“OK. I’ll wait right here.”
Stacey shuts the door softly. Then she runs to Grandpa’s study. He says she’s not supposed to go in there without knocking, so she taps on the door. “Grandpa? There’s a stranger at the door.”
The door opens a minute later. “A stranger? Did he say what his name is?”
“No.” Stacey’s face turns warm. “I forgot to ask her.”
“Did she say what she wants?”
“No.”
“I see.” Grandpa pats Stacey’s back. “You go watch TV. I’ll take care of this.”
Stacey gallops over to the couch and lies down as if she’s going to watch TV again. But after Grandpa answers the door, Stacey rolls off the couch. She creeps towards the door and hides herself with the curtains.
“I’m sorry to show up here like this,” the woman says.
“You could have called the office,” Grandpa says.
“I’ve called the office! I’ve called and called. No one will tell me anything. It’s been five months now. Do you have any leads at all?”
“I’m afraid not,” Grandpa says. “We really should talk about this later. Stop by the precinct tomorrow—”
“I don’t want to wait until tomorrow!” the woman shouts. Stacey presses herself closer to the wall. Is this lady crazy?
“I’m sorry, Grace. I wish there were more I could do.”
“Her mom’s going to have her declared dead soon, did you know that?” Stacey peeks out from behind the curtain. She can see the lady’s face, her hollow cheeks wet with tears. Stacey starts to feel bad for the crazy lady. She’s not crazy; she’s just sad.
“I hadn’t heard that, no. I’m sorry,” Grandpa says, though he doesn’t seem sorry. He looks mad. Why is Grandpa mad at this poor lady?
“I know she’s not dead. In my heart, I know. If Madison were dead, I would feel it—”
Stacey bursts out from the curtains. “Madison’s not dead!” she shouts. “She’s upstairs.”
“What’s she talking about?” Grace asks. “Madison’s here?”
Grandpa turns to Stacey, his face red. A vein pulses on his forehead, which always means he’s really mad. “Stacey, go up to your room. I’ll deal with you later.”
“Stacey? Wait a minute, who are these girls?”
“I think you’d better go, Grace. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Grandpa says. He tries to push the woman out of the doorway, but she’s strong, a lot stronger than someone who looks like a skeleton should be.
“I’m not leaving until you tell me what the hell is going on!”
“Grace, please—”
“What’s the meaning of this?” Grandma asks from behind Grandpa. “Grace? What are you doing here?”
“I want to see Madison. Where is she?” Grace points to Stacey. “This little girl says Madison is here.”
“Yes, she is.”
“Tess—”
Grandma takes Grandpa’s arm. He stops trying to close the door. “Jacob, please. Grace has a right to know”
“Grandma? Grandpa? What’s going on?” Maddy asks. She stands beside Stacey. “Who’s that lady?”
Grace squats down and her eyes narrow. “Madison?”
Maddy whimpers and then presses against Stacey for protection. “Grandma, who is this? What’s going on?”
Grace rushes forward to put her hands on Maddy’s shoulders. Maddy cries out at this. Stacey tries to push the lady away, but again she is surprisingly strong. “Madison, it’s me. It’s Grace. Do you remember me? I love you.”
Maddy starts to sob now and screams at the top of her lungs like they taught in school. “Go away! Stranger! Stranger!”
This deflates Grace. She pulls her hands back. Maddy sprints away and buries her head against Grandma’s body while she continues to sob. Grace turns to Stacey and stares at her. Stacey flinches as Grace runs a hand through her hair. “Stacey, do you remember me? It’s Grace. We used to work together. At the clothes store. Remember?”
“No,” Stacey manages to get out. She wants to run away, but she’s frozen in place.
“I know it’s you, Stacey. I can see it in your eyes. Even with the glasses.”
Grandpa takes Grace by the shoulders, to pull her back. “I think you should go.”
“No! I don’t know what’s happened to them, but I know it’s them. Why didn’t you tell me? They’re my friends!”
Grandpa sighs. He looks really tired all of the sudden. “Let’s go talk in my study.”
