She gritted her teeth and tried not to yell “ow.” Her sister seemed determined to damage the few parts of her that weren’t already aching after the horse-riding.

Flora was rubbing Molly’s arms. “Did she fall? Hurt herself?”

“No. She just doesn’t want to go swimming. Although why she couldn’t just say that, I have no idea. It was only a suggestion. Molly, please stop crying.” Her head had been throbbing from the heat and the riding helmet. Now it was threatening to explode. She’d always assumed she’d get married and have kids at some point in her life, but she was starting to question that.

“She’s probably tired.” Flora sat down on the grass next to Molly. “You don’t have to swim if you don’t want to, Molly. You can swim tomorrow.”

“Don’t-want-to-swim-tomorrow.” Each word was punctuated with a jerky breath. “I don’t ever want to swim again!”

Izzy winced. Since when did her sister have such a loud and piercing voice? She was pretty sure their neighbors in Manhattan would have heard every word.

“Why don’t you want to swim, Moll? And why don’t you want me to swim?”

“Because you might drown and I don’t want you to die like Flora’s mommy.” She flung herself down on the grass and Izzy met Flora’s gaze above her sister’s sodden, heaving body.

She saw horror and guilt. Izzy was just relieved it wasn’t something she’d done.

“Oh Molly—” Flora rubbed the little girl’s shoulders. “I’m sorry I scared you.” She tugged Molly onto her lap, rocking her gently. “What happened to my mother wouldn’t happen to you.”

Molly sniffed and clung. “Why?”

Flora’s face was a whitish gray. She looked almost as upset as Molly. She looked at Izzy and her quick, reassuring smile was strained.

She doesn’t want to talk about it, Izzy thought, but then Flora settled herself more comfortably on the grass and did talk about it.

“My mother went swimming in deep water in the sea. And she didn’t have a life belt, or anyone with her. That isn’t what happens when you swim. You’re always with Izzy, or your daddy. You’re in your depth, and you have your floats.”

Molly scrubbed her face with her palm and peered at Flora. “But you don’t go swimming.”

“That’s not because it’s unsafe. It’s because—well, I’m scared of water.” Flora tightened her grip on Molly. “I probably should have done something about it long before now, but I never have. There isn’t much need or opportunity to swim where I live so I never had to push myself.”

Molly sniffed. “Daddy says it’s okay to be scared, but if you’re scared of something you should just do it.”