‘Lauren, Jessica and Mel have been

working on getting a welcome party ready for you all morning,’ Mrs Foster said. ‘Come and have a drink and a biscuit or a slice of cake, Hannah. I bet you’re ready for something after your journey.’

‘I sure am,’ Hannah agreed. She went over to the table. ‘It all looks delicious.’

‘Help yourself,’ Mrs Foster said.

Hannah poured a drink and took a biscuit. Twilight whinnied again but she didn’t look round. Lauren felt slightly put out. Hannah hadn’t said anything about him and Shadow and Sandy – and they were all looking gorgeous.

‘Twilight’s the pony that’s whinnying,’ she said, trying to draw Hannah’s attention to the ponies. ‘He’s mine.’

Hannah glanced round briefly. ‘He’s lovely, Lauren.’ She turned back to the table. ‘Can I have a slice of cake as well please, Auntie Alice?’

Lauren stared at her. Hannah had barely even looked at Twilight!

‘Mel’s pony is the darker dapple grey. He’s called Shadow,’ she persevered as Mel and Jessica took some carrots over for the eager ponies. ‘And the palomino is Sandy. He’s Jessica’s pony. Well, Jess officially shares him with Samantha, her stepsister, but Samantha doesn’t ride much now. She’s not so interested in ponies any more.’

‘No, me neither,’ Hannah said casually. ‘I haven’t been to the stables near me for ages.’

If she’d said she’d been walking on the moon, Lauren couldn’t have been more surprised. She stared at her cousin. ‘What?’

Hannah shrugged. ‘I’ve just got really busy with other stuff, I guess.’ She looked towards the three ponies. ‘I don’t really have time for all that pony stuff now. I like going round to my friends’ houses and listening to music, or we go to the mall. And…’ She blushed slightly. ‘I’ve got a boyfriend, so I see him quite a bit.’

Lauren couldn’t believe it. Hannah wasn’t into ponies! But it had been all she’d ever been interested in. However, before she could say anything, Hannah had turned to Mrs Foster. ‘So where’s Max?’ she asked, looking round.

‘Playing. He’s really into skateboarding at the moment and spends all his time with his friends, Leo and Stephen,’ Mrs Foster said. ‘He’ll be back for lunch. And then you’ll get to meet Buddy too.’

‘I bet Max has really grown,’ Hannah said. ‘I can’t believe he’s eight now!’

Lauren walked slowly over to Mel and Jessica who were standing by the ponies.

‘Did Hannah just say she isn’t into ponies?’ Jess hissed.

Lauren nodded. Her brain couldn’t seem to take it in. How could Hannah not like ponies any more? ‘I just don’t get it,’ she said, feeling bewildered. ‘Hannah’s always been so pony-crazy.’

‘I guess people change,’ Mel said.

‘Sam’s the same,’ Jess said. ‘She never wants to do stuff with Sandy any more.’

Lauren thought about the pony books in Hannah’s room and the book she’d