Page 42 of Ten Beach Road

“Did it come with balls?” Avery asked. “Doing a Bobbitt on it might make me feel a little better.”

“Have you always been this bloodthirsty?” Madeline asked as Avery made a scissor snipping motion. “I don’t really have a baseline to work from.”

Kyra smiled behind the camera, the first real smile of the day. Perhaps despite her earlier protestations, she’d like to do a little snipping of some famous balls herself.

“Nicole, this is my daughter, Kyra,” Madeline said. “She’s shooting our ‘before’ video and is going to stay on awhile to help.”

Kyra lifted her face from the camera’s eyepiece to say hello. “Hey, why don’t all three of you go up on the landing and pose with the dummy?”

Nicole looked like she wanted to refuse, but Madeline swept her up the stairs beside her, not giving her the chance. They mugged for the video camera and then for stills, flexing their muscles and aiming gunslinger looks at their Frankensteinian Malcolm Dyer.

“That’s good,” Kyra said. “Move in a little closer. Mom, turn to your left just a bit.”

They did as instructed and when Kyra said she’d gotten enough, they moved apart.

“Welcome to Camp Bella Flora,” Nicole said as they filed back downstairs. “And gruntdom.”

“Ditto,” Avery said. “It’s great to have an extra pair of hands even if it does bring us to four females in one bathroom.”

There was a collective groan.

“Someone needs to have a talk with Robby. I bet Madeline could turn him with a batch of brownies,” Nicole said.

Madeline shook her head. “Chase is not going to let that boy be bought.” She turned to Kyra. “Robby is the plumber. Chase is the contractor.”

“And he’s not likely to let you forget it,” Avery said to Kyra. “I told him your mom would be the best choice to re-glaze the windows.”

“Really?” Kyra’s surprise was evident.

“Yep,” Avery replied. “She’s got the most patience and is the most detail oriented.”

Madeline had to laugh. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or you’re calling me anal.”

“Hard to say,” Nicole drawled. “It’s a pretty fine line.”

Kyra smiled. “This should be interesting. I always liked sleepaway camp.”

“The activities are a little different here,” Nicole said. “In fact, we spent the last two weeks cleaning. And the counselors are a little on the demanding side.”

“I’m sure Kyra will survive,” Madeline said, slipping her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “I’m going to give her the grand tour. Then how about we meet out back in time for the show?”

“The show?” Kyra asked.

“Yes,” Madeline said. “The sunset’s pretty spectacular here.”

Nicole offered to make something tropical in the blender. Avery lobbied for Cheez Doodles and when she was shot down, volunteered to put together a plate of crackers with cheese and salami. Madeline promised to put together a big salad that they could eat out at the concrete picnic table after sunset if the mosquitoes weren’t too bad.

“The cable should be hooked up pretty soon,” Madeline said as she and Kyra prepared to begin their tour.

“Great,” Kyra said. “Where’s the TV?”

Avery, Nicole and Madeline exchanged glances. “Well, we don’t actually have one of those yet,” Madeline admitted.

“No TV?” It was clear the concept was far beyond Kyra’s wildest imaginings.

“But I’m sure we will soon,” Madeline said.

“Right,” said Avery. “We’ll just get your mom to put it on the list.”

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