Ruthie feels the need to change the subject. “Wow, you’ve been here five minutes and already we are getting all deep. Why don’t we catch up on the last three years first.” Ruthie smiles and sips her wine.

With relief Harper agrees and they spend the next two hours talking about more benign topics.

***

It takes a lot of effort, but Shane manages to convince herself to go to the Center. Tina can hardly contain her excitement when she sees Shane walk through the door. She shows her to the rec room where the kids are beginning to congregate. She introduces Shane to those who weren’t at the beach before running off to make a quick call. Shane stands awkwardly in the middle of the room unsure of what to do with herself. Some of the kids stare at her, sizing her up, while the majority ignore her. Her eyes search the room for a place to tuck herself away. The corner she would’ve claimed for herself is already occupied by Bianca. She makes her way over to the empty chair next to the young girl.

“Hey.” Shane says sitting down, “Remember me from the beach?”

Bianca looks up and gives Shane a semi smile as she tries to act annoyed that her reading is being interrupted. “Yeah.”

“How’s it going?” Shane asks.

“Good.” Bianca answers with her head once again buried in her book.

Shane knows the game the girl is playing all too well. She herself acted the same way toward adults when she was Bianca’s age. “This is a pretty cool place.”

“Yeah, it’s alright I guess.” Bianca’s book still has her full attention.

“So, did you have fun learning how to surf?” Shane’s doing her best to get this girl talking.

Still with her eyes on the book, “It was cool.”

“Yeah… that was my first time. Once I was done falling off the board and making a fool of myself it was pretty cool. I hope we can all go again.”

Bianca gives Shane a quick glance, “You’d go with us again?”

“***** yeah!” Shane quickly covers her mouth trying to catch her swear word. “Woops, I mean, heck yeah!”

Bianca puts on her tough act, “I’ve heard worse.”