“I HAVEN’T BEEN ON the subway in so long,” Madison announced. Her friends didn’t hear her. They were busy pushing their way through the turnstiles.
Down a tiled corridor, the train was just pulling in with a whoosh of cold underground air.
“Let’s dash!” Aunt Mimi called out as she ran for the train.
The girls scrambled into the subway car. Fiona almost lost her purse, but Aimee grabbed it in the nick of time. Getting used to the pace of the city was tricky. People crowded in around them.
Madison and Lindsay sat down in two free seats near one of the doors. Aimee, Fiona, and Aunt Mimi checked out the illuminated subway map overhead.
“What do you think so far?” Lindsay asked.
“Your aunt is amazing,” Madison said.
Lindsay nodded. “I know. But I don’t know how she and my mom could possibly be sisters.”
“Your mom is nice, too,” Madison said.
“Yeah, but she isn’t cool. Not like Aunt Mimi.”
“Are any moms truly cool?” Madison asked with a laugh.
“Your mom is,” Lindsay answered. “She makes movies. She travels all over the world.”
“But she doesn’t wear fur hats or capes,” Madison said.
From across the subway car, Aunt Mimi shot the girls a look. “Are you two conspiring?”
Lindsay laughed. “Of course.”
The subway doors finally closed, and the train headed uptown. At one stop, some people speaking Spanish got off, and Aimee and Fiona slid into their seats, across from Madison and Lindsay. Aunt Mimi stood between the girls, hanging onto the silver bars as the train chugged along, as if she were balancing on an exercise machine. With her high heels, Aunt Mimi towered over them all.
They arrived at their station and scooted up the escalator to the street level. Aunt Mimi wanted to walk the rest of the way to her apartment. It was only a few more blocks uptown.
When the girls exited the subway station, traffic was at a standstill. Yellow cabs honked loudly. A bus exhaled gritty exhaust in front of them. Aunt Mimi coughed.
“How lovely,” Aunt Mimi sputtered. “Welcome to New York.”
They crossed the street and strolled past a clothing store with a flashy CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH ARE COMING! sign; a restaurant advertising special prix fixe menus and little tables set with candles; and several shops selling T-shirts and newspapers out in front. It was a metropolitan obstacle course, with Aunt Mimi leading the way. Madison, Aimee, Fiona, and Lindsay clung to their bags and moved in a pack so they would not get separated.
“I love the city,” Aimee declared as they passed one store. “Look at this!”
The store window displayed a ballerina dressed in tulle. Of all the stores in New York, Aimee had found the one with ballet clothes. Aunt Mimi suggested that they go inside the store for a look.
Aunt Mimi and Aimee headed for a sale rack. Fiona followed them, leaving Madison and Lindsay to guard the luggage at the front of the store.
“So, when’s your mom coming?” Madison asked Lindsay.
Lindsay shrugged. “Later, I guess. She said she would call. I don’t know about my dad, though. He hasn’t called me back yet today.”
“But he’s coming, right?” Madison asked.
“I don’t know,” Lindsay said. “I hope.”
Madison knew how hard things had been for Lindsay lately. Everyone knew the basics: Lindsay’s parents were in the process of splitting up. But that was all anyone knew. Lindsay hardly ever mentioned her family problems, not even when she was confiding in Madison via e-mail or near the lockers at school.
Aimee decided to buy a pink leotard with flowers around the neck, because it was on sale.
“You girls have been here for five minutes, and you’re already shopping!” Aunt Mimi laughed. “What do you say we head for home now?”
Four blocks later, they arrived at Aunt Mimi’s apartment building. It had metal, mirrored windows and a gigantic lobby filled with abstract art and a fountain made of colored glass.
“ ’Evening, Miss Frost,” the doorman said, tipping his hat. He stood behind an enormous marble desk surrounded by video monitors and buttons. “How are you tonight?”
“I’m fabulous, George. I’ve got my niece and her friends for the weekend.”
George grinned. “Can I take your bags up?”
Aunt Mimi waved him off. “We’ve lugged them for blocks,” she said. “We can make the elevator. Thank you.”
George tipped his hat again. “Ladies…” he said as Lindsay and her friends passed by. Aunt Mimi led everyone to the bank of elevators. Once inside the wood-paneled elevator car, she pulled out a small key and pushed it into the control panel.
