The Hidden

and round, sanded down to perfection. And the wood had been stained a light cherry color. Tiny crank handles were at each corner.

It was surprisingly lightweight, and fit comfortably in my hands.

“What is it?” I asked.

“It’s a flower press. You place a flower in between the two pieces of wood, like a sandwich. Then you turn the handles to tighten it, and it flattens the flower. It takes five to seven days for the flower to dry completely.” “How did you …? Where did you …?” “I went to go see Nikolas today, and he made it.”

I turned it around and around to look at it. “This is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. Now I just need to get some flowers.” I smiled up at him. “Thank you, Caspian. I love it.” He stuck a hand into his front pocket. “It wasn’t a bribe or anything. I don’t want you to think that. But I did think it would be in my best interest if I had a present to give you today.” “Today, of all days, when you just so happened to promise Ben that I’d go to the dance with him?” I raised my eyebrow.

“Totally and completely had nothing to do with that.”

Laughing, I cradled my gift closer. “Let’s just say, then, that you’re a very good present picker. And an even smarter boyfriend.”

Chapter Fourteen. EARLY GRADUATION GIFT

It was, as I have said, a fine autumnal day; the sky was clear and serene, and nature wore that rich and golden livery which we always associate with the idea of abundance.

– “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

Mom was in the kitchen when Caspian and I got home from school the next day. “Do you have any plans right now?” she asked me. “I mean, when are you going dress shopping with Beth?” Mentally I prepared my argument. Beth and I had made plans last night. “We’re not going until Wednesday. But I have homework to do. Why?” “A lot of homework? Or can it wait?”

I cast a side glance at Caspian. “That depends. Can you just tell me what’s up?” Excitement was written all over her face. She could barely contain her grin. “I want to take you somewhere. But it’s a surprise.” “I’m not sure if I can-”

“Just go with her, Astrid,” Caspian said to me. “She’s excited.” I shook my head slightly at him. I had no clue what Mom’s surprise was, and didn’t know if I was in the mood to find out.

“Go,” he said sternly. “Come on. Look how happy she is.” I sighed. I knew when I was beat. “Okay, yeah, I’ll go,” I said to Mom. “Homework can wait.” “Oh, good!” she squealed.

“Just let me take my stuff upstairs and get changed, okay?”

She nodded, and I trudged toward the stairs. Caspian followed behind me. “You are in so much trouble,” I said to him quietly.

He just grinned.

When we got upstairs, I threw my book bag onto the bed and went to change my jeans. “If she ‘surprises’ me with a bad prom dress again, you’re going to have to make it up to me in a major way,” I called out from my closet. “I am totally serious.” “Just humor her,” he replied. “I’m sure it won’t be like that.” “Are we talking about my mother here? Because I thought we were.” “I know, I know. But if she does, then you have my permission to take it back.” I laughed loudly. “Your permission? Oh, I’m so glad.” I switched shirts and came stalking out. He was still grinning in a maddening way. Like he knew something I didn’t. “Major sucking up,” I reiterated. “I don’t know how yet, but I’ll think of something.” He came over to me. “You are being a very good daughter,” he said softly. “Think about how happy your mom will be. This is a good memory for her. For when …” For when I’m gone.

I sighed and looked up at him. “You’re right. But I’m totally doing this for you, you know.” He nodded, and I grabbed my phone. “All right, all right. I’m off, then. Wish me luck.” “You won’t need it,” he said. “How bad can it be?”

Mom was waiting for me downstairs, and we both hurried out to the car. “Where are we going?” I asked, getting in.

“Still a surprise,” she said. “Are you hungry? Do you want to grab a snack somewhere first?” “What did you have in mind?”

“Gelato?” she suggested. “We can stop at the new place downtown.” “Yeah, sounds good.”

We both buckled, and Mom pulled out of the driveway. Halloween decorations were up at each house that we passed, straw-stuffed scarecrows and pumpkins at every corner. White trash-bag ghosts hung from the lampposts that lined the town streets, and ghoulish, grinning orange papier-mache masks filled shop windows.

“You know tourism is up by thirty-three percent this season,” Mom said casually. “It looks like it’s going to be a great holiday.” “Good for business.”

“It is good. You can’t overestimate the importance of customer traffic. It’s all about location, location, location. That’s an important thing to think about when you’re a business owner.” We came to a little Italian ice stand with a red, green, and white striped awning, wedged in between a shoe repair store and a bank. It advertised Momma Mia’s Icy Treats.

“They have gelato here?” I questioned. “Are you sure it’s not just Italian ice?” “How can they have one and not the other?” she said.

“True. But I’m really in the mood for gelato now, so if they don’t have it, I might not get anything.” Mom laughed. “If they don’t have it, then I’ll take you somewhere else. Okay?” “Okay.”

We moved to get in line, and I squinted to read the tiny, almost illegible hand-printed menu sign. “Frozen ice, frozen slushies, frozen fruit bars …,” I read out loud.

“Aha! Gelato!” Mom said.

I read lower. “Yeah, but they only have four flavors.”

“Still, gelato is gelato.”

Mom put in her order for a scoop of vanilla bean, and I got one scoop of lemon custard. “At least they have good flavors,” I said as they handed us our bowls. “This looks delicious.” “Mmm-hmm,” Mom agreed, dipping her spoon in. “Let’s walk,” she said a minute later.

We wandered down the sidewalk, passing several stores along the way. Each window was decorated for Halloween.

“What’s your favorite season?” Mom asked. “Halloween or Christmas?” “Hmmm, tough one.” I sucked on the edge of my spoon as I thought about it. “With Christmas you have trees and lights and cookies. But with Halloween you have candy, pumpkins, and apple cider.” “Oooh, good point. I love apple cider.”

“I guess they’re both good for business here in Sleepy Hollow,” I said.

Mom nodded eagerly. “You are so right.” She got that excited look on her face again, and finished up the last of her gelato. Throwing the empty cup and spoon away, she glanced around us with a secret smile.

“Do you know where we are?” she finally asked.

I scraped the bottom of my bowl and then threw it away too. “Uh, yeah. Downtown.” “No, I mean where downtown.”

“Next to the …” I looked around and immediately recognized the bay window. “My shop! We’re at my shop.” Mom’s smile grew even bigger. “Go look at the window.”

I glanced over. There was a piece of cardboard hanging there, but the FOR RENT sign was gone. My heart sank.

Someone else got it. Someone else is renting it, and now I’ll never have the chance to open Abbey’s Hollow.

“It’s gone?” I said sadly. “Did someone rent it?”

“Just go look at it,” Mom said again.