“Yes, well,” he said. Then he shook himself out slightly. “And there’s another matter. Maybe even a more important matter as far as you’re concerned. Al Farber has been in to see me. He has asked me to speak to you about a delicate matter. He did not want to speak of it himself because he is of the impression that you”—he nodded to Fiona—“were not interested in talking to him. But he feels that it’s in Charlie’s best interest and so he asked me to come and put the matter before you. He knows that as much as I dislike him I would also approve the arrangement. For one thing I would no longer have to try to track you down.” He nodded at Fiona again. “Which has become a considerable pain in the neck, if you must know. And I do approve the arrangement, since it looks as if he has cleaned up his act as they say. Of course, I never did believe he’d been appointed your legal guardian although I was willing to cut you a great deal of slack waiting for proof. It was highly unprofessional on my part and highly uncharacteristic but all that I did concerning you I did for Martha. I tried to think what she would have wanted. I feel I have in that sense been true to her memory. I do not know what she would think but I do not think she would be displeased since he appears to be trying to move forward as an upright citizen despite, shall we say, his natural predilection. Of course, whether he can keep this up or not is unknown. And not that this plan he has come to me with is up to me. It is wholly up to the four of you.”

“What?” piped up Marlin, who, with Charlie and Natasha, had been eavesdropping from the kitchen and now that they could hear that nothing terrible was going on had crept out to the porch and seated themselves next to Fiona. “Is he talking about a book contract? Is it about my book?”

“A book contract?” said Mr. Pennypacker, raising his eyebrows in surprise. “No. He wants to adopt you.”

“Adopt us?” said Fiona in astonishment. She felt sure Mr. Pennypacker must have gotten this part wrong.

“Yes, all four of you.”

They sat silently stunned. Whatever Fiona had expected it had not been this.

“Would he, would he want to live here?” asked Fiona, because as much as she could see this taking care of a lot of problems and allowing the four of them to stay together she did not like the idea of Al Farber stomping around the house barking “WHAT!” day and night.

“No. He says he wants you to know that he has given up his, his, uh, beer habit and has gone back to writing but he does not wish to live in your house. However, his trailer can be moved to your property. He simply has to have some work done. A small septic field put in and some water lines run. If you are amenable to this, and to the adoption itself, he thinks it a good idea to, as he put it, get a move on before Mrs. Masterson sticks her nose in it again.”