The Girl in the Lake

by Victoria Michaels - AKA-Angela Knight

  “Don’t sweat it, honey,” Greg responded, “you’ll recover before then, although you could have a hangover. We’ve got plenty of time, it’s barely noon. Noon! Now I am getting hungry! Step on it, Danny. You’re driving like your old lady.” Everyone laughed and Danny pushed down on the gas pedal just a little more.

  *

  The gravel parking lot had an outline of tree stumps pounded into the ground each marking a potential parking spot, and Danny pulled into one. There were no other cars in the lot; they had the place to themselves. Everyone began jumping out of the Bel Air as Danny hit the button to raise the top, just in case it rained. Danny and Kenny each grabbed a handle of the cooler and Cheryl and Donna did the same with the picnic basket; Greg carried some blankets, towels and fishing gear. The day was warming up nicely, and the young people laughed, joked and chatted as they made their way the quarter mile hike into the picnic area around the lake.

  “This looks like a good spot,” Greg said dumping his gear right where he stood. There were no picnic tables, but lots of grass around the lake. He began laying out the blanket. The girls dropped the picnic basket on one corner of it and immediately began setting up for lunch. Everyone was famished. Donna opened a plastic container with sliced watermelon and held it out offering it to the men as they all sat down.

  “I’d sure like to taste your watermelon,” Greg snickered as he took a piece. Then his eyes looked Donna up and down with a lecherous ogle. Donna blushed from head to foot.

  “Leave her along, Greg. She’s with Kenny, and you know that.” Cheryl took the plastic container from Donna and set it in the middle of the blanket next to the sandwiches.

  “She should trade up,” he sneered, then grabbed a sandwich and lay back, placing a hand behind his head to prop himself up.

  “Asshole,” Kenny chirped and put an arm around Donna. “Don’t worry, Donna. He’s just kidding around.” But seriously Kenny was thinking they really should have found another girl to join them for the day.

  “Hey, who wants to do some fishing after lunch?” Danny changed the subject, handing out beers to the guys. Cheryl was busy opening a bottle of wine and pouring it into red plastic cups for herself and Donna.

  “Yeah, I could go for that,” Greg chirped up taking a beer from Danny. “I love fresh fish. Maybe we can build a little fire and roast some if we stay late enough for supper.”

  Everyone nodded their agreements and the subjects changed a few more times as they drank and relaxed. Kenny pulled out a bag of weed and they enjoyed that with their chocolate cake.

  After lunch, the girls packed things up and sat on the blanket smoking and the guys went to the lake to make a few casts. After about fifteen minutes, Donna was suddenly standing behind Kenny.

  “Can I try?” she asked in a sweet, sultry voice. Kenny handed her the rod and gave her instructions on how to cast, then he baited the line with some worms they had brought along with them. He held Donna’s waist, guiding her arm as she practiced casting into the sparkling blue lake. Greg and Danny also continued their own fishing.

  “Hey, I got one, guys!” Greg called out. He reeled in his line while the other stopped and watched with anticipation. Greg whipped the line at the last moment and a beautiful sized trout landed right in front of his feet, flapping on the grass.

  Danny handed Greg a large fishing knife, “Here, whack it on the back of its head and put it out of its misery, Greg.”

  Greg took the knife, but then laid it on the grass next to the fish. He took the cigarette he had slid to the corner of his mouth between two fingers and poked it, lit end first, into the fish’s mouth. He used his index finger to shove it down the still twitching fish’s throat.

  “What the fuck, Greg?” Danny grabbed the fish out of his hands and picked up the knife. He knocked the back of the fish’s head hard three times. The fish stopped twitching. Then Danny immediately slit the fish from tail to gills and spilled out the guts on the ground in front of Greg, the cigarette dropped with it. “What did you do that for? That’s inhumane! Jesus, you burnt the fish’s throat you psycho!” Danny was really angry with his cousin. Breaking the law was one thing, but cruelty to animals; that took a really twisted mind.

  Greg laughed, “Don’t get your panties in a knot, Dan. I was only jokin’. I won’t do it again. Promise.” Greg was holding up both hands in a low surrender pose. Danny just shook his head and cast his own rod out again.

