He shrugs. “We broke up ten years ago. I don’t think we’re functionally the same people we were back then. She only dated me because it pissed off Tom.”
“What?” I crane my neck so that I can look at him better. “I thought Tom liked you.”
“He does now. But I was an angry, messed up kid from TNS back then. He didn’t want that around his littleangel. Maybe it would be different now. I don’t really care. Amy is a kind, capable woman. I would love to work with her. But that’s where it ends for me.”
He glances at me, as if he knows I’ve been worrying. I find myself thinking,give it time. Underneath his stalwart skin, Sid Charles is a tender person. He would fall in love easily, if someone only gave him affection in return. It’s tragic no one is trying to love him—which is probably why I keep imagining Amy doing just that. Someoneshouldlove him, but I’m here getting in the way.
The least I can do is keep up my end of our bargain. “Well… if you really want to campaign with Amy, then we can ask April what she thinks.”
“Thanks.” Sid smiles. “I think it would be a good test run, before we do larger campaign events. A smaller, more controlled crowd full of people already on our side.”
“You figure Tom is still on our side, then? Even if you don’t divorce me?”
Sid sighs. “I hope so. But I could ask Amy to leave him off the guest list, if you really want me to.”
“No. That will tip her off that things are bad between us.”
There’s a pause that lasts long enough, I think we’ve fallen into our typical bus silence. But then Sid says in little more than a whisper, “She would understand.”
That’s what I was scared he would say. I’ve got nothing against Amy herself, aside from that she didn’t finish her salad. But as far as I’m concerned, she’s guilty by association, even if no one can choose their family. Anything we tell her could worm its way back to Tom.
“I need to get used to being around him, anyway.”
“Okay,” says Sid, squeezing my shoulder, which gives me a pleasant buzz. We really are becoming the team we hoped to be.
Secretly, I’m praying April objects to this whole plan before it gets off the ground.
***
WHO DO Ithink I’m kidding? April is thrilled by the idea. Unlike me, she has heard of the Reinventor’s Guild already. It’s come up during her science classes.
“Kayla, we’ve got to do the tour!” Her eyes are massive. “They do so many cool things there! Everyone else got to go on a field trip last year, but Imissedit. I’ve missed everything! But if I can get a tour with one of the directors—”
“Don’t worry. She seemed super keen on it.”
“This is so amazing! Thank you!” She hugs me and then, to everyone’s surprise, throws her arms around Sid. Afterward, April goes spinning off around the empty living room and Sid and I stare at each other, no doubt wondering the same thing. Does she even know how incredible what she did was? What it means?
She’s safe. My sister feels safe.
It takes a while for Amy to work us into her schedule, but a week or so later, the special day arrives. She sets up the tour on a weekend so that April can come without missing school. The three of us get off the bus just before we reach town, then follow Sid up a gravel path strewn with a carpet of maple and oak leaves. As we crest the top of the hill, we come face to face with a large barn. A high-pitched whining noise alerts me that something more than cows wait inside.
“What the hell is that?” I ask.
“Power drill, probably,” Sid says.
“Power? So electric?”
“Yup. The Reinventor’s Guild is one of the few places on consistent wiring.”
“Amazing!” April crows.
I spot Amy standing by a shed adjoining the main barn. A small crowd is gathered behind her, but her red hair stands out. She’s wearing the same, sharp black dress as before, but this time I also notice the polished high-heels on her feet. Next to her, a woman holds what looks like an old cellphone. I can’t imagine what it’s for—until she holds it up in front of us as we march up the hill. “Say cheese.”
Is this the camera Amy was so excited about? I guess it’s impressive that there’s enough spare electricity on Salt Spring to run a cellphone at all, but how do they get the photos off it and into the newspaper? They can’t still have working printers, can they?
“You’re here! And this must be the lovely April I’ve heard so much about,” says Amy, offering hugs and handshakes as we join the circle.
“You’ve heard of me?” April goes slightly white.
