Mom sits next to me in the sand in an abstract-printed blue bathing suit, a pop of color against her sun-kissed skin. She’s helping me build a sandcastle. A gust of wind blows through and her sunhat goes tumbling off of her head; she catches it from mid-air. I laugh with delight as she makes a show of shoving it back down on her head. I have a mermaid Barbie in one hand, playing around the castle Mom is molding. Aunt Beth is down at the water’s edge, looking for seashells for me.
“Only the prettiest shells for the princess,” she says.
Mom has a cooler packed with all of my favorite snacks and drinks. I huff and puff as she makes me reapply sunscreen, letting her rub the coconut-scented lotion into my skin. She pays extra attention to my face and kisses the top of my head before she lets me run wild and join Aunt Beth at the edge of the water. She scoops me into her arms and I giggle as her bag of shells conduct a symphony at her hips.
Mom smiles as she watches us and walks over to join us. Aunt Beth sets me down in the sand and each of them takes one of my hands, swinging me as we walk along the tide. I take a few cautious steps into the water.
"Don’t go too far, Thea,” Mom warns.
The water is warm underneath my feet and I wiggle my toes in the wet sand. I crouch down to look at a shell and an incoming wave knocks me over.
“Thea!” Aunt Beth shouts as she bends down to scoop me up.
I’m a mess of giggles, saltwater, and sunscreen as she and Mom attempt to grab my hands but I splash at them. They start laughing and splash me back in return.
A seagull chirps somewhere nearby and the memory vanishes.
“So,” I clear my throat, not wanting to approach the subject but knowing I need to, “do you realize what tomorrow is?”
Beth nods solemnly. “I do. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to talk about it or not.”
I watch a wave roll in before I speak again. “Not really,” I sigh, “but we probably should.”
“She wouldn’t want you to be sad.”
“I know. I just can’t help it.” I stare at the water.
“I told everyone at the diner I wasn’t coming in so I could be with you,” she says softly.
I look over at her. “Thanks,” I say. “I really appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome.” Beth nods. Then silence grows between us, interrupted only by the sound of the waves crashing to shore. Another one rolls back out, taking our conversation with it.
I arrive at Penny’s house for the pool party at the same time as Graham. He smiles and waves at me as he slams his car door shut, a beach towel tossed over his shoulder. I shift on my feet as I wait for him to get closer, slinging my bag onto my shoulder. I had almost not come to the party. It had been a fun, but emotionally day at the beach with Aunt Beth.
“Hey,” he says as he reaches my side.
“Hi,” I echo back as we walk up the sidewalk to the front porch together.
“Beth told me you’re joining the crew at the diner,” he says, running a hand through his hair.
“Yeah, she talked to me about it this morning. Good thing I said yes.” A big smile spreads across my face. “I’m really excited.”
“Well, we’re excited to have you on board.” He clears his throat and reaches into the pockets of his neon swim trunks.
“I, uh,” he pauses as he pulls something out, “found this the other day and it made me think of you.” He holds out his hand and in the center of his palm is a seashell in the shape of a heart.
“Graham,” I say quietly, taken aback by the gesture. I gently reach for the shell and take it from him, running my fingers over the grooved surface. It’s white and weathered and I know I will cherish it.
I open my mouth to continue but am interrupted by Penny answering the door.
“Hi!” she exclaims as she welcomes us into her home. Her home is warm and inviting; it’s the kind of house that isn’t perfect and looks lived in. There’re toys spread across the living room and a cozy lamp lit in the corner. Her couch looks like a giant marshmallow.
Raquel smiles and waves to us from the kitchen as she watches us walk in. A few other people I don’t know are in the house as well. I chalk them up to being Penny’s husband’s friends.
Graham departs from my side, going to talk to Brian and Penny’s husband. I make my way over to the kitchen to join Raquel, savingmy introductions for later. The kitchen is beautiful and spacious, everything a pristine white. Penny follows behind me.
“Make yourself at home,” she says as she opens the fridge. “There’s seltzers on the counter, help yourself.”
