Evelina and the Reef Hag (17 page)

Their gazes locked.

Evelina’s skin flamed.

She quickly looked away, realizing she’d been gawking like a fool.

Luckily,
Eydis
showed no sign of recognizing her.

Not that she would. Why would she? According to Frankie, he never saw
Eydis
, let alone talked to her.

Evelina sucked in a long cool breath. No sense thinking about it. There was nothing she could do to change it.

Only
Eydis
could break off the betrothal.

And why would she do that?

Frankie was everything anyone could want.

Except…

He belonged to someone else.

Evelina did her best to remember that all the way to the tree fort, and again when Frankie and Cliff showed up later that night.

“We saw your girlfriend tonight,” Abby blurted as soon as they popped in.

Evelina shot Abby a hot glare. She grabbed a pineapple and plunked it on the cutting board at the bar. She snatched up a knife to begin slicing it with concentrated furor.

“Oh yeah.” Frankie raised one golden brow. “How is she?”

Abby shrugged. “Average.”

Cliff pinched her butt.

“Ouch!” She punched him in the arm.

“We didn’t actually speak to her.” Evelina sliced into the pineapple with a thwack. “But, she looked very… nice.”

Awkward.

Thank you Abby.

Frankie’s mouth curved in the ghost of a smile.

“She is,” Cliff piped in.

“Nobody asked you.” Abby grabbed him by the arm, pulling him away from the bar.

Frankie handed Evelina a plate for the pineapple. “Next Sunday’s the final competition.”

“I know.” She looked up from her slicing. “And the Swamp Hogs are ahead.”

“
Oceana
and White Water are down one.” Frankie appeared thoughtful. “
Lake
of the Isles have the best chance of beating them.”

Frankie was right.
Oceana
was certainly the strongest team, but numbers mattered. The scales were tipped.

Lake
of the Isles needed to keep their heads down, until the Reef Hag was caught.

Easier said than done.

The truth was...

They were all in danger out there.

***

“Concentration is key,” Burble trilled. “Without it, all is lost.”

Evelina groaned under the weight of the enormous tiara Abby had just conjured on her head.

Beams of light shot across the sand, igniting the crowd of novices on the beach practicing spells.

It felt like a chandelier had fallen on her, but Evelina forced a smile, putting on her game face for Abby’s sake.

“So is speed,” Burble made eye contact with Abby, Tally and then Evelina. “Often you must transform in an instant. Let your imagination run free.”

Abby snapped her fingers.

The tiara disappeared.

Evelina rubbed the back of her neck to loosen the kinks.

“Focus and,” Burble swept both hands in the air, “execute!”

A delicate tiara of diamonds and pearls appeared on Tally’s head.

Abby lifted her hand in the air, gaze trained on Evelina’s head.

Evelina stiffened, bracing herself for the anvil to fall, or in this case a tiara the size of a spaceship.

Abby snapped her fingers.

A light circle of weight descended onto Evelina’s head.

Tally’s gaze widened.

Abby gave a hoot of laughter.

“What?” Evelina put a hand to her head. It felt like oysters. “Ouch!” One snapped at her finger, giving it a sound pinch. Evelina flung it from her head. “It’s alive!”

“Almost!” Burble smiled wide. “Very close. Well done! Continue on.” Burble strode down the beach in the direction of Nebula Sludge and her brood of Swamp Hags.

“Close!” Abby gave a loud huff. “I think my first one was closer.”

“I think she means closer to the right size.” Evelina patted her on the shoulder. “Who knows, maybe they’re loaded with pearls.”

“What’s that?” Tally pointed down the beach.

Evelina cupped one hand over her eyes, squinting against the bright sun. “Looks like something’s washed ashore.”

Abby strode toward it. “Looks like a dead head.”

Evelina followed. “It has a head alright.”

Tally gasped. “It’s a person!”

Evelina rolled the figure over.

Her skin tingled.

Eydis
Turtlemoon
.

Evelina stared for a long moment, then dropped to the sand.

She put her ear to
Eydis
’ heart, but couldn’t hear a thing.

Evelina started chest compressions, counting to thirty. Then she pinched
Eydis
’ nose, tilted her chin, and gave her two breaths. She pumped her chest again.

Eydis
coughed and coughed, puking up water.

Evelina rolled her onto her side.

“Thank God!” She released the breath she’d been holding. “She’s alive.”

When the coughing stopped
Eydis
’ eyes fluttered open.

“
Eydis
!” Evelina helped her sit up. “What happened?”

