Free Katie Sprinkles and Surprises by Coco Simon Page B

but I still didn’t say anything.
    â€œOkay,” Mom began, sitting on the edge of my bed, “I know you think I ‘hid’ Jeff from you. But we just wanted to wait until the time was right, honestly. And then I met Emily, and then Jeff met you. We thought that was the best way to do it. There is no instruction book for this kind of thing, Katie. Jeff and I are trying to do our best to make this easy for everyone, but there are going to be some bumps along the road.”
    â€œBig bumps,” I said. “Potholes. Craters. Giant valleys . . .”
    Mom smiled a tiny bit, and I almost smiledmyself. I knew I was being kind of silly.
    â€œJeff and I were planning on doing something with both you and Emily very soon,” Mom said. “I know there are a lot of changes here, Katie, but I need you to roll with me a bit and know that I have your best interest at heart. I’m trying to do the best that I can.”
    â€œBut you don’t see my side of it,” I said. “You just get to go on fun dates and stuff and meet everybody, but I have to see Jeff at school and stuff, and it’s weird.”
    Part of me wanted to tell her about Olivia’s big scene today, but I held back.
    â€œI get that,” she said. “Okay, how about from now on, I promise to consider your side of things?”
    â€œThat would be good,” I said.
    â€œAnd maybe you can promise to trust me a little bit,” Mom said. “And talk to me when you’re upset. We don’t need to yell at each other.”
    â€œSorry,” I said, looking down at my bedspread again.
    Mom hugged me. “It’s okay, sweetie,” she said. “I love you so much. You will always be my number-one priority.” (Which is just what Callie had said, remember? But it felt good to hear Mom say it.)
    â€œThank you,” I said. Then I had an idea. “Hey, can we go out to dinner?”
    â€œWell, I already defrosted some chicken . . . ,” Mom said, but I could tell from her voice it was going to be easy to sway her.
    â€œCome on. We need to celebrate my A,” I reminded her.
    Mom smiled. “Then the chicken can wait.”
    So Mom and I went out to eat at our favorite Indian restaurant, and I had honey ice cream for dessert, and I guess by the time the day was over, I was ready to do a happy dance again. Almost.

CHAPTER 15
Callie Steps Up
    H ey, Katie, come on in,” George said.
    I waved to Mom as she pulled away, and stepped into George’s home, a brick house with white shutters on a perfectly mowed lawn. I could hear the sound of a radio blaring from somewhere inside the house, and George’s twin brothers were running around the living room, screaming.
    â€œDad! Could you turn that off? Katie is here and we need to work,” George yelled.
    The radio went off, and George’s dad stepped out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. “Sorry. Loud music helps me do the dishes,” he said, and then he held out his hand. “Hello, Katie.”
    â€œHi, Mr. Martinez,” I said.
    George nodded to me. “We can work in here.”
    I followed him to the dining room, where George had a laptop, notebook, pencils, and a plate of cookies set up on the table.
    â€œI was going to make cupcakes, but I figured they wouldn’t be as good as yours,” he said.
    I picked up a chocolate-chip cookie and bit into it. “That’s okay. I love cookies! Did you really make these?”
    â€œDad helped,” George admitted.
    â€œThey’re really good,” I said. “Thanks. So, um, let’s get started.”
    I was kind of worried that it would be awkward to be in George’s house, but we had so much to do that I didn’t really have time to worry about that kind of stuff.
    â€œSo, Calamity Jane, right?” I began. “I was thinking that doing a skit might be fun. But the timeline would probably be