The shouting continued through breakfast. Chris piled the dishes into a bag and tossed them into the car. “We can clean them later or tomorrow,” he said with a shrug. “Let’s just get the hell out of here.”
With beach bags on their backs, they headed out to try and enjoy themselves. The sun was bright and relentless overhead. Not a single cloud disrupted the vast sky. A person could stare straight up into the endless blue and if there were no objects in their periphery, a sense of vertigo would take hold, like you could float away forever. The leaves on the trees fluttered lightly in the soft breeze. The enveloping warmth of the day was just perfect for a cool dip in the lake, which was around the highest temp it would get each summer, a nice brisk 73 degrees Fahrenheit.
To most people, 73 degrees sounds plenty warm. It makes for t-shirt and sometimes shorts to be the attire of choice on a nice day without a lot of wind. However, 73-degree lake water means that’s the temp in the shallows near shore and on the surface further out, which hardly feels lukewarm to flesh. Anything below that takes a significant drop to goosebumps-inducing chilliness.
“I’m going to get changed. Back in a sec,” Jess said walking toward the sandstone building that housed the changing rooms for men and women on each side.
Chris nodded and began to trek down the scalding hot sand to the water’s edge.
The lifeguards would climb their tall chairs at eleven, but not a moment sooner. Getting here this early meant that swimming wasn’t officially open. They still stood by the changing room building watching for the slightest insurrection of anyone trying to even dip their toes in before it was time.
As soon as the scene was properly monitored and the little white sign by the road was switched from closed to open, the masses would descend like piranhas on fresh meat. Getting there just a little early meant a prime spot just out of reach of the lapping waves.
Chris admired the scene before him. Out on the lake, a sailboat was drifting along with a wind. It was little more than a white triangle from the beach. The lake was a beautiful dark blue-green with barely any waves. The sky was a sweet baby blue. The earth and sky met at a slate grey line across the edge of the horizon. It was barely a blip of anything at such an immense range, but it was Canada in the far distance nonetheless. Seeing it from the beach meant clear skies all the way across the entire stretch of lake.
Jess changed as quickly as possible into her bikini, trying as hard as possible to ignore the massive Daddy Long Legs spider lurking on top of the wall between her stall and the next.
Back in the light of day, she kicked off her sandals and then raced across the sand. It burnt her feet a little, but it only spurred her to race even faster. Chris was watching her intently over his shoulder through his dark sporty sunglasses.
“Nice view,” he said as she threw down her towel and smoothed it out. She giggled and jokingly punched him, then threw on a pair of sunglasses with brown large lenses and amber frames.
The relaxed in the sand as other people trickled onto the beach flapping out towels and laying down. Slowly the sand near the water filled with early birds.
“Well, hey, friends,” said a chipper voice behind them.
“No, no, no,” Jess moaned into Chris’ shoulder as she pretended she hadn’t heard.
A moment later a pair of orange-tanned legs came and stood next to them. Jess squinted up into the light. “Hi, again,” she said with the warmest fake smile she could muster.
Steph flapped her blanket out and stretched out face down. “We saw you guys heading to the beach and thought that looked like a great idea!”
Jess could practically hear the exclamation points jumping out at the end of each sentence. Mark popped his lawn chair into the sand next to Chris and dropped a cooler that sounded like it weighed a ton.
Steph reached out and tapped on Jess’s outstretched leg. “You out here for sun, too? You could get a deeper tan than that. It would look so good. I work in a salon about a half hour from here. If you wanted to come by I could hook you up with a few free coupons.”
“Oh, no thanks,” Jess said pulling her leg in just a little bit. She hoped they didn’t live in the direction she thought they did. Any other direction except east toward home would be outstanding. She prayed she never saw this woman in the city as long as she lived.
“You folks from around here?” Steph rolled on her side. Jess was shocked that Steph’s mint green swimsuit was more modest than her own. She expected this overdone woman to hang out all over the place, especially in the chest area.
“We’re from fairly close. A bit of a drive, but not bad.”
Steph raised an eyebrow at the lack of a real answer. “So what do you do? You don’t seem like the beauty salon type, no offense. I’m guessing you work retail maybe?”
Jess wasn’t sure what she was supposed to think of that statement. She applied makeup and made sure she looked good every day, but if Steph’s standard was significantly higher, or at least more outlandish, than her own, of course she wouldn’t look like she belonged in a beauty salon where this woman would ever go. On top of that, she couldn’t figure out if retail was just a guess or was meant to make a statement. Jess figured women like her were always trying to make underhanded statements.
“I do some web design work for a little company. It’s a fairly typical office job situation, but I love what I do.”
Steph seemed satisfied with the answer.
“How about you, Chris?” she said eyeing her next victim.
Chris clearly wasn’t ready to be dragged into a conversation and Mark had been keeping his silence as well.
“I work in a factory,” he said.
“Doing what?”
“I box up parts. Shipping. Packaging.”
“That must be a little strange. I bet your wife makes more money than you,” Steph said without an ounce of consideration at the words that came out of her mouth. “Isn’t that hard for you? Not to be the breadwinner?”
