“My dear,” Aunt Sunny said, kissing the top of Zinnie’s head. “Don’t you see? In telling me all this, you are being you. Your true self is only a few questions away—always. ‘Is this me?’ you can ask yourself. ‘Is this really me?’ You can feel in your heart when you get to the truth—and that’s a mighty good feeling.”
“Can I put that in my blog?” Zinnie asked, recognizing good words when she heard them.
“Of course,” Aunt Sunny said. “I don’t know if it’ll get you in Huzzah, but it might help you have a little fun tonight.”
Zinnie laughed. She hadn’t realized that Aunt Sunny had been following all of this—but she wouldn’t be Aunt Sunny if she hadn’t been. Anyway, right now, getting into Huzzah didn’t feel very important.
And as usual, Aunt Sunny was right.
For the rest of the evening, Zinnie stopped trying to hide her emotions from Max. In fact, before dinner was ready, she asked him if he wanted to have a swimming contest and he said, “Heck, yeah,” and they jumped off opposite sides of the ladder and raced back to the steps. He won, but Zinnie didn’t care. She just floated on her back and grinned at the sky.
43 • The Tricentennial
Marigold awoke with great anticipation the next morning.
The day of celebration had finally arrived, and she was ready for it. After their discussion with Aunt Sunny last night, Zinnie had relaxed. The sisters and Max rehearsed their song several times for the adults, and with each practice it had improved. Zinnie had been right—they didn’t need any help from Chloe.
The thought of Chloe stung Marigold. Another “cool” girl had rejected her. She let herself feel sad for a minute, and yet, she couldn’t get too sad about it. She didn’t really know Chloe that well, and if she was anything like the Cuties . . . Well, she’d had enough of that. She asked herself, Is this me? as Aunt Sunny had suggested. But she’d only had to ask herself once. The answer was yes.
The Silver family, Aunt Sunny, and Tony rose early to meet Jean, Mack, Peter, and Max and his parents at the yacht club, which was decorated to perfection. Together, they walked up to Charlotte Point, where it felt like the whole town had gathered. Marigold’s palms tingled as the crowd chatted, making guesses about who the town council would name James and Eliza Pruet. Two fine-looking horses were all saddled up, ready to lead the parade.
She glanced around, wondering who her competition might be. Ashley? Vince? One of those kids from the high school in their Pruet High sweatshirts? Her mouth was dry. She guzzled her bottle of water. Finally, the town council members took their places in front of the group. Ashley’s father, who was the head of the council, raised a hand to silence the crowd.
“Welcome, everyone, to the Pruet tricentennial parade!” he said. The crowd cheered. “We have so many fun activities for you today. I know we can’t wait to get started. Our first order of business is to name James and Eliza Pruet.”
Marigold took a deep breath and grabbed her mother’s hand.
“Would Jean and Mack Pasque please step forward,” Ashley’s dad said with a grin. Marigold felt a cold drop of disappointment land in her stomach, but it didn’t stay there long. Jean was blushing and grinning like crazy. She looked like a teenager! Aunt Sunny whooped and Tony clapped louder than anyone.
“What!” Jean said as she and Mack approached the town council members. Jean was holding the crown of flowers in her hand—after all, she’d made it herself.
“You can go ahead and place that on your head, Jean,” Ashley’s dad said. “There’s no one here who has done more for this community than the two of you—especially after the storm.”
“Well, okay,” Jean said, turning a deeper shade of crimson as she placed the crown of flowers on her head and mounted the horse. “If you insist.”
Peter was also red in the face! So Peter got his blushing capacity from his mom, Marigold thought, and giggled.
“I thought this was for young folks,” Mack said as he climbed on his horse. He reached over and kissed his wife’s hand.
“Why, you look just like a couple of kids in love,” Aunt Sunny said. And lots of people laughed. They did! Peter had now buried his face in his sweatshirt.
Marigold was over the loss already. Jean and Mack clearly deserved the recognition more than Marigold, and she followed happily behind them.
