“Shouldn’t we tell Mother we’re leaving the cottage?”
“No time,” Vevi insisted. “We’ll be back in a minute anyway. Come on.”
The two girls groped their way to the front door. It was locked. However, the key was in the lock.
Vevi turned it as far as she could, but it seemed to be stuck.
“It won’t open, Connie.”
“Let me try, Vevi.”
Connie pushed hard on the key. At first she could not make it turn far enough either. Then she gave the door a quick shove with her hip. The jolt made the key click all the way over.
“There, it’s unlocked!” Connie exclaimed.
Shoving open the door, the girls stepped outside. The beach, bathed in soft moonlight, looked ghostly and unreal.