To Have and to Hold (14 page)

“You know. The usual,” Kirk said.

Madison swooned when Kirk smiled. What was she thinking? This guy was
definitely
cuter than Hart.

“Well, be good,” Stephanie cautioned him. “This is my wedding, after all.”

“Whatever you say, Aunt Steph,” Kirk said.

“Oh, you’re trouble!” Stephanie said. “Madison, keep an eye on him for me, will you?”

Madison felt a major blush coming on, although Kirk didn’t seem to notice—or care.

“Hey, let’s get some grub and sit with Tiff,” he suggested.

They got their plates of food and moved to sit near the rest of the cousins. Madison would have preferred a quiet table for two, but this would have to do instead.

Throughout the breakfast, everyone chatted about people and places Madison had never heard about. She was definitely the out-of-towner in this crowd. Tiff smiled a few times, but other than that she was absolutely Ivy-ish, acting as though she knew everything and talking more than everyone else.

Unfortunately, Madison was stuck with Tiff and her crew. And after the meal, Dad needed to go with “the boys” to a local shop, where his rented tuxedo was being held for him. He and Madison would be separated once again.

Dad already owned a tux, but it had been worn once before—at his first wedding. So wearing it to wedding number two had not seemed to him like a very good idea. Dad was as superstitious as Madison was.

So, while Dad went off to Mostly Formals, Madison was thrown to the Wolfes for the afternoon. Once again she got stuck with Stephanie’s sister Wanda, who wanted to go shopping in Bellville. This time, Wanda was accompanied by a cousin of hers named Marly, a soft-spoken woman with glasses who talked barely above a whisper.

Madison thought about shopping for hours with total strangers. That didn’t sound very fun.

Maybe Wanda wouldn’t have to shop? Madison had some lucky things in her favor.

Lucky thing number one: Wanda’s daughter, Tiffany, would
not
be joining them. Instead of shopping, Tiff was headed back to the ranch with her grandmother to help decorate. Madison had not been asked back to the ranch. She wasn’t, of course, offended. Right now, the last place she wanted to be was stuck in a room decorating the walls with crepe paper, in the company of Miss Texas Poison Ivy.

Lucky thing number two: Wanda’s shopping route took her right past the Bellville Villas. That route gave Madison a brilliant escape-from-the-shopping-trip idea. She would politely ask to be dropped off at her hotel room so she could wait there until Wanda and Marly finished their shopping. That way, Madison could check her e-mail, work on her wedding collage, and avoid Wanda at all costs. To make the plan sound
really
good, Madison embellished it with a few white lies.

“Um … Wanda … I’m feeling kind of tired…. Well, actually, I have a stomachache…. Well, actually, it’s more like a headache….”

“You’re sick?” Wanda exclaimed. “Good Lord. Let me feel your forehead.”

“Gee,” Madison said, extending her lie. “Since we’re so close to the hotel, do you think maybe I could stop in and take a nap while you shop?”

“Stop?” Wanda asked. She didn’t warm up to the idea right away. “Hmph. I just don’t know. I feel funny leaving you alone….”

“Oh, Wanda, I’m sure Madison can take care of herself,” Marly chimed in. “And she should rest if she doesn’t feel well. Today’s a big day.”

Madison nodded at Marly, feeling a momentary bond, but Wanda still seemed concerned.

“I just don’t know, Madison. Your daddy might not like this,” she said. “You promise me you’ll stay there till we come back, right?”

“Of course, I will!” Madison said. “I’m just going right up to the room to lie down….”

“Wanda, let her go,” Marly said softly.

“Well, shoot,” Wanda said with a wink. “I guess I don’t need to be worried. You’re a big girl, aren’t you?”

Madison grinned. Finally,
someone
thought so.

“Let’s just walk you up there,” Wanda said as she parked the car. She entered the lobby with Madison and boarded the elevator for the third floor.

Madison promised to lock the door and not open it up for anyone.

“We’ll see you in a flash,” Wanda promised. “I’ll call when we’re heading back, ’kay?”

Madison nodded and closed the door behind Wanda.

“Success!” she thought as she jumped onto the bed. The hotel room was cool, and Madison pulled a blanket over her. She glanced over at the phone to see if maybe someone had called, but there was no blinking light. No messages.

Madison pulled the green leather book of love poems on to her lap and opened it to the page of her special sonnet. It was time to practice for real! The rehearsal was only hours away.

Madison read through the sonnet once, twice, four times. How could she have waited so long to practice? After her sixth read-through, Madison felt comfortable with it. She could do this, she told herself. It wasn’t as if she had to memorize it. That would have been a disaster.

After setting the book aside, Madison had plenty of time left before Wanda and Marly returned. So she powered up her laptop. Online, Madison discovered a message, sent very early that morning, from Aimee. It had been marked with a red exclamation point, meaning “urgent.” Aimee never added exclamation points.

Madison clicked on it immediately.

From: Balletgrl


To: MadFinn


Subject: Fiona’s Dad


Date: Fri 19 July 9:03 AM


Oh Maddie I left a message @ ur house this morning, b/c the worst thing ever happened late last nite--and I couldn’t get ur mom on the phone. Fiona’s Dad had a major heart attack. I guess he tried to lift something and had this mega-attack. It was all so sudden. Everyone in Far Hills is talking about it. And everyone is soooooo worried about him. He’s in the part of the hospital called ICU I think that’s intense care unit.


Of course, Fiona is very sad. I only talked 2 her for a minute this morning from the hospital b/c she called me 2 tell me what happened. She was crying so hard. I felt awful. Fiona and her dad r sooooo close.


