Amazement

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

***

The following Saturday, April woke Maddie up at eight.

"Maddie," she whispered. "I'm going out with Sydney. Luke said he'll drop by later, since the twins are out of town."

Maddie barely heard her. She muttered noncommittally.

"Mickey's watching cartoons in the living room," April reminded her daughter. "Luke should be here in about an hour."

She left, and Maddie was once again left to the comfort of her bed.

Two hours later, she dragged herself out of bed. I'll go shopping with Penelope today, she decided, forgetting that the Gregory family was on a weekend skiing trip.

Maddie took a shower and pulled on skinny jeans and a thin black sweater. She put on her makeup and left the bathroom.

Maddie quickly but efficiently tidied up her bedroom; she made her bed, tossed her dirty clothes in the laundry bin, and arranged all the shoes in her closet before heading to Mickey's room.

Mickey's room was empty. Not surprising.

"Mickey!" Maddie called, walking down the stairs. "You hungry?"

She stopped dead in her tracks. Faint voices were coming from the living room. Maddie listened harder. It definitely wasn't the TV, which cause her suspicion to escalate to the next level. Mickey was not alone.

Slowly, heart pounding, Maddie shuffled towards the living room. The voices quieted. Mickey raced towards her from.

"You're awake!" He cried, delighted.

"Yeah, I am, Bubba." Maddie chuckled.

Mickey took her hand in his little one and led her to where he'd been sitting on the ground. A Candyland board sat on the floor, some of the pieces scattered. And on the other side sat Luke.

"What're you doing here?"

Luke shrugged. "Your mom asked me to come. She didn't want you and Mickey alone all day."

Maddie was still confused. "I'm taking Mickey to the mall with Penelope," she told him.

"They're out of town. Remember?"

Maddie inwardly cursed herself for being so stupid. She could handle being wrong, but not when it came to Luke.

"Where's Fee?"

Luke's mood shifted to that of a darker state, as it typically seemed to do whenever he spoke of his half sister.

"Ophelia has a special dance rehearsal," he replied curtly. "I was actually about to go pick her up. Wanna come?"

Maddie glanced down at her outfit. At least it wouldn't go to waste. "Sure," she sighed. "Mickey, lets go."

***

The car ride was short and they quickly fell in to a comfortable silence. The sound of Christmas music filled the car.

Luke went inside to get Ophelia. He returned to the car looking irritated, and Ophelia looking downcast.

"Hi Maddie!" Ophelia said as she entered the car.

"Hey, Fee. How was dance?" Maddie asked, with a glance at Luke. He kept his eyes on the road.

"Good. Who's this?" She asked, catching sight of Mickey.

"This is my brother Mickey," Maddie introduced as Luke pulled out of the parking lot.