“Oh come on,” Alice disagreed. “They’re fifteen-and sixteen-year-old kids having some fun at summer camp. I can think of a kid on my team who could benefit from a little teenage rule-breaking for once. We’re not talking about jumping someone in the hood here.” She was thinking of Noble D. He was way too serious. His teen years were going to vanish very soon. Since he was ten, D had assumed the male leadership role in his family after his older brother had been shot and killed. D planned to become a minister following his four years at a Baptist college. Before he knew it, D would find himself a pious reverend, his chance to be a goofy carefree kid gone forever.
“I agree,” Dave said. “But after the two guys got caught last year and started mouthing off, things have changed. This year, they’re discouraging any Camp Wildwood forays. I think Kehoe started that rumor about Bang being booby-trapped with an alarm, just to deter Camp Duranders from getting into any more trouble. I’m going to be having a talk with my kids about it this afternoon, but I’m not sure it’ll make much difference. Apparently, the Gold Team is known for being the most strategic and successful at Bang acquisitions.”
“You must be so proud,” Thad said drolly.
“His kids must think so,” Alice defended Dave, who did look a little proud talking about his team. “Matt, Terrance, and Justin sounded completely envious, and were not happy the Red Team had never won the honor.”
“If you want to call going to jail an honor,” Kuvi said, popping a fry in her mouth.
“Since no charges were ever brought, I think that’s exactly what my kids think. It takes some balls to do it. I just need to convince them there’s no honor in being a rude jerk. So what do you guys think about the Alumni Dinner tonight?” Dave asked quietly, glancing casually from side to side to assure himself no Durand managers were hovering nearby. “Think we should be nervous about being put under the microscope by the Old-Boy Network?”
“As long as we’re using oxymorons, there’ll be some Old Girls there as well. And some that aren’t so old,” Kuvi said, giving Dave a pointed glance. He shrugged a concession. Kuvi grinned at him. “I don’t think it’ll be so bad,” Kuvi continued. “I’m getting the impression Durand executives who were counselors here have a serious nostalgia factor going on about Camp Durand. Look at this Bang example. They’ll probably be more interested in telling us stories of the good ol’ days than anything else. I’m not too worried about it.”
“What about you, Alice? Up for another shindig at the big house?” Dave asked, using his fork to shovel up the last of his salad. Since he was otherwise occupied, he didn’t notice both Kuvi and Thad cast anxious glances at her. Why did everyone think she was such a basket case?
Because you’ve kind of been acting like one lately.
“I’d rather go to the dentist. It’s just something I have to do. What are you wearing tonight, Kuvi?” Alice asked, her offhand, casual manner discouraging further unsolicited concern on either Thad or Kuvi’s part. Alice was worried enough on her own about playing the stranger in Dylan’s home tonight . . .
. . . About playing the stranger in a house where supposedly she’d once lived and been loved.
EIGHT
You look beautiful tonight, Alice.”
Alice blinked in surprise and turned.
“Sidney. I hadn’t realized you’d be here tonight,” she said, sounding both flustered and pleased when the psychiatrist leaned down to kiss her briefly on the cheek.
“I’m way too old to be a Camp Durand alumnus myself, but I’ve been advising alumni for years, given my place on the board.”
Alice smiled. “Well the man who advises the top men and women definitely deserves a place of honor.”
She hadn’t seen Sidney since the day Dylan had broken the news to her about Addie Durand. It seemed a little surreal—and embarrassing—staring into Sidney’s handsome lined face and kind gray eyes now. She’d fainted in front of him. Plus, seeing Sidney standing there in the glamorous setting of the Durand grand dining room emphasized the reality of the day Dylan had broken the news to her about Addie’s kidnapping. The vision of the psychiatrist seemed to collapse her two separate worlds, creating an internal jarring sensation for Alice.
Sidney smiled at her and nodded cordially to another gray-haired man who was passing with a bejeweled woman on his arm. He put his hand on her elbow and smoothly maneuvered her to an unoccupied part of the room.
“I’ve told a few people in passing that I knew your father from my Navy days in order to explain my familiarity with you,” Sidney said very quietly, the volume of his voice kept lower than the general buzz of the chat of the cocktail party. “It was Dylan’s idea. I hope you don’t mind. It’s not a lie, after all.”
Again, that strange crashing sensation in her spirit. Alice cleared her throat and fingered the rope of pearls Dylan had given her. She found the sensation of the smooth cool globes running across her skin reassuring somehow.
“I’m sorry. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said that,” Sidney said, his gaze sharp on her face.
“No, of course not,” she assured. “So . . . you really served in the military with Alan Durand?”
“Yes. We met while we were both stationed at a naval base in Guam. I was his commanding officer there for a year and a half. Such a good man. Full of energy and purpose. Incredibly innovative, a born risk taker. You would have liked him.”