Alexis Gets Frosted by Coco Simon Page B

symptom is a really high, sudden fever.”
    Aha! No wonder my mom was always obsessing over whether we had fevers.
    â€œWas it really hard for you guys when your dad died?” I asked. I didn’t want to make her sad, but I felt so sorry for her after hearing what Granny said about her today.
    She was quiet for a second, then she said, “Youknow, it was really hard. My dad was a great guy. I felt vulnerable. All my friends had two parents, and I only had one. And I was scared that if something happened to Granny, then I would be without any parents at all. But it worked out okay. We were really lucky Granny and Jim found each other. He’s been great for all of us, and he’s a great granddad to you girls.”
    â€œHe’s really nice,” I agreed. It was time to change the subject; enough of the sad stuff. “Mom. One more serious question.”
    â€œMmm-hmm?”
    â€œWhy the heck did you dress like that in the eighties?”

CHAPTER 7
Friends and Enemies
    W hen we got back late Saturday afternoon, I called Matt. I know, can you believe it? I just picked up the phone and then called him. Of course, my heart was fluttering the whole time, but I did need his help. Or I wanted his help, anyway!
    We caught up for a minute and then I told him about the dollhouse. He was really psyched for me, saying it was a lucky break we’d be working off a model that was to size.
    â€œOkay, so you’re e-mailing me a photo of the house, and all the room dimensions, right?” he summarized.
    â€œYes. If you need any more info, I can either call my granddad or put you two in touch, or you can e-mail him directly.”
    â€œCool,” said Matt. “He’s nice. I remember him from your holiday party.”
    â€œYeah. I mean, yes!” I corrected myself, thinking of my mom.
    â€œAll right, so, I’ll be in touch. Probably Monday, okay? I know you’re in a rush.”
    â€œThanks. There’re lots of free cupcakes in this for you,” I said.
    â€œThat’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I can use it in my portfolio.” Matt is always trying to grow his digital graphic design business, so he takes on assignments from the Cupcake Club for posters and flyers, or this sort of thing. Then he uses them in his portfolio to show potential new clients what he can do. It is just another level that we connect on—as businesspeople, I mean.
    â€œGreat. Thanks!”
    â€œBye.”
    Next, I called Katie and explained my encounter with the Victorian dollhouse. She was thrilled, which made me feel really good. I e-mailed her the dollhouse photo, and we made a plan to visit the baking supply shop the next day. We’d work off the photo to find appropriate decorating supplies.
    â€œThis will be so much fun!” she squealed before we hung up.
    After my calls, I felt much more in control of the project (even though it was really in Matt’s hands now), as well as extremely lucky to have such generous and helpful friends. I spent the time until dinner researching Victorian-era houses online and working on my notecards for my presentation, and I got a really good chunk of work done. Not bad for a Saturday!
    On Sunday morning I got up really early and basically finished the oral presentation component. I’d left a few spots where I’d have to see the finished model in order to insert a couple of facts, but I was in good shape. Eat your heart out, Olivia Allen, I thought.
    I knocked off my other homework to clear the decks, and since I had a little time to spare, I started a spreadsheet to organize our time capsule. I had a sandwich, and then my mom took me to pick up Katie and then take us to the mall.
    While she drove, Katie told my mom about what she’d collected for the time capsule so far.
    â€œSo, I have my tap dance shoes from when I was little, a recipe book with all my favorite recipes in it, and my stuffed bunny. The only bummer is that