“Good! Though I’ve missed you so much. What’s the surprise?”
I barely finish the question when the Coopers’ car door swings open, and a boy about my age steps out. He’s a little shorter than me, painfully thin, with dark hair tousled as if nervous fingers had been pulling at it. He won’t look at me, too busy tormenting his hands, nails chewed down to the quick. He’s dressed in aCarsoutfit, Lightning McQueen grinning from his T-shirt—one of my favorite cartoons.
I take a step toward him, feeling everyone’s eyes on me. He looks so scared, and I want to know why. So I put on my brightest smile and hold out my hand. “I’m Nova Elizabeth Dehlia Marshall. You can call me Nova, or whatever you want. Just whistle and I’ll come running. What’s your name?”
For the first time, the boy looks up. The sunlight catches his freckled nose, and his wide hazel eyes study me with quiet curiosity. He steps closer but doesn’t take my hand. Instead, he leans in and asks, “What’s that hole between your teeth?”
I quickly cover my mouth with my hand. I don’t answer, just keep eye contact, looking for mockery in his gaze—but I find none. He’s just curious. I smile, lowering my hand. “Can you keep a secret?”
He nods shyly, then finally shakes my hand, though only for a few seconds before pulling away.
I turn to the adults first, showing them how to cover their ears, then face him again. “My daddy says that when I was born, the tooth fairy chose me for a secret mission because I’m special. I don’t know what the mission is yet. Daddy says I’ll find out when I’m eighteen. Until then, this gap in my teeth proves howspecial I am. But it’s top secret. You can’t tell anyone, or my cover will be blown. Okay?”
“Yes,” he says simply. No smile, no mocking—just quiet honesty.
“What’s your name?” I ask, crouching in the grass and turning my attention to the daisies. Maybe if I act casual, he’ll feel less scared.
“Vincent,” he mumbles, then more firmly: “My name is Vincent Cooper.” His accent is funny. I like it.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vincent Cooper. Welcome to San Francisco.”
For the first time, he smiles. It’s a shy smile but it’s real. I pick a bunch of daisies to hand him, but he bolts to Daniel and Chris, hiding his face in their arms. I freeze, daisies in hand, wondering what I did wrong.
“Nova,” Dad calls.
“Yes?”
“Do you want to go?” He offers his hand.
I nod and follow him back to the porch, though my gaze lingers on Vincent in the Coopers’ arms, Percy already nuzzling him.
Dad sits on the sofa and pulls me onto his lap. I lean back against his chest, leaving the daisies beside us. “Sweetheart,” he begins.
“Yes?”
“Vincent is a special child.”
“Like me?”
Dad chuckles. “I don’t think there’s anyone more special than you. But yes, Vincent is very special too and I think he needs someone to show him that being special is a beautiful thing.”
I leap up like a grasshopper. “Can I be that someone?”
“Would you?”
“Yes! Can I play with him now? With him and Percy?”
“Not now, Nova.” Dad says, stopping me by the shoulders.
“Why?”
“Because Vincent needs time. He has to adjust to this new life. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Actually, no, Dad. I’m a little confused,” I admit.
“You like the Coopers, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
