“Saints preserve us!” Cordelia said fervently. “Oh, Kate.”

“Kate would want to stay on, living in the fourth floor apartment the Bakers are now occupying. Bessie quite frankly wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea, but felt it was Kate’s decision to make, and she asked me to make sure nothing went wrong with all the arrangements.”

“You know Bessie always treated me as if I couldn’t find my own way to the store,” Kate said fondly.

“I told Bessie that with the rectory just three doors down, there’d be no problem keeping an eye on everything, although I also told her that Kate is very much able to handle her own affairs,” the monsignor explained.

“I’ll love having Home Base here,” Kate said. “I’ve wanted to volunteer to help ever since you opened it, Cordelia, but Bessie needed me.”

Monsignor Ferris stood, smiling as he watched the news register on Sister Cordelia’s face. “I’ve always believed foresight should be considered a cardinal virtue,” he announced. “I happen to have a bottle of champagne cooling in the ice bucket. I think a toast to the Durkin sisters, Bessie and Kate, is in order.”

This is such wonderful news. So why am i so worried? Alvirah asked herself. Why am I sure that something is going to go wrong? Mentally she examined the possibilities in much the same way she might use her tongue to seek out the source of a toothache. It only took an instant to find the source of her concern: the Bakers.

“Are you sure you can get the Bakers out, Kate?” she asked. “It isn’t so easy to get rid of tenants these days.”

“Absolutely sure,” Kate said firmly. “The lease is for one year, and it’s up in January.