“That doesn’t rhyme,” Jonah-beast tells me, grabbing the yo-yo with his furry hand. “Let me try. It’s feeling kind of warm, turn back into normal form!” he cries, and swirls the yo-yo like a lasso.

My skin starts to sizzle again. I touch my cheek. Once again, it’s smooth.

“It worked!” I say. I look around. Everyone is back to normal. They’re all touching their smooth cheeks.

Everyone except Mr. Beast.

“It didn’t work on you, Mr. B,” Jonah says.

“That’s okay,” Mr. Beast replies. “I didn’t expect it to. Please don’t feel sorry. I accept who I am. And, Jonah — good rhyming.”

“Maybe now that you’re a reader, you’ll become a poet, too,” Beauty says.

Jonah puffs his chest with pride.

There’s a loud knock on the door.

“Come in!” we all yell.

“Hello?” says a voice. A girl steps inside, closing her umbrella. She looks familiar. Spiky blond hair, freckles … Oh! It’s Freckles.

“Sorry I’m late,” she says sheepishly. “I had to close up the shop and —”

Freckles looks up and stops talking. Her eyes meet Mr. Beast’s. They stare at each other. And stare.

“Hello,” she says slowly.

“Hello,” he says.

They can’t take their eyes off each other.

Freckles approaches me and pokes my shoulder. “Hi, Abby. Who’s your handsome friend?”

Does she mean Mr. Beast? She does! What’s that other expression that Nana loves? Oh! “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!” Meaning beauty is different for different people.

Freckles thinks Mr. Beast is handsome just the way he is.

“It’s Mr. Beast,” I say.

She blushes. “He’s the man Mrs. Butler shops for? The one who’s marrying Beauty?”

“That’s him,” I say. “But the engagement is off.”

Her eyes light up. “Really?”

I nod. Then I pepper Freckles with questions. “Do you like to play cards?” I ask her.

“Yes,” she says.

“Would you rather live in the countryside or in Town?”

“Countryside. Town is loud.”

“And finally: Are you allergic to cheese?” I ask her.

“Of course not,” she says. “I run a cheese shop!”

“Oh! Right! Mr. Beast!” I call out. “There’s someone I want you to meet!”

He swaggers over. “Hello,” he says with a bow. He offers her his arm.

Freckles giggles, takes it, and the two of them walk off, chattering.

“What was that?” Jonah asks.

Beauty chuckles. “I think it was love at first sight.”

*  *  *

Mr. and Mrs. Butler carry Jax out the door.

“Put me down!” he hollers.

“No, I will not bring you to Town,” Mr. Butler says.

“We’re not chauffeurs!” Mrs. Butler adds.

With that, they drop Jax on the doormat and turn back into the castle.