She waits until Mrs. Keller comes back downstairs, having napped after saying she wasn’t feeling well. Annie busies herself in the kitchen, washing the breakfast dishes, preparing lunch for Suzy, and smiles to herself as Mrs. Keller walks down to the lake, using her hand to shade her eyes.

She hears Mrs. Keller’s voice clearly through the open kitchen window. There is no wind that day to obscure it.

“Oh dammit, Suzy is getting burned. Georgia, did you put sunscreen on her before coming out here?” Georgia’s response is muffled by Suzy’s squeals. Annie knows that the little girl can’t feel the pain of the sunburn, that she’s only a bit pink. Annie wouldn’t have let the inconsiderate Georgia give Suzy a real burn.

She sees Mrs. Keller walking back to the house and she quickly ducks her head, busying herself scrubbing a pan. She assumes Mrs. Keller will go into the cabinet and bring out the pink-bottled sunscreen for Suzy. Suzy often points to the little blonde girl on the label and says “Suzy!” Annie always indulges her and says, “Yes, it’s you!”

But Mrs. Keller stops at the sink.

“Annie, what on earth! How could you forget Suzy’s sunscreen? You know how sensitive her skin is! It’s nearly ninety degrees outside, and she could have gotten a second-degree burn. I’m surprised by this. You’re always so diligent.”

Annie blinks rapidly, swallowing back her surprise. This was not how it was supposed to go. She sneaks a glance outside and sees Suzy and Georgia retreating from the water. Georgia has wrapped Suzy in a giant blue towel that trails over the grass as Suzy follows Georgia toward the house.

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Keller. I guess I forgot since I’m not out there with her today. I just assumed Georgia had it.” Mrs. Keller goes to the fridge and grabs a diet Snapple. She’s trying to quit smoking, and this is her new vice. She puts it to her forehead before taking a sip.

“Please don’t forget again. She’s still a baby, and we both know how much a bad burn hurts. You have pale skin, yourself.” She walks out without another word, and Annie feels an itching at the back of her throat, a sensation she hasn’t experienced in years.

Hot, angry tears form in the corner of her eyes, but she won’t let them fall. This wasn’t how it was meant to happen. Georgia was supposed to be the one scolded for her neglect, her idiocy, not Annie. But as she wipes at her eyes, watching Mrs. Keller’s retreating back, she knows she shouldn’t be surprised. Of course she has been blamed; Georgia is Mrs. Keller’s flesh and blood.