Light Up New York Page 3

  * * *

  There was a small outdoor skating rink in a park within walking distance from the hotel. The minute Lulu had her skates on, she launched herself onto the ice. Mom and Dad had to hurry to catch up, and soon they were all gliding across the ice. Mia tried not to be jealous as she stood next to Maddie and Miss Julia, watching. If only she could skate like that. Lulu raised her hand to wave, and wobbled a little on her skates, making Mia feel slightly better. Then, guilt swept through her. Why did she sometimes have such unkind thoughts when it came to Lulu? It wasn’t that she didn’t want good things for her little sister. It was just so hard when it seemed Lulu tried to ruin things for Mia and Maddie. But this time, so far, so good. Lulu hadn’t put up too much of a fuss about the Rise and Shine appearance.

  “We should probably go.” Miss Julia checked the time on her phone. “Bubblegum Suds is a few blocks away, and our appointment is in about ten minutes.”

  “Bubblegum Suds?” Maddie asked.

  Miss Julia shook her head. “With a name like that, I can’t wait to see what this salon looks like.”

  Mia took Miss Julia’s hand in one of her gloved hands, and Maddie’s in the other. “We’re going to be on television, Maddie! Can you believe it?” Finally, she didn’t have to stuff down her excitement so she wouldn’t hurt Lulu’s feelings. Television!

  Maddie squeezed Mia’s hand back. She wasn’t bouncing out of her skin like Mia, but she also wasn’t instantly worried. A few months ago, she would have panicked about appearing on television. Maddie had changed a lot since last summer, starting with the trip to London, and then when she’d performed in the benefit at the Grand Ole Opry this fall. Mia wondered if she, personally, had changed as much as her sister. Then she remembered how upset she’d been this summer about all the ways Maddie was changing. Just the fact that she was proud of her sister now was definitely a change. Like Mom said, just because they were sisters didn’t mean they had to do every single thing together. And then, when they did choose to do something together, like the album, being together made the project all the more fun.

  “Ruby!” Maddie said, stopping right in the middle of the sidewalk.

  “We haven’t told her!” Mia said, picking up on Maddie’s unspoken thought.

  “She’ll be excited, won’t she?” Maddie asked. “I mean, she won’t feel left out?”

  “She might . . .” Mia thought about how Ruby might feel. Then she added, “But we can mention her. You know she’ll just be excited that so many people will hear about the album.”

  “We’ll have to call her after your hair appointments,” Miss Julia said. “Because we’re here!”

  SIX

  Black-and-white stripes and polka dots filled Bubblegum Suds salon. Pink highlights broke up the pattern—a pillow or throw rug, a border on a mirror.

  “Welcome to Bubblegum Suds, ladies.” The receptionist stood to greet them. “You must be the Glimmer girls.”

  Mia wondered for a split second if they were starting to become famous. They had recorded an album and now were going to be on Rise and Shine. But then she realized Mom had made an appointment for them. Of course the receptionist was expecting them. Mia rearranged her look of surprise into what she hoped was a more appropriate, ordinary smile. With any luck, the receptionist wasn’t quick to read thoughts on other people’s faces. And hopefully, Maddie and Miss Julia had been too busy saying hello to have noticed.

  “These are for you.” The receptionist handed over black-and-white-striped smocks with pink sashes folded neatly on top.

  She pointed them toward the dressing rooms and also pointed out two empty chairs across the room. “After you’re changed, Rhea and Walden will be your stylists. You can meet them over there.”

  Mia wasn’t sure what the woman meant by changing, but it must have something to do with the smocks. She’d never had to change when she went to the hair salon back home.

  Miss Julia ushered them toward the dressing rooms and explained. “Hang your shirts on a hanger, girls, and then put on the smocks.”

  “Why?” Maddie asked.

  “Keeps you from getting pieces of hair caught in your clothes,” Miss Julia said.

  “That is itchy,” Mia pointed out.

  They changed, then crossed the salon and climbed up into their side-by-side chairs.

  “I’m Rhea,” said the woman behind Mia’s chair. Like Mia, she wore glasses, but hers were small and rectangular, with bright blue frames. Rhea had matching blue streaks scattered through her layered black hair.

