When Batty emerged from her bedroom, she found Rosalind in the kitchen, surveying the cabinets.
"I think I'll bake something this afternoon," Rosalind said. "But not brownies. That's an Arundel thing."
Rosalind smiled warmly at Batty, as if she meant to erase what had happened yesterday. Batty wished she could forget it. After talking with Skye, Batty had tried to put it out of her mind.
But then she got to thinking over Skye's bizarre words of wisdom, and Batty realized that while Skye had comforted her greatly over Wesley, Skye hadn't actually explained Rosalind's sudden cruelty. Skye hadn't even attempted to explain that.
"Point Mouette Chocolate Chip Cookies?" Rosalind suggested.
"S'mores," Batty said. "When we were here that first summer, we made s'mores. It was Jane's idea, she wanted a fire on the beach so bad. Skye thought it was a safety hazard but we shouted her down."
"Ha," Rosalind said. "Skye and her anxiety."
"Anxieties keep you alive," Skye announced as she bounded in the kitchen.
It was only mid-morning, but Skye had already completed her run, made eggs and bacon, and then showered. Her face was glowing. She laid out the plan for the day.
Jane was en route to the Moose Market to get some sandwich materials and lemonade for a picnic lunch. They were going to spend the day laying in the sun and reading and kicking the soccer ball around on the beach. Then they would drive to town for dinner at a seafood place Jeffrey recommended.
"And Jeffrey will get here day after tomorrow," Skye said.
Batty's heart leapt at the reminder. She hadn't seen Jeffrey in ages, and she definitely wanted to discuss her musical growth. She could sing a few songs while he played, he always had great recommendations for her voice.
"We should call mom and dad at some point too," Batty said.
Skye stared at Batty.
"What?" Batty said. "Why are you looking at me funny."
"I always forget that you call her mom," Skye murmured.
Batty squirmed.
"I was five when they married," Batty said.
"I know," Skye said in a gentle voice. "It's not a bad thing, I just forget how young you were."
Forty-five minutes later, the four sisters trekked down the steps to the beach. Jane held a bag of sandwiches, Rosalind carried towels and books, Batty had a big blanket, and Skye was tossing the soccer ball.
"Alright, I say we play a game of 2v2 to get us nice and sweaty before jumping in the water," Skye said.
"I'm wearing a dress!" Rosalind said. But she would play, Batty knew it. Rosalind never said no to a game when they needed her.
"We could do the usual of Rosie and me versus Jane and Batty," Skye said. "But then Jane isn't quite what she used to be."
Jane had once been the untouchable soccer star of Cameron, Massachusetts. Skye had played with her through high school and was a reliable defensive player, but Jane was the wunderkind. Hence, Jane was usually paired with Batty, who was next to useless on the soccer field.
Jane had stopped soccer after high school though, and Skye had continued playing intramural and in rec leagues. Without practice, Jane's natural talent, as well as her youthful speed, had waned. Nowadays Skye could easily outplay her.
"Ha ha," Jane said. "Be careful, if pushed, I might just resurrect Mick."
In the end, they decided to keep the old teams. Jane did manage to dust off some of her old footwork, but soon Rosalind and Skye dominated. Rosie had been more of a basketball player, but she could outrun both Jane and Batty, thanks to all her spin classes.
At long last, the four girls threw themselves down on the sand and prepared to enter the ocean.
"You need to start working out," Skye said to a breathless Batty.
"I took Dance for Theater last semester," Batty said. "That counts."
"I could give you some great core workouts," Skye said. "You too, Jane."
"I need not muscles of my body, I must exercise my mind first and foremost," Jane said.
"Mind and body work in harmony," Skye said.
"Oh, let's go in already," Rosalind said.
The girls rose as a unit and pulled off their clothes to reveal swimsuits. They all grasped hands and sprinted towards the surf.