A Forever Friend

  For Caryn

  Chapter 1

  “HOW DOES DEEP-DISH PIZZA SOUND?” dad teased. “Or Chicago-style hot dogs dripping with relish, tomatoes, and onions?”

  Willa Dunlap’s mouth watered buckets. Those were some of the yummiest foods they ate when they lived in Chicago. But they weren’t in Chicago anymore.

  “How about cinnamon buns?” Dad tried again.

  “I love cinnamon buns!” Willa exclaimed, then shook her head and said, “Nope, nope . . . and nope.”

  It was still breakfast time at Misty Inn’s Family Farm Restaurant, but never too early for Willa’s dad to brainstorm his next meal.

  “I don’t understand, Willa,” Dad said, pulling a pan of cranberry muffins from the oven. “Your best friend from Chicago is visiting for five days. Don’t you want some Chicago dishes to make her feel at home?”

  Willa gave it a thought.

  She remembered the first day she, her parents, and her younger brother, Ben, had arrived at Chincoteague Island. They were greeted by the salty fresh air, an old Victorian house, and a huge pan of fried oysters, courtesy of a new friend and neighbor.

  Just one crunch into the crispy golden delight made Willa almost forget about deep-dish pizza—even cinnamon buns.

  “Chicago food is awesome, Dad,” Willa agreed. “But if Kate is going to live with us for almost a week, I want her to experience everything Chincoteague. That means seafood.”

  “Someone say seafood?” Ben asked.

  Willa hadn’t noticed Ben standing behind her. Her little brother was hungrily munching on a warm muffin.

  “Or,” Ben said, before opening his mouth to show his crumby tongue, “see food.”

  “Yuck,” Willa complained. “That’s gross, Ben.”

  “What’s gross?” Mom asked as she walked into the kitchen from her home office. “Ben, did you roll your eyelids inside out again?”

  Ben quickly shut his mouth and shook his head.

  Willa was glad her little brother had started to come out of his shell since moving to Chincoteague. But what if he flashed his crumby tongue while Kate was there?

  “Willa, did you finish your chores?” Mom asked. “They need to be done before Kate and her parents get here.”

  Willa nodded yes and then pulled her latest list from the pocket of her shorts: “Things to Do Before Kate Gets Here.” She loved lists. She also loved checking off each chore, like:

  1. Make Kate’s bed.

  2. Hang welcome sign on door.

  3. Clear out two drawers for Kate’s clothes.

  4. Clean the barn and groom the ponies.

  Willa liked the last chore best. Even though taking care of her pony, Starbuck, and their boarder pony, Buttercup, wasn’t really a chore. To Willa it was fun.

  “I’m sorry Kate’s parents can’t stay at Misty Inn,” Mom told Willa. “But it’s the first week of summer and all the rooms were booked before you and Kate made plans.”

  “It’s okay, Mom.” Willa smiled. “With Kate staying in my room, we’ll get to spend more time together.”

  “I still can’t believe it,” Dad said, shaking his head. “We just opened Misty Inn for business in the spring. Who ever thought we’d be totally booked by summer?”

  Willa couldn’t believe it either. But turning the house into a bed-and-breakfast had been her parents’ plan. Dad would be head chef. Mom would be “head honcho” of Misty Inn, as she liked to call herself sometimes.

  It didn’t take long for Willa to make great new friends on Chincoteague Island, where her mom had grown up. New friends were awesome, but Willa knew there was nothing like an old friend. And that was Kate.

  Where was Kate already? “Weren’t Kate and parents supposed to be here last night?” she asked.

  “It’s a long drive from Chicago,” Mom reminded a lot more patiently. “Mrs. Worthington e-mailed that they wanted to stop and do some sightseeing along the way.”

  Stop? Willa did not like the sound of that.

  “What if Kate’s parents forgot to set an alarm clock at their hotel?” Willa asked. “What if they’re so busy sightseeing they forget to visit me?”

  “What if you go upstairs and make sure your room is extra tidy for Kate?” Dad asked with a smile. “That ought to keep you busy until she gets here.”

  Willa looked at Ben and said, “Why don’t you clean your room too? Just in case Kate peeks inside and sees your pile of dirty socks and stacks of books?”