  “And I’m Walden,” the other woman said, and fluffed Maddie’s hair. “Let me guess. You want hot pink highlights.”

  Maddie eyed Walden’s spiky hair, each spike tipped with lime green. Walden laughed, the kind of laughter that made Mia feel much more comfortable.

  “I’m kidding.” Walden checked her notes. “Your mom said a trim and a blowout. We’ll make you beautiful for Rise and Shine tomorrow. Shall we go wash your hair?”

  Mia and Maddie followed the stylists to the wash basins. Miss Julia went back to the reception area to wait. Mia soaked the experience in—the warm water flowing through her hair, the jasmine smell of the shampoo, the fluffy towel Rhea wrapped around her head after the washing was done.

  As they made their way back to their chairs, Mia realized the mood in the salon had changed. Excitement fizzled and sparked across the room. The receptionist and Miss Julia stood by the window, watching something happening outside.

  “What’s going on?” Mia asked.

  Instead of climbing into her chair, Maddie stood on her tiptoes, trying to see. “It’s a news camera, I think.”

  “Probably the Snow Angel again,” Rhea said.

  “The who?” Maddie asked.

  “Climb on up, and we’ll tell you,” Walden said.

  Mia watched in the mirror as Rhea unwrapped her hair. It tumbled down around her shoulders in damp clumps.

  Rhea spritzed Mia’s hair with a sweet-smelling vanilla spray and then started pulling a comb through. “About three weeks ago, someone started leaving little gifts for people around the city. With each gift, they left a paper snowflake.”

  “Maybe it started even earlier than that,” Walden said. “No one really knows.”

  “The thing is,” Rhea continued, warming to the topic as she took out her scissors and started to snip, “you’d think the Snow Angel would want credit for all the good things he’s doing.”

  “Or she,” Walden put in.

  “Or she,” Rhea agreed. “But for whatever reason, the Snow Angel has kept his or her identity secret.”

  “I’m sure the mystery is the reason the whole thing has captured so much attention,” Walden said.

  “What kind of gifts?” Maddie asked.

  “Blankets, shoes, thick socks, groceries. One time, the Snow Angel left a Red Rider wagon for a homeless woman. Up to that point, the woman had to lug around her possessions in soggy bags.”

  “And remember the birthday cake?” Walden asked.

  “There was this old man who lived in a tiny walk-up, all by himself. And he always kept to himself. In fact, all his neighbors said he was the kind of man who would snap at you for the tiniest of things. But on his birthday, the Snow Angel left him a birthday cake on his front stoop. With candles.”

  “That’s why it’s been so hard for everyone to figure out who the Snow Angel might be,” Rhea said. “The gifts show up all over town, so we can’t pin down where he might live or work.”

  “And the gifts aren’t random,” Walden added. “They’re specific to each person. The Snow Angel seems to know each of the people who receive the gifts, or at least knows something important or personal. But how could one person know so many random people all over town?”

  “A mystery,” Maddie said, catching Mia’s eye.

  “One that everyone in the city has been trying to solve for weeks now,” Walden said.

  Mia knew exactly what Maddie was thinking. Unlike a scavenger
hunt around the Met, this was a real live mystery. Looking for clues and solving puzzles made exploring new places more fun. What’s more, the Glimmer girls had proved themselves to be excellent detectives. What if they could solve a mystery that not even well-trained New York reporters could solve?

  “Do they have any guesses about who the Snow Angel might be?” Mia asked, trying not to be too obvious as she slipped into clue-gathering mode.

  “There are theories, of course. Some people think it’s a philanthropist who wanted to give his or her money away in a more personal way.”

  “Or a brand, like Coca-Cola, who will eventually claim the giving spree as a marketing campaign.”

  “I hope it’s not a big brand,” Rhea said. “Can’t someone just be doing all this from the goodness of her heart?”

  “Maybe . . .” Walden’s mouth rose in a half smile. “But probable?”

