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back Sunday afternoon, and Mom had to go to the city to style a client for a party, so she and I were going to take the train in with Ava. Mom would go to work, Ava would go home, and I’d get to have a special dinner with my dad.
    It sounds complicated, right? Welcome to my life!
    Eddie drove us to the train station and dropped us off. He gave Mom a big hug and a kiss. I looked at Ava and winced.
    â€œHe’s acting like she’s going away for a year or something,” I said. “We’ll be back in a few hours.”
    Ava laughed. “I don’t know. I think it’s kind of sweet.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Seriously?”
    Then the train pulled up, and Mom and Ava and I climbed on. It wasn’t as crowded as it usually is when I leave on Friday, so we all found a seat near one another. I don’t really love the train, though. The seats are an ugly color, and it always smells like stale bread in there. But it’s fast and it gets me to my dad, so I don’t mind so much.
    Mom shopped for accessories on her tablet on the way to Manhattan, and Ava and I talked about her upcoming birthday party. The snowy cupcakes had inspired her.
    â€œI could get silver and white decorations,” she was saying. “And sprinkle silver glitter on the cake table, maybe.”
    I whipped out my sketchbook. “We could put the cupcakes at different heights, like this,” I said, quickly drawing my vision for her.
    â€œI love it!” Ava exclaimed.
    â€œAnd of course you’ll need the perfect dress,” I said.
    I flipped the page and started sketching Ava in a snowy dress—a sleeveless top attached to a flowing, white knee-length skirt.
    â€œThe top could be silver,” I said, pointing. “But I’m not sure. It kind of looks like an ice skater’s outfit.”
    â€œNo, it’s awesome,” Ava said sincerely. “You are such a good designer, Mia! You’re going to be famous someday.”
    I blushed a little bit, and Mom leaned over to see my sketch. She smiled. Being a famous fashion designer would be so cool. But I know that takes a lot of hard work, and a lot of luck, too.
    Finally the train pulled into Penn Station. It’s always crazy when everyone gets off the train, with people running in every direction, but Dad always waits in the same spot for me, by this big pillar by the ticket counter.
    When the doors opened up and we walked to the concourse level, I saw him standing there. Dad always looks like a movie star to me. He had on a warm black coat that wasn’t puffy at all, and shiny black shoes and an olive green scarf around his neck. Dad wears glasses with black rims, buton him they don’t look old-fashioned, they look smart.
    I ran up and hugged him.
    â€œHello, mija !” he said. “It’s good to see you.”
    Ava and my mom walked up behind me.
    â€œHello, Alex,” my mom said. Her voice sounded friendly, but a little cold at the same time.
    â€œHi, Sara,” dad replied, and he just sounded uncomfortable.
    Ava looked around. “Where’s my mom?” she asked.
    â€œShe texted me and said she’s a little bit late,” Mom answered. “But we’ll all wait with you until she gets here.”
    And so we waited, and it was totally awkward. Mom and Dad were talking to me instead of each other.
    â€œMia, how are you doing in school?”
    â€œMia, is it colder in New Jersey?”
    â€œMia, tell your father about your Valentine’s Day cupcakes.”
    I realized that this was probably the longest time my parents had spent in the same place since their divorce. No wonder it was awkward.
    Finally, Mrs. Monroe came rushing up. “I’m so sorry! The subways are so slow on Sunday.”
    â€œThat’s all right,” Mom told her. “Thank you for letting Ava stay with us. She’s a pleasure to have around.”
    â€œAnd so is Mia,” Mrs. Monroe said. She