Fiona was puzzled. “What did Miss Webster mean by it making a wonderful memory? That was an odd thing to say.”

“I don’t know. Maybe she means we’re building family memories, you know, if they adopt us, which would, anyhow, feel weird,” said Natasha, looking suddenly solemn. “I mean I like them both, Miss Webster and Mr. Pettinger. Don’t get me wrong. But…they’re not going to be like replacing Mom and Dad, right? I mean, they aren’t really family. I don’t want them to be family. Not in that way. It doesn’t feel right. It feels too make-believe or something.”

“No, I know what you mean,” said Fiona swiftly. “But Nat, we’ve got to have an adult legally. It’s important.”

“Why can’t we just go on as we are?”

“You know that would be fine with me but there’s things, business things I would find easier if I had a grown-up in charge.”

“Maybe you should show the business things to me. Maybe I could help,” said Natasha.

“No, trust me, if I can’t figure some things out, you haven’t a chance.”

“And where are we going to put Miss Webster and Mr. Pettinger if they move in?” asked Natasha. “Nobody’s figured that out yet. I mean even if Mr. Pettinger can build another bedroom where do they sleep in the meantime?”

“I don’t know, Nat. I guess we’ll have to worry about that later. I don’t know what to tell you except that having them here is the lesser of two evils.” Fiona felt ungrateful putting it that way after all Miss Webster had done for them and especially on a day when she’d bought them so much stuff. But she knew what Natasha meant. Miss Webster and Mr. Pettinger, while wonderful people and their first choice for guardians, were still not family. It would still be awkward and weird living with them. Like having permanent house guests.

“I’m going to go look for birds with my new binoculars,” said Natasha, and jumped off the porch, leaving Fiona alone.

I’m not going to worry for the rest of the day, thought Fiona. Worry can get to be a habit like anything else if that’s all you do. I’m not doing any more today. I’m taking a holiday. And she too went to put away her new sneakers and purple rain boots and pink summer shirt and to make sure the balloon bouquet was securely tied to a kitchen chair. This had been a wonderful day and tomorrow with the party would be an even better one.

The Party

SUNDAY dawned as beautiful a June day as you could find. Charlie was restlessly running around the house, always with her fashion doll in hand, more excited than anyone about the party. Fiona and Natasha were doing their usual Sunday clean of the house and Marlin was putting cake layers together and decorating the top and sides of the cake with her new cake-decorating tools.

“Charlie, can you set the table?” said Fiona as she and Natasha strung the banners.