Free Three's a Crowd (From the Files of Madison Finn, 16) by Laura Dower

again.”
    “Well, I’m not surprised,” Gramma said. “You probably caught a draft lying on top of the blankets instead of under them.”
    “Gramma, I already told you, I’m warm. Mom has the heat up.”
    “Tell you what! I’ll make you one of my super-booster smoothies this morning. There’s a load of vitamins in that shake.”
    “Okay,” Madison agreed. “What day is it? Is it Saturday?” She’d lost track.
    Gramma nodded.
    “How’s about I run you a nice, hot eucalyptus bath?” Gramma asked, fluffing Madison’s pillows for a second time.
    “Right now?” Madison shrugged. She’d never really taken a bath in the morning. “I don’t know, Gramma,” she said, walking over to her closet. She pulled her hair back into an elastic and slid into a pair of faded jeans and a comfy green T-shirt.
    “Gee, if you’re getting dressed, I guess that means no bath,” Gramma said with a smile.
    Madison smiled back. “Yeah. I guess.”
    “Well,” Gramma fussed at Madison’s top. “I just want you to get well, young lady,” she said, poking at buttons and picking at a thread.
    Madison squirmed. She hated the way Gramma was all over her this morning. And she dreaded the thought that her bronchitis was worse than before. That meant Gramma would keep picking and poking and running baths and vaporizers and …
    “What else do you need, Maddie?” Gramma asked.
    “Um …” Madison said. “I’m okay, Gramma, really.”
    “But you just said you’re feeling worse,” Gramma said, touching the top of Madison’s head.
    Madison wanted to run. Couldn’t Gramma just leave her alone until she woke up?
    “Let me go put a load of wash in the dryer,” Gramma said. “Then I’ll make you a yummy breakfast. Your mother leaves this afternoon.”
    “Whatever you say, Gramma,” Madison said.
    As soon as Gramma left the room, Madison scooted over to Mom’s room.
    “Help!” she said as she threw herself across Mom’s bed.
    “What now?” Mom said, stuffing a sweater into her suitcase.
    “Mom, I love Gramma so much, but she is driving me crazy,” Madison said. She blew her nose hard.
    Mom chuckled knowingly. “Oh, Gramma comes on a bit strong sometimes,” she said. “But only because she loves you.”
    “She wanted me to take a bath this morning.”
    “That’s not crazy,” Mom said. “You’d probably feel better.”
    “She doesn’t like it when I’m always online or e-mailing my BFFs,” Madison said.
    “Really? She told me she thinks it’s great that you have such a close group of friends,” Mom said.
    “Yeah, but she thinks it’s weird that I have a lot of guy friends,” Madison said.
    “She does not. You’re making that up,” Mom said.
    “Mom! Are you on my side or what?” Madison exclaimed.
    “Who said anything about taking sides? This isn’t a war, you know,” Mom said. “Not even close.”
    Lying on her back, Madison crossed her arms and pouted. “Fine, then. Go. Have a nice trip.”
    “Maddie…” Mom’s voice softened. “Is that what this is really about? Me going away when you’re sick?”
    Madison shook her head. “No.”
    “Then, what?” Mom asked.
    “What am I supposed to say to Gramma when she’s giving me all these weird homemade medicines she likes to make and putting hot cloths on my head and cleaning my room? Mom, she was cleaning my room.”
    “Maddie…”
    “And I’m sick of soup,” Madison moaned.
    “Soup? Honey bear, Gramma is doing us a huge favor by being here. Don’t let yourself get all worked up just because she’s being overly nice. You should be grateful. I know I am.”
    “I love Gramma Helen,” Madison said. “I don’t know why she just bugs me sometimes.”
    “Well, if there’s a moment when she bugs you, just call me on my cell phone,” Mom said with a wink. “I finally got it fixed.”
    “Do you really mean it?”
    “Just think! While I’m gone, you and Gramma can talk about how much I bug you,” Mom teased.
    Kicking her legs