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He nodded and turned back to Josh. “Miss Katie’s going to watch
you, okay? So don’t go out too far!”
“I won’t!” he said, grinning.
10
A little while later, Katie led a shivering Kristen and excited Josh
back toward the blanket Alex had spread out earlier. The grill had
been set up and the briquettes were already glowing white on the
edges.
Alex unfolded the last of the beach chairs onto the blanket and
watched them approach. “How was the water, guys?”
“Awesome!” Josh answered. His hair, partially dried, was
pointing in every direction. “When’s lunch?”
Alex checked the coals. “Give me about twenty minutes.”
“Can me and Kristen go back to the water?”
“You just got out of the water. Why don’t you take a break for a
few minutes?”
“We don’t want to swim. We want to build sand castles,” he said.
Alex noted Kristen’s chattering teeth. “Are you sure you want to
do that? You’re purple.”
Kristen nodded vehemently. “I’m okay,” she said shivering. “And
we’re supposed to build castles at the beach.”
“All right. But let’s throw shirts on you two. And stay right there
where I can see you,” he said, pointing.
“I know, Dad.” Josh sighed. “I’m not a little kid anymore.”