Page 53 of Serenity Falls

Freya beamed that sickly, innocent smile of hers. ‘I know I can’t fill your shoes, Ellen. But I would be truly honoured to give it a go.’

Give it a go. Like it was some whimsical hobby. Did these people not realize that judging the competition was a serious business? I considered putting my foot down. Demanding I keep my position. But the committee was a democratic endeavour. Or at least it was supposed to be (I admit, I may have used some leverage to get my way on things before). I could see that protesting would do no good. This was a coup. My troops had turned against me. I had no choice but to concede defeat. For now.

I took a moment to compose myself and then used all my willpower to summon up a benevolent smile.

‘Well, that’s all settled, then,’ I said. ‘Freya will be the new judge of the Pumpkin Patch carving competition. And I’ll enjoy the party for a change.’

I saw everyone relax, a little. Except for Marla. She continued to stare at me with those rheumy old eyes of hers. She knew. But I didn’t care. Marla was no longer my primary concern. It appeared I had a new nemesis. Freya. Something needed to be done about Freya.

15

Sadie is halfway through sorting her clothes and hanging them in the ridiculously vast wardrobe when the front doorbell rings.

She frowns. She wonders if Dad’s come back and forgotten his keys. Not that he needs his keys. Not with these weird-ass bracelets they have to wear. But her dad would probably forget about that too.

She walks across to the window and peers out, but she can’t see who’s at the door because of the slight overhang of the porch. She considers not answering. Pretending that the house is empty. But then, maybe it’s a delivery or something important.

She pads down the stairs and walks across to the front door. She squints through the peephole. A slim, blonde figure clad in a Nirvana vest and ripped denim shorts stands outside. Ellis. O-kay. Unexpected.

‘Hang on.’ She unlocks the door.

Ellis looks up as the door opens. ‘Hi.’

‘Hi,’ Sadie says. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Nice greeting.’

‘Sorry, I just wasn’t really expecting to see you again.’

‘Oh, why?’

‘Well, for a start, I made you walk around a cemetery looking for a dead kid’s grave yesterday.’

Ellis shrugs. ‘I got twenty bucks out of it.’

Sadie squints at her suspiciously. ‘So, is your dad paying you to be here now?’

‘You are cynical.’

‘Realistic.’

Ellis grins. ‘Okay, my dad is not paying me. I’m here of my own free will. A group of us are meeting up at the diner. I thought you might like to come along?’

Sadie blinks. An invitation to meet Ellis’s friends. Also unexpected.

‘We-ell, I’ve got to sort through my clothes and unpack boxes—’

‘Fine. If you’re too busy—’

‘No. Any excuse to put that off for another day.’ Sadie holds the door open wider. ‘You want to come up while I get changed?’

‘Sure.’

Ellis trails in behind her and up the stairs. When Sadie pushes open the door to her room, Ellis lets out small gasp: ‘Whoah!

Sadie turns. ‘Yeah, it’s all a bit … Sleeping Beauty, right?’

‘Are you waiting for your prince to come?’