“Don’t lose your keys.” Emma dangled the fob.
“Those aren’t mine.” Jennifer and Christine shook their heads in unison.
The immediacy of the response stunned Emma. She hated that her first reaction to their hurried words was searching for guilt in their expressions. She would rather imagine her friends trying to conceal something by denying ownership versus the alternative. Some unknown person had crept into their cabin and dropped the keys.
“Strange to find keys in here. I’d better take these up to the lost and found,” Emma said slowly, not quite sure which answer she wanted and but knowing that riling anyone up helped no one.
“Can I see those?” Margaux asked. “Oh. Those are mine.”
You didn’t drive here. Emma couldn’t open her mouth. Nor could she meet Daniel’s gaze. He hadn’t spoken a word. He was in observation mode.
“From home,” Margaux explained.
Christine shot Emma a look of annoyance. “Should we get dinner? I’m starving.”
“Sure.” Emma stood, brushing her hands on her jeans and striding forward to loop her arms through Jennifer and Christine. “Let’s go.”
The trio headed out the cabin door first, Emma’s abrupt departure giving them a few minutes head start on the path. Margaux would insist on putting every piece of the board game away carefully. Emma was counting on that.
Daniel needed time to chat with Margaux. And until they’d walked into the cabin, Emma hadn’t realized how much she had to ask Jennifer and Christine. Emma wouldn’t admonish the pair for how they treated Margaux. Emma would lead by example there. She had a bigger question.
“Where did you really go today?” Emma murmured, keeping her voice low in case of any interested ears nearby.
“The top of the hill,” Christine said.
Where Liz had slipped. Emma held her breath.
“Sorry, Emma,” Christine said. “We didn’t go to be macabre.”
“And it wasn’t intentional,” Jennifer added. “We started looking for cell coverage.”
“Yes,” Christine added, nodding. “I had a big week at work and was wanting to see if any other emails or calls came in. I’m on vacation at the worst possible time. I wanted an update or warning about what I’ll be returning to. We wandered around looking for full bars and…”
“Ended up there,” Emma murmured. “It’s fine. How does it…?”
“Not as scary or as steep as I remember,” Christine said. “I almost…can’t believe she fell.”
Emma nodded. The reunion wouldn’t only stoke her memories and force new questions, others would revisit the same experiences and make sense of what happened from their mature, adult perspectives, too.
“And our families called,” Jennifer chimed in. “They’re having a grand time. Nothing like summer in the Midwest.”
As the trio neared the mess hall, they were greeted with a flurry of activity. Cars were loaded and pulled away, campers hugged and parted. After only a night, the reunion had ended.
“What’s happening here?” Jennifer asked. “Already getting a head start on the end of the week talent show?”
Christine snorted. “I am not dancing again. No way, no how.”
Jennifer and Christine chortled.
Emma cringed. She hated to dampen their joy. The day had been overwhelming and emotional. She yearned to join in a bit of levity. But she couldn’t. She motioned her head to the side and the pair frowned but followed her a few feet off the path.
“Owen died at the hospital earlier today. I’m guessing most people are packing up and heading out, giving the Thomases space for their grief.” Emma lowered her voice, fighting to keep it steady. “Mrs. Thomas made an announcement a few hours ago. While you were out.”
Jennifer and Christine gasped. Christine raised her hands to cover her mouth.
Jennifer drew together her eyebrows in a picture of stoic determination. “Is that what they want? Have they asked us to leave?”
“No. Not that I’m aware.” Emma took in a deep, gulping breath. “Mrs. Thomas invited everyone to stay through the weekend. They’ll be busy with arrangements. I think the whole situation has brought up too many similarities for a lot of people. I can’t blame anyone.”
