“Stay in the shallows,” Tsume said firmly, though she’d said it a thousand times that day alone. It was amazing how children forgot. “It gets deep.”

Hana climbed slowly off a log-bench nearby, rolling her eyes. “We know, Mom.”

“Does Idate know?” Tsume said sharply.

“He does now. Does Ibiki know?” Hana mimicked back.

Frustrated, Tsume corrected the only thing she could. “Ibiki-san.”

Hana glared at Tsume, then walked to Ibiki and gave him a smile, tucking her hand in his. “Come on, I’ll show you to the river. We can tell Kiba he has to get his own cake. Unless you want to stay here and talk to them.” She gave Tsume a cool stare.

Tsume growled. The throat-bare Hana gave her was more adolescent head toss than any apology or submission. She was going to kill the girl, she really was.

Tori nudged her again. “One of you has to be the grown-up,” she murmured under her breath, so soft even Tsume barely caught it.

Tsume bridled her frustration and bared her teeth at Hana in what might have been a smile. She knew Hana was only interested in Ibiki because Tsume herself wasn’t. “Go have fun, then. You and I are going to talk later.”

Hana looked elsewhere.

“Excuse them.” Tori smiled at Ibiki. “Mothers and daughters. They have tiffs.”

Which wasn’t at all what Tsume really wanted Ibiki knowing. In fact, she didn’t want him knowing anything about her family life. “I need another drink.” Hana tugged him onward, and Tsume went in search of more beer.