“She won’t get to turn this into something ugly.”
“You always say that before she says something ugly.”
That landed harder than she meant it to.
“Then I’ll do better this time,” I said.
“I just hope Aunt Vanessa doesn’t say anything.”
***
The next morning, Vanessa arrived with Lily, three suitcases, and a garment bag longer than Noah.
She stared into my trunk.
“Where am I supposed to put this?”
“Fold the garment bag.”
“It’s silk, Audrey.”
“Then it shouldn’t have come to the beach.”
Nora walked outside in shorts and an open cover-up.
“It’s silk, Audrey.”
Vanessa’s eyes dropped to her legs.
“Well, someone’s feeling brave.”
Nora stopped beside me.
“I’m wearing a swimsuit.”
“I noticed.”
“Mom,” Lily said quietly.
“Well, someone’s feeling brave.”
Vanessa waved her off. “I’m complimenting her confidence.”
“No,” I said. “You’re making her explain herself before we’ve even left.”
Vanessa’s mouth tightened.
Noah lifted his camera.
“Should I take a picture of everyone arguing beside the luggage?”
“Get in the car,” I told him.
“I’m complimenting her confidence.”
Then I looked at Vanessa.
“You too. Leave Nora alone.”
***
On our first morning in Florida, Nora stood at the edge of the beach with her cover-up tied tightly.
“Do you want me to walk down with you?” I asked.
“No.”
Her fingers stayed on the knot.
“You too. Leave Nora alone.”
“I need to do this before I talk myself out of it.”
She untied the cover-up and let it fall.
Two teenagers glanced at her, then kept walking.
Nora blinked. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
Noah ran backward through the sand.
“That’s it?”
“Last one in carries Aunt Vanessa’s giant bag!”
Nora laughed and chased him.
Dad called us together for a picture.
Vanessa raised her phone.
“Nora, stand behind Lily so everyone fits.”
I looked at the open space beside me.
“She fits here.”
Vanessa raised her phone.
I pulled Nora to my side.
Vanessa took the picture without arguing, but I saw her jaw tighten.
***
At an outdoor market, Nora tried on a wide-brimmed hat.
“You look like a movie star,” Lily said as Vanessa photographed them together.
“Nora, lower the hat.”
“Why?”
“The light’s wrong.”
“Nora, lower the hat.”
Noah’s camera flashed before Nora moved.
***
Later, I walked up behind Vanessa and saw her editing the picture.
She dragged one edge inward.
Nora’s face vanished.
Then, most of her body disappeared.
When Vanessa finished, Lily stood alone in the center. Only part of Nora’s shoulder remained.
Nora’s face vanished.
“Why did you cut Nora out?”
Vanessa kept looking at the screen.
“I didn’t.”
“Her face is gone.”
“I fixed the composition.”
“You removed her.”
“It’s one photo, Audrey.”
“You removed her.”
She slipped her phone into her bag.
“Don’t turn everything into a crisis.”
Nora was laughing with Noah. I told myself a public confrontation would embarrass her, so I let it pass.
***
That evening, Nora came downstairs in long pants and an oversized sweatshirt despite the heat.
“Aren’t you warm?”
“I’m fine.”
“Aren’t you warm?”
She opened the refrigerator.
“You wore less outside all day.”
“That was before Aunt Vanessa spent an hour fixing the evidence.”
I went still.
“What evidence?”
Nora stared into the refrigerator.
