Shadow of a Life Read Free Page A

of finding something more
intriguing.
    As I moved up and down the aisles,
pulling out books and reading their covers, the familiar creepy
feeling returned. I felt like I was being watched. The hair on my
arms stood up and I shivered unexpectedly. Slowly, I lifted my head
and turned my gaze toward the end of the aisle. I gasped and
dropped the book I’d been holding when I saw who was standing
there. Aphrodite.
    Okay, things were getting a
little weird. Other than Dad and kids from school, I didn’t usually
see people I knew three times in two days, let alone complete
strangers. Our town was small so it was odd that I didn’t know who
the new girl was. Aphrodite disappeared around a shelf as quickly
as she’d appeared and I went back to making my book selections,
shrugging off the incident. I finally chose three that sounded
promising from the descriptions on their book jackets and weaved my
way to the circulation desk. You know you’re a library freak
when all the
librarians can greet you by name before you even pull out your
library card.
    There’s a cushiony chair near a window
in the back of the building that I usually sat in while reading. It
had a permanent butt imprint and I was almost certain it was made
entirely by my rear end. I could always go home and read, but there
I would be alone. At the library, I could read and watch as the
world moved by around me. Occasionally I’d even see someone from
school and get invited to “hang out.” Hey, I wasn’t a complete book
nerd.
    I was pulled from a story of sabotage
and blackmail by the sound and feel of my stomach growling. Smells
from Grandma’s Café and Bakery across the street drifted in through
one of the open windows of the library. I glanced at my watch,
shocked to see that it was almost one o’clock. It occurred to me
that I could read at the café just as easily as I could at the
library, except at Grandma’s I could eat a grilled cheese and
greasy fries while I read. And, who was I kidding? I was definitely
getting a milkshake, too.

CHAPTER 3

    D ad said that Grandma’s Café and Bakery already existed when he
was a kid growing up in Marion, Massachusetts. Of course, back then
“Grandma” was actually alive and running the joint. The café had
changed hands many times over the years, but it was still a
favorite local hangout. After placing my order I chose a table in
the back where I could spread out and not be in the way. There were
a few families finishing up lunch and a couple of older classmen
from my school polishing off burgers at the counter. I didn’t
recall their names, but I’d seen them around many times
before.
    When my order number was called I
meandered through the maze of tables and booths to claim my food.
As I turned away from the counter, the bell above the door
signaling someone entering chimed. Instinctively, I looked up and
again found myself staring at Aphrodite. At that point I was
determined to find out her real name so that I didn’t slip and call
her by the imaginary name I’d given her. I didn’t have to wait long
for my opportunity.
    After scanning the restaurant, her
eyes stopped on me and she headed straight for where I stood at the
counter. “Hi,” she said upon arrival.
    I turned to make sure there wasn’t
someone behind me she was greeting before I quizzically responded,
“Uhh . . . Hi?”
    “ I’ve never been here
before. What do you recommend?” she asked with a sunny
grin.
    “ Everything’s great,” I
mumbled.
    “ Your milkshake looks
delicious. What flavor is it?”
    I looked down at my tray. Apparently
the pink color wasn’t a dead giveaway.
    “ It’s strawberry,” I
answered. “And you are?”
    “ Oh. Sorry. I’m Sophia. I’ve
seen you around. I think we go to the same school. You always have
a lot of books with you.”
    The words coming from Aphrodite’s
mouth sounded rehearsed. I stared at her for a minute, trying to
figure out why she was talking to me, before I
responded.
    “