The Unseen (23 page)

“And the skunk.” Nicholas was laughing. Holding his nose, he said, “That skunk was really breathtaking.”

“You knew? But you didn't tell on me?”

Nelson grinned and shrugged. “We figured it was your business.”

So Xandra was busy in the basement again, and this time the twins were in on it too. Like buying kitten milk at the pet store and asking their friends about people who might want to adopt a kitten in the near future. Of course they could still be disgusting, like when they started calling Xandra M.M., which stood for Metal-Mouth because of the braces on her teeth. And by just naturally being their cocky, teenage Greek-god selves.

And as for Belinda? Xandra thought about her every day, remembering all the secret private things they had been able to talk about. But she also remembered Belinda's promise that they would meet again, and how she, Xandra, had known immediately that it was true.

In the meantime Christmas came and went, and there
were still nights on the window seat when Xandra thought she saw fiery eyes in the dark garden. But then more often than not a silent owl-shaped shadow would drift by, and when she opened the window she would detect a faint aroma of baby skunk.