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Tea’s shoulders relaxed. “Thanks, Mom.”

Archer dried his hands with a dish towel, then tossed it to the counter as he approached the door. “Mother, stop harassing my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend. Were they using those words now?

“It’s not harassment, son, it’s called manners.”

Archer swung it open, then grabbed Tea’s face and kissed her hungrily on the mouth.

“Something the two of you should probably learn! My god, chill it out there.”

They both laughed and broke apart.

Archer rubbed his thumbs into her cheeks. “I missed you, Sweet Tea,” he said softly, only to her.

She rolled her eyes. “You saw me this morning.”

“Too long.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Mmhmm.” He nuzzled her nose. “I’m okay with that.”

She tilted her head back and pointed at the lake. “It’s glass out there.”

Archer lifted a brow. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“If it’s to watch me make one last failing attempt at water skiing, then yes, that’s what I’m saying.”

He slapped her butt with both hands. “Let’s go.”

She righted herself in the water and gripped the bright blue handle. The sun was gleaming across the lake, making it almost impossible to see Rhonda and Archer in the boat. But she wasn’t going to let anything stop her today. She had to get up. She had to.

“You got this!” Rhonda cheered.

“Hold on to your bottoms!” Archer yelled.

“I’m in my one piece, jackass!”

His laugh boomed across the lake.

“Ready?” Rhonda yelled.

Tea took a long, deep breath, then nodded to herself. “Hit it!”

Rhonda pressed on the gas. Tea kept a firm grip on the handle, the pressure of the water at her feet propelling her up. It felt like too much, enough that she was ready to call it quits for good. Then her body lifted, the grip in her hands gave a little, and she was floating on the lake.

Archer lifted his arms. “Yeah, baby! You did it!”

Tea grinned, jerking her head back to get her hair out of her face, and finally—finally—glided across her favorite place on earth. It was easy to get back into it, moving across the wake of the boat as it sailed across the water, letting each turn propel her to the side so she could soar along. The feeling was freeing. It felt like heaven. It reminded her of all her happiest moments. Road tripping with Mom and Dad to Silver Falls, the promise of a full summer at Wild Pines ahead. Lying on the couch in Cabin A, tucked tightly in Archer’s arms.

Eventually her forearms ached and she couldn’t hold on much longer. She let go of the handle and sank slowly as Rhonda killed the engine ahead.

Tea was undoing the water ski on her foot, waiting for them to make it back to her, when she heard a soft cooing on the shore nearby.

She paused, her movements slow and quiet as she turned to the sound and eyed the three loons by the nest at least five yards away on the shore. One of the loons was much smaller, its feather a mix of juvenile brown and black adult colors. The baby. Pebble.

“Tea?” Archer called to her.