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shabby trailers Toy had grown up in.
    From the main room, a narrow hall adorned with Rutledge family photographs that dated back to the turn of the century led to two small bedrooms. Toy went to the seaward room to gently nudge her daughter awake. Little Lovie groused and grumbled but eventually was lured from her bed. Next, Toy headed downstairs under the porch.
    She found Cara stretched out on the lounge chair, one leg falling off it, gently snoring. She smirked, never having seen the usually sophisticated Cara Rutledge Beauchamps in that pose. The morning was already warm, hinting at the hot, humid day it would become. Toy bent close to the turtle and hesitated, wonderingwith sudden fear if the turtle had made it through the night. She removed the damp towels from its shell.
    The turtle’s eyes rolled up to look at her.
    “Ah, Big Girl!” she exclaimed, relieved beyond measure. “It sure is nice to wish you a good morning. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I was worried. But you’re a survivor, aren’t you? Just like me.”
    Her large eyes watched Toy with a sickly expression.
    “You aren’t feeling so good, are you? Don’t you worry. We’ll get you to the hospital in no time.”
    Toy heard a loud yawn behind her. She turned to see Cara squinting through half-opened eyes and scratching her wildly disheveled hair.
    “I feel like I slept on a railroad track,” Cara said in a hoarse voice.
    “You look like it, too. A shower will improve your outlook.”
    “A shower, a massage…I need the whole spa treatment. How’s Big Girl?”
    “She’s alive—barely. We can try to feed her once we get her in a proper tank.”
    “She probably just wants coffee.” Cara absently scratched a mosquito bite on her arm. “Speaking of which, is Flo here yet? I’d kill for a cup right now.”
    “Not yet. Come on, sleepyhead. We’d better get a move on. It’s going to be a busy day.”
    She went back upstairs to find Little Lovie back in bed. “You too?” she exclaimed as she tickled her stomach and toes, rousing her slowly. Reminding her of the sea turtle under their house did the trick and she laughed as Lovie scrambled into her clothes. Next she began preparations for breakfast. She was putting bread into the toaster when Flo burst through the door like a hurricane.
    “Morning, Turtle Team!”
    “I thought you’d never get here with that coffee,” Cara exclaimed, coming into the room. Her dark, damp hair was pulled back on her head and her brown eyes were more alive after her shower.
    “Nice shirt,” Toy said to her, looking at her own shirt that Cara was wearing.
    “I can wear day old, wrinkled shorts if I have to, but I just couldn’t put that stinky, turtle bombed T-shirt back on. You don’t mind, do you?”
    “Help yourself,” Toy replied.
    Cara stopped at the table where Little Lovie was eating cereal to lean over and nuzzle her neck. “Mmmm, gimme some sugar.”
    While Little Lovie squealed, Toy turned to reach for cups from the cupboard. Olivia Rutledge had stored the remnants of generations of mismatched collections of china in the beach house. One of Toy’s morning pleasures was to choose a pattern to suit her mood. Today she chose the green and pink floral Wedgwood.
    Flo poured the coffee while Cara poured the milk but no one took the time to sit at the table. They stood leaning against the counter and sipped as they arranged the day. Flo agreed to stay with Little Lovie while Toy and Cara escorted Big Girl to the Aquarium. This led to their favorite topic of conversation—the turtle nests.
    “It’s the end of May,” Flo said with a sorry shake of her head. “We should have at least one nest by now.”
    Cara’s face reflected her worry. “Last year’s numbers were so bad, I was hoping we’d have a swell of girls coming to lay eggs this summer to make up for it. I hope our worst fears aren’t realized and they just aren’t out there.”
    “The hurricanes last year sure didn’t