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Dora looked up to see Carson standing at the , her ar out at the fronds of the pal in the wind The relentless roar of the surf echoed, and Dora wondered at the changes she’d see on the beach in the

"Carson, come join us," Dora called

Carson came to join her sisters on the bed Harper scooted closer and tugged at the blanket around her shoulders to place part of it over Carson

"This is nice, all of us huddled together, talking," Dora said

"Like old tireed

"But it won’t always be like this, will it?" Carson asked, her tone depressed "The thought of losing Sea Breeze is hard enough But now Lucille?" She shook her head "Unbearable"

"But that doesn’t ether," Dora said "Somewhere"

"Doesn’t it?" Carson asked

"That depends on us," Harper answered "All those years Sea Breeze sat here and none of us came We have to decide to make the effort"

"Yeah, well, let’s reht us back," Carson said "What happens when she is gone? When Sea Breeze is gone?"

"Don’t bereality I can’t help but worry now about what’s going to happen to her She’s eighty What’s she going to do without Lucille?" Carson asked "Especially e all leave?"

Carson looked at the streaks against theand thought it looked as though even the house was crying

"That’s why Ma and she wanted us to be close again, as sisters should"

"Even if her methods were a little Machiavellian" Harper smiled wryly