Is She for Real? Read Online Free Page A

branch, their hair hanging down strangely.
    â€œSo Bethany will be here soon,” Lissa told Olivia and Lily. “You’re sure that’s okay? I didn’t really ask you guys about it before I invited her. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”
    â€œTotally,” Olivia said. “I really like her. And she’s your next-door neighbor, after all.”
    â€œAnd Nate’s in love with her,” Lily added immediately. Olivia and Lissa stared at her in disbelief.
    â€œNo, really,” Lily said. “It was ridiculously obviousall week in school. He can’t stop staring at her. I can’t believe you guys didn’t notice.”
    Lissa frowned. “First of all, ew ,” she said. “My brother is gross. Second of all, I don’t keep tabs on him all day.”
    â€œWhatever,” Lily said. “I can see why Nate would like her. She’s really pretty, and she’s smart and funny. What’s the big deal?”
    â€œIt’s not a big deal,” Lissa and Olivia said at the same time, and then both laughed. A moment later they saw Bethany and her parents approaching from the sidewalk.
    â€œHey!” they called. Bethany gave a little wave and smiled. Her long, curly hair bounced around her shoulders, and she wore pink lip gloss that made her look very glamorous. Her parents went to knock on the door to meet Lissa’s parents, who opened their door with a smile and let their new neighbors in. They already had lemonade and cookies set out for them.
    â€œWelcome to the neighborhood!” Mr. Carlson said. “I’m Ed Carlson, and this is my wife, Linda. We’re so happy to meet you, and glad the girls made friends so quickly.”
    â€œRichard Warren. Pleasure to meet you,” Bethany’s dad said. “And this is Sally,” he added, indicatingBethany’s mom. The four stood in the kitchen smiling at one another.
    â€œSo where are you from, and what brings you to our fair port?” Mr. Carlson asked the Warrens.
    â€œWe’re from Manhattan,” Mr. Warren said. “My marketing firm is opening a new office in New Haven. They sent me here to get it going. And Sally here writes for an advertising firm, and she’s going to commute to the city three days a week, and write at home the other two days.”
    The Carlsons nodded attentively.
    Mr. Warren continued, “We’re both going to be out of the house a lot for the next few months while we settle things with our jobs. My aunt is living with us. She’s helping to look after Bethany on the days when Sally and I have to stay over in the city. We’re trying to keep those days few and far between, but we probably won’t be around as much as we’d like for a while. We’re really hoping things settle down this summer!”
    Mrs. Warren added, “Luckily, Bethany is very resilient and has been a really good sport about all this.”
    â€œShe seems like a lovely girl,” Mrs. Carlson agreed. “And she’s always welcome here! Would you like a tour of the B and B?”
    â€œAbsolutely,” Mrs. Warren said. They started by the staircase, where Mrs. Carlson pointed out the framed ghost story. Mr. and Mrs. Warren leaned in to read it.
    â€œSpooky!” Mrs. Warren said with a little shiver. “Was there really a Lady Warwick?”
    â€œOh, absolutely,” said Mr. Carlson. “And if you listen closely at night, you might hear her tapping at your windows too, since you’re just on the other side of the cemetery!”
    The adults laughed in appreciation of Mr. Carlson’s joke and then headed upstairs for the rest of the tour.

    While their parents talked inside, Lissa got to the important matter at hand. “We ordered pizza,” she told Bethany.
    â€œExcellent,” Bethany said. “I love pizza!”
    Just then the pizza arrived. Nate loped down to the kitchen to join them and