Chris opened his mouth and closed it again. This woman had no idea what she was talking about. No idea at all. He’d been an ER nurse before, but that was a while ago and he’d left it behind. The emergency room had been severely mentally taxing and he’d been ill-equipped to deal with how it stressed him out.
“Leave the man alone,” Mark said abruptly cutting her off.
“I am asking a simple question,” Steph spat back emphasizing every word individually.
“Whatever,” he replied. “That’s just, like, so rude.”
Jess shifted uncomfortably and looked over at Chris. He flashed his teeth in the cheesiest forced smile he could and gestured to the water. “Think I’ll go for a quick swim.”
The lifeguard finished the climb into his chair nearby. Several dozen people had already gathered and set up chairs and a few umbrellas, a huge throng was making their way toward the shore. The second his backside hit the white, painted surface of the lifeguard stand, several children raced into the surf with a great splash.
Chris shot up and sped to the water with Jess close on his heels. They immediately heard the couple burst into a hissed argument of loud whispers that everyone could hear, but were pretending not to. Embarrassed faces turned away pretending to be preoccupied with sunscreen and magazines.
The temperature didn’t feel bad close to shore, just like Jess predicted, but the second it got up past her knees her pace slowed. By the time they were getting their swimsuits wet, they were taking their time and trying to adjust slowly. Once they were soaked through it was an easy matter of splashing out into the deepest water corralled by the safety rope on large plastic bobbers that denoted the swim area. Chris was able to stand on his feet everywhere they were allowed, but Jess was a couple inches short of reaching the bottom at the far end and had to float. It was relaxing and aside from a few kids it was quiet.
“These people are so weird,” she said, thrilled that they were out of earshot. It was a great chance to gossip and reaffirm each other’s suspicio
ns that the couple was insane. The water was making her shiver, but it was nice to be away from the bizarre duo.
“They sincerely need to leave,” Chris agreed. “I can’t wait for them to be gone tomorrow. Check out is at eleven, so they hopefully won’t bother us too much in the morning trying to get out on time.”
“Do you think they’re going to follow us around all day though?”
“Jesus, I hope not.”
“Did her comment bother you?” Jess asked. She didn’t want too much time to pass where it would seem more like nagging to bring it up and have to remind him of everything that had been said.
Chris treaded the water, despite not actually needing to. He looked thoughtfully at the rocky outcropping past the swim area where large boulders jutted out into the lake. It broke up the beach areas along the shore and provided a break wall. The lifeguard was yelling through his megaphone at a few teens to get off the rocks and obey the posted signs. Chris finally shrugged.
“So, it does or it doesn’t?”
“Just don’t worry about it.”
“Well, I am worried about it.”
Chris stared her straight in the eyes. “Well, don’t. It doesn’t really matter. Does it?”
Jess studied him for a moment, but he ignored her stares and splashed away as if to separate himself from the situation. She wanted to address it before he mulled it over and got upset later bringing it up in a fight days or weeks in the future, but she knew there was no point trying to solve anything right then and there.
After finally deciding they were too cold to stay in the water any longer, they toweled off. Trying to hint that the other couple wasn’t welcome they said they were going to go have lunch before maybe taking an afternoon nap.
“Okay,” Steph said with her usual enthusiasm. “We’ll see you guys later.” It was like she hadn’t been throwing glares and growled insults moments before. She was the picture of perfect, polite enthusiasm.
Jess hustled Chris across the parking lot, over the rolling grassy area, and then across the park roads into the camping area. It was nice to have a clear shot back to the campsites, but Jess hated how it meant that they genuinely had to return because they’d be spotted walking in another direction.
Of course, it was a legitimate excuse to return to their site as well. Jess didn’t want to stay in her wet suit while walking around on the hot day. It would soak her jeans and even in the heat it would take so long to dry.
“Get dressed,” she hissed throwing off her towel and digging out dry clothing as fast as possible from her bag in the trunk of the car. “We’re going for a nice long walk before those two can follow us!”
Chris laughed as Jess launched into the tent and dressed herself as if making a backstage costume change between scenes. He threw on a dry white t-shirt with some socks and red Chuck Taylor sneakers. His swim trunks were nearly dry already and would make decent shorts of the rest of the day.
Jess emerged, a mess of unbrushed tangled wet hair adorning her head like an asymmetric crown. She tamed it with some swearing and tearing, pulling a brush through it in small strokes. Her hair was a constant source of frustration and she was sure treating it so poorly wasn’t going to make it cooperate any time soon, but this time it felt like a race and so she ripped at it for a few moments to at least wrangle it into a decent shape.
After grabbing a couple of snack bars for their pockets, they set off for the trails.
They found a spot where the bathroom of the next camping loop backed up to the sites in their own loop. The site’s occupants appeared to be out for the day doing something fun with their time in such gorgeous weather. Jess and Chris bolted past the large family-sized tent and through the line of pines dividing the area.
They emerged and ran gleefully around to the exit toward the main road where groups of trees blocked the view of the beach. It felt as exciting as a jailbreak. They were frantic with happy, energetic excitement and when they reached the end of the drive peeked out to see if they could spot the couple. As if by virtue of the best timing in the world, Steph and Mark were returning.
