‘Um . . .?’ Ivy shrugged. It rang a vague bell, but –
Brendan frowned. ‘Wasn’t there a girl from Franklin Grove who moved there over the summer? Debi something?’
‘That’s right!’ Ivy said. ‘She was a cheerleader – Olivia would know.’ Aha! Now she remembered. ‘Actually, Olivia’s going to do some filming there just before Thanksgiving!’
Brendan frowned. ‘But, Dad, why are you asking?’ As he looked at his dad, suspicion gathered on his face.
Before Marc Daniels could say a word, a loud ringing sounded from the computer in the study.
‘Here, take these!’ Mr Daniels bundled the maps and guidebooks into Brendan’s hands. ‘I have to answer this call!’
Juggling his armful, Brendan followed straight after his dad. Ivy followed Brendan into the small study, where even more maps were being printed as they entered.
A video-messaging programme was blinking in alert on the computer screen, and the ID on the caller read: Boss-Man.
Ivy raised her eyebrows at Brendan as the two of them stepped back, out of sight.
‘Dad’s boss,’ Brendan whispered.
Then they both went silent as the call clicked on.
On the screen, a hearty-looking, silver-haired man nearly bellowed his words. ‘Daniels! Have you thought any more about my suggestion? You know I need an answer soon!’
Mr Daniels smiled broadly. ‘I’m thinking about it,’ he said, ‘and in fact, I’m doing a bit of research about Pine Wood right now.’
Oh, no!
Ivy and Brendan shared a look of equal horror. So much for trying to fix things between Mr Daniels and his sister!
Was he actually thinking of following through on his threat to move away, just in case Carla ever moved back to town?
Dread tingled in Ivy’s chest as she looked into her boyfriend’s face.
Too many people threaten to leave Franklin Grove. It needs to stop – right now!
Chapter Ten
As Olivia walked towards the Franklin Grove Museum that Saturday, she shook her head in wonder.
Wow. Dad really pulled it off!
A long, snaking line of visitors stretched all the way out to the street, waiting their turn to come in. The small groups of people who’d already seen the exhibit looked almost giddy as they walked back out of the building.
One man stopped to yell back to the whole line of waiting visitors. ‘Don’t give up. That display is magical. Those artefacts . . .’ He shook his head, looking almost tearful. ‘I’ve never seen anything like them. Charles Vega is a genius!’
Oh, really? Olivia raised her eyebrows as she walked around the museum to the side-entrance reserved for special guests – or in other words, for vampires (and their bunny relatives!). The brisk October air rustled through her gauzy pink cashmere shrug and the darker rose-pink silk wrap dress she wore underneath. Olivia sighed as she thought back to the museum visitor’s words. She was proud of her bio-dad, but she had to admit, he really hadn’t been acting all that smart this week. Would a real genius completely fail to notice the problems his new wife was having?
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she almost walked straight into the girl heading towards her. ‘Oh!’ She caught herself just in time. ‘I’m so s– oh, Camilla!’ Olivia felt her face break into a beaming smile as she took in the sight of her best friend. ‘I’m so glad you’re here!’
‘Do I look OK?’ Camilla fingered one bouncy blonde curl, fidgeting nervously. ‘I wanted to look artistic – but not full of myself, you know? And it had to be fancy, but –’
‘You look perfect,’ Olivia assured her.
It was true. From the garnet brooch pinned to her velvet black beret to the black-and-white silk Charlie Chaplin outfit she wore, Camilla had definitely dressed up. But she was just as definitely still her artistic self.
‘Now, come on.’ Olivia took her friend’s arm. ‘I promise, I’ll answer all your questions about last week’s block of filming – but first, we have a mission.’
‘Really?’ Camilla brightened. ‘Hey, do you think you could get me in through the secret “family entrance”? That bouncer looks pretty scary.’
‘Hmm.’ Olivia looked at the side-entrance, where Albert – wearing a tuxedo, rather than his paint-stained jogging outfit – stood with his arms crossed, looking as if he’d swallowed a lemon. ‘It’s worth a try,’ she decided. ‘Let’s do it!’
. . . And let’s hope I don’t get into trouble for this! she added silently.
As they neared the door, Olivia pasted on a big smile. She was already preparing her rationalisation as she opened her mouth . . .
. . . but she didn’t have time to deliver it. Albert was already stepping back and opening the door. ‘This Camilla?’ he grunted.
‘Um, yes,’ Camilla said, and traded a wide-eyed glance with Olivia.
Albert nodded. ‘Lillian told me to expect her as well.’
Phew. Olivia beamed at him as they swept past into the museum. How perfect! She’d gotten out of this one without having to lie or put the vampire secret at risk. And best of all, she’d gotten Camilla inside, exactly where she needed her.
Whether Camilla knew it or not, she was essential to Olivia’s plan to fix everything that was wrong with her family!
Ivy traded a nervous look with Brendan behind Marc Daniels’s back as they led him around the museum exhibit.
‘Let’s hope this works!’ Brendan mouthed silently to her.