The Gossip File by Anna Staniszewski Page A

said I’d be at the café for a couple of days, and it’s been three.”
    â€œWell, to be honest with you, Rachel, it’s been hard to find someone. But I’m looking, I promise. And if we can’t find someone by next week, the café will just manage without you, okay?”
    I let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank you.” If I have to spend my whole vacation working, not only will I never have time to reconnect with Dad, but I’ll feel even more cheated.
    Ellie looks at her watch. “Do you mind if I send you off to the café? The morning rush should be starting soon.”
    â€œNo, wait!”
    Her eyebrows shoot up. “What’s the matter?”
    Just say it, I tell myself. Just casually bring it up and see what she says. “I need to ask you something else…about my dad.”
    Her face relaxes. “Of course. I could talk about your father all day.” Since I’ve heard how much she talks, I don’t doubt it.
    I clear my throat. “Well, I’ve been trying to convince him that we should go to Disney for a few days, but he never has any time.”
    â€œHe’s been so busy at work—”
    â€œIt’s not just that! It’s…it’s you!” I blurt out. “With your date nights and your pizza and stuff. How am I supposed to hang out with him when you’re taking up all his time?” So much for being casual.
    Ellie gives me a long look. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Rachel. Of course I don’t want to come between you and your father, but we’re going to be family soon. Don’t you think we should get used to sharing him?”
    But I don’t want to share him! my brain screams. Not all the time, anyway. “I’ve been planning this trip to Disney with him since I was little,” I say. “I’ve come all this way. It has to happen.”
    I can hear how desperate my voice sounds, and I guess it must get through to Ellie because she finally says, “You’re right. If you want to go to Disney, then we’ll go to Disney.”
    Oh my goldfish. Why does she have to always assume that she’s invited to everything? Can’t I have even one day alone with my dad?
    â€œWait!” Ellie adds, sitting up in her seat. “It would be the perfect spot! Why didn’t I think of it before? I mean, Disney is supposed to be the most magical place on earth.”
    â€œPerfect spot for what?” I say.
    â€œFor me to propose to your father!” she says.
    All I can do is stare at her, my breath frozen in my chest like it’s been glued there.
    â€œDon’t say a word to him, okay? I want it to be a complete surprise.” She checks her watch again. “Oops! It’s getting late. We don’t want to leave Carrie and Taylor all alone during the rush, do we?” She shoos me toward the door. “Don’t worry, Rachel. Just leave all the planning to me,” Ellie adds, giving me a little wink before she shuts the door in my face.

Chapter 15
    While Taylor is eating lunch and Carrie is checking stock in the back, I sneak under the counter and grab the Gossip File. At this point, I’m desperate. There has to be something in here that can help me break up my dad and Ellie.
    As the thought forms in my head, I realize that as bad as it sounds, that’s exactly what I have to do. I can’t let Ellie ruin everything. My dad can’t be happy with her when he never jokes around and works all the time and does what she wants every second of the day. Once Ellie is out of his life, I’ll be able to get my old dad back.
    I flip through the notes, trying to make sense of things like: “Girl in purple with blue icing,” and slogging my way through boring stuff like “Kai got to the smoothie stand at 8:05 a.m., two minutes later than yesterday.” I think Harriet the Spy would be a little disappointed.
    I try to find more things