Grace shot Julie a look. “Fine. It’s just… well… Charlotte, what if he isn’t innocent? I mean, what if he’s just putting on a good front?”

And just like that, the kumbaya, sisters-forever mirror shattered. I picked up a shell and drew little lines in the sand with it distractedly. These virtual strangers had already stood by as I unpacked so very much of my baggage. I believed Bill. I truly did. But only a total moron would be so convinced of his innocence that she hadn’t even considered the alternative. After all, he had crossed the line before. But I needed Bill to be innocent. I needed Iris to have the stable, safe life that I had always dreamed of.

“He’s innocent, Grace. He can’t lie to me. He’s never been able to. And he certainly couldn’t convincingly lie about something this big.”

Grace nodded like she understood. I couldn’t open that what if can of worms. So I deflected. “I feel like you’ve heard nothing but my sob story lately,” I said. “What about you two? How are you doing?”

Julie smiled and Grace sighed. “I’m really great,” Julie said. “I’m starting to feel a little guilty, like maybe I’ve imposed on Alice too long. But we’re all so happy here that I can’t bear the thought of leaving.”

We all laughed as Brenna rolled off her boogie board and Merit scooped her up. Yet my heart palpitated nervously. If Julie left, that meant we all left, didn’t it? I felt so safe here, so protected. I didn’t want to leave.

“Noooo!” Grace said, echoing my thoughts. “If you leave, we have to leave!”

“Yeah,” I said. “At least you’re actually her family.”

“No, I know. And I know she loves us fiercely. But we are a full-time job. You guys are basically bed-and-breakfast tenants, but even easier because you cook and clean up after yourselves! I rely on her so much.” She paused. “Maybe too much?”

“Do you know what I think?” I asked. “I think that we, as women, are terrible at accepting help, even from the people who love us. I think that you and your girls bring an equal amount of joy to Alice as she brings help to you.”

Julie rested her head on my shoulder. “That is beautiful. Thank you.”

Audrey ran up. “Mama! I have to tinkle! Now!”

“Can’t you just go in the ocean?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Nooo!” she wailed. “The sharks will get me.”

“Sweetheart,” Julie said, “the sharks aren’t going to get you if you tinkle in the ocean.”

“Yes, they will,” she said, her little teeth chattering.

Julie smiled and stood up. “Okay, I think it might be time to get you in the bath.” She wrapped Audrey in a towel and shouted, “Girlies, it is officially bath time!”