“We didn’t have a home, Mom and I, the first six years of my life. We slept in cars and homeless shelters. She did a lot of stealing, and a lot of sleeping around. You never knew that, did you?” Claire asked. Sydney had the Coke can halfway to her mouth, frozen. She slowly shook her head and lowered the can. “Sometimes I got the feeling you romanticized what her life was like before she came back to Bascom. I don’t know if she ever intended to stay, but when we came here, I knew I was never going to leave again. The house and Grandma Waverley were permanent things, and when I was young, that’s all I ever dreamed of. But then you were born, and I was so jealous of you. You were given that security from the moment you entered the world. It’s my fault, our relationship as kids. I made it contentious because you were from here and I wasn’t. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’m not good at being a sister. I’m sorry I’m not good with Tyler. I know you want me to be. But I can’t seem to help it. I can’t help but think how temporary everything is, and I’m scared of that kind of temporary. I’m scared of people leaving me.”

“Life is about experience, Claire,” Sydney finally said. “You can’t hold on to everything.”

Claire shook her head. “I think it might be too late for me.”

“No, it’s not.” Sydney suddenly slapped the quilt beside her angrily. “How could Mom ever think that was the kind of life for a child? It’s inexcusable. I’m ashamed of myself for envying her, and there are times I think I’ve turned out just like her, but I’m not leaving you. Never. Look at me, Claire. I’m not leaving.”

“Sometimes I wonder what her reason was. She was a smart woman. Evanelle told me she was a crackerjack student before she dropped out. Something had to have happened.”

“Whatever the reason, there’s no excuse for her messing up our lives like she did. We can get past this, Claire. We can’t let her win. Okay?”

Words were easier said than implemented, so Claire said, “Okay.” Then she wondered how in the world she was going to get past something that had taken her decades to perfect.

They stared at the water for a while. Bay had grown tired of the splashing game, and she swam back to the beach and walked over to Claire and Sydney. Henry and Tyler were still splashing at each other, each trying to make the biggest splash with his hand.

“Look at those two,” Sydney said. “Boys, the both of them.”

“This is nice,” Claire said.

Sydney put her arm around her. “Yes, it is.”