When Skye and Batty returned (with plenty of food and an assortment of wine), peace seemed to reassert itself.
Batty helped Rosalind make spaghetti carbonara, while Skye and Jane put fresh sheets on all the beds.
The first summer at Point Mouette, Skye and Jane had shared one leg of the screen porch, and Jeffrey had taken the other. Jeffrey would be up with Alec later that week, but he would be staying at his father's house, so Skye and Jane each got a leg.
Jane put sheets on the spare bed in Skye's leg anyway, just to have the option.
Skye smiled and corrected Jane's sloppy work with the fitted sheet.
"I love this screen porch," Jane said. "But it's not my favorite vacation bedroom."
"The attic room at Arundel, right?" Skye asked.
"I was always inspired there," Jane said.
Skye nodded. She had loved her clean bright bedroom at the Arundel cottage. It had been the first time in her life that she didn't have to share with Jane.
"Batty seems in better spirits," Jane said as she flopped down on the bed. "But I could not plumb into the depths of Rosalind's apparent despair to find the source. Maybe something happened at work."
"It's Tommy," Skye said.
Jane gasped aloud, like she was some delicate lady in a period drama. Skye rolled her eyes.
"Never!" Jane said. "Never did any woman love a man like Rosalind loves Tommy."
"I'm not saying they're not in love," Skye said. "Although, let's face it, it's a little bit weird that they've been dating since they were thirteen. Admit it."
"I admit," Jane said slowly, "That it is not traditional if we're going off the post-modern twenty-first century ideal of love."
"Rosie is jumpy about the wedding," Skye said. "And I'm going to find out why and how to fix it."
Jane kicked the leg of the bed.
"She had better not run," Jane said. "I've been working too hard on making her dress and all the bridesmaid dresses, in all the different colors."
"We're in different colors?" Skye asked. "What color am I?"
"Blue," Jane said. "Obviously."
After dinner, the four sisters moved out to the deck to watch the sunset with a bottle of wine.
"I love how long the days are," Skye said. "I missed seasons, there are none in California."
"We're so glad you're back," Rosalind said.
"Why did you return now?" Batty asked.
Skye shrugged and tapped her barefoot against the planks.
"It felt like it was time," Skye said. "I felt like I needed to return. Like I was needed back here maybe. I know it sounds stupid."
Rosalind looked at Skye with big eyes. Then she took a deep breath.
"MOPS, come to order," Rosalind said.
"Second it," Skye said.
"Third it," Jane said.
"Fourth it," Batty said.
"All swear to keep secret what is said here, even from Daddy and Iantha, unless you think someone might do something truly bad."
Rosalind put her fist into the air. Skye quickly followed, then Jane, then Batty.
"This I swear, by the Penderwick Family Honor," they said.
They broke their fists apart and looked at Rosalind.
"I don't really have anything specific to say," Rosalind said. "I just wanted to thank you all for coming out here with me, and being so helpful with the wedding planning."
"Of course," Jane said with a quick glance at Skye.
"And I want to thank you, Rosie" Skye said. "For having this idea and putting it all together."
They waited a beat, but Rosalind came forth with no great secrets. So they poured the wine and chatted of other things.