“Get back, get back,” Chris whispered with a laugh. “They’re going back.”
He pulled Jess back out of view and hugged her tight as she shook with giggles and nervousness at possibly being spotted. It devolved into a tickle match with Jess squealing as quietly as she could as Chris poked at her sides. After they were certain the coast was clear, they raced out. She sprinted across the main road with him close on her heels. They bounded down the asphalt as if their lives depended it on it. Their footfalls slapped hard against the asphalt as they felt the breeze in their faces. Chris kept laughing evilly and trying to catch up to her making pincer claws with his hands. Jess let out a hysterical shriek and then sped up afraid that they’d be spotted again. It felt like freedom.
They flew along in a wild sprint, outpacing a man lumbering along on his bicycle. He gave them a warm, knowing smile as if approving of their shenanigans. Sweating and out of breath, they slowed to a jog as they came into view of the park’s information office.
The parking lot was far too big for how few cars used the office. The park managers apparently thought so too because one of the lots was used for a gigantic pile of stone and gravel mounded up and left to sit. Weeds and small trees were bursting out of the pile and through the cracks in the lot.
Through the back of the lot, hidden from the view of the road by the stone pile, was a huge swath of pathway carved out of the foliage. Tree stretched across the empty gap, reaching for each other as if Adam and God on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It was cool and quiet in the woods, the exit a gaping hole of light at the end.
Tall fir trees dotted the picnic area casting shade on the barbecue pits and picnic tables. Their roots twisted and intertwined at random spots along the path. The beach and lake were visible beyond. The whole scene was postcard picturesque. It was a serene sight that would win over any tourist or camper’s heart.
At the end of the park they came to their destination. A sign showed the boat launch in one direction and the hiking trail in the other.
The main trail was marked clearly with the earth being stamped down by the thousands of visitors that came through each year. The dirt was an even brown almost uniformly the width of three people walking abreast.
Staying on the main trail meant a solid hour of walking that would pass by a few beautiful spots like the cattails that had overtaken an inlet of swampy water and a small hill that looked out over the lake. The path was dotted with signs tied around tall ash trees warning of an insect that destroyed that specific species.
“Don’t move firewood,” the sign declared in bold black letters on a yellow-orange background. “Moving wood spreads the Emerald Ash Borer! Use only local wood for fires.”
Straying from the normal walking route meant following paths that could be either deer- or human-created. It was advised that hikers carry a compass because some paths looked like clear routes, but upon discovering they were leading to nowhere, a person could turn around and realize that from a different angle it didn’t really look like a path at all.
The park stretched out south anywhere between under a mile in almost the center and a little over fifteen miles at the widest point. The parkway ran along the back of the camp loops and wasn’t usually heavy with traffic. Still, it was possible to hear cars and sometimes horns from different parts of the trail. The largest cargo trucks would make a sort of rumbling thumping sound. It was about a quarter mile from camp to the road and the forest there was so overgrown and thick that people didn’t bother trying to walk through, not that there would be any sort of reason to.
Jess pulled her husband along the main path, excited to get some privacy. There were a few birds that twittered out of sight. A squirrel crossed the path without a second’s hesitation. Chris seemed to relax, too. It was too late to run when they heard the footsteps.
Chapter 2
“I’m so glad we c
aught up to you, guys!”
The disbelief swept over them, but they tried to keep their faces neutral. Steph raced up behind them and latched onto Jess’s arm like an old friend.
Mark followed behind much slower, taking more methodical steps. When he reached the group, he gave a curt nod and then stood still as a statue. It was unbelievable how completely different they were from each other. Jess knew there was the old phrase about opposites attracting, but she couldn’t understand how Mark and Steph could possibly have become romantically interested in each other.
Steph linked their arms together and Jess looked over at Chris with a fake smile that she hoped screamed “save me” as loud as possible. Chris smiled warmly back at her and it was impossible to read whether or not he’d understood.
Jess smacked herself mentally for not taking a side path. If she’d known that there was an actual risk of being followed, she’d have dragged Chris into the trees where they would have hidden like ninjas for a few hours. Quicker steps and they’d have been out of sight and potentially out of the range of Steph’s annoying radar that seemed able to zone in on them despite their attempted avoidance maneuvers.
“Are you guys going hiking?” Steph practically shouted in her ear.
“Umm…”
“Just a short walk,” Chris replied patting Jess’s other arm. He had understood her anguish. She was glad he appreciated her suffering, but he wasn’t doing a good job of helping her make an escape.
“Oh, we’ll walk with you guys!” Steph turned to Mark. “Won’t that be so fun?”
“Can’t we just go back to camp and hang out for a bit? All we’ve done is what you wanted to do so far. I mean, you know my brother was supposed to be coming around at some point today,” Mark said gruffly.
“Don’t be an asshole,” Steph said putting her hands on her hips. “If I knew you’d spend all weekend as a royal prick, I’d have come out here alone.”
“I’m not being a prick. You’re being a controlling psycho.”
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