“I’m not talking about myself. Just thinking, that’s all. I mean, it wouldn’t be that quick, would it? Do you think you know it’s going to happen? Or do you keep fighting, and trying to swim until it’s too late and then you just give up.”

Had Flora asked herself those questions? Been tormented by detail?

She couldn’t stop thinking that Flora had been on her own. No one protecting her.

Aiden rubbed her back gently. “What I think,” he said, “is that you should think about something else.”

“I bet Flora is thinking of nothing else, thanks to me.”

“She seemed fine.”

“That’s because she’s too polite to say what she was really thinking. She should have yelled at me, don’t you think? What do I have to do to make her yell and lose her temper?”

“She doesn’t strike me as the yelling type.”

Which made Izzy feel even worse. “Do you think my dad knows? Would you invite someone to spend three weeks on a lake if you knew they were terrified of water?”

“I don’t know. It depends on whether the person wants to stay away from water or not. Sometimes you choose to face the stuff that freaks you out.”

“Er—did you see her face when I invited her kayaking? She looked the way I did when you made me watch that horror movie when I was nine.”

“I remember. You turned green and threw up.” Aiden levered himself into his kayak, his weight and the movement making the boat rock. “Are you sure you want to do this? We can go back if you like. You can spend the day hanging out with Flora and beating yourself with sticks.”

“No. She deserves a break from me.” And she needed a break from Flora, too. Being around her made her feel bad about herself. “If I go back, my dad will tactfully find a way to talk about college and I have too much of a headache to handle that right now.” She immediately felt calmer being in her kayak. There was something about being this close to the water that soothed her. The lake stretched ahead in all directions. A pair of mallards scooted across the surface, ignoring Izzy, accepting her as part of life on the lake.

Aiden nudged her kayak with his. “Are you ready?”

She adjusted her grip on the paddle. “It’s been a year since we did this together. Can we go to the island?”

“Let’s stay close to shore today where it’s sheltered. The wind is picking up and the island isn’t an easy paddle.”

“Are you calling me a wimp again?”

“No. This time it’s me. I don’t think my muscles can take it.” He pushed off, paddling smoothly, his kayak gliding through the water.