"It's our uncle's, but he doesn't really use it anymore. He doesn't mind us staying there," Sylvie said as her and Annie looked over Sylvie's CD collection. "At least on our mom's side. Guess – I haven't been there in two years."

A man who had more than one home? Beth wondered what their uncle did for a living. Did it have anything to do with what Rio was doing?

She must've been out of her mind to be on a highway, heading away from home and up to northern Michigan, sharing the same car with this generous stranger's nephew whom she did not trust one bit. And OK, even if the day before she was going to propose to Rio that they do business together it wasn't the same as choosing to be alone with him miles away from home. At least she had Annie. And Sylvie, who was the reason she and her sister were safe in the first place.

If she'd had a moment to speak with Ruby, her best friend would've probably tried to dissuade her from doing this altogether. Better that they didn't talk. Besides Ruby had her own commitments to worry about. Beth carefully changed lanes. Somehow ending up the chauffeur of the group, on top of it all.

But she'd said it herself. They couldn't stay at Rio's place and no where else in Detroit was safe for Annie. Though part of her had apprehensions that all of this would just blow over leaving was certainly better than staying put. Mona too had suggested as much.

Since she was here, the least she could do was collect information.

Her eyes on the road, she listened as Sylvie talked about her and Rio's uncle and the house. Not hearing much about business, which what she was hoping to learn about, her thoughts slowly shifted to the fact she was taking a time out from Dean too. He was already staying with his parents and she'd asked for space but she didn't expect she'd call Dean to have him pick up Buddy. Dean hadn't asked too many questions, not when he saw Beth wasn't really responsive.

In another circumstance she wouldn't mind taking time off. When was the last time she took vacation? That was probably one reason she got excited planning her honey moon. Cal wasn't too thrilled to hear she was calling her next few shifts off, with it being such short notice, but he'd always have something to complain about. She was one of the most reliable workers he had.

Rio sat beside her, staring ahead too.

As they had stepped closer to the car about an hour ago Beth had put her vote for Annie to sit beside her.

"That ain't happening."

"You said you were going to sleep," Beth reminded him, glancing down the road, then placed her hand on the roof of the car as she opened the car door.

Rio didn't answer, just got in the passenger seat. It was his car, so she didn't expect to win the battle. But she still had to try.

"We'll be up," Annie motioned towards Sylvie who nodded. "We will!" She insisted at what Beth expected was her disbelieving expression.

Maybe Sylvie would, but Annie? Sure, Beth thought to herself, remembering many past car trips where Annie would doze off the moment they'd get on the highway. Not that they'd taken so many family trips once Beth had turned thirteen, but sometimes the three of them, Ruby included, would take a trip together.

Rio had assured Beth that he'd give her directions and so did Sylvie. Still Beth had asked to look over a map before they left the house and had insisted they brought it with them "just in case." She'd tried to put it in Rio's glove compartment but he'd taken it from her and stuffed it on his side of the car. "Yeah, no one opens that but me."

Here she thought Annie could be a petulant child.

Maybe having a quiet, passenger sleeping car, wouldn't be such a terrible idea, she thought as she turned the key in the ignition. She hadn't gotten a lot of sleep, that was all, and wouldn't too much mind to talk with someone over the ride. Still, she wasn't too tired to settle on just anybody, she thought as she saw Rio fidget in his seat beside her.

"That's the third Backstreet Boys album in here," Annie said as she turned over the next page in Sylvie's collection. "Sure you're a grunge fan?"

"That's what you get when I got the only discman."

"You're gonna stay on this road for another half hour." Rio said and closed his eyes.

Ten minutes later Annie and Sylvia were already dozing off, an ear bud in each girl's ear.

Her fingers clicked a few stations on the radio, different songs coming on, until she finally settled on an interview. A man was vividly recounting how he rappelled down a skyscraper, from the final days of getting ready to do it to the day of his descent. Dean would love this, she thought absentmindedly. As the man talked she got lost in the description with him, imagining she was right there with him.

"Wow," she commented under her breathe.

"What?"

She glanced at Rio. She was sure he was asleep.

