by Nan Rossiter
Piper looked at her sisters, and their eyes all glistened.
“Easton was our brother,” Birdie said.
“You had a brother?”
She nodded, and the voices around them grew quiet.
“What happened to him?”
Birdie swallowed. “He died,” she said.
“How old was he?”
“Seven . . . almost eight.”
“Just like me.”
She nodded.
Elliot traced the name on the lid. “How did he die?”
“In a drowning accident.”
“How?”
“Well, we were walking on the beach one night, looking for stones, and he saw one that he really liked—a heart stone. Do you know what that is?”
Elliot nodded. “It’s a stone that looks like a valentine.”
Birdie nodded. “He saw a heart stone, but when he reached for it, it tumbled away . . . and then he pulled his hand out of mine so he could find it . . . but when he wasn’t paying attention, a big wave came in and crashed over him.”
“That’s awful,” Elliot said, reaching out to touch her worn, freckled hand. His eyes were solemn and sad. “He shouldn’t have let go of your hand.”
Birdie squeezed his hand. “You’re right . . . he shouldn’t have.”
“Here’s a picture of Easton,” Piper said, holding out the photo she’d found in the attic.
“Is that all of you?” Elliot asked in surprise, studying the picture.
Piper nodded.
“Wow—you were all so . . . young!”
“Thank you,” Birdie said, laughing as Piper handed them each a framed copy of the old photo.
Remy looked at the picture and smiled wistfully. “Do you realize that Easton would’ve turned sixty this weekend?”
“That’s right!” Sailor said. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Birdie nodded, her eyes glistening.
“I did,” Remy began, “and since we never got to celebrate Easton’s birthday that year, I thought it would be nice to remember him by having his cake tonight . . . in honor of his sixtieth birthday.”
Piper smiled. “Is that why there’s black raspberry ice cream in the freezer?”
Remy nodded.
“I can’t believe he would be sixty,” Birdie murmured softly.
“What do you think he’d be like?” Remy mused.
“Oh, he’d be tall and handsome . . . probably an engineer—he was always so curious and smart.”
“And full of life,” Sailor added. “He’d be the life of the party if he was here.”
Birdie nodded. “He would be. He would’ve made all of our lives . . . richer.”
Just then, Maya trundled up the stairs, followed by her cousins. “Look at my lantern!” she said, holding out her mason jar. Piper turned off the Christmas lights and the lantern blinked and glowed, illuminating the innocent faces. “It’s beautiful,” Birdie said softly. “They’re all beautiful,” she murmured, as the years of guilt and sorrow slipped away.
CHAPTER 63
It was still dark outside when Piper, Remy, Birdie, and David pulled into Sailor’s yard. “I hope you made coffee,” Piper said as she came into the kitchen.
“Of course,” Sailor replied, pouring five steaming cups. “I also had a box of Munchkins delivered,” she said, opening the box and pushing it across the island.
“I bet you did,” Piper said, grinning as she took out a chocolate-glazed doughnut hole.
“How come the turtle has to be released so early?” Sailor asked.
“Because it’s still the holiday weekend and we want her to be safely offshore before the boat traffic picks up.”
Birdie looked around the neat cottage. “Where did Merry and Thatcher stay last night?”
“In a motel,” Sailor said regretfully. “There isn’t enough room for everyone here. That’s the one downside of having such a small place.”
“They could’ve stayed with us,” David offered, sipping his coffee. “We have plenty of room.”
“Or us . . . I mean, me,” Remy said, reaching into the box and taking a jelly-filled Munchkin, “if I didn’t already have a house-full.”
“Or us,” Piper added. “I didn’t know they were staying in a motel.”
“I didn’t even know they were coming,” Sailor said. “Otherwise, I would’ve made arrangements with one of you.”
“I wish mine could’ve, too,” Remy mused. “At least Sam and Tess were able to stay—Elliot and Maya are going to love this!”
“By the way,” Piper said, taking a cinnamon Munchkin and popping it in her mouth. “We really have to make time to get through the attic. It is packed and it won’t be fair if something happens to all of us and Elias has to deal with it.”
“We will,” Birdie assured her. “In the fall, when it’s cooler.”
“Okay,” Piper said, eyeing her skeptically. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Remy cradled her mug in her hands. “Is that where you found the old photo and the album Elias was showing everyone last night?” she asked.
Piper nodded. “I found some other things, too—letters Dad had written to Mom when he was in the navy . . . and the baseball cap Easton had on that night.”
They were all quiet, remembering.
Finally, Sailor broke the silence. “Actually, that’s why I wanted you to stop by this morning—I wanted to show you guys something.” She smiled and motioned for them to follow her. She led the way down the short hall to her studio, turned on the light above her desk, and stepped back so they could see all the pictures.
“Oh my!” Birdie murmured while Remy just stood there, gazing in awe.
“What do you think?” Sailor asked softly, looking at David.
He blinked back tears and took a deep breath. “It’s . . . stunning.”
