To Have and to Hold (24 page)
Read To Have and to Hold Online
Authors: Laura Dower
Madison had just hit
SAVE
when she heard a knock at her door.
“Who is it?” she called out. The digital clock read nine-thirty. She guessed that maybe it was Tiffany. Madison’s new cousin had promised to come by the room to hang out, since it was their last night together.
“Hello?” Madison called out, limping toward the door. Her ankle was still swollen from her fall. She leaned forward and peeped through the peephole. It was like peering into a teeny fish tank.
Dad and Stephanie stood there, all smiles, arm in arm.
“Maddie!” Dad said. He knocked again. “Open up, sweetie. It’s us.”
Madison quickly opened the door. “What are you guys doing here?” she asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the ranch?”
Stephanie came into the room with her white dress trailing behind her. She kicked off her shoes and threw herself onto the bed.
“We escaped!” Stephanie said.
Madison’s eyes darted from Dad to Stephanie and back to Dad again.
“Um …” Madison broke into a giggle. “Aren’t you going to get in trouble or something?”
“Trouble?” Stephanie gasped. “You mean for leaving our own party?”
Dad laughed. “I’m all partied out, Maddie,” he said.
“I totally agree,” Stephanie said, rolling over onto her side. “And my mother can hunt us down and find us, but I don’t think anyone’s even noticed we left. Besides, we needed to see how you were feeling,” Stephanie said.
“How’s the ankle?” Dad asked.
Madison glanced down at the swelling. “It hurts. But I’ll live.”
“Thank goodness!” Stephanie said. “We were worried about you all night.”
“You were? But it’s your wedding day,” Madison said. “Why were you worried about me?”
Stephanie made a face and sat up on the bed. “What a silly question,” she said. “Now that I’m your stepmother, you have to stop thinking like that. I am going to worry. All the time.”
Madison felt herself blush. It felt strange to have someone besides Mom or Dad or even Gramma Helen say that kind of stuff.
“So, you’ve been on your laptop, I see,” Dad said, looking over at Madison’s computer.
She shot a look at the screen, but luckily her file had faded into a snow-leopard screen saver.
“I was just goofing around on TweenBlurt.com,” Madison said.
“I hope you don’t mind us dropping in on you,” Stephanie said.
Madison shook her head. “Mind? No way. I’m happy. I feel honored.”
Dad let out a belly laugh. “Honored? Oh, honey bear,” he said, giving Madison a real bear hug. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Dad,” Madison said. She felt a surge of emotion inside, as if all her worries from the weekend were washing onto some invisible shore. Everything had changed—but for the better? Dad and Stephanie were married, but they weren’t running anywhere…. except here.
Madison looked over at the table in the room. On top, she spied the collage that she needed to give to Dad and Stephanie. Now was the time.
“Maddie?” Stephanie said. “Your father and I wanted to thank you for all you did to make today truly special.”
Madison shrugged. “You’re welcome.”
Stephanie turned to Dad with a funny nod, so Madison knew something was up.
“Do you want to do this?” Stephanie asked Dad.
He smiled. “No, you do it,” Dad told Stephanie.
Out of her bag, Stephanie pulled out a perfectly wrapped pink box, tied in silver ribbon.
“This is for you,” Stephanie said, handing Madison the box. “For everything you did to make our wedding the best day ever.”
“A present?” she said. “For me?”
Dad beamed. “You deserve it,” he said proudly. “You did such a good job with that reading. We were both very touched.”
Madison looked down at the pink box and then shot a glance back over at her collage on the table.
“Um … before I open your box,” Madison asked. “Can I give you guys
my
present, too?”
“Your present?” Stephanie said, looking very surprised. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, Maddie, you didn’t have to get us anything,” Dad said.
“I didn’t exactly
get
you something,” Madison said. “Well … you’ll see.”
Madison pointed to the table where the collage was.
“Over there,” she said, as Dad turned to look. “Happy Wedding.”
Stephanie looked as if she’d been zapped with a stun gun. Dad froze, too.
“Aw, Maddie …” he started to say as Stephanie opened the outer envelope and they both saw the elaborate cover of the collage. He fell speechless.
Madison watched Stephanie put her head down and read the card from front to back without stopping. When she finally looked up, there were tears in her eyes.
For Dad and Stephanie
Your wedding is a special day
I’m sure you will be feeling good in every way
The sun is shining bright on your faces
Of course there is no one who can take your places
At first I thought this wedding would be weird
And that was just the start of what I feared
I know you’re happy and I’m happy too
But I wondered what would happen with you two
And then I realized you will still be there
You will always listen and you will always care.
I know that sometimes I’m hard for Dad to take
Like when he says, “Maddie, give me a break.”
Plus I have one mom and never had another
I’m not sure I know how to have a stepmother
I want our family to be complete and real
I want you both to know just how I feel.
You take care of me and let me share your life
Dad, I’m so glad you picked Stephanie for your wife
I hope that I will be a good part of the deal
I want you both to know just how I feel.
I wish you the best happy wedding time
Thanks for including me even though I can’t really rhyme.
