I walked over to the wooden counter, where the shop owner stood waiting at the register.

I opened my purse, took out my wallet, and handed over my credit card for the blue dress.

By five o’clock, the blue dress was hanging safely in my bedroom closet, and the crunch of Max’s sedan tires on the gravel driveway brought me to the front window.

Chloe tumbled out of the back seat first, wearing one shoe and clutching a half-eaten pretzel.

Lily climbed out behind her, dragging her soccer bag through the dust.