Shadow Creek

by Joy Fielding

  “Nice to meet you both,” Gary said, a sentiment that was quickly echoed by Melissa and James. “And I take it you’ve met my son, Hayden.”

  “They thought I was a bear.”

  “An understandable mistake.” Gary affectionately tugged on his son’s ponytail before returning his attention to Val, his hazel eyes twinkling mischievously. “So, you come here often?”

  Val smiled. “Actually, I do. Or rather, I did. It’s been a few years. You?”

  “Every chance I get. Magnificent, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is. Your son was saying you live in Connecticut.”

  “For almost twenty years now. I moved there right after I graduated from college.”

  “Full athletic scholarship to Duke, if I recall correctly,” Val said.

  “That’s one impressive memory you’ve got.”

  “Thank you, but I’ve never been sure if that’s a blessing or a curse.”

  “Probably a bit of both.”

  “Probably,” Val agreed. “So, what made you decide on Connecticut?”

  “I met a girl.”

  “Of course.” Something else she remembered: Gary had never had any trouble attracting female companionship. She noted that sometime in the last few sentences, Melissa and James had wandered a discreet distance away and were currently engaging Gary’s son in some idle chitchat.

  “We were both majoring in business. Ruthie’s father was a stock trader, had his own brokerage firm in Connecticut. We got married, I joined the family firm, we had a son and then a daughter. And then, I’m sorry to say, a rather nasty divorce.” He lowered his voice. “That was five years ago. I left the firm but stayed in Connecticut to be near the kids.”

  “So what business are you in now?” Val said, not the question she really wanted to ask. The question she really wanted to ask: Why the nasty divorce? To be immediately followed by: How nasty exactly?

  “Same business,” Gary said, answering the only question voiced out loud. “More understanding boss this time around: me.”

  Val agreed. “It’s nice to be your own boss.”

  “So, what about you? Married? Divorced? Children? Career?”

  “All of the above,” Val said. “Married. Divorced. Or almost, anyway. One daughter. One lapsed career.”

  “What career? How lapsed?”

  “I did some travel writing for the New York Times and a few other publications.”

  “Yeah? Why’d you stop? I bet you were really good at it.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Because you were good at everything you did.”

  “Why would you say that?” she asked again, fighting back the unexpected urge to burst into tears.

  “Because you were fearless.”

  “I was?” More like terrified, she thought.

  “Are you kidding? I remember you at swim meets. You were this skinny little thing, all arms and legs; you hadn’t really filled out yet.” He stopped, coughed self-consciously into his hand. “But you were always so gung-ho. Your butterfly stroke was unconventional, to say the least. You had way more enthusiasm than technique. And yet you won every damn race you entered.”

  Val smiled. It had been at her mother’s instigation that she’d first started swimming. Her mother still kept a shoe box full of her medals in one of her closets, although she’d probably forgotten where.

  “And track and field, the same thing. You were quite the competitor.”

  “Not so much anymore,” Val said, thinking of Jennifer.

  “But still pretty athletic, I see.”

  “I guess. You?”

  “Not really. I ski a bit. Cross-country mostly. I bet it’s downhill for you or nothing.”

  Yes, it’s been all downhill, Val thought. “I used to go heliskiing, believe it or not.”

  I just can’t imagine jumping out of a helicopter and skiing down the side of a mountain, she heard Jennifer say, followed soon after by I don’t like anything where I’m not in control of my feet. What did Evan see in this girl?

  “Oh, I believe it.” Gary shook his head in admiration. “Fearless.”

  “Well, maybe I used to be.”

  “Divorce can really do a number on your head,” Gary said. “Don’t worry. Your courage will come back.”

  Val glanced toward her friends, catching a look of restless impatience on the face of Gary’s son. “I think Hayden’s anxious to get going,” she said.

  “Ah, youth,” Gary said with a smile. “Always thinking that the next stop will be better than where they are now.”

  “Should we tell him it only gets worse?”

