"So Rosalind looks better," Jeffrey said. "Who patched her up? Let me guess."

Jeffrey and Skye were walking to Moose Market to pick up some groceries, and Jeffrey scrunched up his face as he mulled it over. Skye chuckled.

"Jane wrote a Sabrina Starr story that perfectly solved the issue," Jeffrey said. "And did a dramatic reading in which you acted out the lead part."

Skye pretended to vomit at the idea of Sabrina Starr (or Skye's acting skills) having anything to do with Rosalind's recovery.

"No, no, Jane has moved beyond Sabrina Starr," Jeffrey said. "It was Batty, she sang her heart out until Rosalind couldn't help but emotionally heal."

"It was me," Skye said. "I fixed her, and don't look so surprised."

Jeffrey clapped his hand over his chest and acted deeply offended.

"Skye Penderwick, I am not surprised in the slightest," Jeffrey said. "Your powers have no equal, you are a wunderkind when it comes to matters of the heart. Why, you are the greatest source of sympathy and sisterly balm I know."

"Oh shut up," Skye muttered. "But I did fix her."

Skye smiled. She was proud of herself. Jeffrey stared hard at her luminous face.

"I mean, I'm not saying everything is all sorted," Skye said. "She did cancel the wedding essentially, but I think she's on her way to figuring things out."

"So will we be dancing at Arundel next month?" Jeffrey said.

"Jury is still out," Skye said. "But maybe."

"And you'll dance with me?" Jeffrey asked. "You promise me at least three dances?"

Skye rolled her eyes. He knew she was a terrible dancer. She would be skulking around in the corner of the reception eating cake and making sure Jane didn't drink too much and start babbling into the mic during speeches. If the reception even happened.

"I told Rosalind a story from Arundel actually," Skye said, partly to change the subject, partly to see if Jeffrey remembered. "About when your mother said those terrible things about us, and I overheard."

"Really?" Jeffrey said. "How did a story about my mother's cruel judgments cheer Rosalind up?"

"Well it was more about me," Skey said. "Those things she said about Rosalind and her crush on Cagney and the end of her innocence."

Jeffrey winced.

"God, my mother really is straight out of an Edith Wharton novel," he said.

"I only ever told Rosalind about that particular line, I kept it from Jane and Dad when I told them," Skye said. "And it hurt her, and it was the moment I realized Rosie wasn't the pillar of strength we all thought she was. I just wanted to remind her that it was ok to not be strong and infallible all the time. That I can be strong for her, instead of vice versa. Because I failed her before, but I won't anymore."

"We all know how strong you are," Jeffrey said. His eyes were serious, and he wore a thoughtful smile.

Skye kicked her sneaker against the gravel. She tipped her head back to enjoy the sun. In only a week, her legs and face had gotten very tan, and her hair was bleached nearly white. She and Jeffrey had spent practically every second outside. Running wild like they were kids again.

Jeffrey was stealing glances at her in her short black athletic shorts and cropped T-shirt. Everyone thought she was oblivious to those sorts of things, but Skye noticed. She wasn't an idiot. She had always noticed how Jeffrey looked at her like time had stopped when she entered his line of vision.

"Well," Skye said. "What your mother said about her is a secret. Just me, you and Rosalind know. And Batty. Although she definitely doesn't remember. Probably for the best."

"I remember it clear as day," Jeffrey said. "I especially remember after you had yelled so spectacularly at my mother, and Churchie was dragging you away. You said you were sorry, but you had to do it."

"And then I said, 'Friends Forever,'" Skye smiled at the memory of her sticking her fist out and Jeffrey putting his on top of hers.

"Friends forever," Jeffrey said, just as he had vowed on that long ago afternoon.

Jeffrey sighed. They were halfway to Moose Market, and for once Skye didn't seem to be in a rush. She had slowed to a languid pace.

All of a sudden, she reached out and grabbed his hand. She squeezed it and held on. Jeffrey glanced down at their intertwined fingers, swaying as they walked. And because she had grabbed his hand this time, because she had bridged the gap, he decided he would say it.

"I fell in love with you that day," he said. "Sometime between when you burst in shouting that my mother couldn't talk about your family like that and when you told her you were only spying to make sure I was ok. I didn't realize it until later, but it was over for me then and there."

Skye was silent, but she didn't release his hand. She counted to ten and got ready to speak.

"There's supposed to be a full moon tonight," Skye said. "Would you meet me on the beach, maybe at midnight?"

"Yes," Jeffrey said. "I promise."