“That’s real classy.”
“Yeah. So there I was, trying not to cry in front of a bunch of kids I barely knew. They were Dirk’s church friends and naturally, they wondered what was up with me, and why Dirk wasn’t there.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Fortunately, Rod tried to cover. He made up some story about Dirk having to work for his dad to make some last-minute college money. Dirk was about to leave for OSU. Rod admitted to me later that Dirk was actually having a summer fling with a cheerleader friend of mine. Jenny Maxwell. At least, I’d thought she was my friend.”
“And you still married the guy?”
She sighed. “It’s embarrassing to admit that now.”
Neither spoke for a few miles, and Brynna tried to wipe the negative Dirk memories from her mind. What a waste of brain space!
“So, anyway, you think that camp was around here somewhere?” Jan asked.
“It really seems like it. But honestly, it’s one of those things I’ve tried to forget. I can’t even recall the name of the camp.”
“How long were you there?”
“Two weeks.”
“So you stayed for the whole session?”
“I didn’t really have a choice. My parents had taken a cruise that coincided with the camp dates.” Brynna’s memory seemed to light up. “But there was one bright spot during those two weeks. Something I’d almost forgotten.”
“What was that?”
“A boy.” She sighed to recall the sweet guy who’d befriended her.
“Dirk’s friend? Rod?”
“No. Rod was a total goofball. It was Leroy.”
“Leroy.” Jan chuckled. “Sounds like a hillbilly. Or an old man.”
“That’s exactly what I said the first time we met. But he told me his mom named him after some French ancestor, and that she pronounced itLah-roy.” Brynna laughed. “He hated that so I would jokingly call him Lah-roy with a French accent. At first he got mad, but then it became our private joke. ‘Oh,Lah-roy,’ I’d call out. And that darling boy would just come a’running.”
“So Leroy was your bright spot.”
“Yeah...” Brynna sighed again.
Jan glanced at her. “That should help dispel your ‘all men are jerks’ philosophy.”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine that Leroy ever became a jerk.” Brynna felt surprised she’d nearly forgotten about him. To be honest, Leroy had been more than just a bright spot ... but that was so long ago.
“Well, I’d really love to hear more about yourLah-roy boy, but that’s the exit sign for our campground up ahead.” Jan slowed down. “Sounds like we’ll have lots of stories to share ’round the campfire tonight.”
“For sure.” Brynna gazed curiously around as Jan pulled up at a log cabin with a CAMPREGISTRATIONsign in front. Something about this place felt familiar. But as Jan went to check them in, Brynna began obsessing over thoughts of Leroy. It was as if some secret chamber inside of her had opened and memories were flooding in.
What a fun couple of weeks they’d shared together! At first Leroy had seemed the perfect remedy to recover from selfish, arrogant, egomaniac Dirk. Really, she couldn’t imagine two guys being more total opposites. But it didn’t take long for her friendship with Leroy to transform into something more. And when the camp session ended, it was hard to say goodbye. But they promised to stay in touch. Leroy gave her his college address and she gave him her home address.
They even talked about the possibility of attending the same college after she graduated high school. They’d assured each other it was only a temporary parting, and yet, as fate would have it, the separation was permanent. About thirty years permanent by now. But still, she wondered ... what had become of sweet Leroy?
Chapter 9
Leroy took his time going through his envelope of memorabilia. He started with the bright-yellow Kodak folder, removing the prints one by one, closely studying each one, then laying them out across his bed in what felt like a chronological order. At least, to the best of his memory, which seemed pretty clear at the moment. Even though it had been almost thirty years, it was all rushing back to him.
The first print in the lineup was a candid shot of Brynna with what looked like a notebook balanced on her knees. The pretty brunette was sitting on a bench outside the mess hall with her knees pulled up to her chest as she chewed on a pencil. He later learned that the book was her journal and that she loved to write and hoped to someday become a journalist.
