“We’re having a car wash,” Amelia said. “Tomorrow, starting at five so we can get the people coming home from work.”
“We are?” Liam said.
“Yup. To raise money for Winston.”
“I’ve got my Mandarin lesson. And then Dad’s taking me to get a new bike—”
“Mick’s idea. Be there.”
Amelia hung up before Liam could say another word, then called Roshni.
“Gabriella’s going to give us some of Zak and Lysander’s T-shirts for polishing rags,” Amelia said. “And Mick says he’s got tons of Turtle Wax.”
Amelia and Roshni were kneeling on the living-room floor, making a sign on a piece of cardboard. Amelia used a fat felt pen to print CAR WASH in huge black letters, with an arrow underneath, and Roshni filled in the letters with red, orange and purple.
Roshni had thought up the sign and come over first thing in the morning to help make it. “We’ll take turns standing on Hastings Street,” she said. “We’ll get tons of people.”
“Marguerite’s got a hose we can use,” Amelia said.
“What about buckets and sponges?”
Amelia thought for a moment. “Rachel.”
Roshni went home just before lunch, and Diane took Amelia shopping at the Lougheed Mall.
“Mother-daughter quality time,” she said. “I want you to try on a few things that you’d like for your birthday.”
Amelia picked out jeans with bleach streaks and a purple jacket, and Diane said, “You’ll have to pretend to be surprised when I give them to you.” Then she bought Amelia three tank tops, red, lime green and pink, to wear right away.
“Now. How about lunch at the Cactus Club for a treat?”
When they were settled at their table and had been served, Diane said, “Amelia, there’s something I want to tell you.”
Amelia peered at her mother over her plate of calamari. “You’ve met a guy. You’re crazy about him and you’re getting married and you’re putting me in foster care.”
Diane grinned. “Be serious. Your dad and I are having dinner tomorrow. Just to talk. We thought it would be nicer for you if we could start being civil with each other again.”
Amelia was silent for a moment. Then she said, “Any chance you might get back together?”
“No, sweetie. No, no. Even if Dad wanted to, I don’t.”
“You don’t?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, he’s got a baby now. He can’t just…well, abandon that family now and come back to us.”
“Right,” Amelia said.
But inside she thought, He could if he really wanted to.
When they got home, Amelia went straight down to Duke and Gabriella’s. The triplets’ stroller was parked by the door. Strawberry and Gabriella were sitting at the kitchen table with cups of tea.
Amelia’s mouth dropped open. “What happened? I mean, you look amazing, Strawberry. Your hair is gorgeous!”
“We put in some highlights to perk up her natural strawberry blond color,” Gabriella said. She winked at Amelia.
Strawberry’s cheeks turned pink. “I just came over with the money, and we started talking and—”
She burst into tears.
“Mon dieu!” Gabriella said. “You will ruin the makeup.” She leaped to her feet and grabbed a piece of paper towel. “Here, pat your face with this.”
Strawberry patted and sniffed and then gave them both a watery smile.
“I mean it—you really look beautiful,” Amelia said.
“Thanks to Gabriella,” Strawberry whispered. She showed Amelia her nails, which were silvery blue.
Gabriella shrugged. “I need to keep practising so that when I find a better job, I will be ready. I am going to specialize in complete makeovers.”
“Where are the babies?” Amelia said.
“In there.” Gabriella pointed to the living room.
Amelia peeked in the door. Duke and the triplets were fast asleep on the couch. Duke was snoring.
“He is a…what do you call it?” Gabriella said when Amelia came back.
“A natural,” Amelia said.