The sun was slipping behind the mountains. Dusk would come early. The lake captured the last hour of golden sunlight, the water sparkling as if alive with lights. Squealing kids of all ages ran in and out of the icy lake water.
It was cold—Christie had confirmed that.
Simon had been brave, running into the water, then spinning around when fully wet and running out again. It may have been the biggest smile she had ever seen on him.
And that felt good.
And Kate?
Kate went in just up to her calves. She wore a striped one-piece, though she had pleaded to get a bikini. Christie vetoed that.
She wondered if she did that because she knew Jack would have said, quite simply,
Then: “That’s some assistant Ed Lowe has, hm?”
Jack nodded. “Yeah. Guess so.”
“She seemed to check you out.”
Jack turned to Christie and grinned. “Maybe she’s part of security.”
“Or maybe she’s here to keep the dads happy.”
Jack laughed.
A little too casual. Jack was a guy. He’d have to be crazy to not have taken in Shana.
After all, this was supposed to be their vacation as well. For the two of them.
Home. She’d like to forget about that life for a while.
“Guess we should head back. Change for dinner.”
Jack nodded and stood up.
Christie did as well. She didn’t want to leave, but there would be other afternoons, other sunsets, other days ahead filled with the shimmering water and the squeals.
“Kate, Simon, come on!” she shouted.
The kids both turned to her as if her voice came from miles away.
“Can’t we stay just a little bit more?”
Simon looked to both of his parents for a reprieve.
Christie noticed Kate seemed a bit distracted. Jack looked as well, following Kate’s gaze.
To one of the lifeguard chairs.
Kate—just out of eighth grade.
She knew her girlfriends talked about boys.
But there was no real socializing.
Kate turned away from the lifeguard chair.
“Mom, there are lifeguards. It’s safe. Can I stay?”
Christie hesitated.
“And I can watch Simon, too. You guys always take so long to get ready. Can we stay just a little while longer?”
“I don’t need watching,” Simon added. Then, as if remembering the point of the argument, added, “
A look from Jack. The decision deferred to her.
“Okay. Fifteen minutes, then back to the cabin for quick showers. I don’t think you want to miss dinner.”
Simon had already spun around to resume his in-and-out game with the cool water. Kate stood there and put on the dutiful face of she-who-watches-her-brother.
Close to the lifeguard. Nothing to worry about.
“Okay then,” Jack said. “Let’s go get ready. Remember—fifteen minutes.”
* * *
Christie looked at the mirror, checking herself in a green polo shirt and capris. Too informal? she wondered. But then again this was a camp. People probably showed up in shorts and T’s.
Jack came out of the shower dripping; in minutes, he appeared in the living room in shorts, golf shirt, and sandals. Pretty informal.
Christie was tempted to say something. But here was someone who dressed every day in his blue uniform, every detail in place. If this was Jack relaxing, she’d take it.
“Kids back?”
“No. I’ll go and—”
A knock at the door.
“Company?” Jack said.
He opened the door. A man and a woman stood there.
“Hi,” the man—tall, strongly built—said. “We’re your neighbors. The Blairs. Cabin next door.” He stuck out his hand. “Tom.”
The woman, short and a bit mousy-looking, did the same with Christie. “Sharon. Hope we’re not bothering you or anything…”
Christie smiled. “No. Just getting ready for dinner.” Then, feeling the oddness of leaving the couple out on the small porch, she said, “Come on in.”
The couple came into the cabin.
“Nice,” Tom said. “Little different arrangement than ours. You like it?”
“Just fine,” Jack said.
Sharon—her dark hair cut into a bob, wearing a summery print dress—turned to Christie. “We’ve been here for almost a week. We love it. So, if you two have any questions, ask away.”
“It’s a great place,” Tom added. “A real getaway.”
“Looks nice so far,” Jack said.
“Kids?” Christie asked.
Tom grinned. “Oh, yeah—our two boys. Jim and Sam. The ‘maniacs,’ we call them. They’ve been running wild in this place, loving it. In fact, we just signed up for two more days. Money’s a bit tight, but hell, who knows when we’ll be able to come back.”
Those words seemed to make Sharon thoughtful.
“So different here. You know?”
“You mean, the lake … the mountains?” Christie said.
“The whole
She guessed that Jack was sizing them up.
That’s what he did, size people up.
What’s their story, their life?
She had told him it was a bad habit.
