Page 61 of Songs of Summer

They still tried, as they did now, slipping between them quietly. Only Sally noticed, lifting her head to look at them and acknowledging the interruption with a long, wet lick of her tongue on each of their cheeks. They were both careful not to giggle, even though it tickled.

The girls succeeded in crawling under the covers unnoticed. Such success had little to do with their baby ninja skills and more to do with the level of their parents’ indulgence the night before. The first night of festivities in honor of the marriage of Captain Jake to their across-the-street neighbor,Renee, was soaked in sangria and grappa, and both Addison and Ben partook as if two sun-kissed little faces would not be peering down at them wanting breakfast a few hours later. They were both effectively still tipsy.

The girls lay still for a bit, relishing in the fact that they were sleeping in Mommy and Daddy’s bed. They smiled at each other over the rise and fall of Sally’s chest between them, creating a game of doggie peekaboo with each breath. Maisie giggled when her sister came back into sight. Juno reprimanded her with a finger to her lips. She looked crushed. Juno felt bad for crushing her. She already recognized how much her approval meant to her little sister. Feeling guilty for hurting her feelings and bored from staying so still, she mouthed the call to action that Maisie was likely hoping for.

“JUMP!”

And they did.

Addison and Ben grabbed the sides of their king-size bed as if it were balanced on the San Andreas Fault—trying their best to keep down the paella and alcohol that the sudden jerky movements were stirring. Ben had no patience for it. He yelled:

“Girls, for the love of God, stop jumping!”

They listened, but ended with the biggest flop their two little bodies could create, giggling hysterically. They lay flat on the bed afterward, arms to their sides like tiny wooden soldiers, hoping for tickles, no doubt.

“What time is it?” Addison managed.

Ben reached for his cell on the nightstand and finally found it between the book he was currently reading, used tissues, an empty pack of Tylenol, and the case for his earplugs. The phone was dead.

“Ugh. I never charged it.”

Addison sat up, pushed herself back to the headboard, and pulled out hers.

“Eight oh-seven. Not bad.”

“Not bad at all,” Ben agreed. “We got a solid seven hours.”

“Really? You didn’t hear all the noise last night?”

“Not a thing,” Ben stated. “What happened?”

“No idea, but something big was going on. Hangover pancakes?” Addison offered.

“Yes, please,” he replied gratefully.

The girls sat up, crossed their legs, and smiled proudly that they had apparently slept in, as their parents begged them to do most evenings when they kissed them good night.

“Make extra pancakes for our friend, please, Mommy?” Maisie requested.

“Who? Imogene?”

“No, Mommy. Imogene is just pretend. She doesn’t eat pancakes. They’re for the lady with the red hair who slept in Juno’s bed last night!”

Track 29

The Search Is Over

Maggie

The morning sunstreamed through the living room window of her grandfather’s house as Maggie opened one eye and then the other. She had returned from the beach and taken back her position on the couch next to Bea, who, though now awake, was staring straight ahead in a trance. As far as she knew, Paul and Shep were still at the police station in town, filling out paperwork and questioning everyone who had seen Veronica the night before. And the rest were out searching.

Maggie couldn’t help thinking about what she was holding back from poor Bea and the Greek tragedy that would unfold if she were to reveal herself on the same morning that her sister died. It was too much; it was all too much. She silently begged her parents to help her, as she did when things were bad, replacingPlease,GodwithPlease,Mom and Dad. This time she threw in,If you bring her back alive, I will never ask you for anything again.

It was then that the neighbor, Ben, strolled into the house.

“If you’re looking for Veronica, she’s asleep in my kids’room. Must have had one too many and forgot where she lived.”

He said it real casual, as if it were a joke he had rehearsed on the way over. Bea’s reaction, guttural sobs of relief, were the polar opposite of the light chuckle he’d probably been expecting. Maggie quickly jumped in.

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