To Have and to Hold (25 page)
Read To Have and to Hold Online
Authors: Laura Dower
Tell me the TRUTH something is definitely up
Madison held her breath. The truth was out. She didn’t know how to lie anymore about her feelings for Hart—but she couldn’t talk about him, either.
And how was she supposed to feel about Aimee’s news that Hart was asking about
her
?
Madison’s fingers stroked the keys absently. She didn’t know what else to say. Lie or deny? Ultimately, Madison did what she did best.
She ran away.
As soon as Madison clicked offline, there was a knock at her door. Tiffany arrived with her two cousins Rebecca and Lynne.
“Sorry we took so long!” Tiffany said as Madison opened the door. “My mother wanted to give me a million rules about what I could and couldn’t do, and finally she just let us go.”
“Hi,” Rebecca and Lynne said at the same time.
Tiffany did the rest of the talking.
“These are your cousins, too, but I’m first and they’re second cousins. Something like that, I think. Anyway, what are we doing just standing here? We have to order ice cream from room service and we have to watch a movie. We can watch an
R
movie, too, because our parents are not here. This is so great.”
Madison smiled. “Thanks for coming. It’s nice to have the company.”
Tiffany smiled right back. “As far as I’m concerned, getting to know you is the best part of the whole wedding. Kirk said the same thing.”
“Really?” Madison asked.
“Of course! Our family is always the same people, over and over,” Tiffany explained. “You are so much more fun.”
Madison didn’t think that she was any fun at all, especially considering the fact that she had been lame (for real!) during most of the wedding reception. She hobbled over to the bed to clear off some of her things.
Tiffany, of course, didn’t need an invitation to sit down. She went right over and leaped onto the bed. Rebecca and Lynne followed her.
“Okay! What should we order from room service?” Tiffany asked as she opened up one of the gold-colored menus. “I’m not hungry, but we have to order something.”
Madison collapsed into the chair by the table and shrugged. “Order whatever you want. My dad says it’s his treat,” she said.
As Tiffany, Rebecca, and Lynne read the room service menu from cover to cover, Madison started thinking about Hart again.
Was
real
love waiting for Madison back home in Far Hills?
So Long, Texas
So we’re on the plane now. Going home at last. And my ankle is feeling way better, too. My foot actually fit into my sandal this morning.
Dad, Stephanie, Uncle Rick, Aunt Violet, and I went to this HUGE breakfast back at Wolfe Ranch this morning with eggs and steak and way too much food for the amount of people there. After that we said good-bye and Mrs. Wolfe drove us all to the Houston airport in this minivan. After everything that happened this weekend I thought Stephanie would act weird toward her mom, but she didn’t. She was bawling her eyes out in the car like she was SAD to go. Mrs. Wolfe was acting sad, too.
Is that how it works with parents? They make you crazy and then you love them more?
Rude Awakening:I hope that life isn’t one big joke because I sometimes I just don’t get it.
Dad says they decided not to take a big honeymoon right away because Stephanie has some work deal. They are going to Paris or someplace super romantic eventually. Maybe in the fall, Dad says. After the wedding, I feel like they’re the celebrities of the weekend or something. But I’m the luckiest because I get them all to myself today.
Kirk and Tiffany were nicer than nice to me this morning. Kirk asked me to write and Tiff (she said I should call her that from now on) gave me her e-mail even though she claims she has no idea how to use a computer and made me promise I would write. She gave me her cell phone number too, just in case. I can’t believe she has her own cell phone and her own line in her bedroom, too. Mom would never let me have that. Would she?
I am so glad to have new cousins like them. I guess I was a little harsh when I first met them but whatever. I wonder what they really thought of me?
The best news of going home OF COURSE is that I get to see Fiona for the first time since everything happened w/her dad. I was really worried for a while. I just can’t help but think what if something worse had happened? What would Fiona do? Gramma Helen always says it’s better not to worry about things you can’t control. I guess she’s right. I have to stop worrying about stuff so much.
“The plane is starting its descent,” Dad said, reaching over Stephanie to tap Madison on the knee.
Madison jumped, startled. She’d been so busy writing on her laptop for a good part of the flight that she’d practically forgotten where she was.
“We’re already home?” Madison asked. She glanced out the airplane window and saw land.
“Almost,” Dad said. “We have about a half hour more, I think.”
Stephanie leaned over Madison’s shoulder. “I think we’re over Maryland or Pennsylvania somewhere,” she said. “Look at all of those farms.”
Madison glanced out the window for farms, but all she saw were houses after houses in developments that speckled the landscape. It was hard to believe that so many people lived all crammed in together down there. Madison wondered what her Far Hills neighborhood looked like from the sky.