  “And spoil the fun of watching him find out for himself?” Gary wiped a fresh outbreak of perspiration from his forehead. “This getting older is for the birds.”

  “You’d think we could at least get better-looking,” Val said.

  Gary laughed. “You have.”

  It was Val’s turn to laugh. “Well, I don’t think that’s true, but thank you anyway. It was nice of you to say so.”

  “I never say anything I don’t mean.”

  “That can’t be good.” Val extended her hand. “Well, goodbye, Gary Parker. It was really nice running into you again.”

  He held on to her hand for several long seconds. She felt an unexpected charge. “You, too.”

  Hayden approached, trailed by Melissa and James. “Dad, we should get going or there won’t be any tents left.”

  Gary explained. “I let him talk me into going camping tonight.”

  “Camping?” James asked with a perceptible shudder. “As in sitting around a campfire and sleeping on the ground?”

  “Not your cup of tea?”

  “James likes his creature comforts,” Melissa said.

  “As opposed to creatures that crawl,” James explained.

  They all laughed.

  “We’re staying at the Lodge. Down by Shadow Creek,” James volunteered. “That’s about as primitive as I like to get.”

  “Great place,” Gary said. “Well, enjoy your stay. Maybe we’ll run into each other again sometime.”

  “Take care,” Val said.

  “Dad …,” Hayden beckoned.

  “Remember,” Gary whispered to Val. “Fearless.” He waved goodbye to the others, then turned and followed after his son.

  “Well, isn’t he the hunk?” James said. “In that rugged, diamond-in-the-rough kind of way. Don’t you think, Val?”

  “I think I’m ready to go back,” she said in response.

  “You notice she didn’t answer my question,” James said.

  “Yes, I noticed that,” said Melissa.

  “Are you guys coming or what?”

  “Lead the way,” Melissa and James said together.

  ELEVEN

  THEY RETURNED FROM THE lofty summit of Prospect Mountain in time for lunch, having decided on the drive back to the lodge to leave for Manhattan as soon as they’d had a bite to eat. Eat first, load the car, bid adieu to Brianne and Jennifer, they’d agreed. Then hightail it out of there. Val couldn’t bear the thought of any more confrontations. She’d had all the mother-daughter bonding she could take.

  “I’ll check for messages.” Val’s eyes swept across the lobby as she approached the reception desk. The park rangers were no longer in evidence. Alicia Gowan’s wayward husband had no doubt been discovered sleeping off his misery in a hidden clump of manicured grass somewhere on the premises. And the beat goes on, Val sang to herself, smiling at the toothy receptionist with the modified beehive hairdo who was standing ramrod straight behind the counter. “Hello, Alexandra,” she said, reading the young woman’s name tag on the lapel of her crisp navy jacket. “I’m Mrs. Rowe. In room 313. Are there any messages for me?”

  Alexandra looked vaguely confused as she consulted her computer. “No. Nothing since the other Mrs. Rowe checked about an hour ago.”

  Val felt her fists clench at her sides. There’s still only one Mrs. Rowe, she fought the urge to say. A
t least for the time being. “Thank you.” She stopped, turned away, turned quickly back. “Tell me, did they find David Gowan?”

  Alexandra glanced nervously over her shoulder, as if she’d been cautioned not to say anything to anyone. “They’re still searching the grounds,” she whispered. “So far there’s been no sign of him. Personally, I think he flew the coop.”

  “And Mrs. Gowan?”

  Alexandra shrugged. “I haven’t seen her since this morning. She was pretty upset. I understand her parents are on their way here from Maine.”

  Val nodded. “Well, hopefully he’ll turn up before they get here.” Although he may wish he hadn’t, she thought. “If any calls come in for me in the next hour, could you please have them transferred to the dining room?”

  “Certainly.”

  “Any news?” Melissa asked as the hostess was leading them to a table by the window.

  “Nothing. You’d think Evan would have called by now.”

