Stacey and Mal exchanged a look, and I know they were trying not to burst out laughing. "Are you sure you need all that?" Stacey said, trying to be tactful. "It's pretty late in the day to get burned."

I glanced at myself in the mirror. I did look a little strange, but I didn't dare take any chances.

"I'm ready, Mary Anne-silly-billy-goo-goo!" Claire shrieked. She was dressed in a bright red tank suit and wriggling with joy like a puppy.

"Okay, let's go," I said, scooping her up. We met the triplets and Margo in the hall, and I automatically counted heads as we went down the stairs. "Where's Vanessa?" I asked.

(After the scare with Claire, I wasn't taking any chances.)

"I'm out here," she called from the front porch. Vanessa was curled up in a wicker chair, balancing a notebook on her knees. She had a dreamy expression on her face, like she was lost in thought.

"Beach time!" I said, ruffling her hair as we went by.

She gave a little smile. "I'll be there in a few minutes," she said. "I have something I want to finish."

Stacey raised her eyebrows. Vanessa is usually the first one to plunge into the waves and never complains even when the water is freezing.

"I'll catch up with you later. Honest." She obviously wanted to be by herself.

"Okay," I said doubtfully, "but don't wait too long or the sun will go down."

"Where does it go?" Claire asked, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the beach.

I was still watching Vanessa, wondering if something was wrong. "Where does what go?"

"The sun!" She rolled her eyes. "Where does it go when it goes down?"

"Oh." I was stumped.

"Behind a cloud?" Stacey suggested.