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
of the clunky regulation footwear so she must be having a good real-estate day I’m about to say Sure when something catches my eye A car has emerged from the woods at the far end of the access road It’s heading straight toward us leaving a cloud of dust along the quarter mile between the woods and the beach Ella gets on her feet leaning to the left and then the right trying to make out the passengers I better get the keys for the Buttermans place Mom says heading back into her office I call to her How do you know it’s the science people She calls back It’s exactly 1 00 p m and they are science people I’m figuring they’re the ones who will be on time She’s right A silver SUV pulls up to the front of our house and two science parents get out And a boy Not bad Black T-shirt with a small pi symbol on the chest Not-too-baggy jeans Vans Of course there is the issue of the hat He’s wearing a flat-like a-pancake gray-and-brown plaid golf hat It’s the kind my grandpa has on in a photograph hanging in the upstairs hallway except it doesn’t have the pom pom thank goodness 5
Huh Ella whispers Part geek part vintage Mom walks up to the parents with her hand extended I think she’s forgotten she has her uniform on They look at her like Uh-oh How do you do I’m Margaret Boyd Welcome to Maiden Rock How do you do the dad searches for a title uh Officer Mom looks down at her badge and laughs Ah Yes I’m also the sheriff It’s a small town They check out her holster as they take the keys from her You’re right next door to us Mom says point ing to Zoe’s house Best location on the beach and we always get plowed out first in the winter Dominic takes a step to the side which happens to put him a few inches from me I don’t move away He smells good Like clean sheets She doesn’t carry her gun all the time I reassure him She’s got some police thing in Rook River this afternoon That’s cool he says I feel very safe now Girls Mom’s voice snaps me back into the moment Could you help our new neighbors with their luggage Ella looks at her nails then tests one hand for 6
