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steers’ll be keepin’ an appointment at Hapuna harbor. The guys plan to get an early start before the roads are clogged with people coming to see you get your big money.”
    Darby heard a clang. Jonah must have bumped into the clothes hanger on her closet door holding her white blouse. She hoped it didn’t fall and get wrinkled, but she concentrated on finding that comfy spot on her pillow. Still, he’d said something about steers and money, and Hoku had called out a question, hadn’t she?
    â€œHuh?” Darby asked. “ What’s happening?”
    â€œKimo and Kit want to get back in time to come for Babe’s media luau….”
    Darby’s eyes opened for a second. She was pretty sure that wouldn’t make sense, even if she was wide awake.
    â€œAnd me, I’m up figurin’ how I can make enough from each shipment of cattle to pay Kimo and Kit half of what they’re worth….”
    She understood that, but she didn’t want to think about it. Not now.
    Â 
    Megan bounced on Darby’s bed three hours later. “I can’t believe the phone didn’t wake you up. It’s rung like a million times!”
    â€œI was up late,” Darby explained. She pulled herself toa sitting position and rubbed her cheek, pretty sure she’d used the hardback book for a pillow. “The phone?”
    â€œI think everyone we know from school’s called to make sure our award ceremony is at eleven.”
    â€œReally? Like who?” Darby asked through a yawn.
    â€œLike everyone. Ann’s called twice, a bunch of people from the soccer team and the swim team, and most of the neighbors.”
    â€œOkay,” Darby said, but then her heart did a double jump. Her mom could already be at the airport in Tahiti.
    â€œWant to know what I think?” Megan asked.
    â€œSure.”
    â€œHalf of them want to be our friends because we’re about to be rich, and the other half want a look at your mom, the celebrity.”
    â€œHave you already been for a run?” Darby asked, noticing that Megan wore sweats and carried a water bottle.
    Megan usually stayed in bed until her mother shook her awake for school.
    â€œI couldn’t sleep,” Megan said. She prowled the perimeter of Darby’s room, but she didn’t touch anything.
    And that, Darby thought, was one of the traits that made Megan such a good friend. She might be nosy, but she wasn’t pushy about it.
    Darby stood up, took a deep breath, leaned over,and touched her toes, then flipped her long black hair back like a mane.
    â€œBetter,” she said. “I’m awake.”
    â€œIs this what you’re wearing?” Megan stood in front of the white shirt and new jeans. “Where did you get this cool necklace?”
    â€œYeah, it’s what I’m wearing,” Darby said hesitantly. “But what necklace?” She didn’t take a step closer. “The last time you talked to me about a necklace it was haunted or cursed or something.”
    â€œStop it,” Megan said, and though she was turned away and Darby couldn’t see her face, she could hear the smile in her voice.
    With delicate moves, Megan lifted a fine chain from the hanger and dangled it.
    A winged gold heart the size of Darby’s little fingernail swung back and forth before her eyes.

Chapter Five
    â€œI t’s beautiful, but it’s not mine,” Darby said, taking the necklace from Megan.
    Then she recalled Jonah asking which jewelry she’d wear with the white blouse. And her mind replayed the hanger’s clang when Jonah steered her back to bed at four A.M .
    Megan took off her baseball cap, shook her hair loose, and waited for Darby to go on.
    â€œWell, I guess it could be,” Darby admitted. A heart with wings, though. She wasn’t sure she understood. “Do you think Jonah gave it to me?”
    â€œStranger things have happened,” Megan said.