After rinsing the breakfast dishes and putting them in the dishwasher, Grace suggested that the girls get dressed. She asked Alex to grab some extra jeans and sweatshirts as well.

As they ran upstairs in a whirlwind of excited chatter, Grace grabbed the picnic basket and took it over to the sink. Looking out the window she saw Michael standing by the woods on the side of the yard. He must have felt her gaze because he looked up. She smiled and waved. For a moment he didn't respond and she noticed that his expression was serious. He finally caught sight of her and reciprocated with a wave.

She opened the basket hoping to find that it had been properly cleaned before being put away. She was surprised by what she found.

The top of the basket was fine. Plates and utensils were packed away clean and ready for the next outing. The lower half of the basket was lined with a blue and white gingham cloth. Sitting in the bottom of the basket was a yellow mailing envelope. She noticed that the front of the envelope had Laura's name neatly written in black ink.

She pulled it out and looked in where it had been torn open. At first, she thought it was empty but as she pried it open she noticed a small piece of paper inside. Opening it, she read the short hand written message.

'Do you remember this Laura? I hope you will wear it for me soon. Until then... Love'

Grace shook the envelope hoping whatever had been in it was still there. Except for the note, it was empty. She put the note back in the envelope and set it on the counter. She guessed that the last time the picnic basket was used Scott and Laura must have had a romantic getaway.

She packed some ham and cheese sandwiches, three bean salad and scotch eggs – leftovers from the reception.

She and the girls were ready and on the porch waiting for Michael by 10:30 as promised.

"Where are we going?" Charlie asked as the car pulled out of the driveway.

"Agate Beach."

"Oh boy!" Charlie and Jessie yelled at the same time. "I love that beach," Jessie added.

Reggie, feeling the excitement, and happy he was included, began to dance in place. Positioned in the front seat between Grace and Michael he let out a little whine and licked Michael's cheek.

To get to Agate Beach, one had to put forth a little effort. At the parking area, everyone grabbed their backpacks, extra clothes, blanket, towels and the picnic basket. Michael and Reggie led the way over to the narrow dirt path as Grace and the girls followed behind.

The morning sun filtered through the foliage making intricate patterns out of the shadows along the sandy dirt trail. The ground on either side was covered by a thick growth of ferns throwing their regal plumage up over the well-traveled route, grabbing at Grace's slender ankles as she made her way. Fir and cypress trees flanked the path on both sides.

As the trail pulled the group along it wound into a dense thicket that blocked out the light. The ground here was still damp from lack of sun and the chill in the air made Grace shudder. Suddenly the light reappeared breaking through the high branches and warming her shoulders. A few yards ahead the trees gave way to a clearing and she could see that they were on a cliff looking down on the sea. From here the trail dropped at a steady angle making the going slower than it had been. The sand slipped under her feet and she began to side step to slow her momentum. She was relieved when they finally reached the beach.

In the back of her mind, she remembered this path but then how could she? It was a strong feeling of Deja vu. She had only been four when her mother was killed in a tragic accident on a steep beach path. From what she'd been told over the years, along with what she imagined and remembered, her mother's death was hidden behind a thick veil that shadowed the truth and revealed only vague images of what had happened.

She found a sheltered alcove where she laid out the blanket. Charlie and Jessie went running along the tide line with Michael and Reggie. Alex found a mound of sand about five yards from the blanket where she sat down to be alone.

The steady breeze blowing in from the northwest pulled at the edges of the blanket. Grace sat cross-legged and watched Michael run in and out of the water with the girls while Reggie chased after them barking his joy. They continued down the beach, teasing the waves as they went. Grace glanced over at Alex where she sat watching her sisters. Her long blond hair waved in the breeze and the soft tan shades of sand made the tufts of tall, dark green grass around her stand out as they bent and swayed back and forth. Alex wore light brown shorts and a baby blue sweatshirt that almost matched the seamless blue sky. Grace realized what a perfect picture it would make and immediately began fumbling in her backpack for her vintage Nikon camera. Taking several shots of Alex she stood up and snapped a few more of Michael and the girls.

It was a perfect fall day along the Northern California coastline. A gift of a day she thought to herself as she leaned back and opened the mystery novel she had found on Laura's nightstand. Laura was always reading a good book. Within minutes she was swept away by the story.

She jumped when Charlie and Jessie flopped down on the blanket followed by Michael who heaved a heavy sigh. "You guys wear me out!" he exclaimed as he lay down and closed his eyes.

Grace glanced at her watch. It was almost 1:00 pm.

"I didn't realize it was this late already. Are you guys hungry?"

"I could eat a horse!" Michael said.

"Alex," Grace shouted, "come have some lunch."

Alex glanced over her shoulder and then turned back.

"I'll get her," Michael said as he started to get up.

"No, let me go. I need the practice."

Grabbing a sandwich she walked over to Alex and sat down. Opening the bag she took half of the sandwich out and began to eat.

"You know when I was little my mother took your mom and me to the beach almost every day in the summer. We'd pack a lunch and have a picnic. I'd collect sea shells with my mom while Laura played volleyball with her friends.

Grace took another bite of her sandwich and offered the other half to Alex. To her surprise she accepted it, taking a mouthful and chewing it up as if she were starving.

"Did you like my mom when you were little?"

"Yes, more than I think your mom liked me. She was my big sister and I looked up to her like Charlie and Jessie look up to you." Letting out a deep sigh Grace continued, "When my mother died we stopped going to the beach. I was only four but I remember how much everything changed after that. I don't want that to happen to you. I need you to tell me if I'm doing something wrong or if you want to do something I don't know about okay?"

Alex nodded. "How did your mother die?"

"Didn't your mom tell you?"

"She said she fell and hit her head."

"Well, that's true. She was going to her favorite beach. It was a lot like this only much smaller and isolated. On her way down she slipped off the narrow path and fell over the embankment."

"Oh," Alex said as she took another bite of her sandwich.

"Smile!"

They looked over to see Michael aiming the camera at them.

"Michael," Grace protested, "I hate having my picture taken!"

"Oh, I see," he teased. "You can take our picture, but we can't take yours. You know what they say, 'every picture tells a story.'"