"Closed?" She cried. "Why should it be closed?" She frowned at her father as if he had neglected to tell her something.
Ash peeked in the window, but the shop stood dark and still."You won't be gettin' in there!" Said a voice behind him.
The three of them turned as a sharp-featured woman in a frilly yellow sun dress stopped to fix her wide eyes on them.
"Why so?" Asked Dr. Grove. "Did something happen to the owner?"
The woman snorted, glanced at Celian and pulled her purse a little closer. "I'll say it did! He's been arrested by the Redcar police! Seems he's been engaged in some illegal activities, trafficking stolen goods for known thieves around these parts!" Her eyes lit up and a smile twitched around her prim lips; no doubt it was the greatest scandal this town had ever seen.
Ash began ushering his bewildered daughter down the street. "Ah, well, thanks anyway!" First a robbery, now the beginnings of a criminal network... Some holiday this was turning out to be!
"Look!" Celian pointed across the street. "There is a shop that sells clothes."
Dr. Grove joined him. "Wonderful!" He said. "If you're going to be staying with us for a while, the least we can do is find you some clothes that fit."
He glanced back at Madi, but she was already engrossed in listening to the jolly tunes of a street busker.
"Madi," he tapped her on the shoulder. "Celian and I will be getting some clothes, you'll be all right, won't you?" Madi nodded. "Of course; I'll wait right here." Ashley nodded. "Good girl. We'll only be a few minutes."
The two men stepped inside the shop. Not twenty minutes later, Ash had found clothes for Celian according to his accurate measurements. It wasn't often that these tailors received customers seven feet in height, but they accommodated quite willingly, and Dr. Grove brought the outfits up to the counter for purchasing.
He gestured to Celian. "You can go out to join Madi. I will be with you in a moment."
"Very well," Celian replied. All in all, he had weathered the fitting without too much of a fuss. After seeing him in nice-fitting clothes, it had almost seemed a shame to see him struggling back into the doctor's clothes.
Celian exited the shop to find Madi fairly dancing in place.
"I saw her!" She sang. "I saw her!"
Celian smiled and took her hand. "Whom did you see?" He asked.
"Miss Agatha!" Madi pointed to a row of shops down the road. "I saw her there with her brother Thomas! She's here!" The girl tugged eagerly on Celian's hand. "Come with me! She'd love to meet you!"
Celian glanced back toward the door of the shop, where he could see Dr. Grove chatting amiably with the shopkeeper.
"Madi," he mumbled. "I don't think we should—"
"Just come! It will only be a moment, and I'll be with you, so I'm not lost!"
Celian sighed. "Madi..."
"Please? Come this way!" She let go of his hand and dashed down the sidewalk.
"Madi, wait!" Celian darted after her in alarm.
Just when he had almost reached her, she pointed across the street, to where a young woman in a rich, floral hat ambled down the causeway. She glanced back, at least, to make sure he was still nearby. The two of them saw the woman enter a general store. "There she is!"
"Madi!" Celian commanded firmly. "Take my hand!"
She complied, but still persisted in moving almost too quickly for Celian to keep up. "Hurry! We might miss her!"
Just then, a large group of people swept up around them, all intent on their own destinations. Madi's hand slipped from Celian's grasp, and when he tried to pick it up again, he ended up holding hands with a young woman who stared at him strangely. Celian stood still as the group passed, but Madi did not reappear. A distinct shame washed over him, and he headed straight for the general store, hoping against all hope that she would be there.
Madi, for her part, didn't even realize she had let go of Celian's hand until she entered the general store and realized that he was no longer there. However, the floral hat materialized at the other end of the building, and Madi forgot all about waiting for Celian; it wasn't as if he would be difficult to find, anyway.
She pursued the hat right out the door again, and into the perfume shop next door. At last, Madi drew close enough to see her—and that's when Miss Agatha turned around. The frown she had been wearing melted into a smile. "Madeline!" She cried pleasantly. "How wonderful to see you! Are you enjoying yourself on this holiday?"
Madi smiled and grabbed her hand. "Oh yes! Father and I are quite enjoying ourselves! But right now there's someone I want you to meet! I know you'll like him!"
"Him?" Agatha echoed. "Oh yes, it wouldn't happen to be that tall gentleman I saw you walking with the other day, would it? Is he a relative of yours?"
Madi shook her head. "No, he's just a friend I met on the beach. His name is Celian and he's really nice!" She gestured toward the door. "Will you come with me?"
Agatha laughed, marveling at the young girl's ability to effortlessly lift her spirits. "Of course!"
They exited the perfume store just in time to catch Ash Grove desperately puffing down the walkway.
"Madi!" He cried sternly. "I thought I told you to wait!" He paused in his chastisement to acknowledge the high-bred lady. "Good morning, Miss Agatha."
"Good morning, Doctor!" She replied. "Madi was just going to introduce me to your friend Celian."
Ash frowned and looked up and down the street. "Where is Celian?"
Madi pointed to the building right before them. "I think I lost him somewhere inside the general store."
The three of them ducked inside the store.The large store swarmed with people, browsing goods, preparing for trips to the beach, and mostly standing around to chat. Rumors flew thick and fast: A gambling ring had been exposed, right here in
