Dedicating Every Day to You

Chapter Thirty-Eight

I was taking a nap in my room this afternoon, and when I walk downstairs, the house is in beautiful chaos. The smell of mashed potatoes wafts through the air, and there's a real cloth on the table. Alex is pouring wine, and he's wearing a tie.

"What's going on? Did I miss something?" I rub my eyes, pushing a stray curl out of my eyes as I do so.

John looks up from the kitchen and laughs. I know I look a little silly- I'm wearing my Miranda shirt, sweatpants, and giant socks, and my hair is a fuzzball- but I don't really want to be laughed at.

"Hey, honey. How was your nap?"

"Don't laugh at me. Why is everyone dressed up?" I move over to the kitchen and grab a piece of French bread from the counter.

Alex pauses in his wine-pouring activities. "Don't you remember? I'm having a dinner party this evening."

I take a bite of bread and perch on the counter. "If I remembered, do you think I would ask?"

He swats at me good-naturedly. "Don't be snarky. Anyway, my colleagues Jefferson and Madison are coming over for dinner tonight. We have important politics to discuss." At my horrified expression, he hastily reassures me. "Jefferson is bringing Harriet to hang out with you, and Madison is bringing his son J.P."

I perk up instantly. If Harriet is coming, Theo cannot be far behind. "Can Theodosia come over, too?"

"Oh, no." Alex pours the last of the wine and begins to grab glasses for the kids. "Burr's not invited."

"Do I have to dress up?" I'm already itching at the thought of wearing a fancy dress to do nothing more than stay home.

He looks up at me again. "It would be nice if you were to put a little effort into your attire, yes."

I groan and slide down from the counter. "Do I need to fix my hair, too?"

"You look like you stuck your finger in a light socket near a bunch of balloons. Yes." Alex straightens up. "Now, go. Everyone will be here soon."

Reluctantly, I trudge up the stairs and to my room, where I grab a blue dress and leggings. It takes me a million years in the bathroom to condition and safely dry my hair. I try to braid it, try to put it in a ponytail, and eventually give up and stick a sparkly clip in it. I hear a door open and practically fly down the stairs.

"Hello, little child," Jefferson crows when he sees me. If possible, his hair is even puffier than usual, and the buttons on his coat are extra shiny.

"Kat!" Harriet runs out from behind him and gives me a hug. She's wearing a pair of blue and white checkered overalls, and with her sneakers, she looks more like Dorothy than ever. "It's so good to see you!"

I wheeze, crushed in the hug. "I missed you, too." We pull back, and I notice that she has a new bracelet on her arm. It's a little silvery charm bracelet, and there's only a few on there- a ruby slipper, a tiny glass heart, and two 'paper dolls' holding hands. "That's nice, where'd you get it?"

Harriet slides the chain up on her wrist and spins it around. "Oh, this? Nina got it for me. Every time we get together, she's going to buy us both new charms. She has a matching one, but there's an A+ charm on hers."

"That's so cute!" I grin and tug down on the hem of my dress. It's pretty short, and I know I'm wearing leggings, but it feels indecent.

There's another knock on the door, and James Madison pokes his head in. I've met him only once, at my welcome-to-the-nuthouse party, and from what I remember he's a bit of a timid fellow. He looks very nice tonight, dressed up like Alex is in a suit and tie, but he keeps coughing into a handkerchief.