Amber Brown Sees Red Read Free Page B

and I went down to visit them, we only stayed for a weekend. Spring vacation ... I’ll get to see them for over a week. That’s even better than hulas and volcanoes ... although Justin’s little brother, Danny, is a little like a volcano. By that time, the Danielses’ baby will be born. It will be so much fun.
    “If they can’t come,” my mom says, “Aunt Pam will either stay with you here or you will go back with her after the wedding and stay with her in California.”
    I’m really beginning to like this honeymoon.
    “I have some questions.” I look at Mom and Max.
    Mom and Max look at each other and then look at me.
    “Here goes,” I say. “What do I call Max after you guys get married? What will my last name be? When is Max going to start living here? Am I going to always be an only child? Will we stay here? Will I still be going to Paris to see my dad this summer? Will I have to wear a dumb bridesmaid dress at the wedding?”
    These are questions that I’ve been thinking about a lot, ever since Max asked my mother to marry him and gave her a really pretty diamond and amethyst ring.
    Every time I look at the ring, I remember the diamond engagement ring and the gold wedding ring that my mom used to wear when she and my dad were married.
    I look at Max and Mom and wait for answers.
    Max starts first. “My name is Max. You’ve always called me that and that’s what you can continue to call me. And you will still keep your last name, unless you want to change it.”
    I think about how upset my father would be if I changed my name.... At least I think he would be upset. Anyway, I love my name ..... Amber Brown. It’s so colorful! If I changed it to Max’s name, I would be Amber Turner. It would sound like I was a stone mover-arounder ... Amber Turner.
    My mom says, “After Max and I are married, we will live in this town. For the time being, we’ll live in this house. As for your always being an only child, I’m not sure.”
    I, Amber Brown, like being an only child. It makes me very nervous just thinking about not being an only child.
    She continues. “As for visiting your father this summer in Paris, that’s already arranged.”
    “And the bridesmaid dress?” I bite my lip. “You’re not going to make me wear some dumb frilly thing, are you?”
    She shakes her head.
    “Are you going to be wearing some dumb frifly thing?” I ask her.
    “I did that once already and look where it got me.” She shakes her head again.
    I hate when she says something against being married to my dad. She hardly ever does that, but when she does, it really bothers me.
    She puts her hand on mine and says, “I’m sorry I said that. It got me my wonderful daughter.”
    I smile at her.
    She picks up some broccoli with a fork and tries to put it in my mouth.
    I, Amber Brown, do not like broccoli. I think that the only green stuff that people should eat is pistachio ice cream. My mother, however, does not agree.

    “Neither of us will have to wear dumb frilly things to the wedding. I promise you, Amber.” She puts some broccoli in my mouth when I open it to say “Thanks.”
    “I don’t have to wear a dumb frilly thing to the wedding, do I?” Max teases.
    My mom grins at him.
    The phone rings.
    “May I answer it?” I figure it’s Brandi with a skunk bulletin.
    My mom gives me permission and I rush into the living room to answer it. That way I can have some privacy for my call and they can have some privacy too.
    I pick up the phone.
    It’s not Brandi.
    It’s my dad.
    He asks me what I’ve been doing, how I’ve spent my day.
    I tell him about the skunks but I don’t tell him about Max.
    He knows my mother’s engaged because she wrote him a note, but I still don’t want to tell him what a great day I’ve had with Max. Somehow it just doesn’t seem right.
    I listen to his news and then we hang up.
    I stand there.
    I am so excited .... so excited.
    Then I get nervous.
    Somehow, I don’t think my mom is going