Page 38

Hazel handed him his bag. “Thanks, Noah, you’re my first customer!”

“My pleasure.” Noah paused. “Thanks for the help with the gifts. See you around, Hazel. Josie.” He turned and walked away, stopping to peruse a few stalls.

Just then, Maribel bounded towards them. A giant ball of energy, she stopped short in front of the bracelet display and looked up. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a French braid, and she wore a little pink dress with squirrels on it.

“Hi,” she whispered shyly.

“Hello, Maribel,” Josie and Hazel said in tune.

Maribel gave them both a shy wave as Serena approached the stall. “Hello, hello! How’s it going? Any customers yet?”

“Noah, in fact. He got a few things for his mother and Gran.”

“Ooh yay, your first sale!”

“Mummy, can I get something?” Maribel asked in a small voice.

“Of course, my darling, how about a necklace?” Serena guided Maribel over to the pendants. While mother and daughter decided, Sam appeared. Behind him was the familiar face of Lucas Montgomery.

Lucas had matured, now tall and muscular. His once white blonde hair had turned the colour of chocolate, and he now wore round glasses that seemed to magnify his hazel eyes. He was cute in a bookish, nerdy way. But he was also jacked, muscles straining against the sleeves of his shirt.

“This is Lucas,” Sam announced as he walked behind the displays to give Hazel a peck. Josie waved, and Lucas smiled back.

“Hey Lucas! Long time no see. How are you?” Hazel leaned across the display to give him a hug.

“Hey Hazel, I’m good, thanks. How are you going?” Lucas replied.

Before Hazel could answer, Sam cut in. “Wait, you two know each other?”

“Yeah, I used to spend every summer here with my grandparents. I swear I’ve told you this.” Lucas rolled his eyes as Hazel chuckled.

“Oh, maybe you did.” Sam frowned a little.

“Lucas’s grandparents were good friends with Serena’s grandparents. That’s how we all know each other.”

“Do you think Serena still hates me?” Lucas asked.

“Oh boy, without a doubt.” Hazel laughed. “That frog took things a little too far.”

Lucas smiled sheepishly at the ground. All the laughing caught Serena’s attention, her eyes darkening as she spotted Lucas. Lucas gave Serena a small wave, but she ignored him, giving her attention to Maribel. Serena whispered something in Maribel’s ear. Maribel picked up a gold necklace with a tiny amethyst pendant.

“Can I please buy this?” she asked Hazel in the tiniest voice possible.

“Of course, you can.” Hazel bent down to Maribel’s level.

“Mummy, why were you rude to that man?” Maribel asked as Hazel wrapped up the amethyst necklace.

“Let’s just say that man used to be a mean boy who liked frogs a little too much,” Serena replied, voice thick with venom. Puzzled, Maribel stared at her mother.

“Okay, what is this frog story?” Josie demanded, hands planted on her hips.

Hazel giggled, and Lucas tried to contain the beginning of a chuckle that had escaped his lips as Serena snapped, “It’s not funny. Stop laughing.”

“I put a frog in her cup.” Lucas tried to keep a straight face as Hazel couldn’t help herself, bursting with laughter.

“That’s it?” Sam asked, his eyebrows knitted together.

“You had to be there. Serena used to hate frogs. Lucas had been annoying her basically all summer. He’d found a frog at the start of summer and put it on her bed, then by her toothbrush and on her dinner plate. Then, he put it in her drinking cup. She went to take a sip, and she screamed so loudly. It was totally brilliant. Mean, but brilliant.” Hazel gave Serena an apologetic smile.