"Rappelling in the middle of a city." A mountain was one thing, but a building? "It wouldn't be my first choice."

There was a beauty in nature she appreciated. The serenity. A bustling street, all eyes on her? She'd take a national park over that.

"You do that?" He asked her, a hint of unhidden surprise in his voice.

"Just a couple of times. Nothing so high though," She answered easily, choosing not to admit she'd been dragged to it too by Dean. He was more of the daredevil. "Have you?"

Rio shook his head. "I don't do heights."

She nodded, a bit surprised at his honesty.

"Did you go a lot to your uncle's place? With your family?"

"A little," he said, not volunteering more. "Where'd you do it?"

"What? Oh, around Michigan."

"With your sister?"

"A couple of times."

It was usually her and Dean but Annie had gone with the three of them a few times. If she was thinking she was getting away from Deansy she'd face her fears going down the side of a mountain, her sister joked. Beth took the teasing. Annie wasn't Dean's biggest fan but she accepted that was Beth's choice. Between Beth's shifts at DQ, helping her sister, and Dean's work she couldn't even remember the last time she and Dean had even gone on a day trip together. That was another reason she was excited planning for their honeymoon trip.

"You don't look down," Beth smiled. "It's fun. Like walking on the moon backwards."

Rio nodded and the two continued to listen to the interview.

"None of your guys know where we're going right?" She asked when it was over.

"Only the people who need to know."

Did he have any kind of plan? That's what she wanted to ask him. If he had one, he wouldn't tell her, she suspected. At the same time she equally suspected he wasn't sure what to do either. Maybe waiting it out he'd meant just that. He just didn't struck her as someone who'd sit back while pieces were falling down.

A new interview started, which was probably for the best because each time Beth opened her mouth she wanted to ask him questions. Did he hear anything else from his gang? The other guys? Did anyone make any threats? It wouldn't lead anywhere so she stopped herself from asking. Rio mostly stayed quiet too, and rarely one would comment on something that was said on the radio, leading to a couple exchanges at a time, but nothing more.

"Woah, your place is right by the lake," Annie said as Beth came to a final stop.

"Yeah, didn't you hear me say it? It's gotta be so good by now too," Sylvia opened the door and Annie followed, the two heading to the lake, Annie barely closing the door.

"Annie, don't forget your bag," Beth called out after her sister.

"I'll get it in a second," Annie called over her shoulder.

"What?" Beth asked, reading Rio's expression. "I didn't see your sister grab hers."

"She knows she needs to get it."

Now that they were here Beth didn't feel in a rush to leave the car. The maroon cabin sat to their right but her eyes were focused on what surrounded it. Sun peeked through the leaves of the tall trees surrounding the cabin, their density thickening as she looked further out. The lake sat at the horizon, visible from her seat. It was a beautiful spot, she had to admit. She hoped her sister would feel more comfortable. But she couldn't relax here.

"My sister's right," Rio said, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "Water's nice and warm by now. Should take advantage."

"This isn't a vacation," she snapped. "Anyway, I didn't pack a swimming suit."

"It's cool, we always got stuff back here, maybe Mona's got-" He stopped, his tongue moving behind his teeth. Probably trying to imagine how she'd fit in Mona's bikini, she suspected, narrowing her eyes at him. Mona had the same curvy hips she did, and the two were the same height, but otherwise Rio's older sister was nearly as lean as him.

If for a fleeting moment, as he put his hand on the dashboard, his arm stretched out, she let herself imagine what he'd look like out there, without what she started to think was some kind of uniform of a streak of dark buttoned shirts - if that momentary lapse of clear headedness slipped, well toss that to exhaustion, as she quickly shut the thought down.

"Maybe I'll just skip it," She said.

Rio nodded at her, his eyes a little glazed over, his face looking a second from breaking up into a grin. Beth took the opportunity to step out of the car and call after Annie.

The cabin was larger than she'd expected but she could appreciate its size better only once she stepped inside. The smell of wood hit her, bringing up long left behind memories. The front door opened to an open layout of a long living area that drew all the way down to a den that led to the back yard and lake.

