Chapter 17
Billie’s legs were tired. She didn’t know how long she’d walked, but it was hot, and her beautiful dress was starting to feel prickly and heavy instead of swishy and sparkly. The tiara was poking into her head above her ears, and sand kept getting inside her shoes and scraping at her feet.
Her eyes were burning with tears that she was trying desperately not to let loose. She didn’t want a father and she didn’t want her stupid uncles who didn’t want her either. Mom was right, this place was stupid and horrible and she hated it.
And even if she wanted to go back to Dockside now, it was too far away, because she didn’t think she could take one more step.
Billie choked back a sob and looked around. There was a short row of houses just ahead. They looked familiar. The second one
