She could barely get out her next words. “Not be best friends?” she said. “Uh-oh.” It was a soft voice, just on the other side of the tree. Sophie peeked through the leaves at Mama. “Trouble, my loves?” she said. “No,” Fiona said. “Yes,” Sophie said. She looked at Fiona through a blur of tears. “You just said we weren’t going to be best friends anymore.” “Wow,” Mama said. “This sounds like something that needs to be discussed over some of that gingerbread I made this morning. Come on, follow me.” For a minute, Sophie forgot that Fiona was about to end the best friendship in the entire galaxy. Mama was talking. Mama was baking things. Was Daddy right? Was she really there to stay? Still, Sophie felt a stab as Fiona sat herself on one of the snack-bar stools and looked the other way. It didn’t look like her best friend was there to stay. “Lemon sauce?” Mama said, ladle poised over a bowl. Fiona shook her head. Sophie didn’t even answer. Mama put the spoon down and folded her arms on the countertop facing them.
