“You’re more impressive every time I see you,” Riley said.
My cheeks heated. “And you’re more ridiculous.”
Riley sniffed and looked at the cloudy sky. “A storm is coming, and it’s going to be a big one.”
“How can you tell?” I mirrored him. “It just looks like more rain to me.”
“I can smell it in the air.” He grinned but said nothing else.
The bakery was closed when we made it home, so I led him around back and we slipped into the house through the living room. I resisted the urge to check on Dad, whom I hadn’t seen yet today since he was sleeping when I left for class this morning. I hesitated at the base of thestairwell. Lydia’s voice rang from upstairs, ruling that out as an option.
“Let’s go downstairs,” I whispered as we crept toward the basement.
“Why are we whispering?” Riley asked.
“Because if we’re caught—”
“Kitty.” Mom came out of Dad’s room. “Where have you been?”
I forced a smile. Maybe if I didn’t make a big deal out of Riley’s presence, she wouldn’t, either. “Hey, Mom. I was out working on things.”
Her gaze darted to Riley, then back to me. “Did you hear?”
My chest tightened. Mom must have finally heard about Graham’s death. He’d always been a favorite of hers. “Heard what?”
Mom stepped closer, her voice rising in pitch along with her frustration. “Priscilla Long already put out her jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween. If we don’t get ours out tonight, we’ll be at a severe disadvantage in the Spooktacular Showdown.”
“Oh…” Compared to everything else going on, Mom’s rivalry with Mrs. Long was infinitely unimportant.
She pointed toward the pumpkins on the floor. “I need you to carve those. Tonight.”
Riley turned to me. “Do you want to do that, Kitty?”
“I guess.” We could talk while we carved so it wouldn’t set us back.
“Then we’d be happy to.” Riley picked up a pumpkin and grinned at Mom.
Her tense expression melted into a syrupy smile. “And you are?”
“Riley Robinson from the Sanditon.”
“Oh, did you come to see Lizzy? I’m afraid she isn’t home right now.”
That was one way of putting it considering she didn’t live here anymore and was hardly ever “home.” But Mom struggled to come to terms with the fact that two of her daughters had moved out—especially since they hadn’t left because of marriage.
Riley tilted his head toward me. “Actually, I’m here with Kitty. She’s been helping me with an article. I hope it’s okay that I’m monopolizing her time.”
“Oh, monopolize away.” Mom waved a hand, although the airy gesture didn’t totally mask the surprise in her eyes. “Don’t let me stop you.”
I scowled at her. Why was it that whenever guys came to the house, no one ever assumed they were here to see me, even when they were literally with me?
“We’ll get started on the pumpkins.” I pulled Riley away before Mom could say anything else.
“There are more in the kitchen. Carve those too!” Mom called after me. “And dinner is on the stove, Kitty. Riley is more than welcome to have some.”
Instead of pulling him to the basement, I led him into the kitchen where a pumpkin risotto sat on the stove next to a few uncooked pumpkins sitting on the counter. “Are you sure you don’t mind carving these?”
“Not at all.” He flashed a grin at me.
