She turned towards him, folding her arms over her chest and tugging her sleeves over her clammy hands.
“I’m sorry about insisting you use my title back there.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I was kind of thrown for a loop to bump into you at all. Meeting you at the scene of a crime of all places was especially jarring. You can call me, Daniel, if you prefer.”
She shook her head. “No, you were right. Maybe it’s easier if I call you Sheriff.” The word choice definitely established boundaries. While she worked to reclaim her memories, she couldn’t regain the time that they had lost in their friendship. And if she was being honest, she wouldn’t want to.
Her life took a different path from the one she had imagined as a child. She didn’t regret all the work that she had done along the way. Helping troubled teens and their families started as a way to do some good with her life and came to nourish her soul in return. “Come on, let’s go in. It isn’t getting easier sitting out here.”
He cut the engine. “After you, please.”
She got out of the vehicle and crossed the parking lot to the mess hall.
The biggest of all the buildings on the property, the mess hall was a green painted, single-story structure that overlooked the rest of the camp. The back wall was entirely made up of windows with screens. This time of year, the windows would be open to let in the fresh air and sounds of their surroundings.
The exterior paint flaked and faded. The roof probably had weak spots and broken shingles. While the building needed tender loving care, like so much of the property, it remained the shining beacon of the camp, inviting everyone to gather inside. The soft glow emanated from the inside out, stirring awake sleeping memories.
On rainy days it served as the hub for indoor board games and arts and crafts. At night it promised a sweet treat before catching fireflies off the wraparound porch. It was the home and the heart of the camp.
As Emma stepped inside, a packed room of hungry campers finishing up the dinner service, she felt for the first time that she had stepped back in time. She didn’t remember any specific moments, but a general sense of nostalgia warmed her. It was a relief. She feared what she’d find when she came back, leaning hard into prayer in the days leading up to her visit. While she wanted her memories, she didn’t think for a second that facing her past would be easy.
She crossed the large room full of trestle tables and benches to the spot set in the back, closest to the kitchen. The early years of camp thrived in her memory, starting with the summer before fourth grade. It was her first time sleeping away from home. Her bunkmates had stumbled onto a discovery at that table. Mrs. Thomas would make eye contact with them from inside the kitchen and would slip the girls extra desserts for being good.
“Oh my goodness, Emma? You’re here?” Christine, a bubbly blonde asked, rising off the bench seat. “When you said you had a ride, I didn’t expect a police escort.”
“Oh my, Emma. Hi,” Jennifer, a brunette with a sleek bob added. “You haven’t changed a bit. I’d recognize you anywhere.”
Jennifer looked like the grownup version of the little girl she’d been, elongated and thinned out. But Christine would have been a stranger to Emma if she hadn’t been with her best friend.
After a round of hugs from Jennifer and Christine, Emma stepped to the side. “Do you girls remember Daniel? He was a townie like me. He’s the sheriff now.”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
“Is that why we saw flashing lights earlier?” A petite redhead in a sweater set and perfectly pressed jeans asked, fingering a strand of pearls at her neck.
“Marge?” Emma asked.
Jennifer and Christine snorted. “I guess that’s slightly better than Maggot,” Christine said.
“If you don’t mind, I prefer Margaux.” The redhead tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, shifting to toy with a pearl stud in her ear lobe. “But only if you don’t mind, it’s okay if you forget.”
“No, no. Margaux, it is.” Emma flashed a courteous smile.
The quick backtracking after setting an expectation definitely fit the girl she’d known during those early years at camp. Emma recalled the first few years with ease. As children, Margaux should have been the queen bee. She had the pedigree and the clothes thanks to her wealthy family. The other east coasters had shunned her with no explanation. Liz had adopted her.
“Come on sit down. Do you want a coffee? You look wet,” Christine said.
“I would love a coffee.” Emma’s stomach growled.
“And let me see if I can get you some dinner,” Jennifer added.
“Thank you.” Emma gratefully sank to the bench, feeling like every inch of her was made of lead.
“Are you here because of me?” Margaux asked, addressing the sheriff in a hushed tone.
“I’m sorry?” Daniel asked, meeting Emma’s gaze quickly before darting back to the other woman. “Are you in need of assistance?”
“Well, I am being blackmailed. I guess I need help.” Margaux laughed, the sound devoid of joy, brittle, and crackling. She pulled a sheet of paper from her pocket and slapped it onto the table.
Emma jumped in surprise. She had enough of sudden noises for one night. She pressed her hand to her heaving chest and took in several deep breaths as she read.
