by Laura Dower
Write again soon, okay? U know I will.
Yours till the wedding bells,
Maddie
P.S.: I cannot believe ur parents let u get another kitten! That is so crazy. Does Pepper the new cat like your cat Sparkles? I am so glad u like animals as much as me. I wish u could meet Phinnie!!!
After logging off, Madison trudged downstairs in her Lisa Simpson T-shirt and slippers. The house was steamy. Summer—along with other upcoming events—was really heating up.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Mom teased when she saw Madison’s gloomy expression.
“Can we put on the air conditioner, please?” Madison asked.
“Just wait until you feel the temperatures in Texas next week!” Mom said, laughing. “I imagine it must get up to ninety degrees or more in July.”
Madison scrunched up her nose and stuck out her tongue. “Dad already told me to pack light. I can’t believe I have to be sticky the whole time. It’s like I’m being punished….”
“Madison,” Mom said seriously. “This week isn’t about you. We’ve had this discussion a few times now. This is your dad and Stephanie’s big day. You are a part of it, but …”
“Okay, okay,” Madison said defensively. “I know, I know.” She poured herself a glass of orange juice. “Where’s Phin?” she asked.
“I think he went down to the basement so he could lie on the cool tile floor,” Mom said.
“Maybe I’ll go spend the day in the basement, too,” Madison joked.
“Very funny,” Mom said. “Actually, I have a big day planned. I need your help in the garden.”
“Oh, Mom, it’s so hot—”
“Maddie,” Mom said, crossing her arms in front of her. “I have had just about enough of your complaining. You’ve been moping around for a week since your dad told you about the wedding.”
“So?” Madison grumbled.
“Honey bear, I really need your help today,” Mom said sweetly. “I have some weeding to do and I need to transplant some of the flowers from the side of the yard. Phinnie can hang outside with us.”
“Okay! I’ll help!” Madison said. She could tell there was no way out.
“I know this has been a hard week with the wedding planning and all,” Mom said.
Madison realized that maybe she wasn’t the only one who had to deal with Dad’s big news. She stared hard at her mom.
“Is it hard for you, too?” Madison asked.
“What? The wedding?” Mom answered.
Madison nodded. “Aren’t you jealous or something? I mean, Dad is getting married, and …”
“And what?” Mom asked.
“And you’re not….” Madison said with a gulp.
“Maddie,” Mom said gently. “You have to understand. Your dad and I have separate lives now. We both love you and share our time with you, but otherwise, our lives are different. And right now, I have no plans to get married. I told you, I’m happy for your father. Believe me.”
“Okay, okay, I believe you,” Madison said, even though she didn’t believe a single word Mom said.
Around ten o’clock that morning, Madison, Mom, and Phin headed into the garden with tools in hand. Mom carried a hoe in one hand and gloves and some small trowels in her portable green gardening bucket. Madison toted a handheld fan that sprayed water. She liked to aim it at Phin. The spray tickled his whiskers, and he did a little doggy dance.
Luckily, the weather wasn’t as hot as Madison had feared it would be. The sky looked clear, and there weren’t many bugs flying around, either. Sometimes, Madison dreaded spending time in the garden, because she was paranoid about bees. Once, when she was younger, she’d disturbed a bees’ nest by accident and sent the entire hive into a frenzy. That was one experience Madison wanted to forget.
Madison loved watching Mom dig in the garden dirt. Mom carefully checked the leaves and roots on her perennials.
“We should cut some of those and put them on the dining-room table,” Mom said, pointing to an array of big, wide-eyed daisies in bright fuschia, gold, and orange (Madison’s personal favorite). Mom had planted the flowers at the beginning of the summer, but they had only just exploded into colorful blooms.
Phinnie sniffed at Mom’s feet. The yard was fenced in as a safety measure, but he always lingered close by whenever anyone was out planting or playing.
Mom shooed Phin away from some of her flowers, and he trotted over to Madison, who was down on her hands and knees digging new holes for transplanted perennials.
“Hello?”
Madison turned around to see her friend peering over the fence gate in the back.