Love,
Madison
XOXOXOXOXO
S
TEPHANIE BLEW HER NOSE
loudly. She couldn’t stop crying.
“That—is—the—best—wedding—present—ever—” Stephanie gushed.
Dad rubbed his new wife’s back.
“Take a deep breath, Steph,” he said, winking at Madison. “I’m amazed you have any tears left after this week.”
“Me, too,” Madison said awkwardly.
“Oh, Maddie!” Stephanie cried. “I never expected anything! You know that—”
“I know,” Madison said. “But the unexpected things are the best kinds of presents, though, right? That’s what my Gramma says….”
“
You’re
the best present,” Stephanie said, wiping her face. She leaned over to hug Madison and then excused herself and disappeared into the bathroom.
Dad planted a loud smooch on Madison’s cheek. “You’re something else,” he said, shaking his head. “You never cease to amaze me.”
Madison gave Dad a kiss right back. “I really am happy now, Dad,” she admitted. “Happier than happy. Isn’t that funny?”
Stephanie came back out of the bathroom with renewed energy.
“Well,” Stephanie said, clearing her throat. “I know it can’t compare to your beautiful gift, Madison. But please open our special present next?”
Madison looked over at the pink box. She’d nearly forgotten. The wrapping paper was sealed with little gold wafer stickers. Madison knew it was from some fancy shop. She guessed it was jewelry because of its size.
The box inside the paper wrapping was silver. Madison lifted the lid and gasped.
Inside the box was a necklace with a heart-charm locket.
“Look close,” Dad said. “Real close.”
Madison examined the charm and opened the locket. Inside was a teeny photo of Dad, Madison, and Stephanie.
“This is a picture from that trip we took,” Madison said as she peered at the locket. “I remember this. We’re all laughing.”
Dad smiled. “Exactly. Remember when we took it? We were up by Lake Dora.”
Madison turned to Dad and Stephanie, her mouth open in astonishment. “I love it,” she said, her lips quivering a little in surprise at the intensity of her own reaction. She stared back down at the necklace and sighed. “I love you guys so much,” Madison said.
Stephanie and Dad reached out for her at the same time.
It was their first official “family” hug.
After the exchange of gifts, Dad and Stephanie said good night and headed in to the room next door. Even though it was already later than late, and Madison was still laid up, Dad gave her special permission to have Tiffany and a few of the other cousins come up to the hotel room to rent a movie and get room service if they liked. Her new cousins even had permission to crash on the floor for the night.
Since Tiffany and the others took their time getting up to the hotel room, Madison took advantage of the wait to get back online and check her e-mailbox.
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Bigwheels wrote to say that she was worried because Madison hadn’t written in the last twenty-four hours—and she wanted more wedding updates.
Madison shot her a quick e-mail right back.
From: MadFinn
To: Bigwheels
Subject: Re: Whats Going On
Date: Sat 20 July 10:18 PM
Sorry for being outta touch. You won’t believe how this weekend has turned out. I don’t think I even believe it. Dad and Stephanie seem so happy and I am too. At least that’s what I told my dad. I’m still a little freaked, but they’re being so nice to me. Everyone is. And get this. I am about to have my very own slumber party right here in the middle of Texas with girls I thought would never even TALK to me let alone sleep on my floor!
The wedding service was beautiful. I couldn’t stop sweating when I did my reading, but I don’t think anyone noticed. Luckily no one was standing behind me or staring at my armpits. Thanks again for all ur cool advice.
p.s. I got along great with my new cousins Kirk and Tiffany after all. And even though Kirk is like the cutest boy I have ever seen (no exaggeration THE cutest), he is now more than Stephanie’s nephew he’s my cousin so I have decided that is too bizarre to crush on him. What do you think? Besides, I’ve been obsessing about Hart again for some reason. I even had a dream about him last night! He was riding in this carriage and carrying flowers and candles. Don’t ask.
I still have to give you the play by play of everything that happened, but I’ll write more l8r when we fly home tomorrow, ok? Write back 2 me.
Yours till the cup cakes,
Maddie
The next message was from Mom. It was short and sweet.
I miss you. How are you
?
Where are you
?
Madison thought about calling Mom back, but decided that she didn’t want to risk waking her up in the middle of the night for the second or third time that weekend. So she clicked
REPLY
to send an e-mail instead.
From: MadFinn
To: ff_budgefilms
Subject: Re: How was the wedding?
Date: Sat 20 July 10:27 PM
Mom I think ur in bed so I wont call u now. We just this second got back to the hotel and the wedding was GREAT just like you said it would be. (Thanks for calming me down.) Tonite I gave Stephanie and Dad my present and they were totally psyched. I want u 2 know that I miss u and can’t wait to come home 2 u and Phinnie tomorrow.
p.s. I fell tonight and sprained my ankle a little but it is ok now I think. Dad took good care of me. I’ll tell u more l8r.
p.p.s. I love u lots
Madison clicked
SEND
. Her computer beeped. She punched a few different keys. At once, a message appeared.
Madison couldn’t believe her luck. Even though it had to be midnight back in Far Hills, Aimee was online.