Demons of the Ocean Read Free Page B

words.[handwritten text:My dear Grace and Connor,Today marks the last day of your old life. At midnight tonight, the new lighthouse keeper will be given the keys to the lighthouse and take on the burden of lighting the lamp and watching the harbor below. There is, as my old father used to say, a kernel of goodness in the nut of misfortune--you just have to bite down hard enough to find it. For you, my dear children, it will not be so hard to see what good is coming your way. Tomorrow marks the FIRST day of your new lives. You will be free from the burden your father shouldered all these years. Come down from the lighthouse. Come and accept a new carefree life such as children of your age should enjoy. Some say I am a proud man, but I am not too proud to offer you a place in my family ONE LAST TIME.What do you say? When you think about it, what other options do you have? My wife and I will give you everything you]
    [handwritten text: could want from this life. Just ask and it shall be yours. Meet me at the lighthouse door at midnight. Pack only a bag of memories--for we will soon be making new memories, as a proper FAMILY!With open arms,Lachlan Busby, aka "Dad"!]Grace dropped the letter to the floor in horror and stood there feeling the tide of fear at last rise up over her."What's that?" Connor asked, striding into the room, bouncing a basketball. Seeing his sister's expression, he let the ball drop, each bounce a sad echo of the last, until it rolled to a stop in the corner of the room.He picked up the letter and read it, taking in each sugarcoated threat. Finally, he took the sheet of paper and tore it, scattering rough pieces over the floor like confetti."That's a fine gesture, Con, but it doesn't change anything," Grace said. "We've run out of options and now we've run out of time."Connor looked his sister squarely in the eye, and rested his hands on her shoulders. He smiled and shook his head. "On the contrary, Gracie. You may have run out of ideas. But I've worked everything out. Now, let's have some toast and peanut butter and I'll tell you exactly what we're going to do!"

CHAPTER 4
    HELL OR HIGH WATER
    Barely an hour later, the twins stood at the gates of the Crescent Moon Bay Orphanage. Each had packed only a single bag of belongings.Polly Pagett caught sight of them from the office window. She gave a small wave through the cracked glass and beckoned them through the gates.The twins waved back, but they did not step forward, and a moment later they were gone. Confused, the little woman pushed open the warped door and stumbled out into the bright sunshine.As she reached the gates, squinting in the bright light, she saw Connor and Grace heading off toward the harbor road and the sea beyond."Come back, come back!" she cried. "This is your home!"
    "As if!" Connor threw back over his shoulder."Good call," Grace said, squeezing her brother's hand.In the morning sun, the Busby residence glittered like a fairy tale castle."That will be my wing," Connor said, pointing into the distance."And that will be mine," Grace said."I'll persuade Mr. Busby to let me drive all his sports cars."
    "And I'll fill the swimming pool with roses, just because I can."They both laughed, and for a moment they didn't see Loretta Busby, waltzing through her Tudor knot garden, pruning shears in hand.But she had spotted them."You came!" she cried. "You came early!" Dropping her shears on the lawn, she ran toward them, wobbling like jelly in layers of pink chiffon."Time to get out of here!" said Connor. And, grabbing his sister's hand, he ran.The twins only stopped running when they reached the harbor. It was buzzing with activity, as always on a fine morning like this. The fishermen had already returned with their catches. On the wharf, the sorting process had begun. They threw fish into the air like jugglers, this way a tuna, that way a snapper, over here a cod. Beyond the sorting deck, the wharf was crowded with lobster pots, fresh from the ocean.