  “Do you want to go for a walk?” Donna whispered to Kenny, “You know…to get to know each other better.” Kenny nodded and waved to the others indicating he and Donna were taking a walk.

  “Goin’ to swap spit, more like it,” Greg said under his breath, “or screw.” Greg looked up to watch the two walked into the woods to the south of the lake, holding hands as they entered the shaded privacy.

  *

  They walked in silence for a while. Kenny was unsure what to say to this gorgeous woman who was holding his hand leading him deeper and deeper into the woods and away from the others. Donna seemed to be searching for words to speak, so Kenny just waited.

  “I like you, Kenny,” Donna started, “you make me feel safe.”

  That was interesting, Kenny thought, not ‘you’re hot or you’re a hunk or I can’t get my mind off you’ but ‘you make me feel safe’. Okay, we can go with that. “Donna, I like you, too. I mean…I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re so…mature.” Was that lame?

  Donna smiled at him, and picked up a piece of grass, putting it in her mouth. God, she was beautiful! “I guess what I mean by that is, you’ve already got a job. Not just a job, but a…a career. Like, in a few years, you might even be a manager at the credit union.” Donna had told Kenny that her dream was to work hard to learn everything about banking and make her way up through promotions. She’d like to run the credit union someday. Donna could not see herself moving away from Barrington, even to go to school. She was far too attached to her family. Especially her little brother Allan, who was only eight.

  “Kenny,” Donna looked at him shyly, “I…I think I’m ready.” She stopped in the long grass under a tree.

  “What?” Kenny was not sure what Donna was trying to say to him, but he felt his jeans tighten. “Do you mean…?”

  “Yes, Kenny. I want you to make love to me. Here. Now.” Donna just stared at Kenny, waiting for an answer.

  Kenny knew that Donna was a virgin, that had been one of the reasons she had asked him to wait. She wanted her first time to be with the right guy. And now here she was basically telling him that he was that guy. Kenny said nothing but wrapped his arms around Donna’s slender waist, pulling her close so her body pressed into his. He was sure she could feel his hard length pressing up against her shorts. He leaned down and kissed her on the mouth, pressing her lips open with his tongue. One hand immediately slid under her halter top and he massaged her breast, feeling the nipple harden under his touch.

  Kenny pulled back, “Are you really sure, Donna?” he said hoping for the answer, but knowing he did not want to do this if she was not sure.

  “Yes, Kenny. Without a doubt.” Donna’s hand went to his bulge and she moved it up and down then reached with both hands for the button on his jeans. She undid that and then unzipped his fly. Kenny could not believe this was happening. He took off his shirt and laid it on the ground, then gently helped Donna lay on top of it.

  She undid her halter top and laid it to the side. Kenny undid her shorts and slipped them off, pulling her panties with them. He stared at her amazing body, laying there on top of his Kinks t-shirt, and could not believe she wanted him. HIM! Kenny finished removing his jeans and lay beside Donna, his body was pulsing.

  She pulled his arm, then his leg over her body and kissed him deeply on the mouth, “I’m ready now,” she said, “I want you in me, now.”

  Kenny did not waste any time and slipped between Donna’s legs, gently spreading them wider. He moved his hand over her mound and gently inserted a finger. She was ready,
she was soaking. Without any ceremony or foreplay, Kenny plunged into Donna. Her eyes opened wide and she cried out, but with pleasure and a little surprise. He moved in and out trying to be slow and gentle, but his mind was crazy with lust. He sped up and within minutes he could feel Donna’s body arching as she moved into climax. Kenny could not hold back any longer and he came, flooding Donna with his hot liquid. He finished and fell on top of her sweating.

  “I’m sorry, Donna,” Kenny said through pants and gasps, “It’s not supposed to be like that. It’s just…you’re so god-damned beautiful…I couldn’t help myself.”

  They laid there for a few minutes and Kenny could feel himself starting to harden again, “Let me treat you right this time, Donna. Let me show you how making love is supposed to be.”

  Donna gave Kenny a cautious smile, “Okay?” was all she said. Kenny took it slow, exploring every inch of Donna’s body, and she his. An hour later, they lay under the tree, dressed again, completely satisfied and relaxed, talking.