  “Who has time to pick up socks?” Ben scoffed. “Chipper and I are in the middle of a super-important project.”

  “What kind of project?” Willa asked, puzzled. It couldn’t be a school project. School had just ended for the summer.

  “A top secret, none-of-your-concern project,” Ben replied with a mysterious grin. He held up the walkie-talkie he shared with his friend Chipper Starling. Pressing the switch, he spoke into the mouthpiece: “Ben to Chipper. Come in, Chipper. All systems go. Over and out.”

  “Since when did he get so mysterious?” Dad chuckled after Ben slipped out of the kitchen.

  Willa didn’t have time to guess what her brother was up to. She hadn’t seen Kate in almost a year and was getting butterflies in her stomach. What Kate thought of Misty Inn and Chincoteague meant a lot to her—so everything had to be perfect.

  “Let me know the second Kate gets here,” Willa told her parents. “Promise?”

  “Promise,” Mom and Dad chorused.

  Willa grabbed a muffin on her way up the stairs, careful not to drop crumbs. Not that Misty Inn had mice, thanks to New Cat.

  As she swung the door open, the WELCOME, KATE sign taped to it fluttered. As she stepped into her room, she was greeted by New Cat himself, lazing on a sleeping bag that Willa would use that week. Kate would sleep in Willa’s bed.

  “You know I’m crazy about you, New Cat,” Willa said, gently nudging the cat off, “but we can’t have cat hairs on any beds.”

  As if he understood, New Cat scurried out of the room. He hadn’t left any hairs, but Willa brushed her hand over the sleeping bag just to be sure.

  Mom had already made Kate’s bed with Willa’s pink unicorn-design comforter.

  What if Kate thinks unicorns are babyish? Willa worried to herself as she crossed the room. We are both a year older now.

  But as Willa straightened their favorite friendship picture on her bulletin board, she chased the thought out of her head.

  I’m not any different since I left Chicago—so Kate probably isn’t either.

  Giving her room one last look-over, Willa nodded approvingly. Her room passed her strict inspection. Next up—the ponies.

  Willa raced outside to the barn. She had groomed and fed Starbuck and Buttercup early that morning but wanted them to be extra ready for Kate.

  From their stalls both ponies seemed happy to see Willa again. Buttercup greeted Willa with a friendly snort. Starbuck nickered softly.

  Also there to greet Willa was Amos. The frisky little puppy was Buttercup’s best friend and could almost always be found in the barn.

  After petting Amos, Willa turned to Starbuck. “We’re getting a visitor today,” she said, stroking the gentle mare’s butterscotch-colored forehead. “And I want you to be on your best behavior for her. Okay, girl?”

  Starbuck answered with a puff of breath from her nostrils. To Willa it sounded more like a purr than a snort.

  Willa knew Starbuck was special the moment she was delivered to Miller Farm, her grandma Edna’s pet sanctuary. Willa and Ben nursed Starbuck’s injured leg until she was well enough to ride—then she walked all the way to the Dunlaps’ house, where she knew she belonged.

  Now Willa had her own pony, but not just any pony. Starbuck was born on Assateague Island
across the bay, world famous for its two herds of wild ponies.

  Buttercup let out a confident whinny as if to say, What about me? Willa turned to pat Buttercup’s velvety muzzle. The chestnut mare with the star between her eyes belonged to her friend Sarah’s family, the Starlings. For now Buttercup was an honored guest at Misty Inn, just like Kate would be.

  As Willa flicked a piece of hay from Buttercup’s mane, she thought again about Kate. Back in Chicago they’d done almost everything together: gymnastics, ice-skating, even horseback-riding lessons.

  Willa wished Kate could meet her new friends on Chincoteague Island. But Sarah had just left for wilderness camp on Assateague, where she would learn about the wild ponies there. As for Lena, she cared more about music than horses, so it was piano camp for her.

  “Maybe Kate and I will get to ride together,” Willa told the ponies excitedly. “How cool would that be?”

  Starbuck stomped a hoof on the mud-packed ground. Willa liked to think that meant, Way cool.

  Stepping back, Willa inspected the barn. Both saddles were oiled and neatly hung on the double saddle rack. The brushes and currycombs were hung too. Everything looked perfect until—

  “Oh my gosh,” Willa gasped, noticing a green-stained bucket on the ground. “I forgot to scrub out the feed bucket.”