“Aimee!” Madison cried, standing up.
“And Fiona!” another voice called out.
“Hey!” Madison replied.
“Can we come in?” Aimee asked.
Madison unlatched the garden gate. “Of course,” she said. “I was just helping my mom plant.”
“Your flowers look so nice,” Fiona said, complimenting Madison’s mom. “It’s like a rainbow back here. Wow.”
“Thank you, Fiona,” Mom said as she stood up. “Can I get you girls something to drink?”
No one seemed very thirsty, so Mom invited everyone to help plant instead. Aimee and Fiona seemed eager to help.
“I wish I’d brought Blossom,” Aimee said. “She could have played with Phinnie.”
They glanced over at Phin, who was chasing a butterfly near a bush.
“Got your dress for the wedding yet?” Aimee asked.
“Almost,” Madison replied. “Mom and I are shopping this week.”
“I can’t believe the wedding is soooo soon!” Fiona squealed.
“I guess I’m getting used to the idea,” Madison admitted halfheartedly. “My dad calls me every day just to make sure I’m feeling good about it.”
“Things will work out, Maddie,” Aimee said, leaning in to give Madison a hug. Fiona joined in.
“I have an idea! Let’s have lunch together. How does that sound, girls?” Mom asked.
Aimee and Fiona brightened. “Totally,” they both said, almost in unison.
Madison giggled. Her BFFs could cheer her up.
The girls knelt down near Madison to help with some of the plantings. Madison showed them how to shake off the dirt and separate the roots.
Mom scurried inside to get the girls’ sandwiches and Phin’s kibble. As soon as she disappeared, Aimee grabbed Madison by the shoulders.
“Tell us everything about the wedding, Maddie!” Aimee said. “I didn’t want to ask when your mom was here, but is Stephanie making you a flower girl, or what?”
“I don’t think she’s even having flower girls,” Madison said.
“I was a flower girl at my cousin Darla’s wedding,” Fiona said. “Last summer in California. I had to wear this ugly, pink dress and take all the braids out of my hair. I hated it.”
“I’ve never been in anyone’s wedding!” Aimee complained. “What’s so bad about being a flower girl anyway?”
Madison hung her head. “Being a flower girl is not as cool as being a bridesmaid,” she said.
“Don’t you have to be in high school to be a bridesmaid?” Fiona asked.
“I didn’t know there were rules about all that stuff,” Madison said.
Aimee plucked one of the flowers from the pile of plants they were replanting and presented it to Madison on bended knee. “For the flower girl,” she said, laughing.
Madison stuck the yellow bud in her ponytail. “Very funny, Aim.”
“What are you getting Stephanie and your dad for a present?” Fiona asked.
Madison’s face went blank. “A present?”
Aimee rolled her eyes. “Maddie! It’s a wedding. How could you forget that you need a wedding gift?”
“I only have a little money saved from baby-sitting,” Madison said. “I can’t afford a real gift.”
“There’s a major sale at the Far Hills Shoppes next weekend,” Aimee said.
“But I’m leaving for Texas before then,” Madison said.
“Why don’t you make something?” Fiona suggested.
“Like what?” Madison asked.
“Make one of your cool collages,” Fiona said. “Write something on it, like a poem. You’re good at that.”
“That’s a killer idea!” Aimee cheered. She danced around a little more and picked up another one of the blooms from the lawn. “You could put flowers in your collage, too!”
Madison thought about the suggestion. And the longer she thought, the more she liked it. A collage was a perfect way to tell Dad and Stephanie her feelings about them, the wedding, and the future.
“Lunch is served!” Mom announced, reappearing outside the house. She carried a tray of sandwiches, and some chips and juice. Phin trotted out behind her, a rawhide doggy bone in his jaws.
Aimee, Fiona, and Madison gathered to eat together under a maple tree in the backyard. After eating the sandwiches, they nibbled on some of Mom’s oatmeal-cookie crisps. Then they finished the planting and hosed down their handiwork. Transplanted flowers needed an extra-good soaking, Mom said.