  “Because he’s so considerate and reliable?” Melissa asked sweetly as the waitress handed them each an open, oversized menu.

  “Let me see,” James said. “I think considerate and reliable Evan would like me to have this shockingly expensive lobster salad and a glass of Chardonnay.”

  “Considerate, reliable, and generous,” said Melissa, ordering the same thing.

  Val smiled at her friends. “Make that three,” she told the waitress.

  “BRIANNE?” VAL CALLED as they entered the suite approximately one hour later. “Brianne, honey …”

  “Save your ‘honeys,’ ” James said. “It doesn’t look as if anyone’s home.”

  “They’re probably at the pool.” Melissa glanced into the bathroom as Val checked the bedroom.

  “Might as well start packing up.” Val began gathering her things together, wondering if they should skip the formal goodbyes and just leave a note. So much for “fearless,” she thought, hearing the door to the suite open. “Brianne?” she called, walking back into the living room.

  “Just me,” Jennifer said, removing her large floppy hat and cover-up, then shaking her long blond hair free. It fell in perfect waves around her toned shoulders.

  Naturally, Val thought, trying not to notice the diamond stud that pierced Jennifer’s navel between the tiny halves of her pink bikini. Had Evan bought her that diamond? Did it qualify as an engagement ring? “Where’s Brianne?” she asked.

  Jennifer shrugged. “She’s not here?”

  Here we go again, Val thought.

  “She said she’d had enough sun and was going back to the room to wash her hair,” Jennifer explained without prompting.

  “How long ago was that?”

  Jennifer checked her watch. “About half an hour. Maybe forty minutes. We had lunch at the pool, then she said she was going up to the room to wash her hair.”

  “And you just let her go?”

  “What was I supposed to do, Val? Tell her she couldn’t wash her hair?”

  “You could have come back with her.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because she was your responsibility.”

  “She’s sixteen years old, Val. She doesn’t need a chaperone to watch her wash her hair.”

  “Except she didn’t wash her hair, did she?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe she finished washing it and went out again.”

  Val poked her head into the impossibly tidy bathroom, its fresh white towels folded neatly on the heated racks. There was no lingering shampoo scent or trace of humidity. “No one’s been in this room since housekeeping was here this morning.”

  Jennifer looked toward Melissa and James. Help me, her eyes pleaded.

  “Shit,” Val muttered. Then again, louder. “Shit.”

  “What’s the big deal?” Jennifer kicked off her espadrilles. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re so upset about.”

  “My daughter is missing.”

  “She’s not missing,” Jennifer insisted. “She’s just not here.” “Then where is she?”

  “I don’t know. I do know you’re overreacting. Again.”

  Val sank into the nearest chair, a fresh headache hovering. “Look. You’re not a parent. I don’t expect you to understand.”

  “I understand you shouldn’t have hit her. I understand why she might not want to be here when you got back.”

  “Yes, you’re a veritable pillar of understanding,” Val snapped.

  “Val,” Melissa cautioned between lips that didn’t move, her fingers fluttering in front of her mouth. “Kindness,” she whispered. “You’re killing her with kindness, remember?”

  Val took a deep breath, feeling an enormous wave of guilt wash over her. “Did she say anything to you … about … what happened?”

  Jennifer shook her head. “No. But for what it’s worth, I told her I think she owes you an apology.”

  Val scoffed. “Why would you do that?”

  “Beats me.” Jennifer shrugged. “I also think it wouldn’t hurt if you apologized to her.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Kindness,” Melissa whispered between tightly clenched teeth.

  “Look. If you’re really worried, why don’t you just try her on her cell?” Jennifer asked.

  Val reached into her pocket, removed Brianne’s battered BlackBerry, and held it up. “Because I confiscated the damn thing. Remember?”

  “So you did,” Jennifer said. “Okay, I’m out of suggestions. If it’s all the same to everybody, I’m going to take a shower before Evan gets here.”

  “He called?” Val tried not to sound too surprised.