I really wanted to tell u right away b/c I know u would want to call her yourself and all that. What are you supposed to say when this happens? I think (I hope) he will be ok but I dunno. It seems dumb to say “don’t worry” when OF COURSE Fiona should worry. What do you think, Maddie?


I miss you more than n e thing and I really, really wish u could be here RTVM! Then we could go cheer up Fiona
together
like real BFFs. Write back or even call me @ home, ok? This is the worst day ever seeing my friend so sad.


Love ya, Aim


Madison stared at the screen. She reread Aimee’s words. And then she started to cry.

A
S SOON AS SHE’D
read the news, Madison tried calling Fiona on the hotel phone, but she was able to reach only the Waterses’ answering machine. Madison guessed that everyone must have been at Far Hills Hospital. She tried calling Aimee, too, but no one was home there, either. Even Madison’s own mom was out.

So there she sat, Madison Francesca Finn, stranded in a chilly hotel room in the middle of Texas, separated from her neurotic dad, who was getting married to someone Madison wasn’t even sure she liked anymore, and worrying about her BFF, whose dad had just had a heart attack.

It was hard not to keep on crying.

As a last resort, to talk to
someone
, Madison went online again.

Surprise
!

Madison couldn’t believe it. Fiona was online—right now! How was that possible?

She messaged her BFF.

: What r u doing online????


: Maddie! I was just thinking of u


: are u @ home?


: no @ the hospital


: aim told me everything I think it’s so awful OH FIONA


: Dad was in emergency surgery b4 but he’s in recovery now and we’re all waiting 2 talk 2 the doc so mom told me I should keep busy. That’s y im on the computer since this hospital has a library they let some people use the terminals with special permission


: r u ok?


: not really I dunno I was there when it happened Daddy was in the kitchen and dropped a stack of plates from the dishwasher and then he just fell to the floor Chet called 911 and my mom was in the other room she ran in it happened fast


: that’s awful


: I thought the worst, you know?


: oh fiona


: I mean he’s ok now (I hope) but this has been such a strange week none of us thought he would be the one to have a heart attack that sounds so scary doesn’t it?


: I wish I could be there w/u


: me 2 I could use one of ur hugs


: <:>)


All at once, Madison and Fiona’s conversation online was interrupted by another message.

Aimee
!

: OMG r u really both online????


The three friends agreed to meet in a private chat room called
FRNDLY.

: I knew you’d be online fiona b/c we said we’d talk l8r but maddie it is sooooo awesome that u r 2


: yeah


: how’s ur Dad, Fiona??


: I was just tellin maddie that he’s better I think mom is checking him out in a while and she told Chet to go home and sleep we’re all pretty tired so he went back to the house with my Gramps


: ur whole family is there?


: pretty much so. everyone is supportive but nothing like friends right?


: I’m sorry I’m not there!!


: being online is practically as good as being next door, right?


: so ur Dad is in intensive care right now?


: yes but can we talk about something else?


: I’m sorry


: no dnt be I just feel weird I wanna stop thinking about him can u talk about something else please Maddie, tell us about Texas


: OH don’t ask me!


: Y not?


: for 1 thing right now I’m ALONE in my hotel and my dad is off getting a tuxedo and I’m supposed 2 go 2 this TEA PARTY later gack!!!


: a tea party?


: WAYTA?


: they have all these fancy parties and there’s this girl here who reminds me of Ivy oh she is sooooo fake


: Maybe it’s Ivy in disguise sent to torture you


: VVF


: are there a lotta wedding guests?


: a bazillion and they are all from Texas I feel like such an outsider


: bummer


: n e cute guys??? HA


: well


: fess up


: there is one, sorta


: no way!!!


: yeah way, his name is Kirk and he’s 14 actually ;-o


: kirk sounds like a QT


: what does he look like


: brownish blond hair and tall he dresses really cool and he talks with this cute accent


: maybe u can fall in love there


: YR--he’s my cousin-to-be so how r the guys @ home?


: this morning everyone came over and brought flowers for mom, me & chet, isn’t that the sweetest


: OMG drew has this suntan and he looks soooo happy now that he’s with that girl Elaine I never thought he was cute b4 but I have changed my mind big time


: really? drew is actually going OUT w/someone?


: that’s not true Aim, he’s not dating her


: well it’s close enough and like I said he looks more like a hottie now unlike b4


: he isn’t THAT cute and besides egg is cuter


: what-EVER


: how about Hart?


: he’s the same I guess


: who is he hanging with?


: y do u care, maddie?


: do u like him or something?


: yeah remember u were checking hart out @ the bookstore the other day I knew it


Madison’s fingers froze on the keyboard. She couldn’t let her friends figure out that she really
did
have a crush on Hart! She had to make something up—fast.

Angry denial was too obvious. Madison went for a distraction tactic instead.

: wait--did I tell u that this guy Kirk in Texas asked me to dance w/him at the wedding?


Madison couldn’t believe the speed of her lie. She swallowed hard and hoped that Fiona and Aimee would stop asking questions about Hart.

: dance? get out!!! That is so great!


: u HAVE to take a pic so we can see


Madison breathed a sigh of relief.

She talked more about the Texas heat….

She listed the special events that had been planned for the wedding….

She updated her friends on the so-so progress of the wedding collage….

But all of a sudden, Fiona interrupted with the news that she had to get offline immediately. She needed to go and meet with her family. The doctors were coming back with news about her dad.

Madison stopped chatting. Talk of boys suddenly seemed unimportant, compared to the serious issues that Fiona was dealing with.