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Mia grinned up at her “I’onna coet a part, but…”

“That’s wonderful,” Jude said, pleased by this development “Well I better take Lexi home now Your dad will be home in an hour ”

“Can I come with?” Mia asked

“No You have a paper due on Friday You et started on it,” Jude answered

“You’re already checking the Web site? It’s the first day of school,” Mia said, her shoulders slu

“You need to stay on track Grades h school ” She looked down at Lexi “You ready?”

“I can take the bus,” Lexi said “You don’t have to drive me ”

“The bus?” Jude frowned In all her years of parenting on this island, she had never had a child make that offer Most said they could call their moms; none ever offered to take the bus Where would one even catch a bus around here?

Lexi unwound herself from the red and white striped wool blanket When she stood up, it slumped to the sand “Really, Mrs Farraday You don’t need to drive me home ”

“Please, Lexi, call me Jude When you say Mrs Farraday, I think of o tell Zach I’ the drive Ask him who else needs a ride ”

Ten minutes later, Jude started up the Escalade Five kids shoved their way into the plush interior, talking over one another as they buckled up their seatbelts In the front passenger seat, Lexi sat quietly, staring straight ahead Jude admonished Zach and Mia to start on their homework and then drove away The route was so familiar she could have driven it in her sleep—left on Beach Drive, right on Night Road, left on the highway At the top of Viewcrest, she pulled into her best friend’s driveway “Here you go, Bryson Tell Molly we’re still on for lunch this week ”

He ot out of the car For the next twenty minutes, she drove the standard route around the island, letting off one kid after another Finally, she turned to Lexi “Okay, hon, where to?”

“Isn’t that a bus stop?”

Jude s you on a bus Nohere to, Lexi?”

“Port George,” Lexi said