“What was that?” Aimee asked aloud.
“She has a special key for her floor,” Lindsay explained.
“She has a whole floor?” Madison asked.
“Indeed I do,” Aunt Mimi said.
“Wow,” Fiona said. “That’s a lot of rooms.”
“She has one room just for clothes,” Lindsay whispered. “And it’s bigger than my bedroom at home.”
“It is not!” Aunt Mimi let out a laugh. “Lindsay, it’s just a closet. And you kids are welcome to try on anything and borrow anything this weekend, by the way. My home is your home.”
Madison, Aimee, and Fiona giggled as the elevator climbed all the way up, to the penthouse level, finally opening onto a wide hallway with mosaic tiles on the floor. They saw a giant wooden door with a knocker carved like a lion’s head.
Aunt Mimi punched a few keys on the automatic-alarm keypad and turned the front doorknob.
The girls gasped. It was like a movie set inside.
Everyone froze in their steps, but Lindsay ran inside without making a big fuss. “Don’t just stand there. Come on, everyone,” she said.
The ceilings were at least twenty feet high, Madison thought as they wandered inside and placed their stuff along one wall.
Aunt Mimi flung her cape onto one of the four sofas in the living room. Or was it the living room? Madison could see out of the corner of her eye that there were at least four or five other rooms connected to this one—and they all looked like living rooms.
“Make yourselves comfy,” Aunt Mimi said.
Just outside the apartment, the sun was setting, and the room was filled with a golden-orange light. Madison, Aimee, Fiona, and Lindsay each collapsed onto her own sofa. Aunt Mimi handed Aimee a cell phone so that she—and the other girls—could call home to let their mothers know they had arrived safely.
Lindsay had to call her mom, too. She paced around the room as they talked for about five minutes. She seemed fine when she was talking, but as soon as she got off the phone her face turned blank.
“What’s the matter?” Fiona asked.
“Lindsay, are you okay?” Aimee asked.
“Everything is fine, which means everything is not fine,” Lindsay remarked. “It’s the same as usual.”
Her eyes filled up. A tear trickled down one cheek.
“Lindsay, don’t cry,” Madison said.
Aunt Mimi put an arm around Lindsay’s shoulder. “My darling Lindsay, things always have a way of working out.”
“That’s what everyone says,” Lindsay cried. “Um…”
She ran into the other room.
For a moment, no one said a word. Then Aunt Mimi excused herself and followed Lindsay into one of the rooms in the back. As soon as the two had disappeared, Madison, Aimee, and Fiona began to whisper.
“What do you think is wrong?” Fiona asked.
“You know,” Aimee said.
“I’m worried,” Madison said.
“Can you believe this apartment?” Aimee said suddenly. “It’s more like a castle.”
“You could fit our whole house inside here,” Fiona said.
“I hope she’s okay,” Madison said with concern.
“I think Lindsay is just worked up because this is a big weekend,” Aimee said matter-of-factly. “And she misses her mom and dad, but they’ll be here. No worries.”
Madison gave Aimee a funny look.
“Plus, it’s a really big deal to turn thirteen,” Fiona said.
Madison shook her head. What were they talking about? Didn’t they understand anything?
Madison understood. She knew exactly why Lindsay was upset, or at least she thought she did.
Just then, Aunt Mimi reappeared at a side door, with Lindsay in tow.
“Sorry, guys,” Lindsay said. “I just lost it for a minute. My mom said she would be late tomorrow, and I really wanted her to come shopping with us. That’s all. I didn’t mean to get so freaked.”
“I’m glad you feel better,” Fiona said.
Aunt Mimi threw her arms into the air. “Why don’t you four come into the kitchen? I’ve prepared a sleepover feast—and you are invited.”
Lindsay laughed with relief. “Aunt Mimi is an awesome cook,” she said. “She made four-cheese macaroni and grilled chicken kebabs and salad and all my favorites.”
“Yum,” Fiona said, rubbing her belly for effect. Of course Fiona would find those foods appealing. She would eat anything, except bananas and most fruit.
The girls entered the kitchen and immediately began to pick at the assortment of food on the countertop.
“Thanks for making a vegetarian-friendly dinner,” Aimee said.
