Spirit Eyes Read Online Free Page A

are.”
    Ruth’s flesh crawled at their incessant bickering. “Knock it off.” She let out a deep sigh, blatantly aware that the man-in-the-driveway episode was playing havoc with her mood. “Did everyone like the cupcakes?” she asked, trying to sound calm.
    “Yes, but I’m sure mad that I let Mr. Phillips have one. He’s so mean. And Celina Tucker said they were okay, for store bought . She’s such a little brat.”
    Ruth maneuvered the van out of the parking spot in front of the school and turned onto Park Street.
    Defiantly, Pearl continued the argument with her sister. “By the way, Lotus, I have more important things to do than study.”
    As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she screamed, “Mom, stop! Watch out.”
    Shocked, Ruth slammed on the brakes and came to a standstill. “What the hell?” she shouted.
    “You almost hit her,” Pearl said.
    “Hit who? For God’s sake, Pearl, there’s no one in the street.”
    A car behind them beeped and after checking around to be sure it was clear, Ruth stepped on the gas.
    “What’s wrong with you?” Lotus said.
    “I saw a girl in the road.”
    Exasperated, Ruth moaned. “That’s it. When we get home I’m calling Dr. Conley. You need your eyes checked.”
    “Is that why I keep seeing people, Mom? Is it just cuz I need my eyes checked?”
    “What are you talking about?” Lotus quizzed, suddenly appearing interested in her sister as something more than a buffoon to berate.
    “Nothing.” Pearl laid her head back once again.
    “I’m always the last one to hear about anything in this family.” Lotus dramatically opened a book to read.
    “There’s nothing to hear,” Ruth said. “Your sister needs her eyes checked. Sorry I didn’t run it by you first.”
    “What’s for dinner?” Lotus asked, changing the course of the conversation, much to Pearl’s relief, or at least that’s what Ruth saw when she looked at her daughter’s sad face in the rearview mirror.
    “Chicken,” Ruth said. “Pearl’s favorite.”
    “Chicken and what?” Lotus asked. “Fear,” Ruth whispered to herself. “We’re having a heaping bowl of fear.”
     
    “Daddy’s home.” Pearl came around the corner, into the kitchen and grabbed a few croutons out of the salad.
    “Don’t do that,” Ruth said. “And if you must do that, at least eat a carrot.”
    Pearl grabbed a small carrot. With it lying in one palm, and the croutons in the other, she pretended to weigh them. “Croutons or carrot? Croutons or carrot?” She popped the croutons in her mouth and threw the carrot back into the bowl. “Croutons won,” she said.
    Paul walked in and gave both his wife and then Pearl a kiss. “Mmm, smells good, I’ll be down in a second.”
    Ruth told Pearl to keep an eye on things and not let Puddles get anything off the counter or she’d have no birthday cake for dessert. She followed Paul upstairs and quickly filled him in on the experience of the morning and on the ride home. He answered exactly as she suspected.
    “Ruth. Hello? She’s doing it strictly for attention. Plain and simple. The more we ignore it, the quicker it will go away.”
    “I don’t think so. You weren’t there. She was scared. Her face was white as a sheet. I have no doubt she saw something.” Ruth’s inward impatience bubbled to the surface.
    Paul removed his tie and sat on the bed to take off his shoes. “Come on. So you think she’s seeing ghosts? Get real. We’ll keep an eye on it, but please, don’t play into it.”
    His inflexibility didn’t surprise her. What did she expect from a scientist? But again, that lonely fear surrounded her.
     
    Dinners were usually a raucous affair in the Adler home. That evening, however, proved awkward. The sound of cutlery hitting glass plates, a sound Ruth detested her entire life, frustrated her. She’d developed this dislike growing up with a father that insisted on no talking during meals, and his word was law. It was just the two of