part of its future.
    Because it was the first time I’d worn the dress, I could also see that it was made in Duck at Sunflower Fancy. I could see my friend, Darcy, in her little sewing room in the back of the shop. She was a wonderful seamstress and I enjoyed wearing her clothes. They felt happy. It was much better than sensing a dress had been made in some far-off country by people who were miserable at their jobs.
    The shoes were a different matter. As soon as my feet were in them, I could feel the large factory in China where they were made. At least, I reminded myself, no one had died while they were wearing them before me. I’d once put on a dress that a woman had drowned herself in. Not a pleasant experience.
    There wasn’t much to do with my hair. I combed the flyaway brown wisps—it dried straight, like always. I put on some eye makeup and lipstick, and studied myself in the mirror again.
    Treasure yowled.
    “I know I look stupid smiling at myself. I can’t explain it. Mayors have to do it. Be glad you’re a cat!”
    He slunk away. He really didn’t like that idea at all. I didn’t blame him.
    I met Mary Catherine in the hall as I left my room. Treasure walked out before me. Baylor was on the floor at her side. He watched my cat intently but didn’t run after him. Treasure hid behind a chair, frightened.
    “You look fabulous,” Mary Catherine complimented with a wide smile of her own.