It was nearly six o’clock by the time Aimee and Fiona left. The sun was still shining, and no one seemed tired. It had been a productive—and supportive—afternoon for Madison and her friends.
After saying goodbye, Madison headed inside to wash up. She wanted to check her e-mail, too. Sure enough, the mailbox was blinking. Her keypal had written back.
From: Bigwheels
To: MadFinn
Subject: Re: The Countdown Has Begun
Date: Fri 12 July 4:36 PM
Sorry I wasn’t home when u wrote b4, I wish we could have chatted online! I was babysitting my stupid brother and sister who r driving me bananas. Mom thinks I should watch them all summer long. Can u believe that? But she sez she’ll pay me. That’s cool.
Is ur Dad’s wedding really in one week??? R u really traveling all the way to Texas? I know u said ur having 2nd thoughts but it sounds exciting 2 me. Don’t forget 2 bring ur laptop so u can write to me the whole time ur there, ok?
I was thinking u should get a long dress in a pale color like sherbet or something. Does that sound weird? I saw one in the Boop-Dee-Doop catalog that I loved. You could wear it with their platforms--the ones with the crossover straps by the toe.
All ur emails about weddings make me wish that I were in love too. I wish I was still talking 2 Reggie. He’s away now for the whole summer. I’ve never really been in love. Have u seen Hart lately? What did he say when u told him you were going to a wedding?
GTG. My sister is pulling on me to go play in the sprinklers. Please WBS. Isn’t tomorrow that big pool party u told me about? HAGT!!!
Yours till the swim suits,
Bigwheels aka Vicki
Madison hit SAVE so she could reread Bigwheels’s e-mail again later.
Then she ducked into her closet to plan an outfit for Drew’s pool party.
Chapter 3
MADISON TUGGED AT HER blue cargo Capri pants. She’d loved them in the store and hanging in her closet, but now she wasn’t sure if they made her waist look too pudgy.
“Maddie! Aimee and Fiona are waiting downstairs!” Mom called up to Madison’s bedroom.
Drat!
The pants would have to stay, Madison thought with panic, as she threw other piles of unfolded clothing and rejected outfits back into the closet. She quickly decided on a pale yellow top to match the pants and yanked it on over her one-piece bathing suit. Then Madison shoved a towel and flip-flops into her bag, along with the latest copy of Star Beat magazine. She was dying to show Aimee and Fiona the cover article about the twenty-five hottest teen stars in Hollywood.
Phin followed Madison downstairs.
“Call you later, okay, Mom?” Madison said as she whisked past her mother and leaned over to kiss Phin good-bye.
“Don’t be too late! You are having supper with your father this evening!” Mom reminded her.
Madison nodded. Since the wedding planning had kicked into high gear, Dad had been checking in daily and dropping by for more regular visits. He wanted to make sure that Madison was cool with everything that was happening. On this particular night, he’d made plans to have Madison join him and Stephanie for dinner.
“Maddie! Sorry we’re late. It was my fault!” Fiona called out from the window of Mrs. Gillespie’s car as Madison skipped down the driveway.
“Love those pants!” Aimee cried as she pushed open the minivan door so that Madison could climb inside.
Madison beamed. She had made the right fashion choice.
Aimee wore a flowered halter top and peasant-style skirt with fringes and appliquéd flowers along the bottom.
“You’re so dressed up, Aim,” Madison said.
Aimee just shrugged. “Aw, this old thing!” she joked.
Madison guessed Aimee’s outfit was carefully planned. Aimee wanted to look good for her crush, Ben Buckley, who she hoped would also be at the pool party.
Fiona was dressed casually. She wore faded jeans shorts and a T-shirt that read Far Hills Girls’ Soccer. Even when she wasn’t headed for team practice, Fiona liked announcing her love of the sport.
“I have to borrow that shirt sometime,” Fiona said, pointing to Madison.
The drive to Drew’s house passed quickly; Aimee, Fiona, and Madison talked about clothes, and Madison pulled out her copy of Star Beat to show her friends. After about ten minutes, Mrs. Gillespie called out from the front seat. “Okay, troops, we’re heeeeere!” and the girls grabbed their stuff and piled out of the car.