“OK,” Grace says. Before she goes, she pats Stacey’s cheek. “I’m sorry I scared you. You look very pretty.”
“Thanks,” Stacey mumbles.
After Grace has gone back to the study with Grandpa, Grandma picks Maddy up. Maddy clings to her, still crying. Grandma touches Stacey’s shoulder. “Let’s go to your room,” she says.
Stacey takes a look towards the study and then nods; she follows Grandma upstairs.
***
Maddy falls asleep after a couple of minutes. Stacey crawls into the top bunk and collects her stuffed monkey Pinky. To her surprise, Grandma crawls into bed with her. It’s a tight squeeze because Grandma is so big, but she’s able to lie down and face Stacey.
Grandma strokes Stacey’s hair as she asks, “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” Stacey thinks for a moment and then asks, “Grandma, who is that crazy lady? Why did she say those things?”
“She’s just confused, dear. That’s all.”
“She said she knew me. She said we worked together in a clothes shop.”
“As I said, she’s confused. She thinks you’re someone else.”
“But she said she could see it in my eyes. Even with my glasses.”
“You don’t have to worry, dear. She’s not going to bother you anymore. Grandpa will make sure of that.”
“OK.” Stacey grips the monkey tighter. It’s not long before she starts to doze. She’s barely aware when the bed creaks. Grandma slides off to leave her to nap. After all, she has a busy night.
There’s a crack of light that for a moment gets into her eyes. She hears the crazy lady’s voice again. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Madigan. I didn’t mean to create so much trouble.”
“It’s fine, dear. Did Jacob explain things to you?”
“Yes.” There’s a pause and then Grace asks, “They really don’t remember anything?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Oh.” There’s another pause before Grace asks, “Are they happy like this?”
“Yes, I think so. They’ve both made new friends. Madison is the most popular girl in her class.”
Grace laughs at this. “Everyone likes Maddy, once they get used to her. What about Stacey? Has she come out of her shell a little?”
Stacey eagerly awaits this answer. Grandma embarrasses her when she answers, “A little. She has a couple of very close friends. One of them is a boy.”
“She has a boyfriend?”
“After a fashion. It’s just puppy love, really.”
They both giggle at this. Stacey wants to protest that her love for Darren isn’t something to laugh at, but she can’t without giving herself away. Grace says, “I guess it’s just as well she doesn’t remember her upbringing. Now she can have a normal childhood.”
“I’m so sorry, Grace. I know how much you care for them. Jacob and I wanted to tell you—”
“I understand. It’s not an easy situation.” Grace makes a sound in her throat like she’s about to cry. “At least now I know they’re all right. Are you going to tell Maddy’s mom? She’s all but given up hope of seeing Madison again.”
“I don’t think we can, not right now. You see how difficult it is.”
“Yeah, I do.” There’s another pause. “Can I see Maddy? I just want to say goodbye.”
“She’s sleeping right now.”
“I won’t wake her. I’ll be quick.”
“All right.”
Stacey squeezes her eyes shut and pretends to
sleep. Grandma must turn the light in the hallway off, because the crack of light goes away. Stacey listens closely as Grace pads across the room. Stacey opens one eye to make sure the coast is clear and then slides as close to the rail as she can.
She watches as Grace squats down beside Maddy’s bed. Maddy is still asleep, Mrs. Hoppy tight against her while she sucks her thumb like a baby. Grace leans closer and brushes one of Maddy’s pigtails back. Though it’s dark, Stacey can see tears run down Grace’s cheeks. “Oh, Madison,” she whispers. “I’ll never forget you.”
Stacey’s stomach roils as she watches the crazy lady kiss Maddy’s cheek. Maddy stirs a little and mumbles something that’s unintelligible with her thumb in her mouth. Then Grace stands up. Stacey closes her eyes tightly, but she’s too late.
“Hi, Stace,” Grace says. A few of her friends on Facebook call her “Stace” but she thinks it’s a stupid nickname.
“Hi,” Stacey says. “Are you going to kiss me too?”
“Do you want me to?”
“No.”
“Then I won’t.”