“I just waded out to cool off for a minute. Then, something stabbed me,”
Eydis
whispered. “Like a needle.”

Oh no!

She’d been stung by a Ghost Ray.

“Where?”

“Don’t know.”
Eydis
eyes rolled back in her head, then closed.

“Wake up!” Evelina shook her again. Ghost Ray barbs were tiny. They could search for hours and never find the thing.

They had to get her to Proteus!

Fast!

Chapter Fourteen

The apothecary bustled with customers.

The place smelled of earth and wind and foliage, like a fresh spring day blown under the door.

Evelina followed Udora to the counter of the little shop, anxious to hear any news of
Eydis
.

The diminutive man behind the counter peered over his bifocals and blinked. His scalp went pink between the tufts of white hair atop his head. Then, his face lit with a huge smile.

Udora inclined her head. “Good morning, Mr.
Turtlemoon
.”

“Good morning!” He continued to stare, then seemed to remember himself. “This is Evelina Crimm, is it not?” He hustled around the counter. “Well, well, well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, young lady.” He gave her hand two vigorous pumps. “A pleasure, indeed! You saved our
Eydis
. She’s alive and doing well thanks to you. We’re forever grateful. Yes, indeed.”

Evelina smiled back in relief, returning his vigorous hand shake. “You’re welcome.”

“What can we do for you? Anything!” He shuffled back behind the counter just as quick. “It’s on the house. The least we can do. Yes, indeed.”

Udora produced a list from her pocket. “Just a few things.” She set her basket on the counter. “Oh! And a small bottle of morning dew, if you please.”

“Never good to let it run low.” Mr.
Turtlemoon
nodded briskly. “You can go through it fast.”

Evelina browsed around the shop, marvelling at the ceiling-high shelves filled with every shape and color of bottle imaginable.

A beautiful blue bottle on the tall shelf by the window caught her eye.

She lifted it up to read the faint writing on the label.

The glass stopper jiggled and a blue butterfly flew out.

She made a grab for it, but missed.

It fluttered to the brass doorknob, then over to the front window.

When she leaned over the capture it, she spotted Frankie outside the shop speaking to
Eydis
Turtlemoon
.

Something sank in her belly.

“Problem?”

She turned to find Udora there. “No!” She put her hand out and the butterfly danced onto her palm. “Got it.”

It stuck out its long orange tongue like a birthday blower.

The bells on the door jingled.

“Evelina!”
Eydis
glided toward them across the polished wood floor. “I’m so glad you’re here. I didn’t get the chance to thank you.”

Evelina’s flesh went hot. It was difficult not to feel guilty around
Eydis
, considering the way she felt about Frankie. “No problem.” She handed
Eydis
the butterfly.

“Are you going to the party at the surf shack?”

“Maybe.”

“Good! I’ll see you there.” She gave a little wave, then hurried off to help a customer.

Evelina groaned inwardly.
Eydis
was so sweet. Why did she have to be so sweet? It was all the more difficult to dislike her. Or, come up with more reasons why Frankie shouldn’t marry her—despite the obvious.

But it was Christmas Eve. There was no time to dwell on what couldn’t be. There were cookies to be baked and presents to wrap.

The day flew by.

The next morning, Evelina couldn’t stop smiling.

It was the best Christmas ever.

At least, in a very long time.

She was opening presents under a Christmas tree with a real family again, and determined to enjoy every minute.

The little pink cottage smelled of pine from the magnificent potted
Norway
decorated with seashells, strings of pearls and polished green glass.

Evelina’s heart swelled at the collection of art supplies under it, she’d just unwrapped.

The aunties couldn’t have given her a better present.

 
“I love it!” Mrs. Segal pranced from the kitchen table to the Christmas tree, modeling her red silk housecoat. “I’ll wear it every morning.”

“It’s lovely!” Udora smiled, running her hand over the azure flowered silk housecoat in her lap. “I’ll save it for good.”

“Nonsense! Put it on!” Mrs. Segal urged. “We both want to see it. Don’t we, Evelina?”

A knock sounded against the door.

“I wonder who that is?” Mrs. Segal appeared pleased and amazed all at once.

Evelina rose to her feet. “I’ll go.” But when she opened the door no one was there. She stepped out on the porch to peer up and down the beach, but spied no one. Then, just as she turned to go inside she spotted a small white box with a floppy pink bow sitting on the rail. She gazed around again, then strode over to examine it. A small card on a string read,
Merry Christmas, Evelina.

When she pulled the satin bow the lid popped open. The bottom rose like an elevator. She found herself staring at a silver sand dollar, dangling from her mother’s gold necklace—the one she’d been searching for.