  “Kenny, am I your girl now?” Donna asked shyly again.

  “Donna, of course you are. I…I really like you…I mean…I’m not sure…but I think I might love you.”

  Donna wrapped both arms around Kenny’s neck and kissed him. “I need a strong, brave man in my life, Kenny. And…I play for keeps.”

  Kenny liked what he heard. He could go for that. His business was doing well, she was a career girl. They looked good together. “Yeah, I think we make a good team.”

  Just then a twig snapped back the direction they had come from. Kenny and Donna both turned toward the noise, but only saw a flash of something (or someone?) running away. “Must be a deer,” Kenny said, “we should be getting back anyhow. They’ll think we got lost out here.”

  *

  “Hey sweet thing, got some honey for me too?” Greg chided the couple as they returned to the lake. Kenny and Donna ignored him, but Greg set down his fishing pole and walked toward the couple, “I mean it, you know? Can’t go screwing around in the woods and leaving your scent everywhere, then make me hang here like a starving man with no dinner.” Greg now had a sneer on his face.

  “Leave us alone, Greg!” Kenny pulled Donna behind him and stood facing the slightly taller, older man.

  “Or what’re you going to do about it, Kenny?” Greg pushed Kenny in the chest, and he staggered back a little, “I’ll do whatever I like.”

  Chapter Three

  “Is that why Donna ran away?” Tommy held his pen in the air over the notepad, his eyes begging Kenny to continue the story.

  “I don’t wanna talk any more right now, Tommy. I’m tired.” Kenny looked tired, too. He snuffed out his cigarette and took the last sip of his beer. “Can you help me inside?”

  “Of course, of course,” Tommy placed his pen and notepad on the little table, but he did not turn off the recorder yet. Then he stood and helped his old friend get out of the chair. The two men were the same age, but Tommy marvelled at how much older Kenny seemed now.

  With an arm wrapped around the frail body, Tommy ushered Kenny through the screen door of the trailer into the living room. “No, to the bedroom…at the back.” Kenny motioned to the rear of the trailer and Tommy helped him get into bed. He got his friend a glass of ice water and laid a pack of smokes and an ashtray on the bedside table within reach.

  “Do you need something to eat?” Tommy asked, concerned at how pale Kenny was looking. Kenny shook his head. Tommy went to the kitchen and returned in five minutes with a peanut butter and jam sandwich on a plate, and a handful of potato chips on the side. “Just in case.”

  Kenny smiled at him and nodded, then Tommy turned to leave. “Come back tomorrow,” Kenny called after him, “I’m not sure I can finish the story…but I’ll try.” Tommy waved and nodded then left, closing the creaky screen door behind him. He gathered his things from the porch and shut the recorder off, tucking it into his pocket.

  *

  Back at his motel, Tommy listened to the recording twice. Kenny had told him that he had never been with someone better than Donna before or since. This struck Tommy fiercely, as he had never been with anyone except Betse. She really was his one and only. He had never, ever even wondered what another woman would have been like. Betse was enough and was everything.

  He thought back to their own first time together. It was a week before they got married. They were already engaged; they had the wedding planned; it was not really like premarital sex because they were getting married. He had gone over to Betse’s to drop off some baskets her mom wanted to use as center pieces for the reception dinner. Betse had answered the door wearing a summer dress that fitted her waist and accented her breasts. Tommy had been so enamoured he had actually blushed. Betse saw this and took the baskets from him, setting them inside the door, then calling back to her mother, “I’m going for a drive with Tommy, Mom! I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” Not even waiting for an answer, Betse had closed the door behind her. She took Tommy’s hand and led him back to his car.

  “Where are we going?” Tommy asked.

  Betse gave him a sideways nod and looked up at him with one eyebrow arched, “To make out, silly,” Was all she said.

  Tommy had driven to the teen make out spot. It was up the mountain road to an open meadow that had been long ago turned into a makeshift parking lot. Over the years, young people had rolled boulders and large rocks to the edge of the meadow which was on a cliff overlooking a ravine. The view was amazing. As they pulled in, they noticed two other cars parked far away from one another. Tommy drove to the far side of the lot, away from the other cars.

