Spring 1938
Mama had broken her leg after being thrown from her horse, silver. Caroline is hesitant to enter. She motioned her over after dismissing the maid.
"Come, here. I'll be back on my feet in no time."
Caroline didn't doubt it. Ridding bare-back and in trousers, she looked pretty in anything, when her face wasn't doing that frowning thing.
"Mama, will you be back up and riding Silver again?"
"Silver, are you kidding. If I have to sit in this bed much longer, I'll go mad."
"Imagine how papa must feel, when he has his bad days."
Mama pursed her lips. "I might have to convince daddy if we can go to the Villa. It would be good for me to get some fresh air. What do you say? How about next week..."
"Next week? It's not even Easter holiday!" Kate protested. She had been at the far side of the bed, engrossed in a book.
"You can bring your schoolwork if you want."
"But, mama..."
"You already spend too much time buried in a book. Missing a bit of school won't hurt anyone."
Kate sighed, leaving the room. Caroline curled up close to her mother.
"Mama, if I'm too old for dolls, does that mean I'm too old for sandcastles." One of her earliest memories was building sandcastles on the beach with Andy. Her 'twin'. He had found two shells and had placed on top of the tower. "Us" he'd said.
"Don't be silly. One is never too old for sandcastles."