"There's plenty of rooms so you don't got to bunk," Rio said. "That's mine," He pointed to the room closest to the door.

Stretching her arms, Beth was certain she'd be happy to take any room, as long as it wasn't near his. The company in the car, though it wasn't awful the entire time, was plenty.

Rio's phone rang and he answered it while stepping to his bedroom. "I gotta get this. Syl, show them around, yeah?"

"Here," Sylvie said, taking them further into the long living room.

Shelves lined the wall across from what turned out to be another bedroom. Three of the shelves were marked in National Geographic yellow and the rest books, fiction and non fiction from a quick glance. Otherwise the space was peppered with photos of birds, most caught in flight.

A cage with an open door hung in a corner, right before the long living room turned to a dining area and the kitchen.

"He ran a bird sanctuary," Sylvie said by way of explanation.

"Where is he now, you said? Montana?" Annie asked. Beth must not have been listening when that detail came up.

"Yeah. He calls every once in a while. He's got volunteers come here doing his work and they stay here. But no one's here now."

"There are plants everywhere," Beth commented. They looked green too, like they were well kept.

"He always kept them."

"Should I water them while we're here?" Beth looked over one of the pots.

Sylvia lifted and dropped her shoulder. "You can," she said.

"You got some bug spray?" Annie asked, rubbing her shoulder.

"Try the bathroom by Rio's room."

Annie pointed to the small balcony above their heads that overlooked the first floor. "What's up there?" Annie stepped back as if to try and see further down the hallway. "That's cool."

"Here, I'll take you. Maybe there's bug spray in the upstairs bathroom."

"I'm just gonna sit down for a minute," Beth sat back on the across from the closed bedroom.

"You've been sitting for hours," Annie said as she followed Sylvie.

"Give her a break, she was driving the entire time," Sylvie took her towards the front to the stairs.

It was true, she had been sitting for hours, but she just wanted to stop for a minute.

Annie was probably too young to remember, she thought as the scent of wood hit her nose again. Not that they'd stayed really stayed at cabins. They were more of a camping family. Some summers her parents had taken them out on boats but they'd also traveled to nature preserves. It was a hazy memory but this smell. It must've brought memories of sitting by the fire with her family.

She turned in her seat, glancing at the lake above the pots in the window. Maybe being away would clear up her mind a little. Maybe that wouldn't be too bad.

"We'll take the upstairs rooms!" Sylvie and Annie called out.

"That's fine," Beth said. That left her with one of the downstairs rooms. She didn't love being on the same floor as Rio, but at least they didn't have to share the same room. It was better than her hearing her sister and friend laughing the entire night.

Beth smiled as she heard Sylvie and Annie laughing above. If Annie was a bit younger she would've probably happily bunked with Sylvie in the same room. She always enjoyed having company.

Curious to see the kitchen Beth got on her feet, her eyes returning to the inviting lake. The kitchen was large, and whoever built it took advantage of the curve in the bank outdoors. This way from the den to the kitchen the windows opened to the lake, capitalizing on its expansive view.

The kitchen was large, with two sinks, one of which was in a large bar surrounded by tall chairs. So you could cook and clean and entertain your guests, she thought. A lot of time must've been spent here. The other sink was under a large window. A narrow hallway beside the fridge led away from the kitchen. She should wait before venturing. Sylvie was still showing them around, but her and Annie's voices were still muffled coming from upstairs. She found her steps taking her down the corridor, the girls' laughter fading.

The door to the first room was ajar and Beth pushed it softly, her eyes going to another large window opening to the lake. It was like being inside a picture of a tiny island inhabited by just one house. An orange couch, well worn, sat right under the window. Books and magazines tightly lined shelves above a desk at one end of the room. A clock hung in one corner. A cuckoo's clock. She smiled. Of course. A second dark brown wooden desk faced the window. The room felt quietly disrupted, like whoever lived there stopped mid work, the desk under the window holding a sole notebook and pen.