  He switched off the engine and Betse opened her door, “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “Back seat. Care to join me?” Tommy did and the rest was history. Over the next two hours Tommy had thought that his mind was going to explode, let alone other parts of his maturing young adult body. Betse had let him do things he had read about in some of those girly magazines like Playboy and Frolic that they had at the dorm at University. When they finished, steamed covered all the windows of the car.

  “So, why now, Betse? Before the wedding?” Tommy had asked pulling his pants back on.

  “I want you to go into this marriage without any regrets. Never wondering if it would be everything you thought it would. I wanted you to know that first. I love you so much, Tommy. I am yours and you are mine.”

  “Won’t your mom suspect something? We’ve been gone over two hours.” He had been a little worried.

  “What are they going to do, Tommy? You’re about to become my husband.” Betse was always so matter of fact, something Tommy had always loved about her.

  Tommy lay on the bed and dialed Betse with his smart phone; she answered on the second ring, “Hello, I was wondering when you’d call. How is everything going?”

  Yup, that was his Betse, straight to the point, “Not as good as I’d like. He was really going along well, telling me about what happened…you know…that day. Then he suddenly clammed up. Didn’t want to…or maybe couldn’t…go on anymore. Anyhow, he did tell me to come back tomorrow, just doesn’t know if he can continue with the story, though.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, honey,” Betse sounded like she was really sorry, “I have an idea that might help.”

  They talked a while longer, Tommy asking about the kids and grandkids and what Betse had done that day, Betse asking him where he was going to go for supper. “China Palace, I think. Got a bit of a hankering for Chinese food, and I like the dark lighting in there. Anyhow, I’m not sure if I want to run into anyone I know. At least not yet. But I’m sure if I do, I’ll be able to get them talking about themselves.” That was something Tommy had always prided himself in, getting others to feel comfortable enough around him to tell him just about anything. Kenny was proving to be a hard nut to crack. He would definitely try Betse’s idea tomorrow.

  They said their I love yous, but before Tommy hung up he had one more question, “Betse. Something he
said today…Kenny that is…do you. I mean…do you ever regret never being with anyone else? What I guess I’m asking is, do I satisfy you…that way?”

  “Oh, my goodness, Tommy, probably more than you could know. Well, I’m sure you do know by the sounds I sometimes make,” Betse said, again very to the point. Tommy felt his face heating up and he visualized Betse laying next to him in the motel. “You are my one and only, Tommy. I have never had a want for anyone else.”

  “Me either, Betse. I guess that’s what I don’t understand. How some people can make love to so many other people and it doesn’t seem to bother them. Or maybe it does. I just don’t know. But this story…should he ever finish telling it to me…might help me figure that out a little better.”

  “I love you, Tommy.”

  “I love you, too, Betse.”

  Chapter Four

  Early the next morning Tommy started his day as he usually did with a long run. It was still dewy outside, and his sneakers made a clomp-squish sound as he ran down the mostly empty streets of Barrington and out to the west side road. Here he continued into the countryside where the houses thinned out and became farm fields and forest. For the next half-hour he pondered on what new details Kenny might tell him today that had not already been brought to light over the years, or at least suspected and gossiped by everyone. Many people believed that Kenny or one of the others out at the lake that day had killed Donna, for whatever reason, but there was no evidence. No evidence that any crime at all had even been committed. Only a missing girl.

  What was Kenny willing to share with him today? Tommy wanted it to be worth his while; worth the trip out here to this dusty little town that he had never wanted to return to. But he also hoped it wouldn’t be horrible – maybe something that would put everyone at peace. God knows the people of this town had suffered for years over this unsolved mystery. He mused over the difference that time had taken on both himself and Kenny. Same age, yet here he was in the best shape of his life, running every morning, an amazing career behind him, a loving wife. Then there was Kenny – shrivelled, spent and broken, with a deep dark secret. When he saw the sun streak through the trees and slide above the mountains, Tommy turned and ran the thirty minutes back to his motel to shower and get ready for whatever this day would bring.