“It is stunning,” Remy said softly.
Piper pointed to the newest addition Sailor had hung in the empty spot when she’d gotten home the night before. “Here’s where it all began,” she said. “It wouldn’t be complete without this one.”
They all looked at the old black-and-white photo of the five laughing Quinn children with their arms around each other—a formidable crew!—and brushed back their tears.
CHAPTER 64
“Elias, can you pick up the other side?” Nat called, motioning for his son to lift one end of the specially designed tank they’d used to transport the big loggerhead to and from the aquarium.
Sam and Piper trotted over to help, too, and as they lifted it out of the back of the truck and carried it down the ramp, Elliot ran over and put his hands under the tank to help bear the weight, too.
Nat nodded in Elliot’s direction. “That’s how you used to be,” he said, smiling at Elias.
Elias grinned. “I still am.”
The sun was just peeking up above the horizon when they set the tank down on the sand near the water’s edge.
“Wow,” Elliot exclaimed. “Look how big he is!”
“Actually,” Elias said, “he is a she.”
“It’s a girl turtle?!”
“More like a lady turtle,” Piper said.
“How do you know it’s a lady?” Elliot asked.
“Her tail,” Elias explained. “The male’s tail is longer and thicker than the female’s.”
Elliot nodded.
“She’s beautiful,” Remy said, peering into the tank.
“She certainly is,” Birdie agreed.
Piper pulled out her phone and scrolled through her pictures. “This is what she looked like when we rescued her.” She tapped one of the photos showing the debris and lines tangled around her neck and flippers. She scrolled again. “And this was the buoy she was dragging.”
“Oh my, that’s awful,” Remy said, shaking her head.
“It is awful,” Piper said. “We are constantly rescuing turtles that have become tangled up in garbage. Last summer we rescued a little Kemp’s ridley that was so wr
apped up in fishing line, you couldn’t even tell he was a turtle.”
“I wish people would be more careful about leaving plastic bags and garbage around,” David said.
“I’m going to pick up all the plastic bags I see,” Elliot said, stroking the old turtle’s scarred shell.
“Me too,” Maya said, reaching for her mother’s hand. Tess could tell she wanted to touch the turtle’s shell, too, but just didn’t have the courage.
“She won’t hurt you, Maya,” Elliot said.
Maya stepped forward and lightly traced her finger over the scarred shell while David took the lens cap off his camera and took several pictures of Elliot and Maya with the old turtle.
Finally, Nat looked at Piper. “Shall we?” he asked.
“Don’t you mean ‘shell we’?” Piper teased.
“Cute,” Nat said as Elias rolled his eyes.
Piper laughed. “You know what? I think now is as good a time as any,” she said, feeling her heart starting to pound, “and since I’ve just stumbled across exactly the right words to say, I’m going to say them.”
Nat gave her a puzzled look and waited for her to continue, and Piper pressed her lips together. “I think, today . . . right now . . . while we’re doing what we love . . . what we’ve loved doing all these years . . . with all the people we love most . . . is the perfect time to ask, especially since my sisters have always teased me when I’ve said I’m rescuing turtles with Nat.” She took a deep breath, searched the slate-blue eyes she knew so well, and smiled. “Shell we, my love . . . shell we get married?”
Elias looked up in surprise and Nat shook his head in disbelief and laughed. “You’re crazy, you know that?” he said, and then walked around the tank and lifted her off the ground. “We shell,” he whispered, smiling.
“Well, that took a turtle’s lifetime,” Sailor said, laughing.
“Now that that’s finally shettled,” Elias said, grinning, “What about this poor turtle?”
“Oh yes! The turtle!” Nat said. He put Piper down and turned to help Elias lift the gate. The big loggerhead sea turtle, smelling the salty water and hearing the waves, made her way slowly toward the surf, and when she reached the water’s edge and felt the wet sand under her belly, she paused and turned to look back at them with solemn eyes. Then, feeling the cold ocean water washing under her shell, she trudged resolutely into the surf until the tide washed over her and picked her up and carried her out to sea.
“What a beautiful grand old lady,” Piper whispered, misty-eyed.
“She truly is,” Sailor said, wiping a tear.
“Just like us,” Remy added, smiling.
“And like us, she has learned,” Birdie said, her eyes glistening, “that surrendering in order to be freed from what entangles us has a lovely, exquisite peace all its own.”
Smiling and teary-eyed, they stood on the beach and watched the old sea turtle plunge through the waves.
“I can’t believe you’re finally getting married,” Sailor said, kissing Piper’s cheek. Just as she did, David called them and they turned, realized he was taking their picture, and pulled each other close, laughing and happy to be free.
WITH HEARTFELT THANKS . . .
