Page 73 of The Cottage on Blueberry Bay

“So?” Remy didn’t understand the reference.

“It’s known for its freezing waters.” Meredith looked at the water, the boat gone, and all she could hear was her breath and the waves rolling to shore.

“Lame.” Remy pulled down her pants and stood in her bathing suit. “Chicken.”

“Okay.” Meredith pulled down her leggings. “Let’s not stand around if we’re going to do this.”

On a count of three, the sisters ran forward, jumping over the waves and falling into the water. The whole thing must have looked uncoordinated and blundering. Meredith came to the surface, floating in the Atlantic, and wiped the salt water away from her eyes. All she could see was water all around her. She had never felt so alive.

“This is amazing!” she yelled out, floating up and down with the waves coming to shore.

Remy laughed, diving into a wave. “We need to do this every morning!”

And Meredith realized she could do this every morning.

The sisters floated for a long time, just listening to the waves. Their bodies adjusting to the cool Atlantic water.

“I need to call the kids and let them know what’s going on,” Meredith said, breaking the silence between them.

Remy nodded as she floated on her back. Meredith waited for her to stick her advice in somehow, but Remy stayed quiet.

“But I think I will stay until the fall at least,” Meredith said. She didn’t know what was holding her back from calling them. She knew she had to do it. Was she afraid they wouldn’t care? Or was she afraid they’d be upset with her for not talking to them about their grandfather?

Remy’s arms moved back and forth, keeping her afloat. “I think that’s a great idea.”

Meredith nodded, looking up at the sky. “I mean, the festival is at the end of August. We should at least stay for that.”

“What about home?” Remy asked. “What about Ryan?”

Meredith floated over a wave. “He’ll be okay on his own this summer.”

Remy stopped floating and stood. The water line hit her neck. Meredith knew her sister wanted to stay, too.

“You need to call your husband,” Meredith said.

Remy nodded. “I know I need to talk to him. I just don’t know what to say.”

“Maybe you should just start by talking about what we’ve been up to.” The past few days, she hadn’t seen Remy talk on the phone or text him or even mention Joe. “It’s none of my business, but shouldn’t he know what’s going on with you?”

Remy smiled and it was the saddest smile Meredith had ever seen. “That’s the thing. He does know. He just doesn’t care.”

“What?” Meredith didn’t understand. “He knows you’re this upset?”

Remy shook her head. “It’s complicated.”

Meredith knew complicated. “If there’s one thing I have learned from my own divorce, it’s that not talking about things is what lead to our problems.”

Remy shrugged. “I’m pretty sure Joe’s done talking at this point.”

Meredith wouldn’t push it. Remy didn’t need a mother hen. Remy needed a friend. She needed her sister.

“Let’s skip the list today,” Meredith said. “Let’s lay out all day and go out to that restaurant tonight.”

Remy’s eyes sparkled, even if they were flooded with tears. “That sounds fabulous.”

The two sisters got out of the water, collected their things from the beach, and rushed back to the cottage, talking the whole way about their new plans.

When they arrived back, they saw a few women in their straw hats floating among the blueberry bushes. The sight of them brought comfort to Meredith for some reason, as if the day would be just fine because they were working the fields.

---