Gabe and Amy pick Maddie up at Linda’s house, promising to have her home no later than eight. She buckles herself in and crosses her arms, smiling. “What’re you smiling at?” Gabe asks.
“I called it,” she says.
Amy cocks her head. “Called what?”
“This,” Maddie says, sweeping her arms out in front of her. “You two. Together. I called it.”
Amy and Gabe laugh together and Amy reaches back to squeeze Maddie’s leg.
“You did call it,” Gabe says.
“And you’re not blowing it, right?”
Gabe looks at Amy. “I don’t know. Am I?”
Amy grins at Maddie. “I’m happy to report that he’s not blowing it.”
“Thanks to me,” Maddie says, crossing her arms again. “So, where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” Gabe says, backing out of the driveway.
After they’ve driven several minutes and the sign for Carmine’s comes into view, Maddie squeals in delight. “My favorite!”
“My favorite too,” Amy says.
Ralph, the owner of Carmine’s and a man probably around fifty-two or so with a slight build and receding hairline, leads them to a table and places menus in front of each of them. “The special today is Mama’s Favorite.”
“And what is Mama’s Favorite?” Gabe asks.
“Spicy sausage, fresh mozzarella, ricotta, and pecorino romano cheeses, and spinach,” Ralph says as he moves away from the table to seat other customers.
“Is Ralph the owner?” Maddie says, studying him as he helps at another table.
“He is,” Gabe answers.
“Then why is this place called Carmine’s?”
Gabe grins. “Let’s just say Ralph is a genius at marketing and advertising.” He sets his menu down. “And even though he’s from somewhere in Kansas, he sure knows how to make a great Italian pizza.”
“Mama’s Favorite?” Amy says.
“She still knows me,” he says, winking at Maddie.
“A slice of cheese for me,” Maddie says.
Gabe raps his knuckles on the table. “You know what we need to do? We need to go ice-skating sometime.”
Maddie grimaces at the thought. “I can’t ice-skate.”
“Have you ever gone ice-skating?” Gabe asks.
“No!”
“Then how do you know you can’t do it?”
She looks at him as if to say it should be obvious. “I know what I can’t do.”
Amy glances over at Gabe. “One of my favorite memories as a child is ice-skating not too far from here with my family.”
“Bet you didn’t fall a few times,” Maddie says.
“You’re right. I didn’t. I fell a bunch of times.” Maddie glances up at her. “Too many times to count. The first time I put on a pair of ice skates I probably fell fifty times. I even sprained my ankle one time when I went. Everybody falls. Expect it. It’s part of the fun.”
Maddie spins her napkin on the table. “A grown-up’s idea of fun stinks.”
Gabe places their order with a waitress and then folds his arms on top of the table. “It is fun! We can take you to other fun spots around here too.”
“Like where?”
Amy cocks her head, thinking, before saying, “Pumpkin Fest at Granger Farm, a trip to the falls, which are beautiful in the summer, uh…”
Gabe joins in with great enthusiasm. “The firefighters’ chili cook-off and then the policemen’s barbecue cook-off and the Humane Association’s cookie bake-off.”
“You only know food events,” Amy says.
“I love food!”
Maddie laughs, listening to them. “I love you guys. I hope we’ll always be friends.”
Gabe and Amy look at each other and Amy puts her arm around Maddie’s shoulders. “We will be.” She clears her throat and reaches for her water. “So, what are you wearing to Lauren’s wedding?”
Maddie shrugs. “Beats me.”
“Do you have a pretty dress or a skirt or a pair of dressy slacks?”
She bulges out her eyes. “No way.”
“Then we need to make a stop at Wilson’s. Every little girl needs something to wear to a dress-up occasion. Don’t you agree, Gabe?”
“Yes, I do! But first we eat,” he says, lifting his fork in the air.
When they finish eating, they bundle up and brace against the cold for the short walk around the square to Wilson’s. Maddie holds on to Gabe’s and Amy’s arms and shrieks whenever the wind whips up around them.
“Hi, Mr. Marshall,” Maddie says on entering the store. Marshall Wilson is chatting with a sales clerk but his face brightens on seeing Maddie. “These are my friends Gabe and Amy. Amy helps at Glory’s Place.” She looks at Amy. “This is Miss Glory’s husband.”
Amy extends her hand. “I just love your wife.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Three of us,” Maddie says, thrusting her finger upward.
“Are you looking for anything in particular?” Marshall says, looking down at the little girl.
“They’re making me get something fancy for Lauren’s wedding.”
Marshall nods, smiling. “Ah. Well, it just so happens that we have lots of things that are just fancy enough for adults, yet not so fancy for little girls, and all can agree on. Just head downstairs and ask for Mary Beth. Tell her I said you’re looking for something fancy but not so fancy.” He bends down to whisper in her ear. “And be sure you pick up some hot chocolate and the cookie of the day. It’s a pinwheel with lots of sprinkles.”
Maddie smiles as they make their way downstairs. Mary Beth proves invaluable, first picking out a pair of fake-velvet pants with a beautiful turtleneck, then a dress with a black velvet top and a red satin bottom, and a long black skirt with a fun, frilly top. Gabe and Amy wait as Maddie tries on each outfit and then twirls and spins in front of them. The more they compliment her, the more she giggles and the more they smile. Always conscious of her leg, Gabe and Amy both assume that she would choose the pants and are surprised when she chooses the black skirt and frilly top. “I’ve never had anything like this,” Maddie says, touching the blouse.
“Well, you can’t wear a skirt like that without boots in this kind of weather,” Gabe says.
A simple pair of black dress boots is chosen, and as they walk to the cash register Gabe and Amy notice Maddie beaming, looking at the clothes in her arms. “Lauren’s wedding is going to be the best day of my life,” she says, placing the clothes in front of the cashier.
Gabe carries Maddie’s bags to the front door of Linda’s house and hands them over to Maddie as she goes inside. Before Linda can close the door, Maddie wraps her arms around him, burying her head against his chest. “Thank you so much, Mr. G.” Linda smiles as Gabe waves good-bye.
Amy is quiet when Gabe gets back in the truck. “Anything wrong?” he asks.
“I just watched her hug you. She’s so excited over those clothes.” She looks over at him. “I really love that little girl.”