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“Oh, look.” She digs into her suitcase and pulls out a card and hands it to me.

It’s a standard-sized card with the words Thank you printed on the front framed with flowers. I open the card, and on the inside, Nina handwrote a message.

Sophia,

Thank you for the best cheesecake I’ve ever eaten.

Always stay true to yourself.

Love,

Nina

And in cursive underneath she signed Georgina.

I can’t stop smiling. “It’s perfect.”

“Can you hold on to it? I’ll give it to her after the show.”

“Thanks.”

Nina comes forward and hugs me. She smells of flowers, and the rhinestones feel bumpy under my fingers as the fake hair from her black wig gets into my eye.

“Thank you,” she says. “I had a great time. It was nice to feel like my old self again, even if only for a few days. It’s hard not to get swept up in the glamour and excitement of fame. I like to be reminded of what really matters every once in a while.”

“You’re welcome. And you can come back any time you want.”

I hear Mayor Anderson’s voice through the open window.

“Who is ready for Georgina?” she yells into the mic, having a little too much fun with it.

The crowd answers her with loud screams and whistles.

“It’s time,” I say.

We walk down the stairs and out the back door. Georgina joins the security guards and together they make their way to the stage. I split off and go find Scarlett. She’s near the edge of the crowd, hanging out with Avery and Shannon, and a whole bunch of kids. There’s Penny and Chase, and Avery’s two youngest, and a little boy that I think is the new doctor’s son.

Scarlett hugs me and asks all giddy, “Did you get to talk to her?”

I can’t help but laugh as all the heads turn toward me. “Yes. She’s excited to be here.”

“What is she like?” Shannon asks.

“Like a normal person, until she puts on her outfit and her wig and her makeup.”

“I knew it was a wig,” Avery says.

Finally, Mayor Anderson announces Georgina and she walks out onto the stage. And the crowd goes wild. The moment they notice her outfit, they whistle and people call out inaudibly.

One woman, who I quickly recognize as Kayla, is loud enough to be heard over the noise. “Join the Mad Grovers!”

Everyone bursts out laughing.

“Good evening, Dogwood Grove,” Georgina speaks into the microphone.

It’s a little surreal. Her voice still sounds like Nina, but it’s got a whole new attitude to it, like she’s a completely different person.

The crowd cheers again.