“Sometimes I feel like a rabbit, I love salad so much,” Lindsay said. “And Aunt Mimi makes the best rice-vinegar dressing.” She reached into the salad bowl, then popped a carrot stick into her mouth.
“Aunt Mimi, is there anything you can’t do?” Madison asked.
“Well, I can’t be thirteen again,” Aunt Mimi said sweetly. “You four have everything ahead of you…everything to look forward to.”
“I guess,” Aimee said, grabbing a tortilla chip from a large ceramic bowl.
“This is the best birthday ever,” Fiona said. “And it hasn’t even really started yet.”
Lindsay perched on a kitchen stool and spun around. “Thanks for being here,” she said to everyone in the room. “I promise I won’t freak again.”
“Tut-tut!” Aunt Mimi said with a few claps of her hands. “We have a feast to consume. Let’s eat.”
Aunt Mimi brought all of the dishes over to a large, wooden table that was set with giant plates, cups, and a tall vase filled with orange lilies. Madison smiled because, of course, the flowers were her favorite color.
Through one of the windows facing south, the lights of New York City’s skyline twinkled under a now-black sky. Clouds crowded in around the tops of buildings. Madison paused briefly to take it all in. Then she scooped a bit of warm macaroni and cheese into her mouth.
After dinner, Aunt Mimi showed everyone in to the back bedrooms. She’d set up two guest rooms with a pair of twin beds in each. The rooms shared a bathroom in the middle, so no one would be very far. Aimee and Fiona decided to bunk together in one room, and Madison and Lindsay took the other room. Aunt Mimi’s taste was evident everywhere, from the textured wallpaper to the quilts on the beds to the painted furniture. The girls loved it.
“I wish I had a room like this,” Fiona said.
Lindsay threw herself on top of one of the beds. “Aunt Mimi redecorates every three months or so. If you came back in the summer, this whole room would be different.”
“Really?” Madison asked.
Lindsay nodded.
“Do you think Aunt Mimi is as rich as Drew’s family?” Aimee asked.
“Aim, how can you ask something like that?” Madison cried.
“I don’t know,” Aimee cracked. “Because I was wondering.”
“I think Drew’s family is probably a lot richer,” Lindsay said. “They have three houses, don’t they? Aunt Mimi just has this one apartment. She stays in hotels whenever she goes other places.”
Madison’s head whirled with all the talk. She wasn’t sure if that was from being overwhelmed—or from being overtired.
When she yawned, the other girls yawned, too.
“I can’t wait until tomorrow,” Fiona said excitedly, stifling another yawn.
“Yes! I want to shop so much more. Aunt Mimi told me she’s taking us to this special place for lunch, and we’re going to the museum, too,” Aimee said.
“I’m glad you’re having fun,” Lindsay said.
“We are!” Aimee and Fiona said in unison. They headed for their rooms.
Madison followed Lindsay through the shared bathroom into the bedroom where they were planning to sleep.
Lindsay belly-flopped onto her bed.
“Lindsay, what’s with you?” Madison asked. “It’s your special birthday and ever since you talked to your mom, you’ve been bummed.”
“I don’t know,” Lindsay said. “I guess I am a little bit sad. Just don’t tell the others, okay? I don’t want to ruin things.”
“Um…I think they know that you’re upset,” Madison said.
“I just don’t like getting emotional like that. It’s dumb. I don’t want to be the party pooper.”
“But it’s your party!” Madison said.
“Forget about it, Maddie. It’s no biggie. I swear. I will be fine.”
“What’s really the matter, Lindsay?” Madison asked. “Just tell me what’s going on. Isn’t that what friends are for?”
“You won’t understand,” Lindsay said.
“Why not?” Madison asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe you will.” Lindsay’s voice dropped to a low, low whisper. “It’s not my mom. It’s my dad. He was supposed to call me tonight. It’s after ten o’clock and he hasn’t called. And he won’t call now. I know it.”
“Why don’t you call him?” Madison asked.
“I already did, this morning—twice. I texted him twice, too.”
“Oh,” Madison said.
“Of course he will call. Eventually.”
“Of course he will,” Madison said.
The room got very quiet. Off in the distance, they could hear the sound of voices singing high notes. Lindsay said Aunt Mimi always listened to opera late at night.
