Even though I didn’t actually flip a crepe that day, I know what she means.

The sky has finally grown dark when Henry shakes each firefighter’s hand. Grammy hands out lemonade. Saucepan jumps on the back of the truck as it pulls away. “Henry!” she says. “You be sure to come by and let us know how things go here.”

“Will do!”

We wave good-bye and then run to our houses to turn the lights off. When Esme’s headlights shine up the driveway, we’re all standing in the pitch dark.

I squeeze the two extension cords in my hand, ready to connect them and flood the whole place in light.

Esme’s sweet, strong voice floats through the neighborhood as she and Olive climb out of the car. I turn and see Henry scoop up Ruby after she runs to him. “Daddy,” she says in a loud whisper. “It was so hard not to tell the secret.”

And he gives her a squeeze. “I’m proud of you, spitfire.”

Olive squints as she tries to see in the dark. “What in Sam Hill are you fools all doing out here in the dark? What is this? A mosquito all-you-can-eat buffet?”

My hands connect the cords, and I feel a buzz of electricity as the lights flood our neighborhood in color. Red and green. Blue and orange.

Olive is wide-eyed, her mouth hanging open just like she’s always telling Ruby not to do. “Oh my,” she whispers as her head slowly tilts upward and the reflected colors from the bulbs paint her face. “What is this?” she asks, but it doesn’t sound like sandpapery, you-better-give-me-an-answer-right-away Olive at all.

“This is for you, Olive,” I say. “To remind you of your family.”

“And,” Esme adds, “to remind you that you’ll always have family in each of us.”

I can’t believe it, but Olive starts to cry. She spins on her foot and scurries toward her house.

I sprint and stand in front of her. “It’s okay, Olive . . . stay. Please stay with us.”

“I feel like a fool,” she says. “I’m . . . I’m crying, and I ought to be stronger than that.”

“Hey,” Ronan says, “I’ve done plenty of crying this summer and I’m plenty strong.”

His expression after he says this makes me laugh—like he’s surprised by his own words.

Esme and Grammy go stand on each side of Olive and put their arms around her shoulders.

“See?” I say. “We’re all family here.”

And as I stand under the glow of the lights with everyone, I know that’s true.

I listen to Ruby giggling after Grammy tells her that she looks like a movie star in her new glasses, and memories roll through my mind of Grammy clapping too loud at school concerts. Of her telling me I hung the moon even when I didn’t deserve it. Of all the times I did something dumb and she gathered me up in her arms and said, “I’ve got you, now. Your grammy’s got you.”