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“Ogling your dream man?” A familiar voice wafted from behind, stealing Evie’s attention away from the twelve-foot-tall Viking puppet trundling along the parade route in the distance. “Handsome, emotionally stunted, a bit of a showoff?”

“Sunita!” Evie threw her arms around her oldest friend. Living in London and covering breaking entertainment news as a showbiz reporter for The National Mail, one of the UK’s biggest selling newspapers, Sunita only made it home a few times a year. “I thought you were flying in tomorrow.”

“And miss this spectacle? Never!” Grinning, Sunita withdrew from their hug. “The paper can do without me for an extra day.”

Evie eyed her best friend’s diamond-quilted Burberry barn jacket. “London’s loss is Orkney’s gain.”

“This weather, though, blowin’ a hoolie. Some things never change.” Adjusting the designer purse on her shoulder, Sunita narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the Orcadians parading past. “So, where’s Ava and her glittery flag?”

“You just missed her.”

“Damn!” Sunita tsked. “I brought her the biggest stick of grape-flavored rock I could find. Drove all over Brighton searching for it.”

“Fi’s gonna kill you.”

“If Ava gets a cavity, your dad’ll fix it.” Sunita watched the children flubbing their choreography and snickered. “God, remember doing this? We were so rubbish.”

Evie laughed. “The worst!”

“Best part was gorging ourselves on fudge afterward, then staying up all night with a—”

“Sickly tum!” Evie blurted as Sunita finished with “—massive sugar rush.”

“Beneath the sun that never sets,” Evie added. “So beautiful.”

“Man, I miss the summer solstice. It’s not the same down south,” said Sunita. “Speaking of, you game for a late-nighter? Drinks and dinner, lots of goss?”

“Sure, if you don’t mind waiting,” said Evie. “We’re open till nine and I’m closing.”

“Why you? Where’s your mum?”

“On the Hawaiian cruise to Australia—you know, the prize Dad won at the dental conference?”

“Get out! They actually went?” asked Sunita.

“Yep, last minute. Mum dragged her heels as per usual.”

“That shop is like her third child.”

“And just as problematic.” Evie gave in to a big yawn. “Dad convinced her in the end, thank god. You only celebrate your thirty-fifth wedding anniversary once, right?”

“You must be rushed off your feet, though,” said Sunita, “running the shop, dealing with genealogy clients.”

“This is my first proper break in days.” Evie returned her phone to her pocket. “I should get back soon, actually.”

“Invasion of the cruise ships?”

Evie nodded. “And catering clients.”

“How’s that going?”

Relieved the misty rain had stopped, Evie pulled her gaze free from the swath of color and festive music. “Surprisingly well. In the past month, we’ve done two weddings, a funeral, and the renewable energy conference, and starting tomorrow, the catering truck’s headed to Shapinsay for a TV shoot.”

“Another travel show?”

“No, a historical romance—a series.”

Sunita leaned in. “Ooh, Eves! That’s so you! Can you tag along?”