Lindsay pulled on her pajamas and crawled under the blanket. Madison put on her pj’s, too. But instead of getting into bed, she opened her orange bag and yanked out her laptop.
“Would it be okay if I checked my e-mail before we got to sleep?” Madison asked.
“Sure,” Lindsay said. “Whatever.” She rolled over and pressed her cheek into the soft pillow.
Madison booted up her laptop. She opened her e-mailbox. There were two e-mails. The first was from her dad.
From: JeffFinn
To: MadFinn
Subject: Miss You Already
Date: Fri 11 Dec 5:31 PM
It’s Friday & I miss u alredy, Honey (and Phin, too). I will miss our regular Sat. dinner tomorrow but I know ur having a blast with the girls. Have a piece of choc. cake 4 me, ok? Talk 2 u soon.
Love,
Dad
p.s.: What happens when ducks fly upside down? Send me an e-mail and tell me!
She smiled at Dad’s typically bad riddle. The answer (of course) was that ducks quack up. As usual, Dad was telling a riddle he’d already told before.
Madison skipped to the next name on the list. Her jaw dropped. Why was public enemy number one sending Madison an e-mail?
From: Flowr99
To: MadFinn
Subject: Yr science notebk
Date: Fri 11 Dec 6:06 PM
I tried 2 call your hous but yr mom says ur away this weekend. I think after class today u took my science notebook. Dunno if you did it on purpose or by mistake but either way I need it back NOW.
Madison burst out laughing.
“What is it?” Lindsay asked groggily. She lifted her head from the pillow and turned toward Madison.
“Ivy Daly,” Madison snickered. “She e-mailed me.
Lindsay shot up in bed. Apparently, the one thing that could cure Lindsay of her blahs was good gossip. An e-mail from Ivy qualified.
“Typical,” Lindsay said after she read the e-mail aloud.
“I think it’s funny,” Madison said. “Maybe because I’m here in this incredible place and she’s stressing out back home.”
“Do you have the notebook?” Lindsay asked.
Madison shook her head. “Not with me. It could be in my locker, but I doubt it. She probably left it in the bathroom or something.”
Lindsay and Madison laughed together.
“I bet there’s juicy gossip inside that book,” Lindsay said.
Madison scratched her head thoughtfully. “I wonder. But I guess even Ivy’s allowed to have a secret journal.”
Lindsay fell back onto her pillow, eyes open wide. She stared at the ceiling.
“I can’t sleep,” Lindsay said.
“It’s my fault. I woke you up,” Madison said. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I was awake,” Lindsay said. “Look, Maddie, I’m sorry for not talking before. I just don’t know what to say—or feel—anymore.”
“You mean about your parents?” Madison asked.
Lindsay nodded.
“I do understand a little,” Madison said. “Don’t forget that my parents went through the Big D, too, just last year.”
“The Big D?” Lindsay asked. “Oh. Divorce.”
“I know it’s so rough. Especially when they fight, right?”
“I wish mine would fight,” Lindsay said. “Instead, they hardly ever speak to each other.”
“Really?” Madison said.
“Can I tell you a secret?”
Madison nodded silently. Lindsay took a deep breath.
“My dad moved out a few weeks ago,” Lindsay said. She paused. In the half-darkness of the bedroom, her eyes locked on to Madison’s. “Please don’t tell.”
“Tell who?”
“Anyone. Everyone. I don’t like to talk about it.”
“So is that why your dad hasn’t called?” Madison asked.
“Yes,” Lindsay let out a tiny gasp and then started to cry. “I think he’s angry. My mom kicked him out. She yells all the time.”
“Ugh,” Madison said. “I know what that’s like.”
“You do?” Lindsay started to cry a little harder.
“I do,” Madison said softly.
“He hates me,” Lindsay said.
“No, he doesn’t,” Madison replied.
“He does,” Lindsay repeated. She pushed her face down into the pillow to muffle her crying. “I just don’t…want…the others…to see me like this…”
“Lindsay?” Madison hopped out of bed and went over to her friend.
Lindsay sat up a little.
“Please don’t worry,” Madison said. “We’ll make sure this is your best birthday ever.”
“Oh, Maddie, I don’t care about my stupid birthday.” Lindsay choked back her tears.
Madison gave her a hug and promised never to let go.