“I don’t care about any of that,” said Charlie. “Just so long as it tastes good.”

Then Fiona told them everything she had learned at Mr. Pennypacker’s. “I think we’re going to be okay,” she finished cautiously. “Aunt Martha’s boat is up for sale so we’ll get some more money from that as well.”

She didn’t tell them what was worrying her, which was that the money they had, while seeming to be enough, mightn’t be. Not in the long run. She had not counted on so many bills and she knew she’d have to buy everyone clothes and shoes again in the fall. She also suspected there would be many more unanticipated expenses as time went by. Every time she had a budget made up she remembered something else. But for now, she said to herself, they were okay. Don’t borrow trouble, her mother had always said. She sighed. Well, she’d try not to.

Billy Bear

ALL went quietly and well that first month. Spring carpeted the meadows in blue wildflowers. Migrating Canada geese coming home passed over the house squawking each morning.

“Just think,” Natasha said in wonder, “we’re seeing Canada geese in Canada!”

Fiona told Miss Webster about Al’s role as the fake guardian one Sunday when she was making her inspection. She didn’t expect Miss Webster to be thrilled with this news and she wasn’t.

“The more people who are privy to this deceit, the more dangerous,” she said.

“I know,” said Fiona. “But we couldn’t help it.”

“Well, let him be the last,” said Miss Webster.

“We’ll try,” said Fiona.

Miss Webster nodded, saying she was otherwise impressed with how well the girls were doing on their own, and left small gifts of school supplies and school hoodies for all of them.

“She’s awfully nice,” said Marlin after she’d gone. “I wonder why she never married.”

“She could still marry,” said Fiona.

“She’s kind of old,” said Charlie.

“At least thirty,” agreed Marlin.

“Maybe she’s like Aunt Martha,” said Natasha. It fascinated them, this great-aunt they had never known but the accoutrements of whose life they seemed to have settled into. Almost as if they had settled into her life like being dragged along in the wake of her boat.

“Well, Aunt Martha could have married,” said Fiona. “Mr. Pennypacker and Al Farber both seem to have wanted her. I think Mr. Pennypacker carried a torch for Aunt Martha and was jealous of Al. That was my impression. And she didn’t seem to have cared for either of them.”

“Maybe that’s what made Al so cranky,” suggested Charlie.

“For years?” said Marlin skeptically. “Because that book was published ten years ago. Maybe he was so cranky to begin with she didn’t want anything to do with him.”

“It would be interesting to know the whole story,” agreed Fiona. “He doesn’t talk about any of that in the book. He just talks about her fishing.”

“I’m not asking him,” said Marlin.

“He does write that Martha said she was married to her boat,” said Natasha. “Maybe that’s a clue. And maybe Miss Webster is married to her job the way Martha was married to her boat and that’s why she isn’t married.”