To Esi Sogah, my editor, and Deirdre Mullane, my agent, who are always ready with insightful suggestions and positive feedback; to everyone on the Kensington team who has worked to put together another wonderful book package; to my husband, Bruce, and our boys, Cole and Noah, whose love and support are beyond measure; and to my dear dad, who wasn’t able to read Firefly Summer, but who was always interested in its progress. “How’s it coming?” he’d ask. “It’s coming,” I’d reply. “You always say that.” One week after I told him I’d finished, my beloved dad was in hospice care, and a week after that, he passed away, but his ready smile and unwavering faith will always inspire me, and for that I’m truly grateful.
Keep reading for recipes
for some of the delicious dishes
in Firefly Summer.
RHUBARB PIE
Ingredients
4 cups fresh rhubarb, washed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1¼ cups sugar
2 tablespoons grated orange rind (zest)
¼ teaspoon (or less) salt
2½ tablespoons quick tapioca
2 tablespoons butter
Directions
Combine first five ingredients. Fold in rhubarb and mix well. Spoon into 9-inch prepared pie shell. Dot fruit with pieces of butter. Lay on lattice top—I cut the rolled-out dough into strips with a pizza cutter—and carefully weave the strips; fold under and make a decorative edge. With finger, lightly wipe a little milk onto the strips—will give it a shiny golden glaze.
Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes, then at 400 degrees F for ½ hour, and check; cover the outer crust with a ring of foil if it’s getting too brown, and continue baking for another 20–30 minutes. I also put a sheet of foil on the rack below to catch the overflow of juice.
Note: 1 cup sliced strawberries can also be folded in with the rhubarb.
Ingredients for Piecrust
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup shortening (12 tablespoons)
5–6 tablespoons cold water
Directions
In medium-size bowl, combine flour and salt. With pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle with cold water, a couple tablespoons at a time. Continue blending with a fork until pastry starts to hold together. Shape pastry into two balls and roll out into circles on floured surface. Roll onto rolling pin and lay over 9-inch pie plate. Press down and shape to dish.
RICE PUDDING
Ingredients
4 cups milk
Scant ½ cup regular long-grain white rice
¼ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup raisins (optional)
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Directions
Heat milk, rice, sugar, and salt to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 45 minutes to an hour until rice is very tender, stirring occasionally.
In a small bowl, beat eggs lightly and stir in a small amount of hot rice mixture. Slowly pour egg mixture into rice mixture, stirring rapidly to prevent lumping. Cook, stirring constantly, until rice mixture is thickened, about 5 minutes. Do not boil, or mixture will curdle. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Add raisins, if you’d like, and transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover and refrigerate or serve warm. Yum!
A READING GROUP GUIDE
FIREFLY
SUMMER
Nan Rossiter
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The suggested questions are included to enhance your group’s reading of Nan Rossiter’s Firefly Summer.
Discussion Questions
1. The author introduces readers to Birdie, Remy, Sailor, and Piper over the course of the first four chapters. How are the sisters different? What issues do they each seem to have?
2. As the story progresses, do you find yourself drawn to one sister over the others? Do you look forward to the next chapter focusing on this sister? Is there an attribute or concern you share with her that draws you to her?
3. Is there a sister you don’t like? If so, why?
4. Each of the sisters has rescued or protected some kind of wildlife. Why do you think they’re drawn to help wildlife in need?
5. Why do you think Piper never married Nat? Why doesn’t Elias tell his friends they aren’t married?
6. From what we know of Sailor’s marriage, why do you think it failed? Do you think there’s more depth to their problems than Frank’s cheating?
7. Remy truly believes that she doesn’t dwell on the life she and Jim would’ve shared if he had lived, yet she constantly thinks of him. Is she fooling herself? Why does she have a hard time letting go of her memories?
8. Birdie doesn’t think she has a drinking proble
m. What events shake her world and her senses, and how does she change? What role does John Sanders play in her life?
9. The Quinn family has never talked about the tragedy of losing Easton. How, if at all, has each of them dealt with his loss? Has not facing his loss affected each of them in any way?
10. What events cause the sisters to finally face the past? What role do their children and grandchildren play? In what ways do the sisters change? How is the release of the sea turtle symbolic?
Nan Parson Rossiter was born in Mount Vernon, New York; some of her earliest memories include riding a green Stingray bike—complete with banana seat and sissy bar—to the Pelham Library, which at the time was a tiny, cavelike space tucked beneath Hutchinson Elementary School. It was from the shelves of this library that Nan first discovered the magic of books. Some of her favorite characters included Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Pippi Longstocking, Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Scarlet Pimpernel, and Harriet the Spy.
When she was in the seventh grade, Nan moved with her parents to Barkhamsted, Connecticut. She graduated from Northwestern Regional 7 High School and went on to the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 1986 with a degree in illustration. After freelancing for several years, she began writing and illustrating books for children, including Rugby & Rosie, winner of Nebraska’s Golden Sower Award, and most recently, The Fo’c’sle: Henry Beston’s Outermost House. In 2011, Nan published her first novel, The Gin & Chowder Club; she is also the author of Words Get in the Way, More Than You Know, Under a Summer Sky, and a short Christmas story in the anthology Making Spirits Bright.