Chapter Six

“Uncle Kevin, where are we going?” Madison asked, wiggling in her seat. Kevin looked at her and grinned. She was so darn cute!

“We’re going to pick up Chad and Christy, then we’re going to go visit a very special place.”

“Is Kyle going?”

“No.”

“Good.”

Christy and Chad were waiting outside their house when they got there. Chad went straight for the car, while his mother struggled with a very large and heavy looking picnic basket. Kevin got out of the car and went to help her.

“You must think I’m a pig,” he said, smiling.

“What?”

“How much food did you pack?”

Christy laughed and swatted his arm. “Well, you are a big boy you know.” As soon as she said that, her mind drifted, wondering how big of a boy he really was. “Omigod,” she moaned.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, opening the passenger door for her.

“Oh, nothing, nothing,” she assured him.

He set the basket in the back with the kids and then settled behind the driver’s seat. For a moment, he felt like a real family man. He liked the feeling a lot.

As they drove to the camp, Christy and Kevin talked about all the summers they had spent there, and all the trouble they used to get into.

“How is your dad, by the way?” Kevin asked. “Does he still work there?”

“No, he retired a couple years ago. Said the place just wasn’t the same anymore, it had lost the atmosphere after your father...” Her voice trailed off.

“After my father died. You can say it.”

Christy touched his arm. “I know how much you loved him. I loved him too. He was a great guy.”

“Yes, he was.”

They arrived at the entrance to the camp. Kevin slowed the car and sighed deeply. Suddenly Christy wondered if this was such a good idea.

“It hasn’t changed at all,” he breathed, taking it all in.

“This is where you grew up?” Chad asked from the backseat.

“It sure is, sweetie. This is where Kevin and I spent our summers.”

“Cool.”

Kevin took a deep breath and drove to the director’s office.

“Isn’t anyone here?” he asked. “It looks quiet.”

“Must be an off week,” Christy said. “John Layman runs the place now. Do you remember him?”

“Yeah, he was friends with my dad.”

They got out and Kevin knocked on the door of the office. An older man answered. “Yes, can I help you?”

“Hello, uh, I’m Kevin-”

“Kevin Richardson!” the man exclaimed. “Jerald’s littlest boy, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. How are you Mr. Layman?”

“Aww, you don’t have to call me Mister. Just John will be fine. And I’m great. Did you come up for the reunion?”

“Yeah. I was wondering if it would be all right for me to look around the camp?”

“Of course. You probably know it better than I do anyway.”

“Thanks.”

“Just be careful if you cross the swinging bridge. One of the boards came loose last week while the kids were here.”

“Anyone get hurt?”

“Thank goodness, no. I was going to fix it today, before the next batch comes nest weekend.”

“I’ll fix it for you,” Kevin offered.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” John said.

“I’d love to.”

John finally relented. “You know where all the stuff is?”

“Still in the shed by the stables?”

John smiled. “Yes, sir. And thanks a lot.”

“No problem.”

Kevin led his group back to the car where he brought out the picnic basket. “There’s a blanket in the trunk.”

“I’ll get it,” Christy said.

A minute later, they were all heading down the path that went to the cabins. Christy pointed out various things to Chad and Madison. Kevin was just quietly observing.

Suddenly he started laughing.

“What? What’s so funny?” Christy wanted to know.

“Remember when Trey dared us to go skinny dipping in the lake?”

“Oh man, and I told him no way, but you did it!”

“And you got teased forever about it too.”

Christy laughed. “I remember the tongue lashing your dad gave you when he found out. Especially since I was there when you did it.”

“You didn’t see anything.”

“Don’t be too sure about that,” she said slyly.

Chad and Madison exchanged looks but remained quiet.

Kevin stopped walking to look at her. “You’re kidding right?”

“I guess you’ll never know.”

“Christy,” he said, his voice low.