“It’s so nice to see you. I’m Laura,” the mother said.
“I told her a little in the woods: names and that there would be dinner and possibly a bath,” Nate explained.
“I’m Sam.” Anxiety filled my voice.
“And I’m Christopher.” The instant I saw Greer come into the clearing my whole body relaxed, and I sighed out of deep relief. Greer was here. He placed his arm around my back and whispered, “Act normal.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Nate came forward and shook his hand, followed by Laura.
“Yes, well, we weren’t expecting to see anyone out here in the woods,” Greer said. “We better get going, Sam.”
“What’s the rush?” Nate asked, his plump face beaming. “We have plenty for dinner. Sit down and stay awhile.”
“Sam, Christopher. We have seen no one for weeks. Please, won’t you stay? It’s so nice to have company.”
“Donna, set the table for our guests,” Nate said before Greer or I could refuse. She put down her doll and ran inside, and Natalie, who had been eyeing Greer the whole time, gave him a big smile and followed Donna.
Moments later, Natalie returned, wearing makeup and what smelled like a whole bottle of perfume. She carried the plates and silverware past us, giving Greer a little wink. “Donna is feeling exhausted and wants to sleep.”
“Too much hiking for one day.” Nate shrugged. “She played hard today.”
Natalie placed the plates on the metal table. Two plates at the head and two plates on one side, one on the other. Natalie sat on the side with two plates. With the way she was eyeing Greer, it was safe to assume she wasn’t saving that seat for me.
For a moment, Greer’s eyes narrowed like he was figuring out the best and easiest way for us to get away. Finally, he said, “So, what’s for dinner?”
“Chicken, corn on the cob, and hot rolls, picnic style.” The huge smile plastered on Nate’s face was too big; it was suspicious. I wondered why. “And the best news: it’s done.”
He gave his wife a kiss on the cheek and took a platter filled with food from her hands.
I sat down where Natalie intended. Greer took his plate and moved it next to me. This didn’t really bother Natalie. Him moving made it easier to give him moon eyes and bat her eyelashes.
“Thank you for having us,” Greer said.
Nate filled up my glass with iced tea. “It really is our pleasure. It can get lonely out here.”
Tea with ice! I had ice, and I so wanted to down it right there, but I was afraid. Poisoning us would be easy.
I leaned in close to him. “It is okay to drink?”
Greer took his spoon and stirred the drink. Carefully, and with intent, he let a drop fall onto his sleeve. He kept his eye on his shirt for a moment. Nothing happened. He drank a big gulp.
I followed suit.
“You see nobody now, especially with the lost princess. Wherever she is,” Natalie said.
I choked on my drink.
Greer patted my back to help settle my cough.
“You all right?” Laura asked.
“Sorry,” I sputtered, trying to both talk and catch my breath. “I got over excited about having tea. Drank it too fast.”
“About tea? Excited? That’s weird.” Natalie leaned towards Greer, her eyes directly on his lips. And as irrationally as it seemed, I felt like pinching her hard in the arm.
“I mean, kind of a loser thing to get excited over.”
“Nat-Cat!”
“What, Dad? It kind of is. It’s iced tea.”
“No, it isn’t.” Greer defended me. “It was all she was talking about on our hike. Right, Sam?” He waited for me to respond. “Sam, honey?”
Honey? Honey!? He meant me. The look on my face must have given away my surprise because both Laura and Nate gave each other these knowing nods.
“Trouble in paradise?” Nate asked.
“Oh, you’re a couple.” Natalie leaned back in her seat. “Figures.”
I explained, “Oh, we’re not—“
“Talking right now.” Greer finished my sentence for me and took my hand. “She’s mad at me right now. This is our first trip to the woods. Real love test, camping.”
If this was our love test, I’d say we were failing completely.
“It must be some test,” Laura said. “I’m not sure she’s having too much fun.”
Greer smiled down at me. “I don’t know, honey, what do you think?”
“It’s hard with my parents also being at camp,” I explained, because Greer didn’t know what I’d said to Nate back in the woods.
“Your dad loves me.” Greer gave me his best smile. “I know you’re not used to long camping trips, but aren’t you having fun?”
Loads… “It’s fine.”
“Oh no. I know that fine.” Nate laughed. “I’ve been on the receiving end of ‘I’m fine’ too often to count. Take her to a nice beach resort when you’re out of the woods. Otherwise, you won’t pass her road test.”
“I’d say it’s Sam’s fault. Why in the world did you wear that?”
“Nat-Cat!” Nate scolded.
“Dad, it’s summer, and she’s dressed like a 1970s Libratier in November. And the shirts all ripped. And what’s with the sunglasses? It’s dark.”
I looked ridiculous and out of place, but this hot, scratchy uniform was the best I had.
“Yeah, I know I look ridiculous, but my grandma was a Libratier years and years ago.” Like the Epps. “Compulsory.”
Natalie shrugged her shoulders and shook her head from side to side as if to say so what.
“She used to tell all these amazing stories from when she was young. Half of her stories were so far-fetched that I… I don’t know, I wanted to experience a few of them. So, I came out here to honor her.” The truth came out a lot easier than lies.
“Yeah, you still wouldn’t catch me dead in something like that.”
“Well, she is dead, so…” I said, a little snarkier than I intended. I’d blame it on the heat, exhaustion, and pressure of the situation, but it would be a lie. This kid with her moony eyes and attitude was ticking me off. Safe to say, middle school teacher was not in my