  “Well, no. Not yet. But I’m sure he will any time now.”

  “Right.”

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Jennifer said defensively. “But you really don’t know him as well as you think you do.”

  “Right. Because I was only married to him for eighteen years and you’ve been fucking him for … how many months has it been exactly?”

  “Why don’t we go downstairs and see if we can find Brianne?” Melissa said quickly, pushing Val in the direction of the door.

  “Yes,” said Jennifer icily. “Why don’t you?”

  “I’ll check the pool,” James offered as they stepped into the hall.

  “I’ll check the shops,” said Melissa.

  “I’ll check the grounds,” Val said.

  “And I’ll see all you lovely folks later.” With that, Jennifer kicked the door shut.

  VAL HAD BEEN sitting on one of two overstuffed green leather sofas in front of the enormous stone fireplace across from the reception desk in the lobby for half an hour when she saw him. He was wearing neat black trousers and a purple-and-white-checkered shirt, looking more like an actual diamond than the diamond-in-the-rough James had earlier pronounced him to be. Although no less rugged, Val thought, her breath catching in her lungs as she watched him approach. “Gary,” she said, jumping to her feet, surprised by the unexpectedly visceral intensity of her reaction. For two decades, she’d had eyes for only one man—Evan. Despite his many infidelities, she’d remained hopelessly faithful. And there’d been no one since he left. What’s wrong with me? she thought. “What are you doing here?” she said.

  “Didn’t think you’d see me again quite so soon?”

  “No, I sure didn’t. What are you doing here?”

  “It seems I’m asking you out to dinner.”

  “What?”

  “If your friends can spare you for an evening, that is.”

  “What?” Val said again.

  “Or they’re free to join us, if you’d prefer.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s really not all that difficult. You’re not one of those women who don’t eat, are you?”

  “How did you find me?” Val asked, ignoring the question she assumed was rhetorical.

  “Your friend, James, mentioned you were staying here.”

  Val nodded, remembering. She looked behind him. �
�Your son …?”

  “… is back at the campsite. He met some guys and it looks like they’re gonna be doing their own thing tonight, so I thought I’d take a chance you might be free …”

  “I can’t.”

  “Oh. All right. I …”

  “My daughter seems to have vanished.”

  “What?”

  “We’ve searched everywhere. I’ve been sitting here for half an hour,” Val explained, tears filling her eyes, “waiting for her to walk through those doors.”

  Gary guided her back toward the sofa, sitting down beside her. “Okay. Start at the beginning.”

  Val quickly explained the situation, telling him all about Jennifer and the fight she’d had with Brianne that morning.

  “Wait a minute,” Gary said. “You’re telling me you’re all staying in the same room?”

  Val clarified. “It’s a suite.”

  He nodded, as if trying to picture the scene. “Still …”

  “You think she just needed a little space?” Val asked hopefully. She’d been trying to convince herself of that for the last two hours.

  “You have to admit it’s a rather unusual situation.”

  “Yes, it is. And normally, I might not make such a big deal out of everything. I mean, we had this fight.” Val lowered her voice to an embarrassed whisper. “I hit her. Naturally, she’s angry. Hell, she’s furious. So, yes. She doesn’t want to be around me right now. She’s made that very clear. Jennifer’s the beautiful princess and I’m the Wicked Witch. I get it. But enough is enough. It’ll be dark in a few hours, and I’ve been sitting here imagining all the awful things that could happen to her, and thinking that one person has already disappeared …”

  Gary interrupted. “What? Somebody else has disappeared?”

  Again, Val explained the situation, noting the bemused look that crept into Gary’s soft hazel eyes. “Yes, I know I’m being ridiculous, that David Gowan probably just went home, and that he’s not answering his phone because he wants to teach his wife a lesson. At least that’s what the park rangers think.”

  “You’ve spoken to the park rangers?”

  “No. I spoke to the hotel manager about an hour ago. The poor man practically begged me not to get the rangers involved again.”