“I told everyone not to assume,” said Fiona wearily. She did not want to divulge even to Marlin how cruel her disappointment had been.

“I guess those presents they bought us were like good-bye presents, not welcome-to-the-family presents,” said Marlin bitterly.

“Marlin, they had no obligation to do anything for us.”

“I know, but jeez, they’re still kind of just abandoning us like Al said.”

“No, they aren’t. They’re getting on with their lives and we will too.”

“I still think it kind of sucks on their part.”

“It doesn’t really. They didn’t even know we were thinking about adoption.”

“And what’s with Al and his no one but he can be published? I’m not keeping his sucky ring either. I can’t wait to throw it back at him. I will be the second McCready to do so. Maybe he ought to start wondering why no one likes him, maybe he should…”

“Marlin…we need the money. We’re keeping the ring.”

There was a silence, then Marlin said, “Okay.” There was another silence before she added, “But it galls me to do so.”

“I know,” said Fiona. “I’m sorry. But it was still, as Miss Webster said, a generous present.”

“I don’t think I can ever call them Diana and Don.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that much longer anyway,” said Fiona.

And then they were both quiet and the stars moved on their slow nightly trip, the Big Dipper traversing from one corner of the window to the other until finally both girls, lost in their private tangle of thoughts, fell asleep.

The Dance

AT the end of the week there was an assembly at Greenwillow Elementary. Natasha told Fiona about it on the bus ride home. The new principal was introduced and the school said good-bye to Miss Webster. On Saturday Miss Webster and Mr. Pettinger stopped by the farm briefly to say good-bye. Miss Webster left them her sewing machine, saying it was too heavy to pack, and Mr. Pettinger left them some tools he didn’t want to take with him or sell. And then they were off to the airport.

“It seems so strange,” said Marlin. “It’s like they were this fixture and then poof, they’re gone.”

“A little too much of that going on,” muttered Fiona before she remembered to be positive again.

Fiona was a bit worried that the new principal would, despite Miss Webster’s assurances, somehow find out about them and call social services but when a week and a half passed and nothing happened she began to relax. The end of school was coming up that Friday and the dance was the Saturday night following and then they were free until September. The younger girls were excited about summer vacation and Fiona was excited about the dance. More excited than she had been about anything for a long time.

On the last day of school as they got off the bus and headed down their driveway to the house, Fiona finally told her sisters.