As Camille, Socks, and Summer let themselves into the store, a long set of working chimes went off. Diana and Madeline, standing at the front counter, lifted their heads in unison.

Camille waved at them, then turned to Summer. “I’m heading to my office. Think about this, okay? And if you really want, I’ll find you something to do.” Then she took Socks and let herself in the back.

Left alone, Summer smiled at her cousins. Diana was tall and lanky, and wore her eye makeup so heavy that Summer always marveled that she could even open her eyes. She wore a peach halter top and matching skirt, a little diamante heart tattoo on her shoulder blade, and a scowl on her glossed mouth. Madeline had the same coltish physique but wore faded hip-hugging jeans, a snug, stretchy light-blue baby T, and next to no makeup.

Before Summer could greet either of them, Tina rushed out from the back. Like the rest of them, she was tall and lean, and though she was in her early forties, she tended to favor items from the Victoria’s Secret catalogue. Today she wore a silky camisole top with a matching skirt and sandals, ribbons laced up her calves. She had four silver hoops on one ear, matching the silver beginning to streak her deep red hair that tumbled in thick waves to her shoulders. She had the sparkling green eyes of a pixie and the smile of a saint as she came close for a warm hug. “Darling Summer,” she said. “It’s about time you showed your pretty face. I thought maybe you’d leave without coming by.”

The reproach was gentle, and easily swallowed. “I’m not leaving yet.”

Tina didn’t comment on that, just hugged her again. “The girls are thrilled.”

Madeline didn’t verbalize any such thing, but then again, Madeline rarely verbalized at all. She just rolled her eyes.

Diana didn’t say a word either, just kept coolly reading her Cosmo magazine.

Oh yeah, they were thrilled. “Grounded?” Summer asked them.

Blowing a huge bubble as she kept reading, Diana lifted her middle finger. Madeline actually let loose a small smile and shrugged.

Chloe came out of the back and took over the room with the sheer presence of her personality. She’d been nine when Summer had left. She’d recently turned twenty-one, and in celebration of that happy event had dyed the ends of her blond hair green, matching it with a green lip gloss. According to Camille, Chloe had a habit of changing the color of her hair with the seasons, saying whatever popped into her head, and dumping men before they dumped her, which actually happened to be a family trait in general. At the moment, Chloe was on a summer break from classes, working full time in the shop for lack of a better offer, but as she herself put it, a girl had to eat.