She slipped it over her head, running her thumb and finger over the cool surface of the sand dollar.

An image of Frankie sprang to mind.

Had he found it? But why put the sand dollar on it?

She pulled it off over her head again.

No.

It couldn’t be from him.

He was betrothed.

She turned it over in her hand, examining every inch of it. The workmanship was impressive. But, she couldn’t find a maker’s mark.

Hmmm… if it wasn’t from Frankie, who could have sent it?

Maybe it was a trick, or a joke.

Or—something more sinister.

She gazed up and down the beach again, hoping someone or something might materialize to clear up the matter, but apart from a few joggers there was no one in sight.

Even if Frankie had sent it.

She didn’t dare wear it.

It wouldn’t be right.

She scooped the box up, then stuffed it in her pocket.

“Of course he sent it,” Abby declared stoutly when Evelina mentioned it at the Coconut Shack the next morning. “Who else would send something like that to you?”

She had a point, but Evelina couldn’t help reminding her, “He’s betrothed, remember?”

“For now.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you never know.” Abby shrugged. “Stuff happens.”

“Maybe she’ll fall in love with someone else,” Tally piped in.

“It happens.” Abby flashed a wide-eyed look that didn’t look all that innocent.

What was she up to?

Evelina was about to warn her to stay out of it when they were mobbed by a family of eight. It took a good ten minutes to serve them. By then another family loaded down with pails and shovels swarmed in. And the day rolled away. Who knew so many people went to the beach on Boxing Day.

The next few days proved just as busy.

Lucky for them.

Sales were climbing fast.

Unfortunately it seemed just as busy at the Hell Hut.

Friday came and their board read 960 sold.

The Coconut Shack had 959.

The showdown was on.

Evelina and Abby took turns wearing the sandwich board up and down the beach. They gave out free samples. They even offered free face painting with every ice cone.

Sales took off.

Evelina had never worked so hard in her life.

It was a mad race.

Time flew.

Before she knew it the clock read five minutes to eight—closing time.

Wendell Barnes and the Dirty Diaper Gang sidled up to the Hell Hut to order ten hotdogs.

“No problem!” Judy Cheetum gave a loud cackle of laughter. “Coming right up!”

Susie Cheetum danced over to change the tally on their board.

They were up five.

“Damn!” Abby expelled. “Where’s a knight in shining armor when you need one?”

“I’d like to help, ladies.” Wendell sauntered over. “But a guy can only choke down so much at once.” His gaze slid over Evelina. “Sorry. And you were so close.”

Tally wrinkled her sweaty nose in a look of disgust. “You don’t sound sorry.”

“You’re right.” A satisfied smile split Wendell’s face. “I’m not, really.”

“Jerk,” Abby said out of the corner of her mouth.

Frankie and Cliff roared up in their patrol jeep loaded with passengers—most of them bikini-clad girls.

Frankie slapped a twenty dollar bill on the counter. “Eleven snow cones, please.”

“What!” Judy screeched, leaning across her counter. “Cheaters!!!”

Evelina leapt into action, feeling grateful but at the same time a little green with jealousy. Not that she had a right to be, unless Frankie had sent the necklace, in which case, what was he doing with a jeep load of girls. But, if he hadn’t sent the necklace, it was none of her business, in which case she was a jealous fool. And since she didn’t have the courage to ask, at the very least, she was a terrible coward.

Any way you sliced it.

It was a mess.

Oh grow up, Evelina, she scolded herself. Frankie Holler isn’t the only fish in the sea.

The trouble was, he was the only one she wanted.

“Time!” Abby announced.

The crowd at the Coconut Shack erupted with cheers.

They’d done it!

They’d won!

Thanks to a lot of hard work and, Frankie and Cliff rolling up in the nick of time.

“Thanks, Robinson!” Abby punched Cliff on the arm.

“Is that all I get?” Cliff cracked a boyish smile. “You can’t expect me to keep saving you without a reward.”

 
“He’s got a point.” Evelina spread her hands toward the half naked girls. “I’m sure it took some effort to talk these ladies into the jeep.”

Tally gave a nervous giggle.

Abby wasn’t one for flaunting her affection in public.

She looked at Cliff, then the girls, then turned and laid a kiss on him so long and deep the place went dead silent, then started to whoop and cheer. Either she decided to make her claim on Cliff clear in order to scare off the competition, or she finally decided to show her love.

Evelina suspected it was a little of both.

Whatever the reason, Cliff was grinning from ear to ear.