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worried, but she stepped over to the study and pushed open the door. “Well, there’s a fold-out couch and a small bathroom just for your use. You’ll find it quite a blessing most mornings in this household.” She shot Alex a meaningful look. Alex had been taking such long showers in the morning that she’d used up the hot water on several occasions, so Mrs. Sackett had had to set strict time limits for her. “Oh, and Alex, you need to clean up that craft project that’s all over the floor. What is it, anyway?”
    â€œIt’s my Secret Santa gift for the Christmas party,” explained Alex. “I have Rosa, and I’m making her a padded bulletin board.”
    â€œStill our artistic one, huh, Alex?” asked Scott with a smile.
    Alex beamed and nodded, but then her expression clouded suddenly. “Although right now the status of this party is in serious jeopardy, because a certain mother has told a certain daughter that she is not allowed to host the party, which is basically resulting in the ruining of that certain daughter’s entire life. But—”
    â€œThat’s enough of that talk, Alex,” interrupted Coach.
    There was an awkward silence.
    â€œAnd speaking of presents,” said Alex, barreling through the silence obliviously, “you are the absolute best present giver in the family, Uncle Scott. Remember those metallic markers you gave me for Christmas when I was eight? They were so awesome. Did you bring us anything from—”
    â€œAlex!” said Mrs. Sackett. “That’s enough for tonight. Scott looks like he’s ready to get some rest. You can talk to him tomorrow.”
    A few minutes later, the bed was made and Alex had cleared her bulletin board supplies from the floor of the study. Scott thanked Mrs. Sackett and waved good night to the rest of them. Then he went into the study and closed the door.
    â€œHow long is he staying?” asked Tommy.
    â€œI’m beat too,” said Coach with an exaggerated yawn, ignoring Tommy’s question. “Think I’ll head to bed.”
    â€œYou kids should get to bed early tonight as well,” said Mrs. Sackett, turning and walking quickly toward her and Coach’s bedroom.
    As she lay in her own bed that night, Ava couldn’t stop thinking about Uncle Scott’s sudden appearance. Her parents must have known he was coming. Scott’s arrival must have been the reason their Boston trip got canceled. And why her parents had been so secretive recently, with those private phone calls and whispered conversations. But why hadn’t they said anything? Why were they not answering the question about how long he was staying? And why were they being so polite to Scott? In the past, they’d always given him a hard time about his eating habits and crazy lifestyle, and he’d always taken their teasing with a good-natured smile. Now they were acting like he was a complete stranger.
    Just before she fell asleep, she thought she heard male voices murmuring somewhere. Her bedroom was directly above the study. Was her dad talking with Uncle Scott? She was too sleepy to decide if she was really hearing it or just dreaming. And then she fell asleep.

CHAPTER
TEN
    On Saturday morning Alex awoke to the faint sound of a car engine purring. She glanced at the clock: it was 6:37. Now what was going on?
    A few minutes later she tiptoed through the empty kitchen and followed the sound out to the yard.
    Her father, Scott, and Tommy were in front of the shed, working on an old, beat-up car. There were car parts everywhere.
    â€œMorning, honey!” called Coach. He turned off his sander and wiped his brow.
    â€œWhat are you doing? Whose car is that?”
    â€œIt’s for your uncle,” said Coach.
    Scott finished polishing one of the hubcaps and looked up at Alex. “Your dad picked this up for me and is helping me get it into good working order,” he said.