The parade began at Charlotte Point, with the high school marching band behind Mack and Jean. Peter and his friends all wore sailing team T-shirts and waved flags with the symbol of the Pruet Yacht Club. Edith, wearing an Edith’s Ice Cream apron, proudly walked Mocha Chip along with everyone else. The Silver family walked together, somewhere in the middle.
Once everyone arrived at the town beach, Ashley blew a foghorn and then announced through a megaphone that the sand castle building competition was underway. “Grab your buckets and shovels,” she said. “You have exactly thirty minutes to build your sand castles!”
“Let’s do this,” Dad said, and the Silver family huddled and agreed they would build the best replica of Aunt Sunny’s home that they could. Aunt Sunny and Tony helped, but after a few minutes their castle wasn’t looking so great, so they turned it into a mermaid with wild seaweed hair and smile made of shells. Then they buried Dad up to his chin and made him a merman. Lily laughed as she fashioned a long and smelly seaweed beard for him. They didn’t win, but nobody really had a chance against Ashley’s dad, who turned out to be a master sand sculptor, in addition to owning the second-most successful car dealership on Cape Cod.
Marigold didn’t think she’d ever be able to get all the sand off her in time for their song—the sand had found its way in between her toes and under her fingernails and even in her hair—but she didn’t have time to go back to Aunt Sunny’s and take a shower, at least not if she wanted the performance to be set up properly. Next on the itinerary was the historical houses tour, ending at the Piping Plover Society, where Aunt Sunny had set up several exhibits with information about the local wildlife. And after that was the regatta—which she wouldn’t miss for the world. So she decided that it just didn’t matter if there was sand in the cuffs of her shorts as long her hands were scrubbed clean.
She looked around for Peter—she wanted to wish him good luck—but she didn’t see him in the crowd or as she, Zinnie, and Lily walked to the yacht club to prepare.
The girls set up their tables and the ice cream truck facade while their parents hung the ice cream banners and Edith rolled out the mobile freezers full of ice cream ready to be served. In the distance Marigold saw the sailing teams getting ready. She sent her wishes to him on the breeze. After the bulk of the work was done and all that was left was setting up the toppings bar, Max arrived with his guitar in hand.
“Why don’t you two start practicing while Lily and I get everything else in order?” Marigold said.
“Okey-dokey, artichokey!” Zinnie said, and Marigold watched her sister’s face fill with color. “I mean, sure. That’s cool.”
Max just laughed in his good-natured way and tuned his guitar.
Zinnie and Max began practicing, but Zinnie was acting stiff and nervous.
Marigold pulled Zinnie aside, out of earshot of Max. “Look, I think he likes you, too. And remember what Aunt Sunny said—don’t try to hide your feelings. It’s not healthy.”
“But I like him so much that half the time I feel like I’m going to throw up!” Zinnie said. “That doesn’t seem healthy, either.”
“Try to relax and have a good time,” Marigold said. “You did last night.”
“But it’s started all over again this morning!”
“Then don’t fight it. Just be nervous. Be who you are,” Marigold said, but Zinnie was looking paler by the second. “What are you so nervous about?”
“I don’t even know,” Zinnie said. “My knees are shaking; my armpits are sweating! Do I smell okay?”
“You smell fine,” Marigold said. “Look, no matter what happens with Max, we’ll deal with it. Or you ca
n write a blog post about it.”
“I guess having a crush is a kind of adventure,” Zinnie said.
“It might be the greatest adventure of all,” Marigold said. “Isn’t that what most songs and movies are about?”
“Everything okay over there?” Max asked.
“Yup,” Marigold called back. Then she took Zinnie’s hands and said, “Isn’t it a nice feeling to like someone so much?”
Zinnie nodded. “It is. It really is. I like him so much. I feel like I’m made of bubbles.”
“Go with that,” Marigold said. “Be bubbles!”
As Zinnie bravely walked back toward Max, Marigold decided that sending Peter a wish on the breeze wasn’t good enough. This was his big moment, and she wanted to be there for him.
“I’ll be right back, okay?” she called to Zinnie, who gave her a thumbs-up.
Marigold walked down to the docks, where the sailors were readying their boats.