The orange couch seemed so soft. Unable to resist, she sat down, looking out the window at the serene grass, trees, and water that lay at the horizon. Sitting back she got lost at thoughts of family trips, roasting hot dogs over camping fires, of taking a boat on summers. Of family trips that were to come.

"Hey."

Rio stepped into the room as she put her hands on her knees, ready to stand up.

"You can sit down," he said, his hands in his jumper.

"Sorry, I was just-"

"Nosy?" He said, his eyes scanning the room.

Briefly considering whether to smile or answer with annoyance she chose the first. She had been wandering around without permission. "Yeah. The door was open and I just wanted to see the view," she turned to the lake.

"It's cool," Rio said as he sat beside her, sprawling on the couch.

"Is this your uncle's study?"

"One of them. He had some groups in here."

"Groups?"

"Yeah, his wildlife work and whatnot."

That explained the two couches sitting across from each other. It was a small space to host a group of people though, there couldn't be much more than a dozen people who could fit comfortably in this room.

Not having had the chance to visit all the rooms, Beth already considered this and her kitchen her favorite ones. To cook and do dishes overlooking a wide body of water, decorated by trees on each side. Something about it reset her thoughts. Even if she couldn't get anything like this in the city she'd want one window – one window she could gaze out every day, just like this.

She heard Rio murmur something, his words slow, clouding over.

Her eyes oriented herself in the room. The picturesque view enveloped her on her right as she sat up. A soft colorful blanket covered her legs and stomach. She stretched out her sore legs on the couch, rubbing her eyes. When had she put her feet on the couch? Strange she couldn't remember. Must've needed to make up for lost sleep. Not just from the night before.

She blinked. Hadn't she been talking to…? She'd fallen asleep in front of him. She shook her face. Full circle now wasn't it? He'd seen her wake up and now had seen her fall asleep. Her eyes found the deep blue couch across from hers. Not sure why, she'd half expected him to fall asleep at the couch across from where she was lying down. He must've covered her with this blanket too. Her fingers felt the thin material, her mind flashing to Rio holding his younger brother, her heart tightening oddly at the gentle tone he used as he spoke to him. She blinked the memory away.

An enticing smell guided her to the kitchen. She followed the trail, finding a pot of food and plates on the dining table. Both rooms were empty

"Can we have a fire?" Annie called out from around the corner. "Finally, she's up!" She said when she spotted Beth, kneeling by the fireplace.

Beth had taken notice of it when she'd come in but her attention was taken up by the rest of the house.

"Do you know when tio Lorenzo last cleaned it?" Sylvie asked.

"It's probably been a minute, it's been a long summer," Rio rubbed his chin.

"Rio and Sylvie went grocery shopping," Annie said.

"Thanks," Beth shifted her weight from one foot to another. "Can I pay-" she started, about to turn to get her bag.

Sylvie and Rio quickly waved her off.

"We didn't have to get much, most we got were fresh vegetables, things like that. The people who stay here keep it packed," Sylvie said.

"Thank you," Beth said again. "Who cooked?"

The three exchanged glances.

"Someone was just here and they left some food to heat up. But I made rice," Sylvie said.

Curious to explore, Annie asked Sylvie to take them around the grounds after they'd eaten. Beth joined, the three wandering through the woods. Rio had left, not sharing where he was going. The trees were taller than what she remembered in Detroit, or maybe it was because here they didn't have the competition with the buildings. She breathed in the earthy smell. The leaves were starting to change their colors, specks of reds traipsing to reveal oranges, to reveal yellows. Birds circled above them and the lake trailed alongside, as if walking beside them.

"If you'd ever get lost, just follow the lake. You'll get home eventually," Sylvie said, repeating what her uncle had told her and the kids when they were young.

The three spoke, but sometimes Sylvie and Annie referenced incidents and people that Beth didn't know. The constant noise of traffic was gone, their steps replacing the backdrop. If Dean was here – well. Her heart panged. To discover a new place with Dean. They could still have that, she reminded herself. The magazines were patiently waiting where she left them, and monuments and glossy photos still called to her. They could make amends to what happened. She just… Needed time.

"Mona's place isn't so far," She heard Sylvie say.

