The Awakening by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

centuries.”
    Megan shrugged. “There—that’s the statue of Conant in front of us. The founder of Salem. And the museum is just ahead, on our right.”
    They had reached the center of the historic district. He’d noted the statue the night before, and remembered asking her something about the old Gothic building next to it and her saying that it was one of the area’s best tableaus.
    He thought that they were heading right in, but Megan suddenly placed a hand on his arm. “Look, Finn! Someone has a Great Dane at the park!”
    Megan was a sucker for dogs—the bigger the better. But he suddenly felt as if a breath of fresh air rushed by them. Looking across the street at the common, he saw that a number of people were out, walking dogs. A few other kids were throwing a ball around; two young women were jogging together.
    â€œWell, let’s go see the Great Dane,” he said lightly.
    She flashed him a smile. They joined a throng of tourists crossing the street to the large, spacious common. People around them were laughing. A woman strolled a toddler in a cherry-pink carriage. The world seemed pleasant. And normal . It was a town, just a town, like any other. Taking revenge upon the evil of the past by making big bucks on tourism.
    â€œHey, is he friendly?” he called out as they reached the park, to the young man or older teen who was walking the animal.
    â€œShe’s a total sweetheart!” the youth called back, grinning. Finn, with Megan at his side, approached. Despite the Dane’s mammoth size, they both hunkered down. The huge dog immediately licked them both. She was so friendly that she knocked Megan over in her enthusiasm. The kid started to apologize, and Megan laughed, waving a hand in the air, accepting Finn’s hand to come back to her knees to better get to know the dog.
    â€œLizzie doesn’t know her own strength,” the kid said. He extended a hand to Finn. “Hi. I’m Darren Menteith. And this, of course, is Lizzie.”
    â€œNice to meet you. Finn Douglas. My wife, the incredible dog lover, Megan.”
    â€œFinn. And Megan. Are you playing here, at the hall?”
    â€œYes, that’s us,” Finn answered. Megan was busy telling the dog how beautiful she was.
    â€œWow! Wicked!” Darren said.
    â€œWicked?”
    Megan, still cuddling the dog’s massive head, laughed. “Wicked. It’s an expression, Finn. It means good.”
    â€œOh, yeah, exactly,” Darren said. “You know, wicked. Like a girl can be wicked good-looking. You can have a wicked good time. You know?”
    â€œSorry, I’m from the South. Deep South. Haven’t heard the expression before.”
    â€œHey, man, come on, you must travel!”
    â€œOh, yeah, we travel, but sorry . . . just haven’t heard it before.”
    â€œThat’s okay. Let me say then, wow, rad! I have some of your CDs.”
    Finn arched a brow. He had been getting something of a name, but still, his CDs were available through some of the major Internet chains, but he hadn’t heard that he was garnering that much of a following. They did well with their music where they played, but so far, live appearances had been their major selling point.
    â€œWell, thanks. That’s great. I appreciate it.”
    â€œWe’ve got a new one with us,” Megan said, balancing back to her feet. “We’d be happy to give you one.”
    â€œSuper. I’ve been planning to come to at least three of the nights you’re playing. Starting tonight.” He shrugged. “I’m in college here—didn’t go too far out of the hometown after high school, I’m afraid. Thought I’d get the basic stuff out of the way, first.”
    â€œSound plan,” Finn said. That made Darren about nineteen or twenty, a little older than he had estimated. He had a pleasant face, bright green eyes, and a dead short haircut, almost