“If you see them again before the end of the weekend, ask, okay? I always like to size up the competition. Taylor told me what she and her partner are doing, and believe me, our project is way better.”

Ali just wanted to survive the presentation; she couldn’t worry about the other teams too.

“Ali! Come back to the table!” her mother shouted from the next room.

“I’m sorry, Emily, I have to go.”

“Whatever.” Emily hung up before Ali could respond.

Ali stared at the phone. She had to stop disappointing Emily. But there was still a chance to redeem herself if she could ace her part of the presentation. They would get a good grade, Emily would be happy, and everything would be perfect.

Thirty

Most Sundays Ali slept late, but not this one. Today was an important day in her quest to reunite the Sloanes. She got up early, ate a big breakfast to soothe her nervous belly, and wrote out a detailed list of the points she wanted to use to convince Andrew Sloane to come to Gigi’s party. The rest of the morning was spent turning into superheroes to give herself courage. It was too bad she couldn’t visit Andrew Sloane as Captain America. No one could say no to Captain America.

At exactly two forty-five, she slipped out of the house. She’d decided not to tell her parents about her mission in case they tried to stop her. Plus, it wasn’t like anyone would notice she was gone; her mother was at work, Digger was down in his workshop, and Gigi was fast asleep. She’d be back before anyone knew she was missing.

It was a short walk, past the old museum and Riverview Memorial Park. When she reached Harbour View High School, she turned right on Brunswick Place and climbed until she reached the last house on the dead-end street. The house was an imposing two stories, with a large porch, a bowed window, and a stone wall separating its narrow driveway from the yard of the house next door. She stared at the house for a full five minutes, listening to the cries of the seagulls fishing in the nearby river. “Go home! Go home!” they seemed to say. Instead, she climbed the eleven steps to the door and rang the bell.

A lady about her mother’s age opened the door. “Hello?”

“I’m Ali Sloane,” Ali blurted out.

The woman’s face crumpled like she was about to burst into tears. She took a deep breath, regained her composure, and gestured for Ali to come in. “I’m Alfie’s mother, Colleen. I’m so happy to finally meet you,” she said.

Ali stepped inside, relieved when Alfie bounded down the stairs.

“Hey.” He sounded nervous but excited. “Ali’s here to talk to Granddad, Mom.”

Colleen frowned. “Does he know she’s coming?”

Alfie shook his head.