Even though I hadn’t been there in years, it felt like I’d just stepped onto that sand, back when my parents were alive. I loved this place because it was the only spot where we ate together as a family. If I closed my eyes, I could still see Jorel running barefoot while our mom watched him like a hawk, terrified he’d fall since he couldn’t swim and refused lessons.

Funny thing—while I loved the lake house and Jorel didn’t care where he was as long as he was out somewhere, ...