“Grandma says you’re confused.”
“I guess I am.” She nods to Stacey’s pink monkey. “That’s a cute monkey.”
“Thanks.”
“I like the glasses too. They’re very pretty.”
“Uh-huh.”
“How old are you?”
“Ten.”
“Maybe I’ll look you up in eight years when you’re a grown-up.”
“OK.”
“Bye.” She doesn’t kiss Stacey or even try to touch her hair; she just gives a little wave and then turns away.
Grace is almost to the door when Maddy rolls over. She pulls the thumb from her mouth to ask, “Grace?”
Grace doesn’t say anything. She opens the door. Maddy rolls out of bed and drops her rabbit on the floor. Grace is halfway through the door when Maddy catches up to her. She clamps herself around Grace’s left leg. “Don’t go!”
“Sorry, Maddy, but I have to.”
“No. I wuv you, Gwace,” Maddy says. She uses that lisp she breaks out when she wants people to think she’s cute.
Grace bends down to look Maddy in the eye. “Madison? Is it really you?”
“Yes. I remember now.”
“You do?”
“We used to be together. In our own place. Above your store.”
“That’s right, Madison.”
“And I was going to college. I want to be a reporter.” Maddy looks down at the floor. “I guess that won’t be for a while.”
“I don’t care, Maddy. I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to grow up.”
“But I’m only five.”
“It’s just thirteen years. I can wait.”
“Oh Grace, I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too.” Grace smiles and then pokes Maddy’s tummy. “At least they’re feeding you pretty well.”
“I’m not fat!” Maddy shouts.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Despite this, Maddy starts to cry. “What’s the matter, sweetheart? What is it?”
“This is never going to work,” Maddy bawls. She runs back to the bed and throws herself on the mattress to turn her back to Grace.
Grace sits down next to her and puts a hand on Maddy’s back. “I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what to do.”
“Just hold me,” Maddy says. “Like you used to.”
“OK,” Grace says. She slips onto the bed and wraps her arms around Maddy’s body to press her close. Stacey watches them for a minute and then turns away to stare at the wall until she falls asleep.
***
Grace stays for dinner. She carries Maddy downstairs and then they sit next to each other at the table. Stacey has to sit on the other side by herself. She glowers at her little sister and the crazy lady, not that they seem to notice.
They have lasagna for dinner. Grace studies hers for a minute and then starts to pick at it. She leaves a pile of meat on her napkin. She glances over at Madison, who’s devouring her slab of lasagna. “You’re eating meat now?” Grace asks.
“So? I ate meat the last time I was five.”
“I’m sorry, Grace,” Tess says. “If I’d known you were coming—”
“No, it’s my fault. It’s fine.”
Maddy looks over at Grandma. “Gramma, can Grace watch the pageant tonight?”
“Pageant?”
“My class is having a pageant on all the presidents,” Maddy says. “I get to be Eleanor Roosevelt.”
“Oh, that’s great.”
Maddy takes the crazy lady’s hand. “You got to come. Pwease?”
“They might not have any tickets left,” Grandma says.
“It’s supposed to be for school families anyway,” Stacey says. “Not strangers.”
Grandpa gives her a dirty look; the vein on his forehead starts to pulse. “Eat your dinner, young lady.”
Stacey looks down at her plate. Has everyone else gone crazy? This stranger sits at their table, complains about Grandma’s delicious lasagna, and acts like she’s Maddy’s mommy. But she’s not. She’s not anything, just some stranger. Yet if Stacey says anything, she’s the one who gets in trouble. It’s not fair.
Grandma changes the topic. “Jacob and I visited Dr. Palmer’s lab the other day. She had some very exciting things to show us. In a month or so, she might even be able to cure Madison.”
“Really?”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Grandpa warns. “It’s all experimental. They’ve got to run a lot of tests before they can try it on Madison.”
“Oh,” Maddy says. She looks down sadly at her plate.
“There’s something else the doctor said before that, when we visited her at the hospital. She said, Madison, you’re aging much faster than a normal little girl. You’re almost six years old right now.”
“I am?”
