An ache grew in Kate’s heart. It was nice that Tilly had come home just in time, she thought, that Sister Tessie could still remember who Tilly had been, appreciate who she had become.

If a cardinal sin had ever dared anchor in Lords Cove, it was pride. Kate could see it shining bright in the sisters’ eyes each time Tilly spoke of her education, her career, her missions… Was it silly for Kate to feel proud of Tilly too? She had no business feeling such satisfaction. They hadn’t been close for years. And yet, since Tilly’s return, pride dangled before her like forbidden fruit. As reluctant as she was to admit it to herself, she wanted more than just a taste.

After they’d sung “Happy Birthday” and Hannah had blown out the candles on her cake, the girls cleared dinner’s mess without being prompted.

“No, I can do it myself,” Tilly insisted when Lexi reached for Tilly’s empty plate.

“There’s no dishwasher,” Lexi said. “We wash our own, clean up after ourselves—it’s not going to give me carpal tunnel to wash and wipe your plate too. Besides,” she added, “if I don’t, Kate’ll lecture us about it for the next three months until she nicks off.”

It was undeniably true. When Kate had arrived there had been a rotating roster in place that the Reverend Mother had implemented years before. The problem, however, was that Sister Ruth was oblivious to the fact that poor Sister Ellie always cleaned up after half-job cleanups. Deciding that hearing one more excuse of “those plates needed to soak overnight” would send her grey before her time, Kate changed the system—each girl would clean up after herself.

With the sisters retiring for the night and the juniors disappearing into the boarding house to squeeze an hour of television in before checks, only the three seniors and Lexi stayed out in the school quad at the fire pit with Kate and Tilly.

From her seat at the fire, Kate spotted Cassie coming under the arched entrance of the quad before the others did. Gaze dropped, arms wrapped about herself in the cool of night, Cassie looked exhausted. Poor kid, Kate thought as she watched Cassie cross the quad, her hands lost in the sleeves of her jumper.

“Hey Cassie,” Kate offered. “How are you feeling?”

“Good,” Cassie said unconvincingly. She paused. “I, uhh, I just wanted to say that I know it’s not checks yet, but I’m going to sleep now. Thank you for dinner.” She turned.

“Cassie?” Tilly called softly, and the girl backtracked. “Would you like to call your mum tonight?”

Cassie shook her head. “It’ll only make it worse…I think.”

Tilly reached for her hand and Kate watched as she gave it a squeeze. “I think that’s probably a good idea.”

“Hey,” Grace said as she tugged on Cassie’s other hand. “In fourth term, we never go to bed without hugs.”

“We don’t?” Lexi asked. “Since when?” Kate smirked as Molly shot Lexi a glare.