  She grabbed and turned on the hose. As she began rinsing out the bucket, she thought she heard wheels on the gravelly driveway outside. Willa’s heart did a triple flip.

  Was it Kate?

  Turning off the water and dropping the hose, Willa charged out of the barn. When she saw Kate and her parents, she screamed at the top of her lungs, “You’re here!”

  Willa ran at jet speed to her friend. As they hugged tightly, Willa wondered if she smelled sweaty from working in the barn. Kate smelled like strawberry shampoo and vanilla shower gel—just as Willa remembered.

  “Willa,” Kate said after breaking their hug. As she opened her mouth to smile, something silver glinted in the sun. To Willa that could mean only one thing. . . .

  “Oh my gosh,” Willa gasped. “Kate, you got braces.”

  Chapter 2

  “BRACES WITH COLORED RUBBER BANDS,” Kate pointed out. “See?”

  “Wow,” Willa said, but was a little surprised. Only the older girls back in Chicago wore braces.

  “Actually, Ted,” Mrs. Worthington told her husband as she examined Kate’s smile. “I think Kate’s teeth are already straighter.”

  “It’s about time,” Kate told Willa. “My cousin Liam once told me I looked like a goofy horse when I laughed.”

  Willa blinked hard. She didn’t know any goofy horses. Gentle, spirited, and friendly horses, but never goofy.

  “I can’t believe you’re really, really here,” Willa said, changing the subject. She turned to Kate’s parents, Jill and Ted. “Welcome to Chincoteague Island.”

  Willa spread her arms to hug Kate’s parents until she noticed their eyes cast downward. Willa looked down too and gulped. Smeared across the hem of her T-shirt was bright green goop.

  “Eww,” Kate said, seeing it too. “What’s that green slime all over your shirt?”

  “It’s just fodder,” Willa explained. “I was cleaning out the ponies’ feed bucket.”

  “Whatever it is,” Kate said, “I’m glad you didn’t get it on my brand-new clothes.”

  Kate struck a little pose to model her outfit to Willa. She was wearing a tunic-style blouse over red capris. On her feet were gold sandals to match her gold earrings.

  Nice, Willa thought. But when did Kate become such a fashionista?

  “Kate told us about your new pony, Willa,” Mr. Worthington said. “She read all about Starbuck in your letters.”

  Willa nodded, happy to talk about Starbuck. “Wait until you meet both ponies, Kate. You won’t believe how sweet they are.”

  “Okay,” Kate said with a shrug.

  “Ted, Jill, Kate,” Dad called. “Welcome to Misty Inn.”

  Willa turned to see her parents walking over. Both were waving with big smiles.

  “Eric, Amelia,” Mr. Worthington boomed. “Good to see you.”

  “After such a long drive, how about a hearty island breakfast?” Mom asked.

  “I can whip up some shrimp omelets,” Dad offered. “They’re one of my specialties at Misty Inn.”

  “Are we going to eat again?” Kate asked her parents. “We just had the most awesome breakfast at the hotel.”

  “Kate’s right,” Mrs. Worthington told Mom and Dad. “They had the most incredible buffet in the dining room.”

  “There were three kinds of egg dishes,” Mr. Worthington said, “fresh fruit in season, crunchy granola, Swiss muesli—”

  “Don’t forget the fro-yo bar,” Kate cut in. “With tons of toppings.”

  Willa glanced at her dad. His smile had become a thin line. He must have felt a little insulted that the Worthingtons didn’t want or ask for his breakfast.

  “Hey, can’t beat a spread like that,” Dad said good naturedly. “You know, when I once cooked for a hotel in Chicago, we had a buffet. . . .”

  Dad’s voice trailed off as Willa watched Kate pull something from her pocket. As she popped off the cap, Willa saw what it was.

  “Lip gloss?” Willa asked as Kate spread it over her lips. “You wear lip gloss already?”

  “Don’t you?” Kate asked. She pressed her lips together, opening them with a loud smack.

  “Not really,” Willa replied. “I once tried my cousin’s, and it felt sticky.”

  Willa turned to her parents to see how they were doing. The two couples were now laughing together. A good sign.