  The question lingered in the air as Rhea and Walden took out hair dryers and started them up. Section by section, Mia’s hair smoothed out and curled under at the ends. Even though Rhea had styled Mia’s hair close to the way she wore it every day, the extra attention made it glossy and light and full of body. Walden blew Maddie’s hair dry with a little curl in it. Hopefully their hair would stay this way, even when they slept on it tonight.

  Finally, Rhea and Walden turned the hair dryers off and spun Maddie and Mia’s chairs so they could see the backs of their heads.

  “I love it!” Maddie said.

  “Me too,” Mia said.

  “Off you go, then. And break a leg tomorrow,” Rhea said, glancing over to check with Walden. “That’s what you say for TV, right? Break a leg, like in the theater.”

  Walden shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”

  Mia and Maddie waved, and after Miss Julia paid, they headed out the door.

  “Off to Serendipity,” Miss Julia said. “We’re meeting everyone for frozen hot chocolate!”

  SEVEN

  When Mia saw the Serendipity sign up ahead, she caught Maddie’s arm. “Should we tell Lulu about the Snow Angel?”

  They’d discussed the case all the way from Bubblegum Suds, and Mia’s mind raced with ideas. As tourists, they’d have tons of opportunities to look for clues all over the city. And now that she and her sisters had solved three mysteries in less than a year, Mia felt like an expert. Plus, the Snow Angel mystery was all fun, no danger. Mom and Dad wouldn’t have any reason to worry, would they? The only trouble was Lulu. What if she made the mystery yet another way to grab all the attention for herself?

  “She’ll find out.” Maddie shook her head. “The minute she notices us looking for clues, she’ll know we have a secret. You know she’ll be curious. Crazy curious. Maybe the mystery will be like the album project. Maybe she’ll lose interest as soon as we include her.”

  “Maybe,” Mia said, but she wasn’t convinced.

  “Coming, girls?” Miss Julia asked, waiting in Serendipity’s doorway.

  The minute Miss Julia opened the door, the warm chocolate smell curled around the girls, drawing them inside the New York City restaurant that was famous for its desserts.

  “Yum,” Maddie sighed, as they made their way across the room to the table where Mom, Dad, and Lulu were already sitting, waiting.

  “Serendipity is famous for frozen hot chocolate,” Mom said as the girls and Miss Julia walked up.

  “Wait, how can it be frozen and hot?” Mia asked.

  Dad winked. “Let’s order some and find out.”

  As he headed toward the counter, the girls slid into the booth opposite Mom and Lulu.

  “I did a double twirl!” Lulu said, nearly bursting with her news. “And people clapped!”

  “She was pretty amazing,” Mom acknowledged, then tilted her head one way and then another, studying Mia’s and Maddie’s hair. “And it looks like you had a successful trip too. Your hair is beautiful, girls.”

  “Mmph.” Lulu tugged on Mom’s arm. “I want to get my hair done! You said I get to be in the audience for Rise and Shine. Maybe they’ll call me up on stage!”

  “Lulu, remember what we talked about,” Mom said.

  Mia could tell this must have been a long conversation, and one that Lulu hadn’t liked much. Lulu pouted, her struggle to hold back all the things she’d like to say clear on her face. In the end, she couldn’t completely hold back. “Well, I’m on the album too.”

  But just in one song . . . Mia managed to bite her tongue and not say this aloud. Just then, Dad returned with the most giant glass ever, filled with something chocolate and whipped cream, and six spoons.

  “I figured we only needed one of these monsters,” Dad said.

  “Whoa!” Lulu breathed.

  Everyone took a bite, and for a moment, no one said anything at all. The chocolate was creamy and delicious. Mia couldn’t wait to take another bite, and another, but it was so rich that she couldn’t eat it fast. She took her time with each bite, savoring the chocolaty goodness.

  Finally, after a few bites, Lulu broke the silence. “Yummmmm.”

  Everyone nodded, and then burst out laughing. Around the table, everyone wore the exact same “I’m in chocolate bliss” smile.

  After a couple more bites, Maddie said, “Lulu, guess what?”

  “Hmm?” Lulu asked, looking up from her spoon.

