A massive poster, lit up, Ruby’s face splashed right across it. It was an advert for Snow White at the village hall, and it looked like a cross between an early episode of Drag Race and a Disney film—a.k.a. a must-see.

“So this is what Holly meant when she said pantomime?!” I hurried over as Fred shouted, “She’s behind you!” even though the poster was clearly in front of me. “It looks dope! You’re so famous!” I took a photo—poster Ruby looked amazing, even if real-life Ruby was staring at the ground.

“It’s not a big deal…”

Fred nudged her arm but was looking at me. “Ignore her. It is. A massive one. And she’s brilliant. Hol and I have seen it three times already.”

“Well, I was hoping to come and see it too?” It sounded like something my American followers would really like to see. “Check out my first-ever pantomime?”

Ruby laughed. “You’re going to think we’ve all lost it.”

“That’s what I’m hoping for. How do I get tickets?”

But I didn’t get an answer because Fred pointed out a girl through the hall window, and immediately Ruby started striding away. I had to jog to catch up. But when we got to the green, I did a double take—there was someone I semi-recognized? But how?

I swear I heard Ruby say, “Seriously?” under her breath.

“Is that someone Holly knows?” I pointed over to the dude in a denim jacket.

He had brown hair, was wearing shorts despite it being freezing, and was kicking a soccer ball with his friend. He clocked he was being watched, so he started showboating—I tried not to laugh, well not too loud, as he jumped up to flick the ball up and totally missed.

“The home of soccer, huh?” I laughed. But Ruby was giving me a weird look.

“How do you know that Holly may or may not know who he is?”

It felt loaded, so I tried to keep it vague. I don’t know why, but I had a feeling Holly needed me to. “Just a guess…?” That seemed safer than telling them that when I got Colin’s snack out of the bedside table, there was most definitely a picture of that exact person tucked away.

“Guess you’ll find out sooner or later…” Ruby sighed. Wow, for a village so tiny, Little Marsh was full of secrets. “It’s Woody.”

Ahh, the neighbor opposite. The one Holly had told me to keep an eye on. I looked over at him.

I could see why Holly had a photo of him. He was all sorts of cute. The kind of cute that my followers would love.

He stopped, cocked his head on to one side, and waved—and I waved back.