"Her place?" Beth snapped from her thoughts. "You mean her restaurant?"

Sylvie nodded. The one Mona had talked about, Beth remembered. Mona hadn't talked much about it and Beth was so much more focused on herself and Annie to ask questions.

"We should go!" Annie exclaimed.

Sylvie scoffed and shook her head. "She's going to make me help. I don't feel like being bossed around. Or lecture me about what I should do about my life. Guess the oldest always think he can tell everyone what to do."

"I don't know anything about that," Annie said in a sing-song voice.

"It's not really her restaurant," Sylvie said, using a thick stick she'd found as a walking stick.

"Does she live here now?" Annie asked.

"I guess so. She's more here than Detroit."

Opting to go swimming, Beth parted ways from the two, choosing to continue walking on her own. Once left alone, the silence narrowed her thoughts, as if pulling them to smaller and smaller box. She turned directions, keeping track of where she was going, and took a few steps before taking out her phone and leaning against a tree.

Her heart picked up. She'd avoided doing this, knowing no good would come of it. She hadn't looked up photos of her. Now she couldn't stop her fingers from typing her name. Her fingers slipped, taking her to Amber's pictures. If they were friends. They weren't, and some relief relaxed her shoulders. Clicking photo after photo. Amber smiling, sitting beside a friend, out, standing in someone's back yard. Each time she saw Dean's like it was like an arrow spliced her heart. Tears clouded her vision, falling down her cheeks.

She'd told herself not to go down the path, she told herself again. It was the only way to put it behind her. Any evidence would just hurt. She couldn't deal with that, especially not now. She had to stay focused. Quickly she clicked through the photos before lowering herself to the ground and putting the phone away, not even logging out. Her hands covered her face as tears rolled down her face, trying to be quiet, when she realized no one was there to hear her.

A ring tone sliced into the sharp, wet breathes she was taking. Turning her phone over, Ruby's name popped up. Cleaning the screen from dirt, Beth rubbed her eyes and took one deep breathe, and a second, before answering her phone.

"Hi," she answered quickly.

"B, what's going on?"

It felt so good to hear her voice. Beth's chin trembled for a moment. They'd texted a few times but Ruby didn't know anything of what happened the last two days.

"I don't think you'd ever guess where I was right now," she said, covering a soft whimper with laughter.

In a few minutes she'd updated Ruby with what had happened, and several minutes later she'd answered more than a few questions.

"Do you know when you'll get back?"

"No," Beth put her left hand on the ground, lifting up tiny branches. "It's not like Rio's telling me anything. Or Annie."

"What about his sister?"

That would be too easy if he did. "No. It just feels like a waiting game."

"Are you safe, B?"

"It's pretty secluded."

"I mean, with him?"

Beth closed her eyes and opened them. "Annie trusts Sylvie and I – I have to trust Annie. Besides, it just didn't feel like I had a choice. What?" Beth asked when Ruby didn't say anything.

"Maybe it makes sense for you to get closer to Sylvie too."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Sylvie's looking out for Annie right? Because she's her friend and you because you're her sister. Maybe it makes sense that now you have time, you become better friends with her too. You don't have to be best friends. But the more you mean to Sylvie, the better you know?"

"What, you think it's not enough to be Annie's sister?"

"It doesn't hurt. It just that it protects both of you. Your connection to Sylvie. You know?"

After agreeing to let Ruby know how she was doing at least once a day, the conversation turned to Ruby and her mom. Ruby was taking her mom to a few doctor's for a second opinion, if her condition could be improved, but she didn't have too much trust she'd get better results.

"Once I'm back, I can go with you, if you want."

"Thanks. Stan's being great. It's just a lot of information."

After they'd done speaking Beth pulled her knees to her chest, laying her chin on her knees. She'd told Ruby nothing about what she'd done with looking over Amber's profile. She clicked on the website quickly, forcing herself not to think about it, and clicked "block" on Amber's profile.

Dean had sent her a message while she spoke with Ruby but she couldn't answer him. She'd answer tomorrow.

As she called it a night, hours later, she heard Rio come in, the door closing and locking behind him. He was talking quietly into his phone.