The Maxwell house wasn’t really a house at all. It was a mansion, with bushes trimmed into animal shapes, sculpture on the front lawn, and a fountain in the middle of the driveway.
Drew sat on the steps waiting for his guests to arrive. Next to him, playing on a Gameboy, was Walter “Egg” Diaz, one of Madison’s best guy friends and Fiona’s “sort-of” boyfriend. As soon as Egg caught a glimpse of Fiona, he ditched the Gameboy, stashing it in his pocket, and ran over to say hello. Drew came with him.
“Hey, Fee,” Egg said, walking right up to Fiona. He had decided on a new nickname for her. That way, he could have a special name for her that was all his own.
“Hey, Walter,” Fiona replied. She had the distinction of being the only person other than Egg’s parents who called him by his real name.
Fiona twirled one of her braids between her fingers.
“Okay, you guys,” Aimee cried. “Enough! You’re making me nauseous.”
Egg ignored Aimee. Madison just giggled. These days, she was used to super sappy behavior, especially since Dad and Stephanie were acting lovey-dovey all the time, now that they were getting married.
The friends wandered through the front entryway and into the Maxwell foyer through the living rooms (there were two), then through two giant sliding doors and onto the backyard patio. The place was packed. Clusters of kids and adults mingled around the lawn.
“Cool, huh?” Drew said, pointing to a row of golden torches. “Mom got them shipped here from Samoa or something.”
“Come on!” Aimee said. “You can get those at the home decorating store in downtown Far Hills for five bucks!”
“Really?” Drew said. “Well, they’re cool, anyhow.” He didn’t seem to care where they had come from.
Madison laughed. “Drew, your family has parties like no one else ever in the history of parties, I swear.”
The Maxwell parties included friends, friends of friends, and parents of friends. Each event had its own theme. On this occasion, Mrs. Maxwell’s caterer had assembled a tropical-drinks bar, with smoothies for all age groups. Hawaiian music was piped in, and dozens of torches decorated the edges of the pool and yard.
As they walked around, Fiona and Egg paired off, and Aimee vanished to go find Ben Buckley. Madison wanted to find Hart, but he wasn’t around, so she hung out on the edge of the group with Drew.
“So when’s your dad’s big wedding?” Drew asked. Even though it was summer, all of Madison’s friends found ways to catch the latest gossip. Madison’s upcoming trip to Texas was on everyone’s radar.
“The wedding is this weekend,” Madison said. “But I don’t want to go.”
“How come?” Drew asked.
“Simple,” Madison said. “I don’t want Dad to get married.”
“Yeah,” Drew nodded. “I know what you mean. My stepbrother, Ben, always told me funny stories about how weird it was when my dad got remarried. He hated my mom. The whole stepfamily thing is pretty complicated. But you’ll get used to it. We did.”
“Do you think so?” Madison asked. “Because, right now, the idea of having a stepmother is freaking me out.”
“But isn’t your dad’s girlfriend nice?” Drew asked.
“Yeah,” Madison grumbled. “That’s what makes it so annoying.”
“Parents say they care about our opinions and all that. But they still do what they want,” Drew said simply.
“I know,” Madison said.
“It’ll be cool,” Drew said, patting Madison on the back. He smiled, and Madison felt her stomach do a little flip. She wasn’t sure why. Drew didn’t usually touch Madison on the back—or anywhere. She caught her breath and shook off the feeling. This was Drew, after all, not Hart! And even though the two boys were cousins, Drew was definitely not someone Madison saw herself crushing on.
Never. Ever.
“Who else is here?” Madison asked, trying to change the subject. “I recognize some of the people from the last barbecue.”
Drew grinned. “Yeah, Mom invited the whole planet, of course. There’s someone special I want you to meet.”
Madison grinned. Maybe Drew was about to introduce her to another cute cousin of his? She liked that idea.
“Wait until you see the karaoke setup my parents bought,” Drew said. “We have the system hooked up to the main stereo system, with speakers out here by the pool. It’s got excellent sound. We can do solos, duets, and group numbers.”
