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“Harvest,” Madison repeated.

“Oh?” Mom muttered, reading something. “What was that?”

“Forget it,” Madison said for real. “I just wanted to borrow a shirt or something for this festival so I could look—”

“Of course! Just take whatever you want. Except the leather coat or anything else that … Well, just show me first.”

Madison smiled widely. “Really, Mom?”

Mom was still distracted. “Right. Good?”

“Thanks.”

“No thanks needed,” Mom whispered. Then she stopped and tossed the phone onto the bed. “Wait. Maddie. Come here.”

When Mom opened her arms, Madison considered just a normal hug. But that wouldn't cut it. Instead she took a flying leap and landed face-first onto Mom's mattress. The dive and crash sent all the work papers flying. “Ohhhhhh!” Mom squealed. She got a funny look on her face but then grabbed Madison around the middle and squeezed, hard.

“Madison Francesca Finn, I love you
so much
,” Mom said. “I love you to the moon and the stars. I love you in the rain and in the sun. I love you. And I know this has been a dreadful few weeks. Well, a few
years
,
with our divorce and my job and I could go on. And I'm sorry that Phinnie got sick while I was away. I don't mean to leave you on your own, honey bear.”

Even if you do all the time?

“I'm going to pick up these papers,” Madison said in a sweet, apologetic tone. “I'm sorry I made a mess.”

“I'm sorry that I made a mess, too,” Mom said. “That I keep making messes.”

Madison felt her whole body stiffen. Mom was trying to connect.
Finally.

And then something really weird happened. Mom got teary.

First Dad cried in front of Maddie. Now Mom, too? Didn't they know that Maddie was the one that was supposed to cry? Madison had seen Mom cry only when she cut onions and when Gramma Helen got sick. She hadn't even cried much about the Big D. What was going on?

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Madison nearly jumped out of her skin. Mom jumped, too.

“Who could
that
be?” Mom said, wiping away a few tears.

The two of them went over to the window and glanced out. The orange sky was fading into darkness, drifting clouds hovering above the treetops.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight
, Madison thought to herself. She'd heard that somewhere before.

From their perspective, neither Mom nor Madison could see anyone at the front door.

Then the bell rang again.

“Who is it?” Mom bellowed as she and Madison hurried downstairs. “Who
is
it?”

“Maddie!” a voice yelled. “Are you home?”

Mom and Madison looked at each other and quietly giggled. It was Fiona!

“I'm sorry, we're not here right now,” Madison said sarcastically.

Then she twisted the lock and let her BFF inside.

FRIENDSHOP*


So Fiona stopped over because she wanted to help me pick an outfit for the Harvest Fest IN ONE DAY!!!!! She had perfect timing, too. Mom was being a little … well, emotional. I'm not used to that.


Mom loaned me some different shirts, so all's well. I'm torn between this cool, lacey, almost-crop top with purple trim, but it looks a little big. I know it's so cracked to want to look good for a dumb harvest thing, but my friends and I do. I wish I'd gotten my hair cut. This is one of those events where everyone is posting photos, so looking good is SO important.


My secret wish had been to go to the mall for something new and fabulous, but Fiona was a good backup plan and my lucky charm today. We said that we can totally friendshop!


*totally new word invented by me. I think I should create my own dictionary. Okay, maybe when I'm finished learning how to knit and kickbox and build my own skyscraper. Yeah! YOLO!!!


 

Madison hit SAVE. She'd had heart-to-hearts with Mom
and
her BFF tonight, so she was feeling very connected again. She signed on to her email to see if Dan or Eileen had sent any word from the clinic about Phin's condition.

Her inbox was overflowing. At first glance, Madison figured she'd find it crammed with spam. But upon closer inspection, she realized it was filled with messages from nearly everyone she knew.