“Where’s the lake?” Simon blurted.
“Oh, real close. You kids are gonna love it. You need to check in at the Great Lodge to get your keys, arrange credit. And that”—his smile broadened—“is about it.”
“Thanks,” Jack said.
The man made a small nod and backed away.
“You folks enjoy your stay.”
The small candy-striped wooden barrier rose, and Jack pulled away.
“Look! There it is! The lake—just like in the picture!”
Simon announced each discovery as they drove deeper into the grounds.
Ahead, a cluster of rustic cottages, then to the left a small hill led down to a beautiful lake, shimmering in the late afternoon sun. Behind it, mountains, like guards circling the lake.
And not only that, he saw other families. Kids walking around, others sitting on the beach by the lake. Like an image from a past that had long ago vanished.
Amazing, he thought. That such a place could exist.
He came to a circle near the main building, the Great Lodge. In front, parking spaces under a protective overhang, all done in that mix of dark brown timbers and green roofing.
He pulled into a space and killed the engine. “I’ll go check in.”
“I wanna come,” Simon said.
“I don’t want to just sit here,” Kate said.
“Guess we all go,” Christie said. “Let the adventure begin!”
They got out of their car and walked into the lodge.
The Great Lodge’s lobby ceiling rose up to a second story. Massive murals of all the animals that once filled this area covered the walls. Guests sat in oversized leather chairs, talking, some reading by lamps with bases made from twisted branches.
To the left, Jack saw the dining hall, its twin doors closed. To the right, a gift store. A registration desk ahead and a corridor past it with a sign that indicated TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.
One of the women at the desk, dressed casually in a crisp tan shirt with a red kerchief at her neck, looked up and smiled. Jack came forward.
“Hi, I’m—”
But before he got the words out, a short, barrel-chested man with a neatly trimmed mustache came from the nearby corridor.
He was talking to a woman easily a foot taller than him. Dark hair down to her shoulders. A gingham shirt tied at the waist, showing a slice of her midsection. Cutoffs. And in that quick glimpse, legs that went on forever.
Hard not to stare.
The man stopped talking as soon as he saw Jack and his family.
“And then we need— Oh. Hey! Hel-lo!” He looked around at Jack and his family. “The Murphys, right?”
Guess they were expecting us, Jack thought.
“Yes.”
“Great! Welcome to the Paterville Family Camp!”
The man walked over to them.
“I’m Ed Lowe, camp director and the founder of Paterville.”
Jack introduced Christie and the kids, who all shook the man’s hand.
Ed seemed to focus on the kids. “You kids are going have so much fun here. So much to do.” His eyes went from Simon to Kate. “No matter how old you are.” Then to Christie. “And I guarantee some great downtime for the parents. Grown-ups love it as much as the kids.”
It was as if the guy was still selling the camp. But his good humor had planted smiles on Christie’s and the kids’ faces.
“Here you go, Mr. Murphy,” the woman behind the desk said. “Your keys. One for each of you. Opens your cabin. They’re also your camp IDs, so hold onto them.”
The way she said that stuck for a moment. Hold onto them.
Looked like despite all the smiles and handshakes, they took their security seriously here.
Jack took the keys. As he did, he noticed the woman standing near Ed watching him.
He had to force himself not to look back.
As if sensing Jack’s balancing act, Ed turned to the woman, “Shana, why don’t you bring the Murphys’ luggage over to their cabin?”
“I can do—” Jack started.
“No. Don’t worry. Shana is our jill-of-all-trades here. It’s a quiet day—and while she gets your stuff, I can give you folks a quick tour.”
Shana came close to Jack. He picked up a whiff of exotic perfume on her. Just a hint. Something you might only smell if you got real close.
Jack felt Christie’s eyes on him.
“Car open?” Shana said. “Luggage in the trunk?”
“Yeah,” Jack said. “But I—”
“No problemo,” Shana said slowly.
Jack handed her the keys.
She started walking away.
Ed moved close. “Now for that tour, hm?”
All eyes seemed to be on their tour director.
But Jack stole a quick glance at Shana as she walked away.
She was looking right back at him.
Standing by the lake, Ed looked up to the sky.
“Hm, it was sunny just minutes ago. Looks like a few clouds slipped over those mountains. Weather can change mighty quickly here.”
Jack held Christie’s hand.
“I love it,” she said.
“The lake? Yeah. Our prize, to be sure. Beautiful, clear water. You can even drink it. And back there—”
He turned around and pointed at the lifeguard stand.
“—always a lifeguard on duty from nine to sunset.” To the kids. “No swimming before or after that.”
Jack noticed Kate shielding her eyes.
As she checked out the lifeguard.
Time does fly, Jack thought. Something he might need to keep a watch on here.
Ed turned back to them. “Water’s cold, though. Fed by those mountains. But on a hot day, it just doesn’t get any better.” Then, a step closer to Jack, his voice lower: “Same water feeds our wells and underground streams. It’s why we can grow things.”
“You’ve had no blight? I saw the trees—”
“Oh, some things won’t grow, for sure. But I guess we’re isolated enough that a lot of crops still grow here just fine. For now.”
“Good.”
Ed slapped his hands together. “On with the tour. This way!”
“Down there, got our big playing field. Lot of fun family games, softball, old-fashioned things like sack races. And to the right, a game room—”
“With video games?” Simon asked. “Really?”
“You bet. Oldies but goodies. And Ping-Pong, pool, even that football game, you know, with—”
“Foosball,” Jack added.
“Yes, foosball. Now, past there, we have the nature trails. Nothing too big since we need to keep everything and everyone well within the camp’s confines. Still, good safe places for a little walk or to explore.”
Ed turned around and started walking back to the main lodge.
But Jack had noticed a road up on a hill, past the parking area, nearly hidden by the trees.
“What’s over there? By the cars. That road?”
Ed barely tossed a glance back. “Our service road. Maintenance buildings. Laundry. Storage. Landscaping and so on. Nothing fun.”
Ed pointed ahead.
“You’ve seen the Great Lodge. We all eat together in the big dining hall. Sometimes there are special announcements, sometimes we play some games. Like I said, good food and good fun—and good people.”
Already, Jack thought, the dark streets of Red Hook were starting to look better.
As beautiful as it all was, this was alien terrain for him. And they were caged in.
With this much-too-jolly Ed Lowe as the keeper.
Still, Christie seemed wide-eyed at it. The kids looked like they loved it.