Free Sprinkles and Secrets by Lisa Schroeder Page B

him for a second. For some reason, I don’t tell him very often, but right now, it feels like I should. “I love you, Dad. You know that, right?”
    He nods. “It’s always nice to hear it, though. I love you too. Sleep tight, Sophie.”
    When I get back to my room, I pull out my notebook.
    Dream #7 –
I dream of good sleep, sweet dreams,
and a good deal on a lathrole
tomorrow morning.

Chapter 16
hazelnut chocolate-chip scones
A TREAT WORTH STOPPING FOR
    M om and I are at the mall by seven a.m. It’s about thirty minutes from Willow, in the next city over called Delaney. The parking lot is already full, and we have to park a long ways away. And so goes Black Friday madness. Socks at half-price andfive-dollar toasters obviously get people out of bed.
    Even though I’m tired from being up so late, my blood is pumping and I’m excited. Mom paid me back for the cupcakes and gave me another twenty, so I have money to get some of my Christmas shopping done. She said we could also look for a new outfit for me to wear to the audition on Monday. After we had our little talk while making the popcorn Friday night, I never brought it up again. And she didn’t either. I’m pretty sure that means I’m going.
    â€œI know what I want to get Dad,” I tell her as we walk through the big, glass doors. “Can we split up so I can do some shopping for both of you, and meet up later?”
    She checks her watch. “Two hours enough time? Or do you need more?”
    I shrug. “That should be enough. So meet back here at nine?”
    â€œYes.” She hands me Dad’s phone.
    I wave it in her face. “You know, if you got me one of these for Christmas-”
    â€œYeah, yeah, I know,” she interrupts me. “Now, let me show you, my number is programmed in, righthere.” She shows me how to dial her, and after that, we say good-bye and I’m on my own.
    I walk toward Macy’s, thinking about what I should get my mom. She’s really hard to shop for. She’s so practical, it’s not even funny. Like one year, Dad bought her a gorgeous pair of diamond earrings, and she made him take them back.
    â€œLet’s use that money to buy coats for the kids,” she’d said. “They need coats a lot more than I need a pair of earrings.”
    Yeah, diamonds are definitely out. Or cubic zirconia in my case, since that’s all I could afford with the pitiful amount of cash I have.
    When I get to the store, I go to the men’s department first and find a sales rack with bathrobes. I grab a gray one that looks good and isn’t too expensive, and take it to the counter. A teenage guy is behind the register. He’s got brown hair with long bangs that practically cover his eyes. He brushes them back when I walk up and put the robe in front of him.
    â€œThis isn’t for you, is it?” he asks. “This is the men’s department, you know.”
    Oh. My. Gosh. He thinks I’m a total idiot. “No.Really?” I look around. “Wow, I wouldn’t have known, what with all of the men’s pajamas, boxer shorts, and black socks. Huh.” I give him the evil eye. “It’s a gift for my dad.”
    He smiles. “Oh, okay. Great.”
    Great.
    After I pay the guy, I look around, trying to figure out where to go next for a gift for my mom. I could get her a robe too, except I don’t think I have enough money left.
    I wander aimlessly around the store, passing the perfume section (definitely not practical), the department that sells, um, underwear (practical, yes, but I’m not picking out something like
that
for my mother), and the purses (no way—totally different tastes in that department).
    I wander a long time, but nothing is hitting me as right for Mom. I’m about to give in and buy her a pair of gloves, because you can’t get more practical than that, when a woman walks by carrying a cup of