She thought back to their conversation on the way to the cabin. They'd talked some, sticking to topics that weren't personal, but about what the reporters were talking about. Maybe a small comment about her playing piano, about his younger siblings. What she and he already knew about each other. There was no close friendship she was forging but – well, it wasn't like Mona was going to help barter anything between them. Mona's words stayed in the back of her mind. Don't get between Rio and his money. Don't get involved in business with him.

It's funny, she'd been at his house, but she didn't get to see his bedroom. Or any of the second floor for that matter. Conversation slipped through the cracks of her door. Sylvie must've joined him. Maybe Annie too. She fell asleep to the sound of their voices.

Between Sylvie and Rio's grocery shopping and what was already in the pantry, Beth was pleased to find both that and the fridge well stocked when she woke up. Rio was out by the time she'd stepped out of her bedroom. Since they'd arrived he'd spent time out than at the house and she wondered what he was doing. Was he doing business? Dealing with Annie and Sylvie's fall out? While she wasn't surprised he wasn't home, she was when Annie and Sylvie strolled down the stairs not long after her.

Annie had begged her to make crepes ("OK, only if you prep the fruit and vegetables.").

"The Marks sisters made breakfast," Annie announced to Rio as he turned the corner to the kitchen, coming back from wherever he'd been. Sylvie laughed.

"It's OK, you made the coffee," Annie teased.

"Black?" Sylvie asked as she opened the cabinets.

"Thanks," Rio answered and Sylvie poured the boiling water into a cup, adding the teabag.

"Are you hungry?" Beth asked

"You can just have the eggs if you want," Sylvie said, setting the cup down by Rio and not waiting for Rio's answer, raising her eyes from Annie's phone, pointing at the pan. "They're a little crunchy," she laughed as Annie elbowed her.

"I'll have a bite," Rio said, sipping on his tea.

"Savory or sweet?" Beth turned on the stove, warming up the pan, and turned her face to him. "I can do half and half."

"OK," he said.

For a moment her tension pressed into her arms, her senses on alert, aware his eyes were on her even though her back was to him. She chastised herself. So what if he watched her as she cooked? Annie used to love doing it as a child and even Dean and her spent evenings where he'd tease her and make jokes as she put finishing touches on dinner. She quickly fell into the familiar steps, moving through them fluidly.

"Are you leaving?" Sylvie asked, her eye going back and forth from Annie's phone to Rio. "Already?" was the undertone of her words.

"Yeah."

"Can I get one more?" Annie called out to Beth, who nodded.

Beth listened carefully but Rio didn't add anything else. Annie muttered something about him doing 007 work. Conversation quieted down before Sylvie and Annie started laughing and Beth imagined it was from something on one of their phones. Picking up some sliced strawberries and bananas over a layer of melted chocolate, she put aside the prepared crepe before the half of the crepe between the eggs, spinach, and arugula, and other veggies.

She set the plate in front of Rio, who picked up his eyes from his newspaper. Beth glanced at him as he took a bite, nodding his head. It was nothing too complicated, made up of a few ingredients.

Getting back to the stove she eyeballed the next batter, bothered at her anticipation. "Which one do you want?"

"Savory please," Annie said, leaning on her elbows.

"Did you ever want to have your own cooking show?" Sylvie asked. With her back to him, Beth missed Rio hiding a smile.

"You could be her sous chef," Sylvie told Annie as she grabbed a slice of banana from her plate.

Beth laughed and shook her head, thinking of her and Annie in front of a camera. Her younger sister probably stealing the show, she thought with affection.

"She makes it too fast," Annie licked her fingers. "You need to tell a whole story as you're doing it. She'd be done with a five course meal in ten minutes."

Beth used the spatula to loosen the warm batter, getting ready to turn it. "That's an exaggeration."

It'd be lovely to work in a big kitchen like this though.

"How're the eggs?" Annie asked.

Beth looked back, wanting to see his response.

"They're good," Rio nodded. "It's good."

