Page 101 of She Wolf

“Yes, now go and win the sandcastle competition.” Scott stands and kisses her on the head, without saying another word.

I get up to stretch my legs. “Does anyone need a drink?” I say loud enough for everyone to hear. Seventeen hands shoot straight up in the air, including Jack’s.

“I’ll go whip up a fruit cooler then,” I slip my sandals back on.

“We’ll come with you,” Mama says, and then she and my aunt join me, pretty kaftans blowing slightly in the ocean breeze as we go back up into the house. There are no steps but a long, decked walkway that runs up to the porch.

In the kitchen I open the fridge. “Hmmm. We’ve got fresh watermelon, coconut, frozen mango and passionfruit pieces. What dya reckon?” I say as I turn and find them both with adorable matching grins.

“What are you two smiling about?”

“Just my Peaches all loved up,” Mama beams calling me the name I’ve had most of my life. The one Gunner now uses when he’s flirting or horny. It feels odd hearing her say it. Instead of voicing that out loud though, I decide to just compartmentalize.

“You and Gunner are just the sweetest thing,” Aunt May adds and she clasps her hand over her heart.

“I don’t even need to ask if he’s treatin’ you right do I? I can tell by the way you glow. You’re practically shinin’.”

“I am?” I ask placing the ingredients down on the counter.

“Yes, and the way he is with Jack, bless his heart. Those Canadian mamas raise those boys right, hey?”

“Well, Alison Grey sure did,” I sigh. “I’ve never felt so owned and yet so completely free at the same time. It feels crazy to think we’ve only been dating a couple months. He’s my forever. I didn’t even say that about Nick when Jack was born.” I grimace at that and throw bits of fruit in the blender.

Mama shakes her head. “You were made for each other. We said it all along didn’t we May?”

“Yes. We saw the way he looked at you and the way he was with Jack.” I blitz the ingredients for a few seconds adding a splash of mango juice.

“You should see them together at home, thick as thieves! I thought they were close before but since Jack found out about us, it’s definitely elevated. And they’ve been banished to the garage. Their Lego city was going to take up my whole house.”

“Awww, I can’t believe we haven’t been to visit it yet,” Mama pouts. She pours the orangey mixture into a separate jug, while I go about doing the same again.

“It hasn’t been long. Come after vacation, you too Aunt May.”

“We will, you can bet your bottom dollar,” Aunt May says, and then she swooshes back out into the sun with the first tray of fruit smoothies.

Mama and I bring the rest out not long after and as soon as our feet hit the sand we’re swarmed. “One each or there won’t be enough!” I shout.

“Mama gave her jug to the girls,” Troy says as he thumbs over his shoulder. Lex and Aunt May smile smugly, just to rub it in—their glasses clinking together as they do.

As the last hour of the contest comes to an end and my sides hurt from laughing so much, my dad finally blows the whistle. Literally. And not one of us can work out where he got it from, which just makes us laugh harder. Jack runs straight over to the Mamas.

“Gramma, Aunt May, it’s time,” he says excitedly.

“Right, you are honey. I think this is gonna be very hard to judge.” Jack holds both their hands and leads them to the first one. Us girls follow behind.

The firefighter boys teamed up and are first for inspections. As per usual their one-track minds run only on flashing red lights. Less of a sculpture and more sand art. Scott, Theo, and Troy stand proudly by their detailed side of a fire truck while the Mamas take in every last detail and converse in hushed voices before moving on to the next one.

Casey’s team have gone with a castle. Again, incredible detail but will it be enough to win the coveted prize of…actually nothing. These dumbasses didn’t even make a bet or choose a trophy. They were too busy squabbling to even think about it.

Callan and Adam also went for art over structure and in keeping with their surroundings, created an ocean scene. Mermaids and mermen, star fish and coral. It really is very good.

As we move, Gunner, Knox, and Rex stand proudly beside their epic Roman construction.

“Oh, my Lord,” Mama gushes as she takes in this ridiculous feat of sand engineering. I’ve literally never seen anything like it. Oval in shape, deep and open-aired with concentric rows of raised seating, supported by arches and split into three sections. Along with the central part of the arena where two chariots look like they’re mid-charge.What in the world?

“And we have a winner,” Mama says proudly. “Knox, Gunner and Rex are this year's sandcastle competition champions.” The rest of the competitors give half-hearted claps while me and the girls whoop and cheer.

Dad reaches for Gunner and Knox’s arms to hold high in the air like they’re in a boxing ring while Rex fist pumps and does something crazy with his legs and then bows.

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