Shadow Wrack by Kim Thompson Page B

do you want, Willa?”
    The question took her by surprise a little bit, but the answer popped out: “I want everything to go back to normal!”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBut … the black thing on the hill, and the Stork Man —”
    Miss Trang interrupted her with a wave of her hand. “I’m here. I’ll look after everything.”
    â€œAnd Horace?”
    Pause. Miss Trang’s eyes dropped to her skirt, and she brushed away a speck of something.
    â€œI’ll take him in hand.” Then she looked Willa in the eye. “Everything will be taken care of. Go home. Your work is done.”
    Willa turned, as if in a dream, with those last words echoing in her head all the way home. Your work is done.

Chapter Eight
    In which Willa takes on her messed-up family
    W illa went straight home. She didn’t even stop by Eldritch Manor on the way. By the time she reached her front door, she felt like she’d woken from a deep sleep. Suddenly everything was clear and simple before her. Miss Trang was back in charge, which meant everyone would shape up and behave, and Willa could concentrate on her own life for a change. She could focus on schoolwork and remembering to make her bed, and maybe she’d even be able to goof off a little and have some fun. Spend her time being a kid instead of someone so boring and responsible. She felt light-headed and happy.
    After supper, she finished all her homework, even though it was just Saturday, and went to bed early. I’m going to fix my family now, she thought, and drifted into a deep, contented sleep.

    Willa slept in on Sunday morning and then spent the rest of the day reading and making plans. She didn’t even know where to begin with her mom, who was pretty prickly and had some serious issues about Belle. Grandpa, on the other hand, was fairly reasonable, so she decided her first step would be to reconcile Grandpa and Belle. Since they were avoiding each other, getting them in the same room would require some trickery. The plotting filled her with glee. It would happen on Tuesday. She told Grandpa she was coming for a visit, and she told Belle they were going for a walk at the seashore. It was so simply done, she was amazed she hadn’t thought of it before.
    After school on Tuesday, Willa pushed Belle in her wheelchair out the front door and two blocks to the bus stop. The day was bright and glorious, though definitely Octoberish. Hallowe’en was in just three days, so pumpkins with spooky faces were popping up on front steps, and fake cobwebs streamed from fence posts. Willa was in such a good mood, she didn’t even mind it when the bus was late and they got off a stop too late and had to walk a fair way back to the right path.
    Belle wasn’t suspicious until Willa turned the wheelchair away from the water and toward the line of small, wind-beaten bungalows. Her hands suddenly gripped the arms of her chair.
    â€œI’m ready to go home now!” she growled.
    Willa kept walking. “We’ve got a stop to make first.”
    â€œYou conniving little —” Belle squirmed around in the chair to give Willa an evil look. “This is kidnapping! I want to go home. Take me home right now!”
    Willa reached the boardwalk, and they rattled along easily now. “You two were married once upon a time. I think you can stand a short visit.”
    To her surprise, Belle let out a howl of anger. Willa barrelled forward.
    â€œIf you promise not to put any more curses on him, I’ll take you home after just fifteen minutes. How does that sound?”
    A low growl this time. Willa rolled her eyes. Such drama.
    The sound had brought Grandpa to his door. He stood there on the porch a moment, his eyes wide and fearful at the sight of Belle. Then he ducked inside and shut the door. Willa bumped the wheelchair up the single step onto the porch and knocked loudly on the door.
    â€œGrandpa! Come on. I know