1 What time is it Ella asks again It’s thirty seconds later than the last time you asked I’m twisting my hair and she’s blowing on her nail polish They should be here she says It’s May and spring has finally found its way to the North Atlantic The funky aroma of washed-up seaweed fills the air and damp cold still seeps out of the wooden boards we’re perched on We’ve broken out the flip-flops and shorts but pulled hoodies on over our T-shirts In Maine spring means sixty-five degree days tops The sun’s weak but we’re sure it’s giving us some color Have they driven to New England before I ask her Are you kidding Ella says I think this is the 1
first time they’ve ever driven anywhere Ella’s waiting for her Aunt Ceil and Uncle Edgar They’re only sort of relatives actually But they’ve been her family’s friends forever They’re coming for a vacation from being famous vampire-novel writ ers Many of Ella’s dad’s writer friends have visited Maiden Rock but until now it’s been detective and spy types Ella full name Mariella Philpotts is the thir teen-year-old daughter of famous New York crime novelist Jack Philpotts How can I describe Ella First let me say shoes She has a carnival of shoes in her closet And eyes she has several fishing tackle boxes full of shadow and liner Also nails dozens of little bottles of shimmering polish crowd her desk And of course the blues her nickname came out of her undying worship of Ella Marvell the uncontested queen of 1960s rhythm and blues When my best friend Zoe left for Scotland last fall my heart ached Up until then the two of us had ruled our remote coastal town of Maiden Rock Maine along with Zoe’s cousin Ben Zoe’s leav ing blew up normal After Ella and her dad came to town I couldn’t imagine being friends with a girl who was so exotic especially one that Ben was head over-heels crushing over Yes I was more than a tiny 2
bit jealous But then I got to know her And day by day little by little I found out she was okay In fact she was more than okay She became a true friend For one thing she helped me find my missing teacher Ms Stillford And when no one else believed my theories Ella stuck with me And even though Ben was following her around like a puppy she didn’t make a big deal out of it Ella and Quinnie was just as important to her as Ella and Ben Three weeks before Zoe was supposed to come home for the summer Zoe’s dad decided to stay over seas for another year The good news Ella’s dad liked Maiden Rock so much he bought the old Sprague place at the end of the beach Oh Ella will always be more of a New Yorker than a Maiden Rocker but that’s okay In fact I rely upon her New Yorkiness whenever I need an honest assessment of someone As Ella waits for Edgar and Ceil Waterman I’m waiting for the new people who are moving into Zoe’s house They have a thirteen-year-old boy which is exciting news since our vacation town is boy-bleak once the summer people leave after Labor Day The newbies son is named Dominic They have described him to my mom as studious Ella says that’s code for high geek factor Sigh My mom says the parents are professors of marine 3
biology I tell her They’re from New Jersey That’s pretty much the same as New York right If they’re from Newark they could be teaching mutant biology It’s all fuel tanks in that place Still the son could be cool I dunno I smell a collection of Funko Pops coming nearer and nearer Ella says as she applies a final coat of Darling Daffy Gold polish to her nails Funko Pops Geek toys And you know this because Because one of my dad’s nerd fans kept sending them to him and telling Dad he should put them in one of his novels We’re sitting on my steps at 10 Mile Stretch Road Just like all the other beach houses this side faces the street and the other side faces the ocean Behind us also overlooking the street is my mom’s office with three desks her real estate-lady desk her mayor’s desk and her sheriff’s desk Did I mention how small this town is Oh and Mom’s the postmaster too Girls The screen door to Mom’s office creaks open You still want to help me with summer wel come packets She’s dressed in her sheriff’s uniform which has super unflattering trousers a weird thick belt and sturdy black shoes But she’s smiling in spite 4