“Can I see your ring again?” Madison asked Stephanie, who held it out proudly.
The diamonds on Stephanie’s wedding band glimmered in the dull light inside the plane. Madison was impressed that Dad had selected the band all by himself. He said Stephanie had given him some hints, so he had known what to buy, but Madison knew he was just being nice and giving her the credit.
The more time she spent with the two of them, Madison saw how happy and perfectly they fit together. Maybe better than Dad and Mom had ever fit? It was a strange thing to consider.
“I’m glad we’re all flying home together,” Dad said as the plane banked to the left. Madison felt her body shift toward the window. The
FASTEN SEAT BELTS
sign went on.
“We’re flying home together like a real family,” Stephanie said, quickly adding, “Your
second
family, of course.”
Madison smiled. Maybe Stephanie wasn’t trying to take Mom’s place. Maybe she was just trying to be nice.
The plane landed, and everyone on board applauded, including Madison. They exited the plane and headed straight for the baggage-claim area.
When Madison spotted the luggage already spinning around on the carousel in the baggage claim area, she let out a chant: “No more lost bags! No more lost bags!”
She spotted her checkered suitcase as soon as it appeared on the conveyor belt.
“Dad!” Madison cried, pointing to the bag.
He laughed and helped her lift the suitcase onto a cart. After a few minutes, Stephanie’s and Dad’s suitcases also appeared. Madison and her dad and Stephanie headed for the exit. As they emerged from the building, Madison saw a sign that read
FINN.
A gentleman in a suit stood in front of a black, stretch limousine.
“What’s this?” Stephanie asked when she saw the sign.
Dad grinned. “A surprise.”
“A limo!” Madison shouted. She ran to the door and looked through the car window. “There’s a T.V. inside. Wow! Dad, this is awesome.”
The three climbed into the back while the limousine driver placed their luggage into the trunk.
“First stop, Blueberry Street!” Madison joked. She sat back in a leather comfy seat facing Dad and Stephanie.
“This is very sweet, Jeff,” Stephanie said grinning. “Really.”
“Sweets for
my
two sweets,” Dad joked, kissing Stephanie on the forehead and blowing a kiss in Madison’s direction.
“Oh, gag me, Dad,” Madison said, pinching her nose. “I thought that getting married would make you
less
sappy.”
“Not likely,” Dad said with a shrug.
The limo pulled out of the airport and headed for downtown Far Hills. There was a lot of traffic, so some roads were slow going, but eventually the new family made its way to Madison’s and Mom’s house.
“Look who’s waiting for you,” Dad said as they pulled up into the driveway.
“Phinnie!” Madison shouted. “And Aimee and Blossom!”
It was like a Welcome Home committee.
“Maddie,” Stephanie said, grabbing Madison’s wrist before Madison could get out of the limo. “Thanks again—for everything….”
“You’re welcome,” Madison said.
But Stephanie still didn’t let go of her. In fact, she squeezed harder. “I just want you to know, Maddie, that I will treasure that collage and poem forever. I know how much you mean to your dad and …”
“Stephanie,” Madison said. “You’re going to cry again, aren’t you?”
Dad let out a little laugh. “She’s got your number, Steph,” he said.
Stephanie held back her sniffles. “I guess so,” she said with a smile. “Go on and get out of the car!”
Madison wasn’t quite sure how to say good-bye to her new stepmother, so she just threw herself forward and landed a kiss on Stephanie’s cheek.
“See you later,” Madison mumbled. She fingered the charm necklace that she’d worn all the way from Texas. “Thanks for this, too.”
“Let me help the driver get your bags,” Dad said, hopping out of the car.
Madison slung her orange bag over one shoulder and slid out of the car. She hurried up the walkway to the house with her arms open wide.
“Phinnie!” Madison shouted. The pug raced down the walkway toward her and began to paw Madison’s shins, panting wildly.
“Oh, my goodness, I am soooo glad you’re home!” Aimee called out, racing down the path herself, with Blossom in tow.
“Rowwrrroroooooo!” both dogs howled in stereo.
Dad took the suitcase up to the house. Mom was standing in the doorway. Madison saw them exchange a few words. Mom stood at the screen door and waved to the limousine.
At first, Madison thought Mom was waving at
her
, but then she realized that the wave meant for Stephanie.
“Congratulations,” Mom cried.
Stephanie poked her head out of the limousine window. “Thanks, Fran,” she said.
Dad and Mom were both smiling, so Madison knew everything was okay—at least as okay as it would ever be. The two of them weren’t ever going to be reuniting. That was that.
Madison dropped her orange bag and bent down to cuddle Phinnie in her arms. “Oh, I missed you so much,” she cooed in his ear. “My Phinnie!”