“That’s right, dear. That’s why your clothes are getting so tight.”
“And you eat too many cookies,” Stacey grumbles.
“And Stacey is almost eleven.” Grandma smiles and then says, “We should have a birthday party for you both. Then Grace could meet all your friends.”
“I don’t want Grace to meet my friends!” Stacey shouts. “I want her to go away!”
“That’s enough, young lady,” Grandpa says. He points towards the ceiling. “March up to your room right now. No dessert for you.”
“That’s not fair!”
“I’ll carry you if I have to.”
“I hate you! I hate all of you!” Stacey screams and then runs upstairs. She throws herself on her bed to cry. She waits for Grandma to come in to comfort her, but she doesn’t. She’s too busy with the crazy lady. It’s not fair. They want to take Maddy away from her, to steal her sister away. After Mommy and Daddy died, Stacey promised herself she’d never let anyone break them up, but now it seems like there’s no way to stop it, especially since Maddy seems to want it; she’s fallen under the crazy lady’s spell.
She’s still sobbing when the light comes on. It’s not Grandma or Grandpa or the crazy lady, thank goodness. It’s Maddy. She climbs up the ladder, into Stacey’s bed the way Grandma did earlier.
“You can’t be up here,” Stacey says. “You’re too little.”
Maddy ignores this and squeezes in next to Stacey so that they face each other. “Stacey, why won’t you remember?”
“Remember what?”
“Who you are. Your name isn’t Stacey Chang. It’s Stacey Chance. You’re nineteen years old. You’re my best friend.”
“You’re making that up.”
“Am not! And we’re both friends with Grace. You work in her store.”
“Her clothes store,” Stacey says. She sticks her tongue out. “Yuck.”
“Stacey, please. You got to remember. We’re not little kids. We’re grown-ups.”
“That’s stupid,” Stacey says. She grabs Maddy’s cheek and pinches it until Maddy squeals.
“See, you’re a little kid.”
“That was mean,” Maddy says. She crawls off the bed. Stacey thinks she’s going to tattle to Grandma and Grandpa the way she usually does. Instead, she goes to her drawers and rummages around in the top of her drawers until she finds something.
When she returns, Maddy has a piece of paper in her hand. She unfolds it so Stacey can see a crude drawing of a woman. She has red hair, blue eyes, and pale skin, just like the woman Stacey saw in the mirror at Dr. Macintosh’s office. “See, that’s you. I made it so we wouldn’t forget, but we did anyway.”
“That’s not me.”
“It is too.” Maddy smiles at her drawing. “Your hair isn’t always red. It used to be brown, like mine.”
She unfolds another sheet of paper. On it is a woman with long brown hair and blue eyes. She holds something yellow in her hand. “See, that’s me. I’m holding a pencil because I’m going to be a reporter.”
“You can barely read.”
“Shut up! I’m the smartest girl in my class.”
“Whatever.”
Maddy starts to cry again. “Why won’t you believe me? I know you remember. Somewhere you have to remember all the good times we had.”
“Why are you doing this? Why are you forgetting about Mommy and Daddy?” Stacey points towards the door. “That crazy lady isn’t your friend! You’re my sister. We came here after Mommy and Daddy died. Why don’t you remember that?”
“Because it’s not real.” Maddy takes the sheets of paper and then folds them up. “I know what it is: your real parents were mean to you. They were so mean you ran away from them. You don’t want to remember that, so you won’t remember anything else.”
“That’s stupid.”
“Is not!”
“Just leave me alone.”
“Fine,” Maddy says with a huff. “We gotta get ready for the presentation anyway. If you’re still going.”
“Yes, but not with her.”
“I love Grace, even more than I love you. Don’t make me choose.”
Maddy crawls out of bed. With her nose in the air she stomps out of the room, to leave Stacey alone. Stacey wipes at her eyes. As much as Stacey hates the crazy lady and this new Maddy, she wants to see Darren, to apologize again for what happened the last time they saw each other.
She starts to crawl out of bed.
Chances Are Omnibus (Gender Swap Fiction) Page 51
