CHAPTER 4
The truck cut off before I jumped out into the parking lot of the local grocery store.
I didn’t bring enough food or propane for my grill with me.
This is my routine every time I make the trip down.
I get settled on the night of arrival, then go grocery shopping first thing the next day before my morning jog.
Thankfully, it’s too early for many people to be here.
That’s why I always come at this time of day, before the holiday madness descends on the town.
By the time I get to the register, I have far too much junk food in my cart, along with two cases of beer and some fruit. The blue-haired woman behind the conveyor belt eyes me up and down as she takes her sweet ass time ringing me out.
“You’re not from around here, are ya son?” She asks with the thickest southern accent I’ve ever heard.
“No, ma’am, I’m from New York. I come here every year to camp for the holiday and my birthday. Why do you ask?”
She places my bag of cheese puffs into a brown paper bag.
“For one, the way you dress for a day like today hollers city, not country. Plus, having worked here for thirty years, I practically know everyone in this town.”
“Well, I hate to spoil your assessment, but I actually come from a small town called Maple Brook Falls, about two hours outside of New York City.”
She once again eyes me up and down as if she doesn’t believe me one damn bit.
She finishes ringing me out like she’s trying to guess what I do for a living or if I’m lying by the items I have on the belt.
I guess small towns are that way because this is the kind of thing I would expect to happen back home.
When our transaction is complete, I smile and bid her a good day, pushing my cart out to my truck.
The whole time my mind wanders back to that nagging question.
Is that her on the other side of the tree line back at camp?
The campgrounds are just starting to wake up when I pull back into my site.
I’m greeted by the faint smell of coffee and campfire the second I open my truck door.
I find myself instinctively gazing through the tree line hoping to catch a glimpse of the group.
Sadly, the site is barren of movement, just smoke piddling out of the fire ring.
Where the hell could all of them have gone already, or did whoever was up earlier go back to sleep?
Then I remember if it is her, she’ll be at the pool or the lake because that girl loves a good early morning swim.
The only reason I know that is because I heard about it from Miss Apple Bottom one day at the community center when she was there with her troop.
Miss Apple Bottom told her she can’t do it alone anymore and tried to get me to be her chaperone.
Sadly, I declined. Now I wish I didn’t, because then I would know for sure if she’s here.
I take ten minutes or so to put my groceries away, change into swim shorts, a pair of black sweatpants, and a sweatshirt. I don’t want to stand out. If it’s my little prey like I hope it is, I don’t want her to see me…not yet at least.
The pool is still closed when I walk up to its fence.
I’m surprised that they have it closed this early on the Fourth of July.
People start partying early around here, so what’s the point?
It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that my little prey isn’t here, and I have no idea if I’ll be able to find her at the lake before the beach is covered with people.
I need to know if she’s here. I’ll stalk the shadows of the girls’ campsite all day if that’s what it takes. My cell phone chimes in my pocket, notifying me I have a text. Great, I don’t even get time off on a goddamn holiday.
Lonie- We’re being asked to help The Maple Brooks Falls town council put in the park and pavilion. They want it done before this year’s Halloween festivities.
Me- Send details to my email. I’ll check them during my downtime. When do they need to know by?
Lonie- End of the week.
If I had half a brain cell, I’d say no. I’d tell my crew that we have some other big project to do, but reality is we don’t.
Not unless a massive natural disaster happens, and we get sent out of state for work, but that hasn’t happened in a couple of months.
We need this, even though I wish we didn’t.
Ever since the bookstore renovations, helping Assistant Mayor Hunter with his cabin build on the homestead, and helping plan out his summer camp, we’ve been slowing down some. We can’t afford to turn down any work.
Me- Fine we will do it, but I need to speak with Hunter and Rudy before we agree. Now leave me the hell alone for the rest of my vacation.
What’s the point of taking a vacation if my work follows me everywhere? Also, what’s the point of driving twelve hours away from home to find out the girl who’s been sexually frustrating me for a few months now, can potentially be on the campsite next to mine for a whole fucking week?