Another question that went unanswered. And remained unanswered throughout the next five minutes. Then ten. After fifteen minutes of waiting, Lil texted her. At twenty minutes, Neil tried calling. Voicemail.

Finally, half an hour after they’d set up for the picnic, Indi texted. He’s running late. Go ahead and eat.

A full hour into the picnic and Indi still hadn’t arrived and what had started off as a merry, carefree evening had devolved into edgy concern and stilted conversation, Wilder doing most of the talking. His way of trying to ease the mood, certainly—surely even Lilian recognized that. Neil was just about to give in and go looking for his sister when Maggie’s sudden exhale let him know he wouldn’t have to.

He twisted his body to see Indi walking in their direction. Trudging, more like. Slowly. So the guy had stood her up. He stuffed his last bite of blueberry crumble in his mouth, knowing if he wasn’t chewing he’d end up wearing a frown that wouldn’t make Indi feel any better.

His sister stopped at the edge of the blanket, a heaviness tugging at her every feature. “He couldn’t make it.”

If there was more to the explanation, she clearly didn’t want to give it. Or maybe was too upset to.

“I filled you a plate, dear.” Maggie scooted to make room for her.

But Indi only shook her head. “Not really hungry.”

Any second now, Lilian would start in on the questions. Like always, needing to know the facts of a problem so she could figure out how to fix it.

But that’s not what Indi needed. Not in this moment.

He reeled to his feet. “Well, if you’re not eating, and now that we’re all here, are we doing this or what?”

Lilian’s forehead wrinkled. “Doing what?”

“You know what. Wilder, you’re in, aren’t you?”

Just as he knew he would, his friend jumped up. “Always.”

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re reviving this old game.” Maggie closed a container of pasta salad and replaced it in the basket. “I’m going to be stuck with a houseful of runny noses. You’ll all catch colds.”

“Old wives’ tale, Maggie,” Neil said as he peeled off his boot. “Indi?”

For a second, he thought she might refuse. But after a beat, she shook her shoulders, as if dusting off her disappointment. “Let it never be said I backed down from a challenge.”

“You’re cracked.” Lilian folded her arms. “All three of you.”

Sydney tipped her head to those of the group standing. “What’s going on?”

Maggie tsked. “Oh, nothing more than my fool children—”

“Plus me.” Wilder hopped on one foot as he yanked his shoe off the other foot.

“Plus Wilder,” Maggie amended, “about to give themselves pneumonia by trouncing into an ice-cold ocean for no other reason than to prove they can.”