Mrs. Burlinski tilted her head as if unsure how to react to Jake’s words.

Tony also seemed at a loss for words, because he just scratched his neck, knocking his Darth Vader mask in the process.

Madison ended the awkward moment by taking Jake’s bags from Sherry. “I’ll take these. Let’s go.”

Jake seemed as confused at Tony and his mother for a second as he looked between them all. But when Madison started to walk away, he said, “Wait. I want to say bye to Tony.”

“Okay,” Sherry said. “But hurry up.”

Jake nodded and stepped in front of Tony. Smiling at him, he said, “Bye.”

Tony took off his mask and smiled back. “Bye.”

Sherry smiled. Had she ever been so cute?

The surface beneath Sherry shook. An earthquake! Her eyes popped open, but beside the mattress she was lying on, nothing was shaking. She peeked to the side and stared into Madison’s wide-open eyes just a few inches away from hers.

Sherry flinched. “M-Madison?”

“I can’t sleep.”

Sherry turned onto her back and yawned. “Why can’t you sleep? What are you thinking about?”

“I don’t know.”

“Really?”

“Sherry, aren’t you tired?”

“What do you think? But somebody just woke me up.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words. “So tell me what’s up.”

Madison’s lips twitched. “You mean beside the fact that an incredibly attractive woman is lying beside me in bed?”

Sherry’s breath caught. Calm down. She’s just trying to make a joke. “Oh, where is she? That explains why it seems so crowded in here sometimes.”

Madison didn’t laugh. “What will you do when this is over?” She gestured between them.

Madison’s change of topic made her head spin. “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “I guess it depends on how long it’s going to last. Maybe I can keep my job at the Archer. I make much more there than I did at the diner, on some days even more than at the diner and the market I worked at combined. Jake will have to change schools again, but at least I would be able to afford an apartment if I found a good second job. And I don’t know, maybe Rita Mae and I could share an apartment.”

“Sherry, I…” Madison shook her head. “It’ll all work out.”

Why was Madison thinking about their agreement? Was there anything she hadn’t told her? “Do you think we’ll be done soon?”

“My grandmother is still fresh as a daisy, and I don’t think anything has changed yet.”

“You’re wrong. She wouldn’t be as opposed to me if she weren’t buying it. I mean, she hasn’t invited us a second time and after Lillian’s birthday—”

“She isn’t opposed to you. But she thinks you’re with me for the money.”