Falling into Place by Stephanie Greene Page B

Temples.”
    Margaret could hear Claire’s excited voice in the kitchen as she listened to the phone ringing at the other end. Then she heard Wendy’s clear voice. “Hello?”
    â€œHi, Wendy, it’s me. Margaret.”
    â€œI know who it is, silly,” Wendy said. “How are you?”
    â€œI’m good.” Margaret didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt shy.
    â€œDid Dad tell you?” said Wendy. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
    â€œYes. Do you want to know what his name is?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œTad. Well, David, really. But we’re going to call him Tad.”
    â€œTad,” said Wendy. There was a catch in her voice. “Gran must be very happy.”
    â€œOh, no, don’t
you
start crying.”
    Wendy laughed shakily. “Why, has Gran been upset?”
    â€œShe was, but she’s okay now. I’ll tell you about it when I get home.”
    â€œWhen are you coming? We’ve missed you. Claire has been beside herself.” Margaret heard Wendy’s voice change. “Oh. Speaking of Claire.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYour dad and I talked about it after you left,” said Wendy. “He was very upset with me about the way I handled the whole business of her sharing your room. And he was right. Not only should I have talked to
him
about it first, but I should have talked to you. I’m sorry.”
    â€œThat’s okay, I don’t mind,” Margaret said quickly, and was amazed to find that it was true.
    â€œNo, it’s not okay. But don’t worry. Dad’s already fixing up the small room off the dining room for Claire. It’ll be perfectly fine until we can add on.
    â€œYou can’t do that,” Margaret said. She was appalled. Claire downstairs, by herself? Listening to the sounds of life from upstairs while she lay in the dark alone?
    â€œYou can’t do that,” she said again. “She’ll be lonely.”
    Wendy laughed. “Can you imagine being lonely in a family as noisy as ours?”
    â€œIf Claire moves downstairs, I move downstairs,” said Margaret firmly. “I want her to stay.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œI’m sure.”
    â€œOh, Margaret, you’re so good. When are you coming home?”
    Â 
    It’s a good thing I know how to handle weepy people, Margaret thought as she walked into the kitchen. Wendy was getting to be as bad as Gran.
    â€œWendy wants us home, first thing in the morning,” she announced. “She wants us to bring Gran and Roy, too.”
    â€œHere.” Her dad handed her a glass. “We were waiting for you to give a toast.”
    They all raised their glasses. “To Tad, the newest member of the Mack family,” said Mr. Mack. “May he be tough enough to survive with four older sisters, poor tyke.”
    â€œYou can say that again,” said Roy.
    Claire was spinning around the room, knocking against their chairs. The baby, the dress, seeing Margaret again—it was too much for a six-year-old to take sitting down. The next step beyond elation would be tears.
    â€œClaire, come sit down,” said Margaret in a bossy, older sister voice. Claire dutifully climbed into her lap and snuggled down against her. Margaret rested her chin on the top of Claire’s head and closed her eyes.
    They’d be like bookends, she and Tad. The way Tad and Gran had been for her. A Mack on either end, with the three little girls in between.
    Gran was laughing in the background now. Margaret could hear her telling Dad about her plans for her plot in the community garden.
    It’s a good thing Gran is making so many plans, Margaret thought, yawning contentedly. She’ll have to take care of herself a lot more from now on. I’m going to have my hands full.

About the Author
    S TEPHANIE G REENE is the author of many books for young readers, including the popular Owen Foote books. Ms. Greene lives in