Chapter 20 - The Cabana Without Maude
First family day there after the incident was strange.
Turquoise chairs.
New towels.
No Maude.
Elspeth entered slowly.
Looked at floor where she had fallen.
Then:
“Can I move chair?”
“Yes.”
She dragged it three feet.
Sat.
No symbolism from her.
Huge symbolism for me.
Gareth set cooler down.
“Want family picture?”
I froze.
He realized.
“Bad idea.”
Elspeth said:
“No, do.”
We set phone timer.
Me.
Gareth.
Elspeth.
Ocean behind.
Then she looked at screen.
“Good.”
No Maude.
That was okay.
Later Quillan came over.
“Everything alright?”
“Yes.”
Then Elspeth asked him:
“Is it really mine?”
He crouched.
“In a trust for you.”
She sighed.
“Everyone says trust.”
Quillan smiled.
“Means adults have to take care of it until you’re old enough.”
“Can they sell?”
“Sometimes, with rules.”
She looked alarmed.
I said:
“Not now.”
Then:
“Can Grandma take?”
Quillan answered carefully.
“Not without the legal process everyone is already using.”
Good.
No promises outside authority.
Elspeth nodded.
May you like
Then ran toward shoreline.
Children should be able to leave property conversations mid-sentence.
