strangerâs gratitude as he began his search for treasure, eyes wide open.
Maggie
âHello?â Jessâs voice rang through the hallway. âAnybody home?â
Maggie was in the kitchen fixing sandwiches for lunch while the kids played Monopoly, biding their time till their cousins arrived. Even though Maggie had begged them to hold off swimming until after lunch, both Lexie and Sophie were already in their swimsuits. Putting the dock in the first day of summer was a tradition, as was the kidsâ sticking their toes in the water at the same time.
Luke and the twins beat her to the door. âAunt Jessie!â the girls yelled while Luke tackled his cousin in a bear hug.
âHiya, Sis.â Maggie embraced her twin. âGirls, give your poor aunt a break,â she warned as each tugged on Jessâs arms. Maggie bent down to kiss her niece and nephew. âI swear you guys have gotten bigger since the last time I saw you. When was it? Two weeks ago?â
âSomething like that,â Jess said. âSame goes for you three.â She hugged the girls and Luke. âBut not you, of course.â She turned to Maggie. âYou look exactly the same.â
âThank goodness,â Maggie said, and they shared a laugh.
A minute later, Tim came up the front steps, bags hanging off his shoulders and a large cooler in his hands.
âWhereâs Mac when I need him?â he joked. âHi, everyone. You got the place all set up for us?â He leaned in to peck Maggie on the cheek.
âMac went for a quick run. He should be back any minute.â Maggie held the door open for her brother-in-law. âHere, come on in. Girls, help the kids with their bags upstairs. You, too, Luke.â
âThen can we go swimming?â Lexie pleaded. Maggie eyed Jess to gauge whether she was ready to let the kids go in the water so soon, but Jess just shrugged.
âAfter you eat lunch, I donât see why not.â
âYay!â The kids bounded up the stairs with their backpacks and suitcases. Maggie pointed Tim toward the kitchen and helped her sister with the bags.
âCome on,â she said, as she showed Jess upstairs. âThere are fresh sheets on all the beds. The towels are washed and in the linen closet, so help yourselves. The water has been a little touch and go, but I think the pump is working now. Let me know if you guys have any problems with it, okay?â
When they reached the guest room, Jess smiled.
âWhatâs so funny?â Maggie demanded.
âI love how you play house here, as if weâre the boarders coming to stay at your bed-and-breakfast. You know weâve been here a few times ourselves, right?â
Maggie felt her cheeks color. Here she was prattling on about things her sister already knew. âIâm sorry. I just want to make sure everyone feels at home.â
âAnd we do,â said Jess. âThank you. The place looks great.â Maggie watched as her sister scanned the guest room. A vase of pink roses that sheâd clipped from the backyard this morning rested on a small side table. On top of the bed lay a crisp white comforter, capped with oversize pillows. On either side of it were built-in bookcases, filled with titles like Gift from the Sea and A Field Guide to the Atlantic Seashore. Maggie flopped down on the comforter and watched as her sister transferred clothes from her suitcase.
âOoh, thatâs pretty,â she said when Jess went to hang up a light blue sundress with delicate white daisies twirling across it. âWhen can I borrow it?â
âDonât even,â Jess teased. Fortunately, Maggie reflected, Jessâs sense of style had evolved for the better over the years. When they were growing up, sheâd always wanted to borrow Maggieâs clothes. Not because she liked them more, but simply because Jess never took the time to shop for herself. She was too busy saving the