“Marigold,” Peter said with a smile when he spotted her, and the sound of her name in his voice made her pulse jump. “Are you getting ready for the ice cream social and your performance?”
“Yes,” Marigold said. “But I just wanted to say good luck to you guys.”
“Thanks,” Peter said. Vince waved at her. “One minute, Vince.”
“No problem,” Vince said, turning his attention back to their sailboat.
“Come here for a second,” Peter said, taking her hand and leading her to end of the dock. They sat down and let their feet dangle over the edge.
“Don’t you have to get ready?” Marigold asked.
“Vince has everything under control,” Peter said.
“You seem so relaxed. I thought you’d be supernervous,” Marigold said.
“I like to head into a competition happy,” Peter said. “I’ve noticed that’s when I do my best. So I try not to let my nerves get the best of me.”
“I’m like that with auditions,” Marigold said.
“There’s something I think that would make me really happy right now,” Peter said.
“What’s that?” Marigold asked, though she had a feeling she knew what it was. There were goose bumps on her arms and legs even though the bright July sun warmed her skin.
Peter smiled at her, leaned over, and gave her a sweet, quick kiss on the lips.
44 • Family Portrait
Zinnie stepped onto the stage and saw Max waiting for her. For a moment her hands started to shake and her knees went wobbly. Be a bubble, she thought. Be a bubble. And she floated toward him, light and airy with a bounce in her step. Oh my goodness, did he smile big—as big as ever!
“And now,” Zinnie said to the crowd. “The Silver sisters and Max present ‘Why We Love Pruet.’”
The sisters took turns performing, and by the end, the entire audience was singing the chorus. Zinnie looked over at Max and beamed right back at her.
“Let’s hear it for the Silver sisters,” Jean said, clapping. The audience hooted and hollered. Aunt Sunny stood up, and their dad gave a taxicab whistle.
That night the clambake on the lawn was spectacular. Unlike the little clambake they’d had at the beach a few summers ago, there was a huge pile of seaweed and lots of people tending to it.
“Come here,” Zinnie said to Max. “I want to show you something really cool.” She told her sisters she’d be back in a moment, and then she took Max to the water tower. They climbed up the sides.
“I like you,” Zinnie said. “Ugh, there I said it. I like you.”
“I like you, too,” Max said.
“You do?” Zinnie asked.
“Yes!” Max said.
Zinnie was about to ask him what his mystery was all about when he added, “In fact, I was going to ask you to be my first kiss.”
“What?” Zinnie said, though it was more of an exclamation than a question.
He stepped a little closer to her. “Do you want to?”
“Yes,” Zinnie said. “But I’ve never kissed anyone before either. I mean, not like that.”
“Good,” Max said. “Then we’re in this together. Let’s not do it like they do in the movies.”
“Yeah, that looks crazy,” Zinnie agreed. “When they lean all over each other. And tilt their heads. Do you have to tilt your head, though?”
“Let’s just stop talking about it and try, okay?” Max said.
“Okay,” Zinnie said. “I’m going to close my eyes now.”
“Me too,” Max said. They knocked heads and both burst out laughing.
“Maybe one of us should open our eyes,” Zinnie said.
“Or both of us should open one eye,” Max suggested.
“That’s too weird,” Zinnie said. “You look like a Cyclops.” Max blushed, and Zinnie corrected herself. “The cutest Cyclops in the whole world.”
Then before she had time to think, Max took ahold of her shoulders and planted a sweet, light kiss right on her lips.
“Yay,” Zinnie said softly.
“Yay,” said Max. And then they did it again.
After they watched the sunset from atop the water tower, Zinnie and Max hopped onto their bikes and headed back to the yacht club, through the country roads, and around the curve where cars traveled quickly. A breeze cooled her face as they rode past Featherbrook Farm. A few chickens pecked at some feed near the sign, and Zinnie waved at them.
