Claire hesitated. The bucket was heavier, and she knew it probably wasn’t the best idea for a child his size to lug it around full of water and sand. But his eagerness softened her. She slid her things out, set them beside her chair, and handed him the bucket. “Sure,” she said, managing a small smile. “Just make sure not to spill that on anyone, okay?”
“Okay! Thank you!” the boy replied brightly, trotting off toward the shore with his prize. For a fleeting moment, Claire almost felt lighter herself, until the mother’s head snapped up. “Hey!” she barked, her voice cutting across the sand, sharp enough to make a few nearby beachgoers glance over. “You don’t talk to my son like that.”