Page 63 of Easton Island

“Tristan!” Morgan lifted her arm, struggling to get her nephew’s attention. She called his name again. Finally, he heard her.

He looked up and then did a double take when he saw Harlow standing there. Wiggling his way through the throng of people, he hurried toward his aunt and the star. “Harlow.”

“Hello, Tristan.” She gave him a quick hug. “Morgan mentioned you were a little down in the dumps, so I thought I would stop by to say ‘hi’ and find out if my arrowhead is bringing you any luck.”

He looked around. “Did Mort come with you?”

“Not this time.” Harlow casually surveyed their audience, utterly unaffected by the fact that she was the center of attention. “Where are your friends?”

Tristan bobbed his head, searching for the brothers. “Over there.”

“Would it be okay if I met them?”

“Sure.” Tristan fought his way back through the crowd, returning moments later with two boys close to his own age. He introduced them to Harlow.

The younger of the boys stared at her in disbelief. “You’re even prettier than in the movies.”

“Thank you.”

“Can I take your picture?”

“Of course.”

Harlow posed with each of Tristan’s friends, and then she invited him to pose for a group photo.

Morgan snapped the picture before joining them for another selfie.

All the while, the onlookers crept closer, so close Morgan started to feel slightly claustrophobic.

Harlow, noticing her discomfort, stepped away. “We should get going.”

“Okay.” Tristan, on cloud nine, nearly floated down the sidewalk.

The megastar stopped him, gently tugging on his arm. “Are the two who have been picking on you here?”

He nodded and pointed toward a cluster of trees where Ruben and Kendra Renaud stood glaring at them.

Changing direction, Harlow placed her arm around Tristan’s shoulders, intentionally strolling past the tormentors while Morgan stepped in on the other side.

She could feel all eyes on the trio as they crossed the parking lot and climbed into her SUV.

“That was cool,” Tristan said in awe. “You came to see me?”

“I came to cheer you up and, like I said, find out if your arrowhead is bringing you any luck.”

“I won a ribbon at the science fair for my volcano.”

“So it’s working?”

“Yep.” Tristan began humming under his breath, staring out the window as they turned onto the street. “The other kids are gonna believe me now when I say I know you.”

“Not only know me, but that we’re friends.”

“This is the best day ever.”

At Harlow’s request, they drove straight to the airport. Morgan phoned ahead to give Denver a heads up. He met them on the curb, near the drop-off zone.

“Denver, meet Harlow Wynn.”