Page 42 of Ghost in the Night

Although I’m still pretty full off lemonade and cake, I can’t turn down a warm home-cooked meal. But Myah also got me a little queasy. How could she lie like that and steal all those kids’ money?

Then again, how much would I spend to talk to Grandma one more time.

Dad comes inside carrying his guitar case, already dressed for the night’s show.

“Hey, baby,” he says to me. “Feel like doing your pops a favor?”

His wiggling eyebrows make me laugh. “Maybe. What’s up?”

“Can you come along with me tonight? Think we need some new pictures of the band for the website.”

“After dinner, of course,” Lena chides.

“Okay! I’m down.”

“Can I come too?” Robby asks.

“Chile, no,” Lena says, kissing his forehead.

Robby sulks.

“Let me just grab my other battery from my room, and we can leave right after dinner,” I say, heading for the door.

“Bet,” Daddy says, sitting at the table. “Smells good, Lena.”

I cross the living room, and just as I’m about to head out to the guesthouse, an email pops up on my phone screen. A message from the Studio Museum in Harlem. I catch my camera bag before it falls out of my hand and plop into the nearest chair, not trusting my legs, my hand clammy as I tap the screen and read …

Dear Harmony,

Thank you so much for your application. After reviewing, we are happy to inform you that you are accepted into the Teen Program …

“I got in!” I scream. “YASSSSSS!”

Robby, Lena, and Dad all freeze, watching me hop around and dance into the kitchen like a maniac.

“I got in! I got in! I got in!”

“Got in what?” Robby asks.

“I got into the internship at the Studio Museum in Harlem. It’s a photography program. They’re going to teach me everything!”

“Oh. Well,” Lena says with a nervous laugh. “Congratulations.”

“OMG! We have to get back home right now,” I say to Dad. “I need to, you know, get settled and stuff. Go back-to-school shopping before I start this program. It’s once a week, but with cheer practice and this, I’m going to be busy. Can you believe it? Dad, ain’t this great!”

Lena nods along, then looks at Daddy. They seemstunned by my news and not in a good way. This is the time they should be congratulating me. Instead, something unsaid flows between them. Dad rubs his face, wincing, then gives me a tight smile.

“Oh, um. That’s great, baby. Real … real good news.”

My stomach plunges to the floor.

“What’s wrong?” I ask him. “Are you worried about money? ’Cause it doesn’t cost nothing. In fact, I’m going to get something called a stipend. I can buy my own lunch now! Oh! You think you can skip the last week of this gig? Or maybe I’ll fly back alone and Aunt Peggy can stay with me?”

My brain is working so fast my mouth can barely keep up. But even through my word vomit, I peep Lena giving Dad a stern look before turning to Robby. “Robby, help me with something back here,” Lena says.

“Something like what? I’m hungry.”

“Come on, young man,” she snaps, pulling him out of the kitchen by his ear. She’s trying to give us space. But for what?