Sun-kissed (The Au Pairs 3)

"But?"

"I don't know about Madison. She's kind of pissed at me right now." Shannon told Jacqui how Madison had asked her point-blank if Anna and Kevin were getting a divorce and how Shannon had lied to her about it. "I think she suspects something."

"Maybe we should just tell her," Jacqui said thoughtfully. It seemed cruel to keep the kid in the dark. They were also still racking their brains on how to get Kevin back to the Hamptons, and maybe Madison, who was the most observant member of the Perry family, could help them figure out a plan.

The two au pairs found Madison in her room, IM'ing friends on her computer. "What?" she asked.

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"First of all, Mad, I'm really sorry," Shannon began. She explained how Jacqui had told her about the divorce and how she and Jacqui were trying to get the Perrys back together through some crazy schemes.

Madison's face was a mask. "So they're really splitting up? Anna's going to have to leave? And Cody too?"

"We've been trying our best to keep that from happening," Jacqui said, kneeling down to hug the girl. "I'm really sorry."

"But, it's not over yet," Shannon said. "We're throwing them an anniversary party a couple of days from their real anniversary."

"The only problem is getting your dad out here to attend the party," Jacqui said. "I thought if we could get him to come out for it, the party would make them feel better and then they'd realize they don't want to split up after all."

"Okay," Madison said, not sounding convinced.

Jacqui spied a picture of Madison and Kevin on Madison's desk. It struck her suddenly that Madison looked a lot like her father and that she was stubborn in the same way. Perhaps they wouldn't need to concoct such a complicated deception after all. "You know, you and your dad are pretty close. Maybe you could call him and ask him to come out to the Hamptons next weekend?"

Madison chewed on her bubble gum and blew a big bubble. "I guess. I do miss him a bit. And I have my first tennis tournament the day after."

"He would be so proud of you," Jacqui urged.

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"It would be nice," Madison allowed, adding, a little sadly, "He's never even seen me play."

"Have you ever invited him?" Shannon asked.

The young girl shook her head. "Dad's always so busy. But you're right--he should be at the tournament. He always brags about how he won the junior championship one year. I'll do it."

Jacqui clapped her on the back. "Wonderful."

Madison grinned. "Besides, if it doesn't work, I'll just tell Dad that the neighbors are encroaching on his property. That always sets him off. He'll totally come over to check it out."

Jacqui laughed. That sounded like Kevin, all right.

"Are you mad?" Shannon asked tentatively. "I'm really sorry I lied to you."

"A little," Madison admitted. "But you were only trying to help. I don't want Anna and Dad to split up either. She's not great, but you know, she's all we've got," Madison said, showing a vast degree of maturity concerning her stepmother.

"But that's not all we came to say," Jacqui said, beaming.

The two younger girls found themselves in Eliza's bedroom, being fitted by a team of seamstresses. They could hardly contain their excitement. They were going to be models!

"It's nothing big, you know," Eliza told them. "It's not even a real show. It's kind of a guerrilla event. I mean, we're inviting the press, but it's not sanctioned by Fashion Week or anything."

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"Who cares?" Shannon asked. "It sounds amazing!"

"Totally," Madison agreed.

They grinned at each other, and the past few weeks of sourness and suspicion completely faded away and they were fast friends all over again.