in the same hotel as the famous duo that had been on every cover of every entertainment magazine in the past six months? âNahâ¦what are the chances?â
The Taylor ân Tyler look-alikes and their entourage were escorted into the lobby by two hotel staff members who came out to greet them.
Dad and Mom and the other adults got out of the shuttle van first, while Cori and I managed to clamber out from the backseat, but not before one of the Sticky Boysâ lollipops got stuck in my hair and I was left with a gooey grape glob hanging from my ponytail.
âYou guys wait here while I go check on our reservation!â Dad yelled to us as he went into the lobby while Mom helped unglue the lollipop from my hair and Sticky Boy #1 screamed his head off because I âstoledâ his treat.
âWell, if he hadnât tried to Wingardium Leviosa his brother out of the van, his lollipop wand might not have gotten stuck in my hair,â I muttered to Mom as she tried to untangle the goopy mess.
âNot to worry. I think thatâs all of it,â Mom said as she wiped her hands with a wet wipe from the plane.
âThanks, Mom.â
Faye was just finishing unloading all the bags from the back of the van. She plunked my Dalmatian-print rolling suitcase next to me. âNo way youâre gonna lose that one, are you, honey?â she asked kindly.
âIt was a gift from my grandmother,â I replied with a smile, remembering how Gran had gone to three different stores with me to help pick out a suitcase. Sheâd felt bad she couldnât come but wanted to send me off to the Bahamas in style.
âYou have a Dalmatian?â Faye asked. âMy granddaughter Rayelle has always wanted one. Ever since she was a little girl and saw that Dalmatian movie. Not so little anymore.â She chuckled. âRayelle, dear. Come out and say hi, sweetie.â
Thatâs when I noticed that the passenger in the front seat still hadnât gotten out of the van. The door opened and Rayelle unfolded herself from the front seat. She looked like she was a year or so older than Cori and me, and had tight dark curls and long brown legs. Really long legs.
âHi!â Cori was the first to stick out her hand to introduce herself. âIâm Cori and this is Jade.â
âHi,â the girl said quickly.
âRayelleâs just hitching a ride from school to her mamaâs work at the Straw Market. She doesnât have a school break in the fall like you lucky girls,â Faye said. âYou all like shopping?â
Coriâs ears perked up like a puppyâs do when you ask if it wants to go for a walk. âI love shopping.â
âWell, if you can be ready, my next stop here is in an hour. Iâll be swinging back by the Straw Market and can drop you off on the way back to the airport,â Faye said as she shut her vanâs back door.
âOh, could we?â Cori turned to my mom.
I eyed Coriâs celebrity magazines. Honestly, the only thing I wanted to do for the rest of the afternoon was find a lounge chair next to the pool and park myself there until I was all caught up on the Brangelinas and Taylor ân Tylers of the celebrity world. I could only hope that the lollipop boys were not going to be anywhere near our room because their Sticky Boy antics were starting to make my head ache.
âI donât see why not,â Mom replied with a smile.
Foiled.
âPerfect then. And call me anytime you need a ride anywhere on the island.â Faye fished a few business cards from her pocket and gave them to each of us. I stuffed mine in my bag.
âIâll be at my momâs booth,â Rayelle said. âCome find me and I can give you a tour.â âExcellent!â Cori said, rolling her hot pink suitcase onto the sidewalk beside me.
By then, a group of hotel guests going back to the airport had accumulated, and Faye and Rayelle busied