Page 103 of Dropping the Ball

She straightens, stress still showing around her eyes even though she smiles at me.

I squeeze her knees. “The second I accepted that I had to tell you, the universe did its thing and the answers started coming. I’m asking you to trust me a little longer. Can you do that?”

“Yes.” She shifts in her chair, like she’s fighting to keep some words in, but Madison being Madison, they burst out anyway. “But am I allowed to ask how long?”

I grin and stand, going back to my spot beside Micah to address everyone. “I know it’s going to be hard, but I’m going to ask you all to resist calling your friends to start asking for donations.Especiallyyou, Mom. I want you and Madison to meet me at the warehouse tomorrow at 10:00, and I’ll show you how we’re going to turn things around. Will you promise not to call in any favors before that?”

“Yes, but Margaret—”

“Please, Mom.”

She looks troubled, but she nods. “No calls until I hear your plan.”

“Madison,” I say, meeting her eyes. “I’ve thought it through and put the pieces in place, and I’m ready to show you. Will you promise to consider it long and hard before you react?”

“I promise,” she says. No hesitation, and it eases the clenched feeling I’ve carried around in my chest since Drake’s words truly sunk in. “But I can’t promise I’ll stay on the sidelines after tomorrow.”

“Understood.” I shoot Oliver a glance as he nestles Harper against his chest and sways. “Sorry, Oliver.”

He smiles. “It’s fine. It wouldn’t be the worst thing for her to have a little less free time.”

“Does she keep making projects for you?” I ask.

Madison glares at him. “What? You have to agree that the downstairs bathroom needed a glow up.”

Oliver clears his throat and smiles at me, saying nothing.

“Tomorrow at 10:00?” I repeat. Madison and Mom both confirm. “Good. Then I have a few things to work on tonight, so I’m going to rescue Micah here from all your nosiness, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

Micah stands and Dad sets his drink down to walk us out.

“Don’t worry about it, Dad. We’ll see ourselves out.” We wave and leave.

“You did great,” Micah says when the front door is closed behind us. “You didn’t even need me there.”

“Maybe not, but I wanted you there.”

He draws me into a hug, and we stand there for a long time. I’m not even thinking anything, just drawing calm from his warmth and the quiet.

“How are you feeling?” he asks after a while.

“Okay,” I say, stepping back. “Like actually okay.” I hold out my hands for my keys. “I stuck with water all night, so I’m driving. And controlling the radio.”

He rolls his eyes but hands them over. When I start the car and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” plays from the speakers, I leave it, and I don’t miss Micah’s smile.

Chapter Thirty-One

Kaitlyn

I’m already waiting bymy car when my mom pulls into the warehouse.

She climbs out of her Mercedes. “Good morning, cagey youngest child. I want to see inside.”

She gives me a hug. It’s the kind of polite social hug we give friends and acquaintances, short and light, but I do know she means it.

“Not yet,” I say. “I have something else to show you first. Look, there’s Madison.”

My sister pulls in with her silver Cayenne. I gesture for her to roll down the window. “Stay in the car. Mom and I will join you. We’re going on a field trip.”

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