Tread Softly

'Haven't seen any water snakes,' Nick said.

'Well, that's a relief. Any crazy old women?'

'Not a one.'

'Terrific.' She stepped out onto a low flat rock, squatted down, and washed her hands. The water felt cold, but not numbing. 'Still interested in a swim?' she asked.

'Sure.'

'Can I swim, too?' Heather asked.

'Better check with Mom.'

Julie shook the water from her hands and leaped ashore.

'See you in a couple of minutes,' she called over her shoulder.

Benny, still crouched by the fireplace, raised his head as Julie approached. His nose was wrinkled, upper teeth bared, like a snarling dog. Just his way to keep his glasses from slipping off. He shoved them up with a forefinger and stopped snarling.

'We're going for a swim,' Julie said. 'Wanta come?'

His head tilted sideways. He looked confounded. 'Are you going in?'

'That's the picture.'

'What about the water moccasins?'

'If you're scared, stay here.' In front of the tent, she dug into her backpack and dragged out her towel. It was still slightly damp from that morning's washing up. She hung it over a shoulder, and continued to search until she found her bikini at the very bottom.

Dropping to her knees, she crawled inside the tent. The tent had only been up for a few minutes, but already the trapped air felt stifling. Karen's sleeping bag was laid out. It looked thick and soft. Had it belonged to anyone but Karen, Julie would've sat on it while she changed. Instead, she sat on the tent floor, the ground hard under her as she stripped off her clothes.

She was on her back, naked, legs in the air, pulling the small white bottom of her bathing suit over her feet when the tent flap opened. Sunlight spilled onto her.

'Sorry,' Karen blurted. The flap dropped, shutting out the light.

Julie muttered, 'Shit.' Raising her rump, she pulled the pants into place. She sat up. Her heart was thudding. With shaky fingers, she knotted the strings of the top behind her neck, stretched the flimsy fabric of the triangles down over her breasts, and reached behind her to tie the back. 'Okay,' she called. 'You can come in.'

Karen ducked inside. She had a one-piece black swim-suit in her hand. 'Sorry about that,' she said. 'I didn't realize you were in here.'

'You could've asked,' Julie muttered, still fumbling with the strings at her back.

Karen sat down on the bag, and started to unlace her boots. 'Hot in here,' she said.

'You going in the lake?'

'Yeah. Benny and your dad are getting into their trunks.' She tugged her boots off, and sighed with pleasure. 'That water's gonna feel awfully good.'

Julie got the strings tied, but didn't move. She watched the woman peel off a sock and inspect her foot in the murky blue light. 'Well, no blisters on this one. How're your feet holding out?'

'That's my business,' she said.

Karen stared at her. In the gloomy light, Julie couldn't tell whether she looked angry or just hurt. 'Sorry,' Karen finally said. 'I was just trying to be friendly.'

'Don't bother.'

In a quiet voice, she asked, 'What are you afraid of?'

'I'm not afraid of you, that's for sure.'

'You're afraid of liking me, I think.'

'What, you're so irresistibly charming I've gotta be a nut case if I'm not kissing the goddamn ground you walk on? Forget it. I just don't like you, that's all. I wish Dad had never met you.'

'Your father and I… we love each other.'

'Ain't that just dandy,' Julie said through a tightness in her throat.

'You knew that, didn't you?'

'I'm not blind.'

'We love each other, Julie, but don't think for one instant that he loves you or Benny any less because of that. You're his daughter. He's been with you all your life, and he'll love you as long as he lives, no matter what. You'll always be part of him in a way I can never be. I'm not taking him away from you. I couldn't, even if I wanted to.'

Julie stared down at her folded hands.

'Would you be happier if I stopped seeing your father?'

'I don't know,' she mumbled. 'I guess not.' 'What would make you happy?'

'I don't know.' She gnawed her lower lip as tears filled her eyes. 'I don't want him hurt, that's all.'

'You think I'd hurt him?'

Shrugging, she wiped her eyes. 'Everything was fine till you came along.'

'Your dad wasn't fine. He was lonely.'

'He had us.'

'And he had a wife who'd run out on him. That left a big hole inside. Maybe he didn't let you see the hurt because he didn't want to make things worse for you and Benny, but it was there. And it isn't so bad anymore.'

'Thanks to you, huh?'

'Thanks to the way we feel about each other.'

Julie took a deep, trembling breath. She picked up her towel, and rubbed the tears from her face. 'Nick's waiting for me,' she muttered.

'You'll make his day when he sees you in that bikini.'

'Trying to butter me up?'

'Yep. It's the truth, though. Look, Julie, I'm going to be your friend whether you like it or not. Because I love your father and I like you.'

'You like me, huh? Sure.'

'I do. And you'll get to like me, too, sooner or later. Before you know it, you and I are going to be buddies. Do you know why?'

'Why?'

'Because I'm irresistibly charming.'

Julie cracked a smile. 'My ass,' she said, and crawled out of the tent. The bright sunlight made her eyes ache. Standing, she brushed some dirt and pine needles off her knees. She felt strange — her mind vague, her muscles weak, her legs trembling. As she walked toward the lake, she tried to make sense out of her encounter with Karen. Her mind couldn't hold steady on it. Maybe everything had changed. Or maybe the talk had just confused her.

Nick, standing at the shore, was watching the twins wade in. He had a towel draped around his neck, and wore blue shorts that looked like the ones he slept in. When

Julie walked closer, he turned around as if sensing her approach. He gazed at her. She blushed, uncomfortably aware of her near nakedness and the way her breasts jiggled with the motion of her walk. 'All set?' she asked.

Nick smiled thinly, nodded, and quickly turned away.

Julie realized that she liked how she'd felt while he was staring. Beneath her uneasiness, there'd been a kind of thrill. She found herself dashing past Nick, the chill water splashing up her legs. Knee-deep, she spun around, scooped up water with both hands, and flung it at him.

'No!' he cried. He raised his arms to block the cold shower, and cringed as it splashed against him.

Julie stood up straight. She frowned with pretended concern. 'Oh, I'm sorry. Did that get you?'

He looked astonished for a moment. Then, laughing, he lunged forward, drove his hands into the water, and launched an icy barrage that pelted Julie from face to knees. Staggering away, she lost her footing. She yelped and fell, flapping her arms and hitting the lake flat on her back. She shuddered as the chill water closed over her. After