Free London Art Chase by Natalie Grant Page A

In fact, a couple people were blinking away tears. One woman, though, had tears streaming down her face.
    â€œDo you think she’s okay?” Lulu asked.
    Mia put an arm around Lulu and said, “Mom always has such a way of reaching people with her music.”
    Lulu shook her head. “But I don’t like it when they cry.”
    â€œThose aren’t sad tears,” Maddie said. “Remember when Mom cried when she sang us our song for the first time, when she was tucking us into bed? Hearing that song and watching her made me cry a little too.”

    The song rose to its climax, and then Mom sang a few more pieces. Finally, it was time for “When I Leave the Room,” the song Mom had written just for them.
    â€œI wrote this song for my little girls,” Mom said. “It talks about all the wonderful, difficult, sorrowful parts of life, how God gives us people to hold and say I love you to, and people who say it back to us.”
    By the time the final notes played, Maddie’s eyes had filled with tears, the way they always did when Mom sang this song. It didn’t matter how many times Maddie heard it. She blinked hard and fast.
    â€œNow, girls,” Mom said, “it’s time for you to go to the hotel, put on your pjs, and brush your teeth. I have just a few more songs to sing, but I’ll see you in time to tuck you in.”
    This was the way it happened every time they came to listen. Maddie loved the tradition of it, the way she could count on Mom to say just these words the exact moment Lulu’s eyes started to droop. Now, they’d go home and curl up under the covers of the big bed that she and Mia were sharing and read, and talk with Miss Julia about their day. Soon, Mom and Dad would be home. Everyone would pile into the same bed and Dad would tell them a story. She could tell her parents about what had happened, about the thief, and about what she suspected. They would help her know what she should do, and then, maybe everything that had gone wrong today would finally be okay.

SIXTEEN
    M addie snuggled into the pillows and pulled the covers up to her chin. The mattress felt soft enough to swallow her whole—she almost wished it could. She wanted today to be done so she could start over tomorrow. Even Mia had decided they hadn’t seen a robbery, in spite of the fact that they absolutely, definitely saw one with their own eyes. Why had Mia changed her mind? The unfairness of it made Maddie want to throw pillows across the room.
    â€œLet’s add notes to our travelogue,” Lulu said.
    Miss Julia scrolled through pictures on her phone, from the bus to the lions to the gallery, to their dresses and the picture of the three of them posed outside the concert hall. They had stopped to take that one even though they were late. Lulu had insisted. Mia and Lulu chattered about perfect captions for each picture, and Miss Julia typed them in.
    â€œWe should take some photos of Maddie’s sketches to add to the travelogue,” Mia said, clearly trying to draw her into the project.
    Maddie tried to smile, even though she was pretty sure she wasn’t convincing anyone. “Maybe tomorrow.”
    Mom and Dad’s voices drifted through the doorway. Soon they were in the room, full of energy the way they always were after a concert. Mom kicked off her stage heels. Mia and Lulu burst out, talking over each other.
    â€œYou’ll never believe what happened today,” Mia said.
    â€œWe saw a robbery!” Lulu stood up and bounced on the bed, singing what had become her theme song. “Glimmer girls to the rescue!”
    â€œWhoa, whoa, slow down.” Mom caught Lulu and cuddled into bed with the girls. “Let’s start from the beginning.”
    â€œGood night, all,” Miss Julia said, heading for the door. “I’ll let the girls tell you about today, Gloria, but if you want to talk about it later, I’m all