She and Max didn’t speak as they pedaled. Instead, they just cruised as the bugs made their night noises and the wheels of their bikes created quiet shushing sounds. Zinnie thought to herself that she had never felt so free. Even if Chloe had caused some issues with Marigold, even though keeping another secret from Marigold had been a bump in the smooth road of summer, Zinnie was still glad that she’d met her. It had been Chloe who’d directed her to all these cool places and who’d encouraged her to leave her comfort zone. Zinnie didn’t see Chloe as a friend going forward. It would be way too weird to hang out with her when she was going to school with Marigold. But she was still grateful to have met her. Maybe, Zinnie thought as they rode toward town, exploring so many new places in the outside world had given her the courage to take some internal risks as well. Even if Chloe’s clues hadn’t led to her getting published in Huzzah, they’d somehow led her to this moment with Max.
They turned down Harbor Road, which was blocked off from traffic because of the tricentennial, and Max stood on his bike as he coasted downhill. He turned around for a moment and smiled at Zinnie. Her heart spun like a pinwheel in the breeze.
When they got to the yacht club they leaned their bikes in the grass and walked toward the clambake, which was winding down. Zinnie could hear Edith all the way from the driveway. She was describing some new flavors for the fall: apple pie ice cream with bits of pie crust inside; nutmeg butternut squash; and pumpkin pie filling, swirled with marshmallow fluff, cinnamon, and toasted coconut.
“Zinnie, there you are,” Lily said. “Come here. We’re going to take a family picture for our holiday card.”
“Oh, okay,” Zinnie said. “But we didn’t plan what we’re going to wear or anything.” Usually, Mom wanted them to be in coordinated outfits for their holiday card, and almost always, they took the holiday photo at the pumpkin patch near their house, the one set up by the local rotary club, with the bouncy house and the scarecrow.
“I know, but it’s happening anyway, and everyone is looking for you,” Lily said.
“I’ll be right there,” Zinnie said. She wanted one more moment alone with Max. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. “Where are you going to be living next year?”
“That’s my big surprise,” Max said. “My dad is going to be stationed at the base in Monterey.”
“In California?” Zinnie asked, nearly beside herself with joy. Monterey wasn’t exactly next door, but it was in the same state! Max nodded. Zinnie kissed him on the cheek. She didn’t even care who saw. Then she ran over to her family.
“Zinnie,” Dad said when she ran up to hug h
im. “Where’d you go?”
“I wanted to show Max the water tower,” Zinnie said.
“Really?” Dad asked, looking a little pale.
“I think I might be in love,” Zinnie said.
Mom and Dad exchanged a glance.
“‘Might be’?” Marigold said. “Please, this girl is head over heels!”
“You are?” Lily asked, looking horrified.
“That’s wonderful,” Dad said, though Zinnie saw his eyes filling up.
“Dad, are you crying?” Zinnie asked.
Dad shook his head, but he used the heel of his hands to wipe away tears.
“And we’re so glad that you felt you could tell us,” Mom said, nudging Dad. “We hope you’ll always feel good about telling us your feelings.”
“Now listen, if you have any questions at all—” Dad started.
“Stop!” Zinnie was regretting this. “Haven’t we already had this discussion?”
“I’m really happy for you,” Dad said. “I can’t believe how grown-up you are.”
“Are you ready?” Aunt Sunny asked, holding up her camera.
“Are you crazy, Aunt Sunny?” Mom asked. “Don’t you know we want you in this?”
“Okay,” Aunt Sunny said. She handed the camera to Tony.
“Tony, you need to come here as well,” Dad said. Tony smiled and passed the camera to Max.
“Shouldn’t Max be in the picture, because he’s Tony’s grandson?” Lily said.
Max laughed and passed the camera on to Jean.
“Jean is like family,” Aunt Sunny said.
Jean started laughing. “I think we can see where this is headed!”
Jean, Mack, and Peter joined in the picture, and then Edith and Mocha Chip came in as well, and before they knew it, Ashley was walking by, and she had to be in the picture, too. It was none other than the famous director Mr. Rathbone himself who took the photo.
“That’s a lot of people for our holiday card,” Lily said.
“We’ll do another one later,” Mom said, and gave Lily a squeeze.
After many pictures were snapped with everyone’s phones, and they were all headed over to the beach for the fireworks display, Marigold pulled Zinnie aside. Lily was close behind.
The Silver Moon of Summer Page 18