  “While we were at Bubblegum Suds, we heard about a New York mystery. Mia and I think the Glimmer girls should solve the case!”

  “Wait a second . . .” Dad started.

  “Not a dangerous mystery,” Mia was quick to add. “There’s this person who’s been leaving gifts all over the city, and with them, a paper snowflake. Everyone’s calling this person the Snow Angel and trying to figure out who the person is. But so far, the Snow Angel’s identity is a total mystery.”

  Mom’s face lit up. “I love that! The Snow Angel!”

  “We saw reporters outside Bubblegum Suds . . . What were they doing, exactly, Miss Julia?” Maddie asked.

  “Interviewing some people from the neighborhood. Someone had received a snowflake gift nearby. The reporters hoped someone in the neighborhood might have seen the Snow Angel. Or at the very least, hoped someone had seen something unusual that could help them solve the mystery of the Angel’s identity.”

  “But no one had?” Mom asked.

  “No,” Miss Julia said. “While I was waiting for the girls, I watched some of the other Snow Angel interviews on my phone. Whoever the Snow Angel is, he or she is extremely sneaky. Even after three weeks of gift-giving, no one has any idea who he or she might be.”

  “Odd.” Dad frowned at his spoon, and then dug in for another bite. “But it’s wonderful that, for once, the breaking news is actually good news.”

  “So it’s okay for us to take the case?” Mia asked.

  “Take the case, huh?” Dad asked. “Soon, we’re going to have to print business cards for you girls.”

  “Glimmer Girls Detective Agency,” Lulu said, and launched into the theme song she’d composed back in London.

  “As long as you remember we are here to have fun on this trip,” Mom said. “Mysteries have a way of taking over. And remember, girls, you have Rise and Shine tomorrow too. We already have a lot going on.”

  “But looking for clues is fun,” Maddie said. “It makes you look more closely at things, the way an artist might.”

  “That’s true . . .” Mom said.

  “And we wouldn’t be putting ourselves in any kind of danger,” Mia said. “This is just a fun puzzle to solve.”

  Miss Julia eyed each one of them in turn. “And you promise there will be no running off?”

  “We promise!” Lulu thumped her fist on the table, making all the spoons jump with a clatter. “So, where do we look for clues?”

  Mia tried not to sigh as a little of her excitement sizzled out. God, what’s wrong with me? she asked silently. Why can’t I just be happy that Lulu is happy?

  Sometimes she wished God would answer immediately
and in a way that was easy to understand. She knew prayer wasn’t like rubbing a genie lamp. God had reasons for answering right away sometimes, and for waiting at other times. But for what seemed like forever, God had been silent when it came to Lulu. A lot of the time, when Mia knew she had an attitude that wasn’t right, she could work hard and fix it. But with Lulu, even though Mia knew how she wanted to feel in her mind, a lot of the time, her heart didn’t cooperate.

  “We thought we could start by researching where the Snow Angel left each of the gifts,” Maddie said. “Maybe mark them on a map and see if we notice anything, like a pattern.”

  “That’s smart thinking,” Dad said. “We can pick up a New York City map on the way home.”

  “Will you help us look up a list of the gifts, Miss Julia?” Mia asked.

  “You bet!” she said, taking out her phone. “Sounds like the perfect job for me.”

  “Let’s go now, then, and get started!” Lulu said.

  They took the last bites of their frozen treat, and then bundled up to head back to the hotel.

  EIGHT

  Even though the girls were anxious to start working on their map, making it back to the hotel took forever. First, Dad took them on a detour to try out a coffee shop.

  “What do you think?” Mom had asked.

  “Maybe a 7 out of 10,” Dad said. “We’ll have to keep looking.”

  “The map!” the girls insisted.

  So, they had gone into a gift shop and found a map of the city and some postcards to send home. Across the street from the gift shop, Dad noticed another coffee shop he wanted to try. While he and Mom went in to taste another cappuccino, Miss Julia took the girls into an art store nearby. The girls decided to choose a red pen for marking up their map. They found one with a thick felt tip, and decided it was perfect. Maddie went through the shop aisle by aisle, carefully examining paints, sketchbooks, and pencils.