Several days later a jeep stopped at the camp entrance. Judy was in charge as Lynne had taken a group horseback riding. A man stepped out of the jeep and moved in long, easy strides toward them. She wondered who he could be until she heard Willie joyfully call out, “Daddy! Daddy!”
She stopped the victrola and managed a sickly smile of welcome. Willie’s father! He’s come to complain about the hosing I gave his boy—maybe withdraw him from the camp?
The man gave a brisk, “Hello, kids!” and stopped to rough up his little boy’s hair. He was young and handsome.
“Are you Judy?” he asked, addressing her.
She nodded and murmured, “Yes.”
“I was driving by. I can only stay for a minute. Is Lynne around?”
“No. Is there anything I can do?” she asked weakly.
“Just tell Lynne I wanted her to know how sorry I was to have missed Parents’ Day. I couldn’t get away.”
“Whew!” Judy almost said aloud in relief. “I’ll tell her,” she smiled for the first time.
“But it’s you I really came to see.”