Rosalind had the idea. Usually it was Jane who came up with plans, and then it was Skye who modified the plan into a more realistic shape. Every now and then, Batty would pull an idea out of the hat.

But this time it was Rosalind.

It came to her while her hands were buried in the spring soil. She had dirt up to her elbows, and the knees of her jeans would likely never be blue again. Her hair was tied back in a red bandana, and it was warm enough that she was wearing a tank top. She was planting a row of sugar snap peas in the vegetable garden, and she was thinking about how soon it would be summer, and summer always made her want to go to the beach.

The beach was never the same anymore. When Rosalind thought of the beach, she was thinking of the trips to the cape when she was little. She was thinking of romping in the surf with her sisters, and then having sandwiches in the sand. She was thinking of dinners with their dad, and then calling a MOPS (Meeting of Penderwick Sisters) to discuss what they would do tomorrow, and who they had met.

Now, when she went to the beach, it was just lying in the sand with a book for a bit. Maybe strolling along a boardwalk. She went with Tommy, and sometimes they invited friends.

Rosalind wanted the old beach. For a second, she shrugged and accepted that you could not relive the past, so there was no use fantasizing about it. She dug into another hole.

Then she paused. Because you couldn't relive the past, but maybe you could try to create something similar.

After all, Skye would be back in Massachusetts that summer, and she didn't start at MIT until the fall. Batty would be on vacation. Rosalind could surely take some time off. She hated to do it, but she rarely took a sick day, the urban farm would survive. And Jane wouldn't want to miss shifts, but Jane could be convinced. Especially if they were all on board. When faced with such a nostalgic opportunity, Jane would fold like a deck of cards.

Rosalind's hands had frozen. She was resting back on her heels and staring into space while her mind worked at a furious pace.

She even knew where they would go. Jeffrey and Alec still went to Point Mouette in Maine all the time. The house next door to Alec's, the one Aunt Claire had rented all those years ago, she could see if it was available. Rosalind had been to Point Mouette, after Jeffrey had been reunited with his long-lost father. The Penderwicks had returned for a few summers, but it had been over ten years since they all went together. Everyone got busy with college and jobs and travel.

Birches would be perfect. Rosalind and Batty could take the bedrooms, and Jane and Skye could share the screen porch again. The two of them were as willing to sleep on a porch now as they had been at age twelve.

Rosalind stood up and brushed her hands off on her pants.

"Keep at it," she said to Ava. "I've got to make some phone calls."

Rosalind called the Birches landlady first. It would be easier to convince the others if she could say it was for sure available.

Of course it was. They could take the cabin for any time in late June or July. A week. Maybe two. Destiny was in accordance with Rosalind.

She called Skye next. Rosalind thought Skye might be hesitant to do it (she probably had some research project already set up), but once Skye committed, she would be all in.

To Rosalind's shock, Skye didn't put up any sort of fight.

"A thousand times yes," Skye said. "I'll text Jeffrey, he'll probably be up there for at least some of the time."

Batty was an easy yes as well. She welcomed the distraction from Wesley's imminent departure.

Rosalind looped her dad and Iantha in at that point. She told them she was thinking of a sort of pre-wedding sisterly retreat. A bachelorette party that would last several days and involve a lot less screaming and clubbing.

"It's a wonderful idea," Iantha said. "You girls deserve some time together."

"Birches, you might remember, it's kinda small," Rosalind said. She had to be careful here. "So we would love to show Lydia and Ben Point Mouette but maybe...not this trip."

"We already were thinking of Vermont for a few weeks," her dad said. "Just us and the younger crew."

Rosalind beamed.

Jane, of course, agreed once she heard the other sisters were all in.

"Dawn usually hires extra waitresses in the summer anyway," Jane said. "She can spare me for a week or two."

"Perfect," Rosalind said.

"Did you just think of this now?"

"Yup," Rosalind said. "It just hit me."

"Huh," Jane said. "It's a great idea, I'll give you that."

"Might you even call it destiny?" Rosalind teased.

"Ha, ha," Jane said. "Am I to expect such mockery at Point Mouette? Just let me know so I can prepare my defenses."

Rosalind hung up and pumped her fist in the air. It was happening. All teasing aside, she thought that maybe it was destiny. Or at least, Rosalind knew that the Penderwick sisters really, really needed this.