Eloise stood up. Brushed sand from her knees.
Eloise’s mother laughed. It was a small sound, rusty, like a drawer opening after years of being stuck. But it was a laugh. beachside bunnies
And somewhere behind the cottage, hidden in the long grass, Captain thumped his hind leg once—a soft drumbeat, a secret goodbye, a promise to be there tomorrow. Eloise stood up
Captain twitched his nose. Behind him, emerging from the repaired dunes, the other rabbits appeared. Granite. Shadow. A dozen more. They waited. It was a small sound, rusty, like a
Her mother stared for a long moment. Then she sat down on the edge of the tub, reached out, and very gently touched the top of Captain’s head. Captain leaned into her hand.
He hopped another ten steps. Then he turned around, hopped back, and sat on her foot.