Blue Ribbon Summer Read Online Free

“There you are. Tammy!” he shouted. “Hurry up!”
    â€œComing, coming.” Brooke’s mother hurried in, herhigh heels click-clacking on the linoleum. She was still all dressed up in her Realtor outfit of blazer, skirt, and pantyhose. Brooke didn’t know how she stood it in this heat.
    â€œWhat’s happening, Daddy?” Ethan asked, looking away from the cookie just long enough for Emma to grab it and shove the entire thing into her mouth. “Hey!” Ethan yelped when he noticed.
    â€œNever mind the cookie, honeybun. I’ll take you out for ice cream after dinner if you want.” Brooke’s stepfather was obviously in a good mood. He grinned as Ethan cheered. Emma let out a whoop too, clearly assuming she was included in the ice cream offer.
    â€œWhat’s going on, Roger?” Brooke’s mother sounded slightly impatient. “I’m right in the middle of updating the website, and—”
    â€œI’m trying to tell you, okay?” he said. “Listen, you all know it’s been a pretty great month at the lot so far, right? Well, it got even better today. Some rich guy from D.C. saw my ad online and came all the way out from his beach house in St. Michaels and actually bought that old ’Vette I’ve had on the lot for months! Almost full asking price, too!”
    â€œReally?” Brooke’s mother sounded interested now. “That’s wonderful, sweetie.”
    â€œYou’re telling me.” He grinned. “And don’t worry, I’m planning to spread the joy around. Ta-da!” He ducked into the hallway, returning a moment later holding a large shopping bag emblazoned with the cheerful logo of the area’s largest toy store.
    â€œYay!” the twins cheered when they looked inside. “Thanks, Daddy!”
    â€œAnd for my favorite wife, I made reservations next Saturday night at that Italian place you like in Ocean City. We’ll make a weekend of it—I already called my sister, and she’ll keep the twins while we’re gone.”
    Brooke’s mother gasped. “Oh, Roger!”
    Brooke liked seeing her mother’s face light up as she grabbed her husband and kissed him, gushing about the restaurant and the romantic time they’d have. She liked seeing the twins so happy, too. But her stomach tightened as she realized her stepfather hadn’t mentioned what she’d be doing that weekend, and she couldn’t help wondering if she’d been forgotten once again. . . .
    â€œDon’t worry, Brookie, I saved the best for last.” Her stepfather turned to her with a wink. “See, that rich guy who bought the car told me he’s whisking his whole family off on a surprise trip to Paris. That’s why he was in such a hurry to make this deal—I guess they’re leaving in a couple of days.”
    â€œUm, okay,” Brooke said, a bit confused. Was her stepfather taking her to Paris? Somehow she doubted it.
    â€œSo the guy also told me his daughter had to pull out of her annual horse camp to go on the trip,” her stepfather continued. “That means there’s a spot open at her very exclusive camp, which happens to be located less than an hour from here.” He grinned. “At least, there was a spot open, until I called and signed you and Foxy up for it!”
    â€œWhat?” Brooke blurted out, still not quite understanding.
    â€œSurprise!” her stepfather sang out. “You and Foxy are going away to Camp Pocomoke for two weeks. You leave on Sunday.”

CHAPTER
3
    AN HOUR LATER, BROOKE STILL hadn’t quite wrapped her mind around her stepfather’s big surprise. She picked at her dinner, occasionally sneaking a peek at him, studying his broad, ruddy face as if she’d never seen it before. And in a way, she felt as if she hadn’t. He hardly seemed to notice her most of the time, and paid even less attention to