"I told you, you got the crunchy side," Annie said to Sylvie as Beth held Rio's gaze. Her chest felt lighter, her stomach warmer at the compliment. She wanted to hear it again.

Pushing her response away, she returned to Annie's crepe. Sylvie and Annie chatted, Rio speaking occasionally, but her thoughts were faraway back in Detroit. How was Ruby doing? How was her mom? They hadn't talked in a few days, just texted. She should check in on her later today.

What was Dean doing? Did he miss her? Was he going to- no, she couldn't think of that. She turned the stove off, lifting the crepe off the pan. One side had nearly burned.

"Thank you," Annie said as Beth passed her her plate.

Rio came beside her, putting a few dishes in the sink and grabbing a sponge.

"I can wash it," She said. "I'm already here."

"It's cool," Rio said. "Thanks. You eating too or just cooking?" He asked her in a softer tone and for a moment she wasn't sure he spoke.

She nodded. "Next one's mine."

He nodded once back. She tilted the measuring cup, breaking eye contact. There should be enough for one more without her adding more flour. Her stomach grew warm again, and she realized it was at his tone as much as his words. What was wrong with her, she thought, dismissing the feeling. What kind of response was this to him asking a simple question? He was just being polite. She took the batter and walked back to the stove, turning it on.

She was making the finishing touches on her crepe when Rio spoke again. He'd cleared the sink of the other dishes she'd left behind, she fleetingly noticed when she glanced at the sink.

"I gotta take care of some things," He said, drying his hands. "Stay out of trouble, yeah?" He raised his chin at his sister and Annie.

"Have fun," Sylvie smiled, ignoring his admonishment.

"That goes for you too," He said to Beth before turning towards the door.

She wasn't amused by him talking to her in the same way he spoke to his baby sister. Quickly she followed him as he neared the door.

"Is this about them?" She asked.

"I got it," he said with a tone of finality she already recognized well.

"If you tell me something, I could help you."

"Watch the kids."

The door clicked behind him. Though his response was anything if not expected, still it annoyed her, and she ate her food half listening to Annie, and Sylvie, who were leafing through a magazine Sylvie found, commenting over the photos.

"Wanna go for a swim?" Sylvie asked, picking up the dishes.

"Sure." Annie tossed the magazine down. "Sis, you coming?"

"In a minute," Beth said.

"We'll do the dishes when we get back," Annie promised as she and Sylvie walked towards the glass sliding door.

If he thought that she'd just stick around and watch the door while he was away, or better yet, babysit his and her fully adult sisters, Beth thought as she worked through the plates and cups, leaving the girls the pans, he'd be wrong. Even if it wasn't a wrong instinct, she thought as Annie's laughter echoed through the open door to the front yard. She'd have to hope that out here the two couldn't get into trouble. And as tempting as joining them was that wasn't what she wanted to do. Getting closer to Sylvie made sense, like Ruby had suggested, but wasn't making amends with Mona a good idea too? Since Sylvie had mentioned yesterday Mona worked nearby, Beth had thought about it. It would be best she'd approach Mona on her own.

After all, Rio had no allegiance to her or Annie and wouldn't hesitate to hurt them both if it wasn't for Sylvie. She was sure of that. Following that logic it was helpful to work things out with another sister, right? And if Beth was already here...

After she dried her hands she opened the kitchen drawers, hoping to find a local map. When none turned up she turned to the living room shelves. Grateful to find one, she opened it, trying to remember if Sylvie had told her the name of the restaurant. Untying her apron she scanned for the cabin's address, finding it after a short search. Luckily Sylvie had mentioned the street the restaurant was on while they were walking and after an on-line search she found what she hoped was the right address. It was the only Mexican restaurant listed for the town.

She didn't want to leave a note at first, telling herself she'd only be gone for a short while and she'd take her cell phone with her. Quickly she decided against it and left a short note that she was going out on a bike ride and would be back in a few hours. Just to be safe. Spraying some bug spray on her skin her eyes looked over the bikes in the shed by the cabin. Having mapped her way she found one that was the right size, listening for Annie's and Sylvie's far away voices. Putting a helmet on she was on her way.