Darkling Read Free

of cars traveling fifty miles an hour.
    Cora was shaken but tried not to show it. “It had to have been sick. I’m sorry, Annie. I don’t want that to spoil your arrival here in Coden.”
    â€œI don’t believe in omens. At least it was a quick death,” Annie said. “It didn’t suffer.”
    I hated it when people mouthed platitudes. A quick death. What did that mean? Annie had no clue what she was talking about, but I wisely kept quiet. Cora was struggling to regain her composure, and I didn’t want to do anything that would make it harder for her.
    She put the car in DRIVE and we started along Shore Road at a more sedate pace. When I glanced back in the side mirror, I saw a dozen other gulls pecking the corpse. They tore at it with a savage frenzy. Gulls were scavengers, but I’d never seen them feast on a freshly dead comrade. My gaze connected with Annie’s in the rearview mirror. She watched me with cool calculation.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” she asked. She was so calm, I could only imagine what hardships she’d endured to gain such composure.
    â€œNothing.” I had no desire to spoil her arrival at Belle Fleur. The Henderson family was waiting, a happy occasion. Cora had planned this for days. The bird’s death was unfortunate, but there was no reason to mar the remainder of the day.
    â€œWild creatures are unpredictable, don’t you think?” she asked.
    â€œSeagulls are hardly wild creatures.”
    Annie broke her gaze from mine. “Will the Hendersons like me?” she asked Cora.
    â€œI’m certain they will. This is a big day for them, too. I’ve told them all about you.”
    Out of the corner of my eye I watched Cora put aside her shock and assume her professional demeanor. “All we know,” I added. “There wasn’t a lot to tell since you can’t remember anything about your past.”
    â€œThey’ll be charmed by you,” Cora said. “And you will adore them.”
    â€œWill they adopt me?” Annie asked.
    Cora hesitated. “We’ve talked about this, Annie. You’re sixteen. That’s a bit old for adoption. They may foster you until it’s time for college. That would be a wonderful outcome for you.”
    â€œYes,” she said.
    I couldn’t see her expression, for her face was hidden behind a blowing strand of dark curls, but her voice sounded less than sure. She merely wanted to be loved, I thought. Who could not love a child so beautiful and damaged?

2
    WELCOME, ANNIE
    The banner hung in the live oaks that lent the front lawn of Belle Fleur an air of grace and elegance. The house, surrounded by oaks, camellias, azaleas, and other hardy shrubs, faced the road and the water. To me, it looked like a photograph, something captured on film from a bygone time when houses were built with care and attention to detail. As we drew closer, I could see the love Berta had showered on the house in the hanging ferns along the front porch, the freshly painted wicker furniture, the pots of geraniums that bloomed blood-red. Bob had loved the house first, but Berta had grown to love it over the summer.
    Cora stopped the car a dozen yards from the five Hendersons who stood beneath the banner. Bob and Berta wore welcoming smiles. Donald had his typical open friendliness that always made me think of Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer. He was all boy, all adventure, all happy to include a poor waif with no memory. Erin was unsure. Margo was trouble. The instant Annie stepped out of the car, Margo took her measure and a sneer crossed her face. I couldn’t say I blamed her. Annie and Margo were the same age. No matter how hard Berta worked at it, both girls would compete for her love. It was the way of the teenager.
    â€œAnnie!” Berta came forward, extending the joyful welcome of a California goddess. Berta was sun and oranges and blue-eyed beauty. She was a perfect match for Bob, who