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her?â
Dan shrugged. âDo you know the strange thing about Mrs. Tateâs story?â
Garnet shook her head.
âIâve known her all my life and yesterday was the first time I ever heard of any missing jewels.â
Garnet lifted her chin and sniffed. âWell
maybe
thatâs because she just never trusted anyone enough before.â
âAnd you think she should trust
you?
No offence, but how long did you say youâve known her?â
Exactly three days.
âSo, what are you saying? She invented the story?â Garnet snapped.
Dan grinned and seemed amused that she was losing her temper. He put his hands behind his head and lay down on the grass. âMaybe.â
Garnetâs eyes narrowed. Was he always this annoying? âWhat do you mean âmaybeâ? Why would she do that? Who would make up a story like that with so many details if it werenât true? Are you saying sheâs a liar?â
Dan leaned up on one elbow, his tone suddenly more serious. âNo. Not a liar. Sheâs ...â He paused as he tried to choose the right words. âThe thing is, sheâs not well. You know it yourself, seeing that she collapsed in front of your house. Grandpa says sheâll probably have to go into a nursing home soon, whether she wants to or not. She had a stroke over a year ago and it took her monthsto get over it. Sheâs better now, but she doesnât always think clearly. She forgets stuff. Everyone who knows her says sheâs changed. Some people from church even take turns to look in on her because she has no family and they worry about her. Sure, she has Gerdie to help her out, which I suppose is good. Not that Gerdie will ever win the Miss Congeniality Award.â
Garnet burst into laughter. âGerdie is kind of weird.â
A sudden squeal, accompanied by a white explosion of a thousand shooting stars that lit up the sky before showering back to earth, stopped their talk about Elizabeth.
Despite Danâs revelation about Elizabeth and his doubts about her story, Garnet forgot everything for the moment and enjoyed the fireworks more than she had enjoyed anything in what seemed like ages. She was content just to sit next to Dan and watch the show, choreographed to the music of the orchestra.
Justin didnât return until the thundering close of the grand finale. Then the three picked their way through the confusion of the departing crowd. They were nearing the pavilion when Dan said, âHey, isnât that Laura and Michelle over there?â
Justin and Garnet squinted where Dan was pointing.
âYeah, it is,â Justin said, sounding annoyed. âCome on, letâs go this way!â He turned to go in a different direction.
But it was too late. Laura had already seen them and waved. âHey, Dan!â she called.
âOh, great,â Justin hissed under his breath.
Dan waved back. âWhatâs wrong?â he asked his friend in a low tone.
âI donât want to talk to Michelle.â
Under the dim light of the park lamp, Garnet recognized the girls as part of the popular group that Dan hung out with at school. She had often seen them together at lunch and in the halls. Laura was tall, blond, and blue-eyed, a basketball star in Grade 11. The short jacket and tight jeans she wore tonight emphasized her long, athletic legs. Michelle had soft brown eyes and long, wavy, brown hair that was usually tied back in a ponytail. But her broad smile melted right off her face the instant she saw Justin. Laura hurried over to meet them but Michelle stood back for a moment before slowly following her, stepping around a family with a wagon and stroller.
âHey, guys, why didnât you tell me you were coming tonight?â Laura asked.
Dan shrugged. âWe decided at the last minute. Howâd you get here?â
âDad dropped us off. Heâs coming back to pick us up on David Street. We were just going to