  “We may not have a buffet with Swiss muesli,” Mom admitted, “but can I interest you in coffee?”

  “We never turn down coffee,” Mrs. Worthington said.

  “Did I mention the hotel had an espresso bar?” Mr. Worthington asked.

  “You didn’t, Ted,” Dad said. He turned to Willa and Kate. “How about you two? Orange juice? Fresh lemonade?”

  “No, thanks, Mr. Dunlap,” Kate said politely.

  “Let’s go to the barn so you can meet the ponies,” Willa suggested as the adults headed toward the house.

  Kate’s lips were now as shiny as her braces. She gave a little shrug and said, “Okay.”

  When they reached the barn, Kate stopped. “Is it muddy in there? I really don’t want to ruin my pedicure.”

  Pedicure? Willa looked down at Kate’s toes. They were polished bright blue. The two big toenails had tiny daisies painted on them.

  “There is mud on the ground, but it’s very hard packed,” Willa explained. “Your toes should be fine.”

  Willa opened the double doors of the barn. Kate practically tiptoed as they walked inside and then immediately held her nose. “What is that stink?” she asked.

  Willa started to roll her eyes but thought better of it. “It’s just the different smells of the barn; you know, hay and horses, stuff like that.”

  But Kate wasn’t really listening. She looked around, pointed up, and asked, “Is that a hayloft? Cool.”

  Willa nodded. “Ben got stuck up there once and had to slide down a rope.”

  A loud whinny made Kate jump. Willa knew it belonged to Buttercup.

  “Meet my friend Sarah’s horse, Buttercup,” Willa introduced. “Sarah’s baby sister fed her buttercups, which made her sick. So she’s staying here for now.”

  Willa gave Buttercup’s muzzle a pat before walking over to Starbuck. “And this,” she said proudly, “is my pony, Starbuck.”

  “I still can’t believe you have your own horse,” Kate said with a smile.

  “Neither can I sometimes,” Willa admitted. As she stroked Starbuck’s forehead, she said softly, “Say hi to Kate, Starbuck.”

  Starbuck did say hi—with a loud, wet snort.

  “Gross,” Kate cried, jumping back. “I think he got me. And my antibacterial gel is in my suitcase.”

  Willa stared at
Kate as she shook her hands out. “I thought you were used to horses,” she said. “We took riding lessons together in Chicago.”

  “That was back in second grade,” Kate reminded. “And we both wanted to quit for ice-skating lessons, remember?”

  “Right,” Willa said, but she knew it was Kate who’d wanted to switch to skating. Willa loved riding and the horses. But she chose to follow Kate.

  “Ice-skating was fun,” Willa admitted. “So was gymnastics. Remember those sparkly orange leotards we wore?”

  “I’m still taking gymnastics, Willa,” Kate said, her eyes shining. “I’m even on a team. Which gym do you go to around here?”

  “I don’t,” Willa said slowly. “I’m busy with stuff at Misty Inn and taking care of Starbuck.”

  “That’s too bad, Willa,” Kate said.

  Too bad? Willa didn’t get it. Hadn’t Kate read her letters or e-mails? The only gymnastics Willa had done since leaving Chicago were a few cartwheels in the Starlings’ backyard.

  But Willa quickly forgot about gymnastics when she saw Kate stroking Starbuck’s soft cheek.

  “See how gentle Starbuck is?” Willa asked. “Maybe later we can go on a trail ride together. I’d really like to show you around.”

  “Maybe,” Kate said.

  Kate’s “maybe” sounded more like a no than a yes to Willa. Wasn’t she excited to be on Chincoteague Island?

  “Can we go back to the house?” Kate asked. “I could use a glass of orange juice now.”

  “Sure,” Willa said. “I could go for one too.”

  As they left the barn, Kate asked, “Why is your parents’ bed-and-breakfast called Misty Inn, anyway? Does it have something to do with the weather?”

  “No.” Willa smiled. “Misty was a pony who swam from Assateague Island to Chincoteague. She’s actually a pony in one of my favorite books.”

  Once inside the house, the girls found their parents in the dining room sipping coffee and chatting over biscotti.

  “So how was the barn?” Dad asked.

  “Great, Dad,” Willa answered. “Kate got to meet Starbuck and Buttercup.”