Free Real Mermaids Don't Sell Seashells by Helene Boudreau

in when her mom was trash-talking Dillon. I wondered if Rayelle’s mom knew Dillon was actually looking out for her.
    â€œSo why isn’t Dillon in school now?” I asked.
    â€œHe’s sixteen and his mom wants him to work more. There’s a lot going on at home,” Rayelle said, walking ahead as if wanting to put an end to the conversation. “Let me just tell my mom I’m going to hang out with you guys, and I’ll come find you in a sec.”
    Fair enough. Not like it was any of my business.
    â€œHey, isn’t that Officer Ensel?” I asked Cori when I spotted a man in a familiar dark blue uniform on the stairs of a nearby building. I really wanted to go ask him if there were any new leads on the Wonderment Cruiselines case, but he was busy texting someone on his phone, and by the serious look on his face, it looked important.
    â€œWho? The police officer? Didn’t you say you were going to forget about all that stuff?” Cori whispered as we walked past him. “No drama, remember?”
    Even if I couldn’t get to talk to him, I was glad Officer Ensel was investigating the situation. Maybe it would make Dillon feel better.
    â€œYeah, you’re right. We need to get ready for this wedding! Let’s go look at the conches first,” I suggested. That way, I could give Dillon the heads-up.
    â€œWay to let it go.” Cori glanced at me with a knowing look and laughed.
    We wove our way through the stalls until we got to the harbor side of the market, but there was no sign of Dillon or his colorful blanket full of shells. I walked up and down the pier, looking for his green beat-up speedboat, but the only boats there were a few water taxis.
    â€œWasn’t this where he was yesterday?” Cori asked.
    â€œHe was right by that entry we just came through.” I pointed back to the lane where we’d exited. “I don’t see his boat anywhere.”
    â€œSo that’s that, then?” Cori asked.
    â€œI guess so,” I said softly as we turned back for the Straw Market stalls.
    That was that—I’d done what I could. I tried to find Dillon to tell him not to worry, that Officer Ensel was on the case. I’d even intended to apologize for not backing him up but Dillon had obviously moved on.
    With my conscience semi-clear, I guess it was time for me to move on too.
    â€¢â€¢â€¢
    After not finding Dillon anywhere, we explored the market until we connected with Mom and Dad. We continued shopping while Rayelle went back to her mother’s stall to give her a hand.
    â€œHow’d it go at Town Hall?” I asked.
    Dad produced an official-looking document and beamed. “Marriage license!”
    â€œSo you’re all set, then?” I asked hopefully.
    â€œThey still don’t have anyone available to marry us on Saturday,” Mom said, looking as disappointed as ever.
    â€œI’m sure everything is going to work out,” I said, trying to reassure her, but even I could tell that things were looking grim.
    â€œLet’s just work under the assumption that we’re still having a wedding on Saturday,” Dad said, trying to be encouraging.
    â€œYeah, all the fun is in the planning anyway, right? And you can’t go wrong with the right accessories,” Cori added.
    Mom smiled and gave us each a kiss. We made a plan to divide and conquer until we found all the things on our list.
    Cori found the shell ring for Lainey like she was hoping she would, and we picked out necklaces for the wedding party in the process. I also found a wrap around floral skirt I could wear with a shirt I’d brought with me (thanks to Cori’s help). We reconnected with Mom at the end of the market an hour or so later, long enough for my stomach to start grumbling and signal that it was probably time to head back to the Asylum for dinner.
    â€œDid you find a shirt for Dad?” I asked.
    â€œYup. What do you